When Brittney Griner announced her intent to continue her WNBA career in December after spending 10 months in Russian detainment, the basketball community knew it was only a matter of time before she re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury. On February 21, that day finally came as she signed her contract.
“We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed,” said Mercury general manager Jim Pittman. The deal is reportedly one-year for $165,100.
Griner was the No. 1 overall pick by the Mercury in 2013 and she has spent her entire career with the team. In 254 games played (9 seasons), she’s averaging 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, and 2.8 blocks in 30.9 minutes per game. She’s a 7-time All-Star and one-time WNBA champion.
Other WNBA Players to Keep an Eye On This Season
Brittney Griner returning to the WNBA is great for the league – after all, she’s one of the greatest WNBA players of all-time. Anyone who watched the 2022 season understands the void that was left as we all awaited her return to the United States – it’s something that loomed over the entire league all year long.
Now that she’s back, the 2023 WNBA season will be one of the best seasons in recent history. There’s a lot to look forward to, especially considering all the player movement that happened this offseason – much like the NBA, the WNBA is starting to see the rise of superteams as superstars start to team up.
From Candace Parker joining A’ja Wilson in Las Vegas to Breanna Stewart joining Sabrina Ionescu in New York, the 2023 season is about to be lit. It’ll be interesting to see how things shape up and with the regular season just two months away, let’s take a look at some of the WNBA players primed for success.
20. Allisha Gray
Allisha Gray is a 6-foot-0 guard who currently plays for the Atlanta Dream after being dealt by the Dallas Wings just a few days ago. She played college ball at UNC and South Carolina before being drafted by the Wings with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. She is entering her seventh WNBA season.
Gray has played in 180 games and started in 160 of them. She’s averaging 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 28.7 minutes per game in her career and coming off a year that saw her average a career-high 13.3 points and 2.5 assists per game. Gray is a former Rookie of the Year.
19. Candace Parker
Candace Parker is a 6-foot-4 forward-center who currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces after signing with the team this offseason. She played college ball at Tennessee before being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 1 overall pick in 2008. She’s now entering her 16th season in the league.
Parker has played in 392 games in her career and has averaged 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 30.7 minutes per game. While she isn’t as dominant as she once was, she’s still effective and is a two-time champion, two-time MVP, and former Defensive Player of the Year.
18. DeWanna Bonner
DeWanna Bonner is a 6-foot-4 forward-guard who currently plays for the Connecticut Sun – it’ll be her fourth season with the team. She played college ball at Auburn before being drafted by the Phoenix Mercury with the No. 5 overall pick in 2009. She spent the first 10 years of her career with the team.
Bonner has played in 422 games in her career and has averaged 14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 30.3 minutes per game. She’s a two-time WNBA Champion – one of which with Brittney Griner as her teammate (in 2014) – and is a three-time Sixth Woman of the Year winner.
17. Diamond Miller
Diamond Miller is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who currently plays for the Maryland Terrapins – she’s a senior and is set to enter the 2023 WNBA Draft in April. Many experts have her listed as the No. 2 draft prospect this season and she’s expected to play a major role on whatever team ends up drafting her.
Miller has played in 112 college games since 2019 and has averaged 14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game. She’s absolutely lighting it up this year with 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game – all of which are career-highs.
16. Aliyah Boston
Aliyah Boston is a 6-foot-5 forward-center who currently plays for the South Carolina Gamecocks – she’s a senior and is set to enter the 2023 WNBA Draft in April. In fact, she’s the clear-cut No. 1 overall pick and will likely be drafted by the Indiana Fever – unless they decide to trade the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Boston has played in 131 college games since 2019 and has averaged 14.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.4 blocks in 27.1 minutes per game – she won a national title last year. Her stats are down this season, but that shouldn’t scare anyone away as she remains the top college player.
15. Jackie Young
Jackie Young is a 6-foot-0 guard who currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces – it’ll be her fifth season with the team. She played college ball at Notre Dame before being drafted by the Aces with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. She has improved her game each season since entering the league.
