Paige Bueckers just hung 32 points on our Seattle squad in three quarters on Sunday, making a loud statement right before ESPN dropped their ranking of the WNBA’s Top 50 players. It turns out, that dominant performance was just a peek at how high some former UConn stars are climbing, including one familiar face that used to rep the Emerald City. The WNBA regular season is flying by, and before the league’s top players head off for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, ESPN just unleashed their take on the 50 best players, and the Huskies are absolutely owning it.
Stewart is Elite, Bueckers is Scary Good
Breanna Stewart, coming in at a mind-blowing No. 3, is still the ultra-dependable beast we’ve always known, despite some three-point struggles. She’s rocking 20.8 points, over eight boards, and three assists per game this season. The Liberty might be a bit of a letdown at 23-15 with their worst defensive rating ever, but ESPN says Stewart is still carrying them, doing it all, and is a legit MVP candidate. She’s a three-time champ, folks, and still putting up her highest points per game since her last MVP season, ranking fifth in the whole league in scoring!
Then there’s Paige Bueckers, checking in at No. 5, who honestly looked like the second-best player in the league earlier this season! She was an All-Star captain and ranked second in MVP voting before the All-Star break. Yeah, her numbers dipped a bit since then, but don’t sleep on her. That 32-point explosion against Seattle on Sunday? Or her 22-point, 11-assist double-double on Tuesday against Portland? The young point guard is absolutely stepping up with her former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd out for the season with knee surgery. ESPN flat out says she’s “come into her own as one of the best guards in the league.”
Collier’s Comeback and Williams’ Seattle Roots
Just behind Bueckers at No. 7, we’ve got Napheesa Collier, and her story is wild. She was sidelined for almost a full year, battling double ankle surgery, but man, has she come back with a vengeance! Since returning on July 22, she’s been “utterly dominant” in 11 games, averaging over 18 points and seven rebounds, while hitting a ridiculous 45 percent from three-point range. You wouldn’t even know she had major surgery on both ankles, that’s how good she’s been for Minnesota.
And then, at No. 21, we have Gabby Williams. Now, for us Seattle fans, this one stings a little. Gabby left the Emerald City as a free agent this offseason, heading to Golden State. When she was here, she led the WNBA in steals and earned First-Team All-Defense honors, which just shows you the caliber of player we had. She’s still doing her thing on defense out in Golden State, which is no surprise to anyone who watched her play here.
So, while we’re watching these UConn legends tear it up, and our Seattle squad has to regroup, the WNBA is about to hit that World Cup break. These players will be taking their talents global before it’s straight into the playoffs. You gotta wonder if Gabby will make Seattle fans miss her even more with her defensive prowess, or if Bueckers will keep dropping bombs on anyone in her way. It’s gonna be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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