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ESPN Senior Writer- Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women's college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women's basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.
As we close in on the break in the WNBA regular-season schedule for the FIBA Women's World Cup, it's time again for ESPN's ranking of the top 50 players in the league.
Our update marks the third edition this season, following our preseason and midseason lists. There are some big differences involving injuries, with some players returning and coming into the rankings while others leave. And some have moved up or down based on their roles evolving or changes in the personnel around them.
The top 50 isn't a measurement of career achievements; we rank a players' status right now in the 2026 season. For some, there is still a lot to look forward to as the eight playoff teams have been decided. For others, the next month is about making the most of the regular-season games left and looking forward to next year.
(All stats are through Tuesday's games.)
1. A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Center | 6-foot-4
July rank: 1
2026 stats: 26.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.0 BPG
Wilson leads the WNBA in scoring and blocks, and ranks third in rebounding. She is also first in win shares at 7.7 and player efficiency rating (PER) at 31.8. Statistically, she has done everything needed to be on track to win her fifth MVP award. The defending champion Aces aren't the top team in the league right now, but Wilson is still the top player. -- Michael Voepel
2. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Guard | 6-foot
July rank: 3
2026 stats: 22.1 PPG, 8.3 APG, 3.8 RPG
Clark ranks No. 3 in the league in points per game, No. 1 in assists (tied with Alyssa Thomas) and her gravity has helped Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston have career seasons. The streak ended over the weekend, but Clark recently tied her own WNBA record with six consecutive games of 20-plus points and five-plus assists. She also set a career high with eight 3-pointers in a game last week, moving past Diana Taurasi into second place in WNBA history for most career 3-point field goals during a player's first three seasons. -- Kareem Copeland
3. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Forward | 6-foot-4
July rank: 5
2026 stats: 20.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.4 BPG
The Liberty have underachieved as a whole this season, but not from a lack of excellence from Stewart, who could finish top-five in MVP voting. The three-time WNBA champion continues to do it all for New York, averaging her highest points per game since her last MVP season and ranking fifth in the league in scoring. Though her 3-point shot continues to be inconsistent, Stewart has been elite at getting inside the lane (a career-high 56% of her points come from the paint) and to the free throw line (27.8%). -- Alexa Philippou
4. Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx
Guard | 5-foot-10
July rank: 6
2026 stats: 19.7 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG
The No. 2 draft pick continues to get better as the season progresses despite an already fantastic start. She ranks No. 8 in the league in points per game and No. 7 in assists while shooting 49.5% from the field and 39.7% from 3-point range. She has scored the fifth-most points by a rookie in league history and has 17 20-point games this season for the No. 1 team in the league. -- Copeland
5. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
Guard | 6-foot
July rank: 4
2026 stats: 20.6 PPG, 5.9 APG, 39.8% 3FG
Bueckers has come into her own as one of the best guards in the league this season. Her numbers have dipped a touch since coming back from the All-Star break, but she had a pair of standout performances recently with 32 points in three quarters on Sunday versus Seattle and a 22-point, 11-assist double-double Tuesday against Portland. With fellow No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd out for the season, even more will rest on Bueckers' shoulders as Dallas looks to put the finishing touches on its best regular season as it prepares for its first playoff appearance since 2023. -- Philippou
6. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
Guard | 6-foot
July rank: 9
2026 stats: 18.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.6 APG
The Aces have lost only three games when Young has scored 20 or more points. When she has scored fewer than 20, they've lost nine games. And in the 26-13 Aces' other loss, Young rested and didn't play. That gives you a good idea how important she is to Las Vegas' success. Her averages for scoring and assists are career highs, and her rebounding average ties her career best. -- Voepel
7. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Forward | 6-foot-1
July rank: Not ranked (injured)
2026 stats: 18.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 50.7% FG
