Yes, it's early, but the WNBA season is off to a fast start and it's never too early to start thinking about awards.
On the latest edition of the "Buckets WNBA" podcast, Jim Turvey and Dano Mataya dove into three WNBA award races — Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
They also broke down the Tuesday slate, so be sure to watch the latest episode below before make your picks.
WNBA Awards
🏀 Rookie of the Year
🔥 Key Candidates:
Paige Bueckers (Dallas): Bueckers has played well and should continue to put up strong stats, but if Dallas' record is toward the bottom of the league, can she win the award?
Sonia Citron/Kiki Iriafen (Washington): Both are putting up numbers, but Turvey is worried about Citron's shooting regression and Iriafen's touches declining as Aaliyah Edwards returns.
Janelle Salaün (Golden State): At +1400 this is a long shot pick, but Turvey has been impressed with Salaün's immediate two-way impact. She's also likely to see increased usage based on Golden State's roster makeup and is already statistically comparable to several top rookies.
However, Mataya is concerned that Salaün could get snubbed by bias.
“Voters are not going to give it to a non-American,” Mataya said.
🛠️ Most Improved Player
Brittney Sykes (Washington): The usage and stats are there, but Turvey is worried about the workload causing potential injuries. There's also the risk that Washington tanks and shuts her down.
Dark Horses:
Kayla Thornton (+2500): She's not necessarily better than Sykes, but will have more opportunities and her stats could fool voters.
Jade Melbourne (+3400): Melbourne could benefit from any Sykes absence. She has also improved as a shooter, is a solid playmaker and fits the timeline of Washington's young core.
🛡️ Defensive Player of the Year
🎯 Top Contenders:
Napheesa Collier: The stats support her case, but the Lynx defense isn't elite. Also, if she wins MVP, voters may split awards.
A’ja Wilson: Her defensive stats are strong, but the Aces' team defense is way down and the media likely won’t reward that.
💰 Value Play:
Aliyah Boston: She's priced at +1600 to +3000 and is statistically dominant. She's also anchoring a much-improved Fever defense and looks stronger and more confident in her second season.
