2018 WNBA Rookie of the Year Race

Stats are through 7/3

All picks are from 2018.

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (#1 overall pick) – 30.8 MPG, 20.1 PPG, 45.6% eFG%, 27.1 PER, 5.01 BPM, 1.51 VORP

2. Ariel Atkins, Washington Mystics (#7 overall pick) – 20.7 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 51.9% eFG%, 18.2 PER, 4.99 BPM, 0.61 VORP

3. Victoria Vivians, Indiana Fever (#8 overall pick) – 23.9 MPG, 9.8 PPG, 56.6% eFG%, 15.6 PER, 3.03 BPM, 0.75 VORP

4. Gabby Williams, Chicago Sky (#4 overall pick) – 25.3 MPG, 7.4 PPG, 43.0% eFG%, 17.3 PER, 2.62 BPM, 0.64 VORP

5. Kia Nurse, New York Liberty (#10 overall pick) – 23.2 MPG, 9.9 PPG, 47.9% eFG%, 15.4 PER, 2.84 BPM, 0.62 VORP

6. Myisha Hines-Allen, Washington Mystics (#19 overall pick) – 14.1 MPG, 4.6 PPG, 46.8% eFG%, 24.1 PER, 2.87 BPM, 0.29 VORP

7. Azura Stevens, Dallas Wings (#6 overall pick) – 18.7 MPG, 6.2 PPG, 47.3% eFG%, 14.0 PER, 3.21 BPM, 0.47 VORP

8. JiSu Park, Las Vegas Aces (#17 overall pick) – 14.8 MPG, 3.3 PPG, 39.4% eFG%, 16.0 PER, 0.85 BPM, 0.30 VORP

9. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever (#2 overall pick) – 28.9 MPG, 15.2 PPG, 46.9% eFG%, 4.6 PER, 0.46 BPM, 0.28 VORP

10. Diamond DeShields, Chicago Sky (#3 overall pick) – 25.8 MPG, 13.6 PPG, 43.8% eFG%, 11.1 PER, -0.54 BPM, 0.21 VORP

The one comment I’m going to write on this post is that Mitchell and DeShields’ places probably seem odd and overly harsh; I’ve seen them in the top five a lot in other peoples’ ranks. Neither is having much of a defensive impact on very bad defensive teams. They both have high usage rates with middling shooting numbers. DeShields is making an impact on rebounding, while Mitchell is decidedly not.

Also to consider: Jordin Canada, Seattle Storm; Maria Vadeeva, Los Angeles Sparks; Stephanie Mavunga, Indiana Fever