Collier is coming off major surgeries on both ankles, but you wouldn't know it; she has been utterly dominant in the 11 games since making her season debut on July 22. She has been efficient, shooting better than 50% from the field and 47% from 3, the fifth-best shooting mark since her return among players who have attempted 35 treys in that span. The scariest part? Collier told ESPN she still isn't at 100% and has another level to get to before the postseason. -- Kendra Andrews
8. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
Guard | 5-foot-8
July rank: 11
2026 stats: 24.9 PPG, 2.8 APG, 51.0% FG
Mitchell has grabbed the mantle for the best scoring guard in the league this season as no one has been able to stay in front of her. Her 23 consecutive games of 20-plus points broke Wilson's record for the longest streak in WNBA history. Not only is Mitchell nearly impossible to keep from getting to the basket, but her 45.5 3-point percentage is the highest among the top 50 scorers in the league. -- Copeland
9. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
Guard | 6-foot
July rank: 7
2026 stats: 19.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.6 APG
Gray's career season continues. She's shooting 46.1% from the field, her third-most efficient season. The All-Star is also attempting over one more shot per game than ever before. -- Andrews
10. Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
Forward/center | 6-foot-5
July rank: 15
2026 stats: 17.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.0 APG
Often overlooked because of her flashier teammates in Clark and Mitchell, Boston is the steady, consistent foundation for the Fever and the anchor of the defense. Her points per game are a career high and she has become a legitimate 3-point threat, shooting 41.7%. The four-time All-Star ranks No. 4 in the league in efficiency (22.3). -- Copeland
11. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
Forward | 6-foot-1
July rank: 10
2026 stats: 14.8 PPG, 8.3 APG, 7.7 RPG
Thomas' two-way game remains one of the most elite in the WNBA. She's tied with Caitlin Clark for first in the league in assists, and also averages 7.7 rebounds -- 6.0 of which come on the defensive end -- and 1.4 steals. Both of those rank in the top 10 among forwards. -- Andrews
12. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Guard | 6-foot-2
July rank: 8
2026 stats: 18.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.4 SPG
Already one of the sharpest shooters in the league, Howard is averaging career highs both from the field (41.2%) and from the 3-point line (36.7%). But her improvement on defense has turned her into a two-way threat. She has nearly doubled her previous career high in steals, while also tallying nearly one block per game. -- Andrews
13. Kelsey Plum, Phoenix Mercury
Guard | 5-foot-8
July rank: 2
2026 stats: 21.5 PPG, 5.4 APG, 51.9 FG%
Plum is the hardest player to rank. She had a brilliant first 12 games of the season for Los Angeles, averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists. But she was sidelined six weeks by a leg injury and then traded to Phoenix on Aug. 2. She played four games with the Mercury, sat out three (leg) and then returned again Tuesday. She has averaged 15.8 points and 2.8 assists in five games with Phoenix. When healthy, Plum is a top-10 player. But health has been her biggest challenge in 2026. -- Voepel
14. Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
Forward | 6-foot-3
July rank: 13
2026 stats: 16.1 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 1.8 SPG
The top rebounder in the league, Reese is one of only two players averaging a double-double this season. She made history on Aug. 20 as the first player in WNBA history to have a game with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals without missing a shot from the field (9-of-9). Then Reese broke two records Tuesday in Atlanta's win over Los Angeles: a WNBA single-game record 26 rebounds, which gave her 458 rebounds on the season, seven more than A'ja Wilson's single-season mark set in 2024. -- Andrews
15. Shakira Austin, Washington Mystics
Center | 6-foot-5
July rank: 29
2026 stats: 16.9 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.4 BPG
Austin is firmly in the discussion for the Most Improved Player award, putting up career numbers across the board. The Mystics put their faith in her with a three-year, $3.57 million deal this past offseason, and she has rewarded them with 17 double-doubles and ranking 15th in scoring, third (with A'ja Wilson) in rebounds and ninth (with Breanna Stewart) in blocks. Austin has been able to show off a versatile offensive game, adding 3-point range (34.7%) while making an argument for all-defensive consideration as well. She posted a career-high 31 points last week for the first 30-point, 10-rebound game of her career. -- Copeland
16. Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings
Forward | 6-foot-4
July rank: 17
2026 stats: 14.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 5.0 APG