Young has played in 122 career games and has averaged 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 steals in 28.5 minutes per game. She’s a defending champ with the Aces after putting up 15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals – all of which are career-highs, except her assists per game totals.
14. Alyssa Thomas
Alyssa Thomas is a 6-foot-2 forward who currently plays for the Connecticut Sun – it’ll be her 10th season in the WNBA. She played college ball at Maryland before being drafted by the New York Liberty with the No. 4 overall pick in 2014. She was involved in a draft-day trade that sent her to Connecticut.
Thomas has played in 240 career games in the WNBA and has averaged 11.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game. She’s a three-time All-Star and is coming off a season that saw her put up 13.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.7 steals in 36 games played.
13. Brionna Jones
Brionna Jones is a 6-foot-3 forward who currently plays for the Connecticut Sun – she has spent her entire six-year career with the Sun. She played college ball at Maryland before being drafted by the Sun with the No. 8 pick in 2017. She went from being a role player to starter to 2022 Sixth Woman of the Year.
Jones has played in 166 career games (60 starts) and has averaged 8.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 18.4 minutes per game. In addition to winning Sixth Woman of the Year last season, she was the Most Improved Player in 2021 and has been named an All-Star two years in a row.
12. Jewell Loyd
Jewell Loyd is a 5-foot-10 guard who currently plays for the Seattle Storm – she has spent her entire eight-year career with the team. She played college ball at Notre Dame before being drafted by the Storm with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015. She entered the league with a bang, winning 2015 Rookie of the Year.
Loyd has played in 252 career WNBA games and has averaged 15.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks in 29.3 minutes per game. She has been a regular starter ever since entering the league – earning four All-Star appearances and winning two WNBA Championships with the Storm.
11. Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne is a 6-foot-5 forward-guard who currently plays for the Washington Mystics – it’ll be her sixth season with the team. She played college ball at the University of Delaware before being drafted by the Chicago Sky with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft – she spent four seasons with the team.
Delle Donne has played in 218 career WNBA games and has averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game. She’s a six-time All-Star, one-time (2019) WNBA Champion, 2013 Rookie of the Year, two-time MVP, and won the 2015 Community Assist Award.
10. Natasha Howard
Natasha Howard is a 6-foot-2 forward who currently plays for the Dallas Wings after being traded to the team this offseason. She played college ball at Florida State before being drafted by the Indiana Fever with the No. 5 overall pick in 2014. She has also played for the Lynx, Storm, and most recently the Liberty.
Howard has played in 270 career games in the WNBA and has averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 20.8 minutes per game. She’s a born winner and has already won three WNBA titles – as well as the 2018 Most improved Player and 2019 Defensive Player of the Year.
9. Jonquel Jones
Jonquel Jones is a 6-foot-6 forward who currently plays for the New York Liberty after being traded to the team this offseason – she spent the previous six years with the Connecticut Sun. She played her college ball at Clemson and George Washington before being drafted by the Sparks with the No. 6 overall pick.
Jones has played in 196 career WNBA games and has averaged 13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 24.8 minutes per game. She’s a four-time All-Star, 2017 Most Improved Player, 2018 Sixth Woman of the Year, and most recently the 2021 MVP. Now, she wants to win a title.
8. Arike Ogunbowale
Arike Ogunbowale is a 5-foot-8 guard who currently plays for the Dallas Wings and is entering her fourth season in the league – all with the Wings. She played college ball at Notre Dame before being drafted by Dallas with the No. 5 overall pick in 2019. She has been a regular starter ever since entering the league.
Ogunbowale has played in 117 career games in the WNBA and has averaged 19.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals in 32.1 minutes per game – she had a career-high 22.8 points in 2020. She won the 2021 Community Assist Award and the 2021 All-Star Game MVP, but is destined for much more.
7. Skylar Diggins-Smith
Skylar Diggins-Smith is a 5-foot-9 guard who currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury – it’ll be her fourth season with the team after requesting a trade from Dallas in 2020, a year after having her first child. She played college ball at Notre Dame before being drafted by the Tulsa Shock with the No. 3 pick in 2013.
