The 2023 WNBA Playoffs are upon us.
Considering a recent Associated Press (AP) report that stated how the league is having its most-watched regular season in 21 years, viewership being up 21%, game attendance being up 16% from last season, and total attendance being the league's highest in 13 years — this is the most anticipated WNBA playoffs in the league's 27-year history.
The WNBA has never been this talented, either. Luckily for both the league and its fans, most of the WNBA's biggest stars are playing for teams in this year's playoffs. Therefore, we thought it would be fun to rank the 10 best players in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs. While it was tough to whittle down the list to 10, this elite group is guaranteed to make the 2023 WNBA Playoffs must-see TV.
10. Jonquel Jones (Forward, New York Liberty)
2023 regular season stats: 11.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG
Jonquel Jones is the New York Liberty's unsung hero. While most of the team's headlines are taken by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, Jones — the WNBA's 2021 MVP — does much of the Liberty's dirty work on both offense and defense, which makes her invaluable. In fact, the Liberty winning the 2021 Commissioner's Cup was largely owed to Jones' 16-point, 15-rebound, defensive masterclass. If Jones can continue to captain the defense while Breanna Stewart heads the offensive attack, the New York Liberty will likely make their first WNBA Finals appearance in 21 years.
9. Kelsey Plum (Guard, Las Vegas Aces)
18.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 4.5 APG
Since the Las Vegas Aces are stacked with superstars, Kelcey Plum has had to transition away from the scoring-focused role she's had her entire career to being more of a playmaker. Yet, Plum was still the Aces' second-highest scorer. The University of Washington legend also produced her most efficient shooting season ever, posting a career-high 47.5% overall field goal percentage while still ranking sixth in the WNBA in 3-pointers, with 95. Plum's unselfish play and leadership is a major reason why the Las Vegas Aces are favorites to win the 2023 WNBA Finals.
8. Chelsea Gray (Guard, Las Vegas Aces)
15.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, 4.0 RPG
The second Aces star on this list (with more to come), Chelsea Gray serves as the team's lead facilitator. One of the most intuitive passers that the league has ever seen, Gray finished the season with 7.3 assists per game — good for third best in the WNBA. She also produced the most points per game of her career, with 15.3. Gray is truly a jack-of-all-trades for the Aces, and her ability to distribute the ball to her team's many extraordinary players is perhaps her best quality.
7. Satou Sabally (Forward, Dallas Wings)
18.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.4 APG
After being the 2nd overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, Satou Sabally has finally blossomed into the player everybody knew she could be. This season, Sabally — who'll likely win the 2023 Most Improved Player award — produced 14 double-doubles, recorded the Wings' first ever triple-double in July, and her 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists this season are all career-highs. Sabally's 1st career 40 point performance earlier this month allowed the Wings to clinch the #4 seed in this year's playoffs.
The scariest part about Sabally — at least, for other teams in the league — is that she hasn't yet reached her peak. If that peak arrives during this year's playoffs, the Wings will be in prime position to upset the Aces in the second round.
6. Sabrina Ionescu (Guard, New York Liberty)
17.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.4 APG
Sabrina Ionescu is often viewed as the future face of the WNBA. Yet, the future may have already arrived. Days after her debut signature sneaker release earlier this month, Ionescu set the all-time WNBA single season record for three-pointers made, with 128. Aside from that historic achievement, what has been most impressive about Ionescu this season is how she adapted to having the ball in her hands less, and leaned into her otherworldly passing ability. She also produced less turnovers than she ever has in her career. It's already Sabrina Ionescu's world — but if she can help lead the Liberty to a WNBA Championship this season, her superstar potential will increase tenfold.
5. Jackie Young (Guard, Las Vegas Aces)
17.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.8 APG
The third Aces guard on this list, Jackie Young completes the three-headed monster that is Las Vegas's backcourt. Young's strongest asset is her shot selection; proven by her effective field goal percentage (which adjusts for the greater value of 3-pointers) was 61.7%, which led the league. Since her team is so loaded with superstars, Young's ability to find the ideal shot during each possession is paramount to the Aces' success. She never seems to be out of place, is one step ahead of her opponent, and can command the court like a general on a battlefield. Jackie Young might have the most well-rounded game out of all WMNA guards.
4. Napheesa Collier (Forward, Minnesota Lynx)
21.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.6 SPG
After missing much of the 2022 season due to maternity leave, Napheesa Collier returned to the league this year with a vengeance. Finishing fourth in WNBA in points per game (21.5), Collier led the Minnesota Lynx to the #6 seed in this year's playoffs. Yet, scoring isn't her sole attribute. The former UConn standout makes her presence known on both ends of the floor, and has also emerged as a leader in the Lynx's clubhouse. One imagines that the Lynx would have missed the playoffs if not for Collier's on and off court direction. If she is able to lead the Lynx to a shocking upset of the Connecticut Sun in the first round, Collier will need to receive her flowers.
3. Alyssa Thomas (Forward, Connecticut Sun)
15.5 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 7.9 APG
Alyssa Thomas is the WNBA's best defender — proven by her winning the WNBA Sporting News Awards 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award one day ago. Yet, her defensive excellence is just one of many tools that Thomas provides. Her six triple-doubles, 28 double-doubles, league-leading 9.9 rebounds per game, and finishing second in the league with 7.9 assists per game solidifies Thomas as one of world's best players. Although Thomas herself would tell you that none of those absurd stats mean a thing if she doesn't end her 2023 season hoisting the championship trophy.
2. A'ja Wilson (Forward, Las Vegas Aces)
22.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG
Anybody that has followed the WNBA even remotely this season knows that the league's best player comes down to two women. Deciding which is those two players to rank second on this list was incredibly tough, because both are more than deserving of the top spot. Alas, one had to be #2 — hence why A'ja Wilson appears here.
A'ja Wilson is a two-time WNBA MVP, and could very well win her third such award at season's end. Considering that Wilson posted career-best averages in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage (55.7) — all while only averaging 30.7 minutes per game — she has clearly improved from those past MVP seasons. The only remaining question about Wilson is whether she'll be able to lead her Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back WNBA Championships. If she does, then her and the next player on this list would be flipped.
1. Breanna Stewart (Forward, New York Liberty)
23.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.8 APG
In her first season with the New York Liberty, Breanna Stewart took her game to the next level. After finishing second in the league in points per game, third in rebounds, third in blocks, having four 40-point games, and briefly holding the record for most points scored in a season, Stewart is the biggest reason why the Liberty are likely to breeze through this year's playoffs, all the way to the WNBA Finals. Stewart also is — along with A'ja Wilson — a frontrunner to win this year's MVP award. She is certainly one of the world's two best female basketball players.
With so many insanely skilled players and talented teams in the 2023 WNBA playoffs, fans are in for a treat. Will the Finals matchup be between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, as these rankings might lead us to believe? Or will a team featuring one of the four non-New York or Las Vegas players in this list produce a massive upset? There's only one way to find out.