Shepard has been a revelation for the Wings, enjoying a career season and sporting 21 double-doubles (second in the league), not to mention a league-best four triple-doubles. August was a bit up and down, though it didn't help she sat out some time because of an ankle injury. Nevertheless, her offensive production -- including her facilitating prowess -- will be critical for Dallas to finish the regular season strong. -- Philippou
17. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces
Guard | 5-foot-11
July rank: 22
2026 stats: 12.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.8 APG
Gray, who turns 34 in October, is still going strong. She leads the Aces in minutes per game (33.0) and has appeared in every game but one. Her current assists average is the second best of her career, as is her free throw percentage (93.3%). Though Gray's playmaking remains her most lethal weapon, she also still can hit dagger shots to win games. -- Voepel
18. Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
Center | 6-foot-6
July rank: 16
2026 stats: 14.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.1 BPG
An assertive Jones -- the MVP of New York's 2024 WNBA title run -- historically bodes well for the Liberty: Last time out, Saturday against the Fever, the 6-foot-6 center set the tone for New York on both ends with 17 points and seven rebounds in 15 first-half minutes, a particularly welcomed sight after she exited the first quarter of the previous game because of a tweaked ankle. She has 16 double-doubles on the season, ranking sixth in the league, and continues to be a matchup nightmare with her 38.5% 3-point shooting. -- Philippou
19. Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
Guard | 6-foot-1
July rank: 18
2026 stats: 16.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.3 APG
There has been no sophomore slump for the two-time All-Star that has developed into one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. Unselfish almost to a fault, Citron has bumped up her scoring and assists in Year 2 and has been the tip of the spear on a defensive unit that ranks No. 2 in scoring defense and defensive rating. She is one of only two players in the league to average 16.0-plus points, 4.0-plus assists, 1.0-plus steals per and less than 3.0 turnovers per game. -- Copeland
20. Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx
Guard | 5-foot-11
July rank: 23
2026 stats: 18.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.1 APG
McBride is in the conversation for her first all-WNBA selection with career-high averages in points and FG% (46.6). She's the No. 11 scorer in the WNBA this season. The five-time All-Star's 2.9 3-point field goals is No. 4 in the league and a 41.9% 3-point shooting ranks in the top five among those averaging more than two 3-point field goals per game. McBride scored a career-high 43 points on Aug. 9 and set the single-game WNBA record with 10 3-point field goals. -- Copeland
21. Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries
Forward | 5-foot-11
July rank: 26
2026 stats: 14.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase described Williams' defensive abilities as "cat-like," in the way she moves swiftly and precisely to swipe and deflect the ball from opponents. Williams ranks seventh in the league in steals, fourth in defensive win shares per 40 minutes and fourth in individual player defensive rating. Improved offense has taken Williams' game to the next level this year: her points average is career and team high. -- Andrews
22. Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
Guard | 6-foot-1
July rank: 12
2026 stats: 20.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.9 APG
Copper is in the midst of one of the best scoring seasons of her career -- just 0.2 from matching her career high. Even after Phoenix acquired Kelsey Plum at the trade deadline, and despite the Mercury being eliminated from playoff contention, Copper's efficiency and impact have remained high. -- Andrews
23. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Guard | 6-foot
July rank: Not ranked
2026 stats: 15.9 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.0 RPG
Ionescu had a tough start to the year when injuries sidelined her for all but one game the first month of the season. Even once she returned, she told ESPN recently, she was still in pain and trying to figure out how she fit into New York's new system. She found more of a groove throughout July but is in a bit of a shooting slump as of late, hitting 20% or fewer of her 3-pointers in six consecutive games. For the Liberty to make a deep postseason run after such a rocky regular season, they'll need a productive Ionescu. -- Philippou
24. Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx
Guard | 5-foot-8
July rank: 14
2026 stats: 14.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.3 APG