Diggins-Smith has played in 252 career games in the WNBA and has averaged 16.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 32.1 minutes per game. She announced her second pregnancy in October and hasn’t revealed if she will play in 2023, but she’ll be having a baby soon!
6. Kelsey Plum
Kelsey Plum is a 5-foot-8 guard who currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces and is entering her fifth season with the team – she was a member of the San Antonio Stars before the franchise was moved to Las Vegas in 2018. She played college ball at Washington and was the No. 1 overall pick in 2017.
Plum has played in 158 career games and averaged 12.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 0.8 steals in 26.7 minutes per game – she had a career-high 20.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.0 steals en route to a title last season. She’s a former Sixth Woman of the Year and recently got married to an NFL tight end.
5. Rhyne Howard
Rhyne Howard is a 6-foot-2 guard who currently plays for the Atlanta Dream – she’s entering her second season in the WNBA. She played college ball at Kentucky before being drafted by the Dream with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. She was easily the most impressive rookie in the league last year.
Howard played in 34 games last season and averaged 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 31.4 minutes per game. She was named an All-Star, Player of the Week once, Rookie of the Month four times, and 2022 Rookie of the Year. At just 22 years old, the sky’s the limit for Howard.
4. Napheesa Collier
Napheesa Collier is a 6-foot-1 forward who currently plays for the Minnesota Lynx – it’ll be her fifth season with the team. She played college basketball at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) before being drafted by the Lynx with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft. She’s looking to make a comeback.
Collier only played in 4 games last season due to injury, but has played in 89 career games in the WNBA – averaging 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 33.4 minutes per game in her career. She was the 2019 Rookie of the Year and has been named to two All-Star games thus far.
3. Sabrina Ionescu
Sabrina Ionescu is a 5-foot-11 guard who currently plays for the New York Liberty – she’s entering her fourth season in the NBA. She played college ball at Oregon before being drafted by the Liberty with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. She’s one of the most versatile WNBA players – a stat sheet stuffer.
Ionescu has played in 69 career games in the WNBA and has averaged 15.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 31.0 minutes per game – she set career-highs in rebounds, assists, and steals last season. She was named to her first All-Star roster last year – you’d think she’d have more.
2. A’ja Wilson
A’ja Wilson is a 6-foot-4 forward who currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces – she’s entering her sixth season in the WNBA. She played college ball at South Carolina before being drafted by the Aces with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. She’s easily one of the most consistent and reliable WNBA players.
Wilson has played in 149 games and averaged 19.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game. She’s a four-time All-Star, 2018 Rookie of the Year. 2019 Community Assist Award winner, two-time MVP, one-time Champion, and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.
1. Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart is a 6-foot-4 forward who currently plays for the New York Liberty after famously signing with the team this past offseason. She played college ball at UCONN before being drafted by the Seattle Storm with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft. She’ll be entering her seventh season in the league.
Stewart has played in 183 career games in the WNBA and has averaged an impressive 20.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 32.4 minutes per game. She’s a two-time Champion, 2018 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, former Rookie of the Year, and four-time All-Star so far in her career.
What Does 2023 Have in Store for Brittney Griner?
Of all the WNBA players we’ll have our eye on this season, no one will have the spotlight shining on them like Brittney Griner. While it might take some time for her to shake the rust off, let’s not forget that she had one of the best seasons of her career in 2021 – including a career-high with 9.5 rebounds per game.
She finished the 2021 season with 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game. The Phoenix Mercury finished the season 19-13 and entered the playoffs with the No. 5 seed. Despite the low seeding, they advanced to the WNBA Finals – where they lost to the Chicago Sky.
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The team took a step back in her absence in 2022, finishing last year with a 15-21 record and lost to the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs. They’ll be a much stronger team this time around and will be looking to return to the WNBA Finals with Brittney Griner – a realistic goal, but it won’t be easy.
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