The WNBA has now passed the mid season and it is now time to update on all of the rookies that have played and to give an update from their first week as a rookie. Some rookies have shined, others got injured, some did not get enough playing time, etc. We have it all covered for you from the WNBA Rookie Report committee members Teylor Haines, Blake O’Tain and myself (Aneela Khan). The rookies are reported on by their draft order.
Sabrina Ionescu
Sabrina Ionescu suffered an ankle injury and left the WNBA bubble a couple of weeks ago. She is officially considered out for the rest of the season which puts a sour note on her rookie year. – Aneela
Satou Sabally
Satou Sabally has shined for Dallas at the mid season point. She has played almost about 27 minutes per game and has averaged 12.3 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game and the most impressive stat is her 2.3 assists per game. Satou Sabally has only played in 11 out of 15 Dallas Wings games but she has been super productive in the games she has played. She also has 3 double doubles on the season so far. She still is one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year – Aneela
Lauren Cox
Cox has now played in 10 games for the Fever. She is still adjusting to the quicker play in the WNBA. She’s averaging 3.4 points per game, and 3.7 rebounds per game (3rd among rookies). Cox is still adjusting but has shown some bright spots so far. – Blake
Chennedy Carter
Chennedy Carter was the youngest player to score 30+ points in a game, a loss to Seattle. Carter was the clear front runner to win ROY prior to her ankle injury on August 10, but has been sidelined since. Carter’s explosiveness and playmaking ability being void from Atlanta’s offense has made them appear stagnant. She’s expected to return within this week. – Teylor
Bella Alarie
Alarie has appeared in 15 games averaging 2.3 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game. Bella is also averaging 1.1 blocks per game, 2nd among rookies. Alarie has still been unable to drain a 3 in the WNBA. She has continued to develop and provide some key minutes for Dallas. – Blake
Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan
Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan is a shooter. In the limited minutes that she touches the floor that has been the overall consensus. “Kiki McBuckets” as Napheesa Collier has recently coined her is shooting over 46 percent from behind the arc. The most impressive part is that Herbert-Harrigan has an ability to take you off the dribble and handle it well enough to what ever shot she likes. – Teylor
Tyasha Harris
Ty Harris has been one of more steady rookies even with the minutes distribution within the Wings rotation not always favoring her. The recent news of Jefferson being sidelined for the rest of the season allows for Ty to run the show for that second unit. Her vision on dribble drive sets with the intent to kick it out has fit perfectly with Mabrey and Ogunbowale’s gameplay. Harris is averaging 7 points per game and nearly 3 assists. –Teylor
Ruthy Hebard
Ruthy Hebard has found playing time in a loaded, but banged up Chicago front court averaging 14 minutes in the last five outings even snagging a start versus Atlanta. Hebard’s movement without the ball and her knack for grabbing offensive boards has been put on full display. Ruthy’s effectiveness in her short minutes on the court has make Coach Wade feel as though she’s a viable option to make plays down the stretch. Hebard is averaging 4.3 points per game along with 3.2 rebounds per game. – Teylor
Megan Walker
Walker has appeared in 12 games for the Liberty. She’s averaging 3.7 points and 1.3 boards per game. She has really struggled from the 3 point line, only 13% from 3. Walker is still a year behind all the other rookies, so look for her to come on at the end of this season, or next season. – Blake
Jocelyn Willoughby
Is averaging 5.1 points, and 1.9 rebounds per game. Willoughby is shooting 40% from 3. Willoughby has been making very strong contributions on this very young Liberty team. – Blake
Jazmine Jones
Jones is a rookie that has really found her rhythm this season. She’s averaging 10.5 points per game, ranked 4th among rookies. Averaging 3.4 rebounds which also ranks 4th among rookies. 1.3 steals per game, 2nd among rookies. Jones has really picked up for the Liberty since Ionescu went down with an ankle injury. – Blake
Kylee Shook
Kylee Shook is surprisingly doing more on the offensive end of the ball than what she was known for, but necessarily at an efficient rate. Her mid-range game is for sure the most developed part of her game. Shook has to get better at defending in the post or she becomes liability defensively for New York when their vets rest. – Teylor