Williams didn't really fall in the rankings since midseason as much as some other players individually surged past her. But from a team perspective, Williams is doing what the Lynx need. She hasn't scored at quite the same pace in July and August as she did in May and June. But she has had some big scoring games -- such as 27 points in a win over Indiana on Aug. 2 -- along with being second on the Lynx in assists and third in rebounds. Her value also showed in how the Lynx struggled to score in a loss to Golden State when she was out Aug. 24 because of a foot injury. It was the first game she had sat out in three seasons with Minnesota. -- Voepel
25. Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks
Forward | 6-foot-2
July rank: 20
2026 stats: 16.8 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.9 APG
Ogwumike announced on Aug. 19 she will retire from the WNBA at season's end, so there is just a short time left to watch her play as the Sparks have been eliminated from the playoffs. But we've seen 15 seasons of excellence from the 2012 No. 1 pick. She is ending her career still playing at an All-Star level at age 36, leading the Sparks in scoring and rebounding. -- Voepel
26. Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo
Guard | 5-foot-11
July rank: 21
2026 stats: 20.8 PPG, 3.7 APG, 38.5% 3FG
Mabrey has been a bright spot for a team ravaged by injuries that recently ended a 12-game losing streak. With the guard averaging a career best in scoring (tied for fifth most in the league), she earned her first All-Star nod and inserted her name into the Most Improved Player conversation. But the injury bug got to her too, and Mabrey will be out for at least a few weeks because of an adductor injury, with Tempo coach Sandy Brondello saying it's possible she won't return this season. -- Philippou
27. Natasha Howard, Minnesota Lynx
Forward | 6-foot-2
July rank: 24
2026 stats: 15.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 59.0% FG
Howard continues to have one of the best seasons of her career on both ends of the court, and earned her first All-Star selection since 2022. Her rebounding average is the second highest of her career and ranks No. 13 in the league. Howard is in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, ranking fifth in steals (1.7) and defensive win shares (2.5) as she's the top post defender on a top-three defense. -- Copeland
28. Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics
Forward | 6-foot-3
July rank: 25
2026 stats: 15.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 50.6% FG
Iriafen is the third player in league history to post at least 20 point-rebound double-doubles before her 23rd birthday, joining Tina Charles and Lauren Jackson. The two-time All-Star ranks No. 21 in points per game, No. 5 in rebounds per game and is 0.7 rebounds shy of being the third player in the league to average a double-double. Her 50.6% field goal shooting ranks No. 4 among the top 22 scorers in the league. -- Copeland
29. Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries
Guard | 5-foot-9
July rank: 35
2026 stats: 12.5 PPG, 5.6 APG. 3.5 RPG
Burton is averaging almost one point more than she did in her breakout season (2025), and doing it on career-best shooting: 43.1% overall and 37.0% from 3, all while taking 0.6 more shots per game (9.4 field goal attempts per game). -- Andrews
30. Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm
Center | 6-foot-6
July rank: 39
2026 stats: 17.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Malonga, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, was an All-Star in July and has been one of the bright spots in a challenging season for the Storm. The 20-year-old is a huge part of their future, having made big strides from her rookie season. Despite sitting out eight games between May 20-June 3 because of concussion protocol, Malonga has become the Storm's leader in points, rebounds and blocks, and is a contender for Most Improved Player. -- Voepel
31. Carla Leite, Portland Fire
Forward | 6-foot-3
July rank: 31
2026 stats: 15.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 6.3 APG
Leite was the No. 9 pick by Dallas in the 2024 draft but didn't play in the WNBA that season. She went to Golden State in the 2025 expansion draft, then to Portland in the 2026 expansion draft. She has been the Fire's best player this season, leading Portland in scoring and assists. The 22-year-old from France is another contender for Most Improved Player. -- Voepel
32. Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
Guard | 5-foot-8
July rank: 28
2026 stats: 15.2 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.0 SPG
If the Wings want to make some noise in the playoffs, especially now that Fudd is out, it would help to have a productive, hot-shooting Ogunbowale. Take, for instance, her 25-point second half that helped the Wings take down the Fever at home last week. Her efficiency has improved over the course of the season (46.6% post All-Star versus 36.9% before), though she is shooting just 26.0% on 3s in August. -- Philippou
33. Jordin Canada, Atlanta Dream
Guard | 5-foot-6
July rank: 36
2026 stats: 11.5 PPG, 7.4 APG, 3.8 RPG
Canada ranks No. 2 in the league with 2.0 steals per game and is one of the top defensive point guards with two all-defensive team selections on her résumé. She has a chance to lead the league in steals per game for the third time in her career. The two-time champion's assists rank No. 3 and she's shooting a career-high 43.1% from the field. Canada's 3-point shooting has even ticked up to the second highest of her career (29.2). -- Copeland
34. Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks
Forward | 6-foot-3
July rank: 33
2026 stats: 14.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.5 APG
In her 12th WNBA season and fourth with the Sparks, Hamby has been a dependable and durable player. If she finishes at 55% from the field, it will be the second-highest shooting percentage of her career, following last season's 57.2%. Hamby is signed with the Sparks for the next two years, so her veteran presence should be important as the franchise rebuilds following Nneka Ogwumike's retirement at the end of this season. -- Voepel
35. Janelle Salaun, Golden State Valkyries
Forward | 6-foot-2
July rank: 37
2026 stats: 13.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG. 1.3 APG
Salaun is attempting nearly two more 3-pointers per game than she did last year, with her 6.2 attempts in the top 10 in the WNBA. Her sharpshooting has become a crucial key to the Valkyries' offense: She shoots a team-best 39% from 3 among players attempting more than one trey a game, and is second on the team in scoring. -- Andrews
36. Natisha Hiedeman, Seattle Storm
Guard | 5-foot-8
July rank: 44
2026 stats: 15.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.8 APG
After being a reserve the past two seasons in Minnesota, Hiedeman moved to a starting role in Seattle and is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists. She has been dealing with a shoulder injury late in August, and the Storm have the league's worst record. But Hiedeman could be a veteran part of an improved team next year with all of Seattle's young talent. -- Voepel
37. Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky
Center | 6-foot-7
July rank: 40
2026 stats: 14.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Cardoso's upward trajectory has continued with career-high averages in points, rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw percentage. The blocks rank No. 4 in the league and the rebounds No. 8. She ranks No. 14 in efficiency and her play is the biggest indicator of the Sky's success. Cardoso set a league record for the most field goals (13) without a miss as she scored a career-high 30 points in late June. -- Copeland
38. Leonie Fiebich, New York Liberty
Forward | 6-foot-4
July rank: Not ranked (injured)
2026 stats: 10.7 PPG, 1.2 SPG, 44.6% 3FG
New York sorely missed Fiebich during her seven weeks sidelined by a foot injury. She showed in her return Saturday exactly the type of impact she can have, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and slowing down Caitlin Clark down (five points on 2-for-7 shooting) when she was the Indiana guard's primary defender. It seems as if any sort of deep playoff run for the Liberty would necessitate Fiebich's availability; they are 11-4 when she plays and 12-11 without her. -- Philippou
39. NaLyssa Smith, Las Vegas Aces
Forward | 6-foot-4
July rank: 32
2026 stats: 11.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 63.8 FG%
With guard Chennedy Carter departing after only 13 games, the Aces needed another reliable double-digit scorer. Smith has provided that. She has built on last season, when she averaged 8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 27 games for Las Vegas after being traded from Dallas on June 30, 2025. The concern now, though, is that Smith was injured Sunday and her status going forward is unknown. -- Voepel
40. Sydney Taylor, Chicago Sky
Guard | 5-foot-9
July rank: Not ranked
2026 stats: 13.8 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.8 APG
The undrafted guard would be in the Rookie of the Year conversation if Olivia Miles wasn't the far-and-away leader for the award. Among rookies, Taylor trails only Miles in points per game despite being No. 12 in minutes per game. Taylor has developed into the top isolation player on the Sky roster and has become adept at late-game situations, including winning shots against the Valkyries and Aces. -- Copeland
41. Bridget Carleton, Portland Fire
Forward | 6-foot-2
July rank: 48
2026 stats: 14.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 APG
After seven seasons in Minnesota, Carleton was the No. 1 pick in the expansion draft by Portland. Though that kept the native Canadian from going to the other 2026 expansion team in Toronto, Carleton has made the most of her time with the Fire. She ranks second on the team in scoring and rebounding, plus is Portland's top 3-point shooter with a career-high 102 (2.8 per game). -- Voepel
42. Pauline Astier, New York Liberty
Guard | 5-foot-11
July rank: 38