Kathleen Doyle
Doyle has played in 10 games so far. She has 1.6 points per game, on 25% from the field, and 28% from 3. It’s been a rough go for Doyle so far. In this shortened season it makes it a lot tougher for rookie, kind of thrown into the fire with no preseason. – Blake
Leaonna Odom
Leaonna Odom has played in all 14 New York Liberty games so far and she is averaging about 5.3 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game in around 22 minutes per game. She has also been a starter for 9 games (out of 14 games played so far). She has looked good some games, not so great in others and is still feeling her way through her rookie season.-Aneela
Crystal Dangerfield
Crystal Dangerfield has excelled as a point guard for Minnesota at the halfway point. She is currently one of the top leading candidates for Rookie of the Year after some injuries to the top rookies. She has played in all 13 Lynx games and has been a starter for 11 of them. She is currently averaging 14.6 points per game and 3.2 assists per game in just under 29 minutes per game. She had a career high 29 points and 4 assists in a loss recently against the Los Angeles Sparks, a top 3 team. She just gets better and better every game. -Aneela
Brittany Brewer
Brittany Brewer has not gotten minutes for the Atlanta Dream, even as the Dream sit in 11th place out of 12th right now. She has not been able to make an impact as she has only played in 4 games so far. – Aneela
Te’a Cooper
Te’a Cooper does a lot of things that don’t always show up on the stat sheet and I believe that will either keep her on L.A.’s roster next season or she’ll get picked up elsewhere. Cooper has not scored much as of late, but her entry passes and ability to run point to rest Gray has been vital for the contending team. However, Te’a does have to improve her finishing at the basket and not just aim for creating contact. On the defensive side of the ball, Cooper continues to make life hard for opposing guards with her tenacious defense. -Teylor
Joyner Holmes
Holmes has played in 12 games, and averaged 2.7 points per game, and 2.1 rebounds per game. She is only shooting 7% from 3. I think Holmes is going to have to get that 3 pointer to go down to see more playing time. In this new Walt Hopkins system, shooting lots of 3s. -Blake
Beatrice Mompremier
Beatrice Mompremier has gotten limited playing time for the Connecticut Sun as the Sun have turned their season around after they got off to a bad start and has had some good, not so great games when she has more playing time. She’s still finding her way in the WNBA and still needs time to adjust to the WNBA. – Aneela
Kaila Charles
Charles has played in 13 games. She’s averaging 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. She’s now shooting 42% from the field, and 33% from 3. These shooting percentages are a huge improvement since our last rookie reports. She’s definitely developing into a good option off the bench for Connecticut. – Blake
Jaylyn Agnew
Jaylyn Agnew hasn’t seen much time on the court despite Atlanta being down a guard, specifically not playing at all in the last two games. Agnew is averaging nearly 7 minutes of playing time in her 10 games played. – Teylor
Stella Johnson
Stella Johnson was cut by the Chicago Sky and was quickly picked up by Washington. Johnson went from playing less than two minutes a game through eight games to starting for the Mystics in just two. Stella marked career-highs in points(25), minutes played (31), and field goals made (8) versus Atlanta. With this young Mystics team that doesn’t have a legit number one option, look for the Rider grad to make some more noise in her rookie campaign. – Teylor
Ezi Magbegor
Ezi Magbegor has played in all 15 Seattle Storm games and has looked good in her limited minutes of play. She is currently averaging 6.3 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game in only 13 minutes per game. She is one of the future stars for the Seattle Storm and is getting better every game. – Aneela
Julie Allemand
Allemand has had an excellent rookie campaign so far. She’s averaging 5.5 assists per game which is the most by a rookie, and second in the league. Julie is shooting 48.2% from 3 which is 4th best in the WNBA. She is getting 1.5 steals per game which is first among rookies. Allemand is averaging 8.4 points per game which ranks 5th among rookies. Julie should definitely be in the rookie of the year conversation. -Blake
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