2026 stats: 9.3 PPG, 3.4 APG, 54.9 FG%
Even with Ionescu back in the lineup for the Liberty, Astier continues to be one of the more impactful rookies in the league this season, showcasing poise with some timely plays in New York's big win over the Fever on Saturday. She particularly shines with her ability to get downhill -- about 63% of her points come from the paint -- and is shooting an efficient 60.5% from inside the 3-point arc. -- Philippou
43. Rae Burrell, Los Angeles Sparks
Guard | 6-foot-2
July rank: Not ranked
2026 stats: 14.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.5 APG
Burrell is one of several contenders for Most Improved Player. The No. 9 pick in 2022, Burrell has spent her career with the Sparks and is having her best season. She is averaging 10-plus minutes more per game than in any previous season, and for the first time is averaging double-figure scoring. Burrell is a restricted free agent in 2027, so we will see if she stays with the Sparks in their rebuilding process. -- Voepel
44. Marine Johannes, New York Liberty
Guard | 5-foot-10
July rank: 41
2026 stats: 9.0 PPG, 2.5 APG, 39.3% 3FG
Johannes had a strong start to the season -- in May she averaged 11.9 points and shot 43.3% from the 3-point arc -- though she has since been more up and down. Still, this is one of the best seasons of her career, and when she is hitting her shots -- the way she did earlier this month when she made seven 3s in the Liberty's 40-point win over the shorthanded Aces -- there aren't many players who are more fun to watch. -- Philippou
45. Leila Lacan, Connecticut Sun
Guard | 5-foot-11
July rank: Not ranked
2026 stats: 11.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 1.7 SPG
Lacan isn't the flashiest player, but with her playmaking and two-way play, it's hard to overstate how much she affects things on the court -- and it is not a coincidence that all but one of the Sun's wins this season came once she arrived from her overseas commitments. Lacan, who leads the Sun in MPG (28.4), will also be gone these next four games for Connecticut as she prepares with the French national team for the World Cup. -- Philippou
46. Nyara Sabally, Toronto Tempo
Forward | 6-foot-5
July rank: Not ranked
2026 stats: 12.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.9 BPG
In the biggest role of her young career, Sabally has been productive for the Tempo when on the court; her 12.3 points per game are over twice her previous best scoring average. Her availability is the issue -- as it often has been during her career -- as she has appeared in 24 of Toronto's 37 games. Sabally was coming off a 12-point, 12-rebound, four-steal and three-assist performance against Atlanta when she sustained a calf injury against Dallas earlier this month, and has now been ruled out for a few weeks. -- Philippou
47. Natasha Cloud, Chicago Sky
Guard | 5-foot-10
July rank: Not ranked
2026 stats: 11.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.5 RPG
A late addition to the roster, Cloud has been one of the most valuable players in Chicago both because of her play and veteran leadership for an injury-laden group. She remains one of the best defenders in the league and helped steady things after Chicago lost Rickea Jackson and Skylar Diggins to injury. Her shooting percentages are among the biggest criticisms of the three-time all-defensive selection, Cloud has posted a career high from the field (48.3%) and her second-best 3-point percentage (35.2%). -- Copeland
48. Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream
Forward | 6-foot-2
July rank: 47
2026 stats: 9.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 APG
Hillmon has navigated injuries (shoulder and hamstring) for the first time in her pro career, so there has been a bit of a drop in production. But the reigning Sixth Player of the Year also believes she's playing with more decisiveness. After working on her shot with coach Karl Smesko last season, she's thinking less about what she's supposed to be doing on the court, which has allowed it to come naturally. -- Andrews
49. Kiki Rice, Toronto Tempo
Guard | 5-foot-11
July rank: 46
2026 stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.0 APG
Rice, the No. 6 pick in April's draft, had a strong start with the expansion Tempo. But an ankle sprain on June 3 sidelined her after 10 games. She returned July 28 and has played every game since. Rice has hit her season high of 19 points four times and has had at least five assists in five games. She should be an important part of the Tempo as the franchise grows. -- Voepel
50. Flau'jae Johnson, Seattle Storm
Guard | 5-foot-10
July rank: 49
2026 stats: 13.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.9 APG
The No. 8 pick in the draft this year, Johnson has had a solid rookie season, starting every game in which she has played. She is the Storm's third-highest scorer and leads them in steals (1.4 per game). Two things she will be working on for the 2027 season are her overall (39.2%) and 3-point (28.3%) shooting. -- Voepel