WNBA news: Ranking the Top 20 2018 WNBA Unrestricted Free Agents

[caption id="attachment_5421" align="alignnone" width="850"] MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 4: Rebekkah Brunson[/caption]rnrnThe most wonderful time of the WNBA hot stove is nearly upon us! We've already ranked the WNBA restricted free agents . Accordingly, here is a complete list of WNBA unrestricted free agents, with the top 20 ranked.rnrn[recentposts align="right" thiscategory="yes" /]rnrnThis list does not reflect any upcoming moves by teams to core players and submit qualifying offers. Both can take place during the first half of January. The second half of January, players can negotiate with teams.rn Come February 1, the league’s offseason is fully open for business, and players can re-sign with their current squads or sign with new teams.

rnSo who can make the biggest impact? Let the countdown begin!rnrn[nextslide teaser="Honorable mention" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6684" align="alignnone" width="850"] INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 2: Alex Montgomery[/caption]rn The Best of the Rest rnThose just off our countdown list have plenty to offer WNBA teams. Tiffany Jackson-Jones, Kayla Pedersen and Sandrine Gruda provide defensive rebounding off the bench. For size with a bit more scoring, there's Erika de Souza, Lynetta Kizer, or Aneika Henry-Morello . Backcourt options include Shay Murphy , Matee Ajavon and Noelle Quinn , while Alex Montgomery is a versatile wing.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Bounceback Cappie" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6686" align="alignnone" width="850"] NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 28: Cappie Pondexter[/caption]rnrn 20. Cappie Pondexter rnrn 2017 notable stats: 23.9 assist percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Rotation guard rnrnIt is odd to place Cappie Pondexter this low. A highly-accomplished player with seven all-star appearances on her resume, Pondexter earned first team all-WNBA honors as recently as 2012. But the statistical decline in her game is notable and alarming. Pondexter's true shooting percentage dropped to just 43.4 percent in 2017, a career-low, while her Player Efficiency Rating checked in at 9.1, down from a career PER of 18.8. Amber Stocks started her, then played her off the bench. What is she, if not a featured scorer? Someone will find out, and it will be fascinating to see.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Heartwarming return" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn 19. Danielle Adams rnrn 2017 notable stats: 38.7 percent from three, 3.7 block percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Backup stretch five rnrnA small but significant part of the 2017 Connecticut breakout season, Adams found her way back into the league after conditioning had stalled her WNBA career, missing the 2016 season. But she is a solid fit for what the league looks for out of bigs—not only can she shoot from deep, she's a solid rim protector, and even her 2.4 steal percentage reflects a more diversified game than she gets credit for.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Shooting star" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6709" align="alignnone" width="850"] INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 23: Jeanette Pohlen-Mavunga[/caption]rnrn 18. Jeanette Pohlen-Mavunga rnrn 2017 notable stats: 38.5 percent from three rnrn Projected 2018 role: Rotation wing rnrnAny team in need of shooting off the bench should be calling Pohlen-Mavunga, who boasts a career mark of 42 percent from beyond the arc, with a 6' frame that allows her to get those shots off against most charged with defending her. Her career assist percentage of 9.8 reflects an ability to serve as secondary playmaker when asked, but designated shooter is really the right role for her.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Rebounding Paris" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6710" align="alignnone" width="850"] ROSEMONT, IL - AUGUST 30: Courtney Paris[/caption]rnrn 17. Courtney Paris rnrn 2017 notable stats: 18.9 defensive rebounding percentage, 3.1 block percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Rotation five rnrnDon't lose sight of this: the Oklahoma product is one of the best rebounders in the history of the league. Paris posted a 20.2 rebounding percentage for her career so far, just behind Cheryl Ford on the all-time list, and ahead of everybody else . But Paris, hampered by injury in 2017, saw her overall production drop significantly. Now 30, assuming good health, she can help teams who need interior help, but will she be as productive as she was in her 20s?rnrn[nextslide teaser="Reliable Kia" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6713" align="alignnone" width="850"] NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 1: Kia Vaughn[/caption]rnrn 16. Kia Vaughn rnrn 2017 notable stats: 54.5 true shooting percentage, 11.3 offensive rebounding percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Rotation five rnrnYou know what you're getting with Vaughn—a tough-minded player, efficient around the rim, monster on the offensive boards. She helped the Liberty manage a down year from Kiah Stokes and quickly won a favored spot in Bill Laimbeer's rotation. It's safe to assume she'll do the same for whoever her next employer is.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Valuable Ivory" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6714" align="alignnone" width="850"] MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 12: Ivory Latta[/caption]rnrn 15. Ivory Latta rnrn 2017 notable stats: 13.1 PER, 18.0 assist percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Rotation guard rnrnOne of the most prolific three-point shooters in WNBA history, Latta has seen her accuracy drop over the past two years as she's battled various maladies. One of the toughest competitors in the league, though, Latta hasn't stopped giving max effort whenever she gets onto the court, and it is easy to imagine a return to her 2015 form from deep with the blessing of good health in 2018. In the meantime, if you have children, buy her book .rnrn[nextslide teaser="Big role for Lyttle" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6715" align="alignnone" width="850"] PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 3: Sancho Lyttle[/caption]rnrn 14. Sancho Lyttle rnrn 2017 notable stats: 23.3 defensive rebounding percentage, 2.8 steal percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Rotation wing/big rnrnNow 34, Lyttle clearly isn't quite the player she was in her prime, a remarkably gluttonous consumer of rebounds and possessions, but she remains an elite presence on the glass, capable of stepping into passing lanes and creating opportunities out of the high post on offense, finishing as well. Michael Cooper's system fit her well, but so will many others.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Favored Currie" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6716" align="alignnone" width="850"] PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 3: Monique Currie[/caption]rnrn 13. Monique Currie rnrn 2017 notable stats: 17.2 PER, 39.8 percent from three, 18.3 assist percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Big minutes at the wing rnrnMonique Currie will turn 35 before the 2018 WNBA season begins, but she shows no signs of slowing down. Her true shooting percentage of 56.3 rated highest of her career since 2007, and after doing a bit of everything early on for the injury-ravaged San Antonio Stars ( and fighting with Brittany Boyd ), she worked her way into the starting lineup for a Phoenix Mercury team that reached the WNBA semifinals. Per Synergy, her defensive Points Per Possession rated 12th in the entire league. It was a remarkable season.rnrn[nextslide teaser="A Feverish contributor" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6717" align="alignnone" width="850"] INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 1: Shenise Johnson[/caption]rnrn 12. Shenise Johnson rnrn 2017 notable stats: 19.8 PER, 11.1 turnover percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Starting guard rnrnHere's a stat that tells you what you need to know about Johnson: Indiana's record was 7-7 with Johnson. After a knee injury ended her season, Pokey Chatman's Fever finished 2-18. And Chatman was vocal about how big the loss of Johnson was, with the guard headed toward a likely all-star appearance. Entering her age-27 season, assuming a return to good health, she will remain an upper-echelon guard in the league.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Christmas-Kelly gave you Wings" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6719" align="alignnone" width="850"] WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 6: Karima Christmas-Kelly[/caption]rnrn 11. Karima Christmas-Kelly rnrn 2017 notable stats: 53.6 true shooting percentage, 12.2 assist percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Starting three rnrnChristmas-Kelly was an integral part of the unexpected Dallas playoff run last year. She can guard threes or fours, she can create offense out of the wing, she seems to always come up with the big rebound or defensive stop when it matters, and any team in need of toughness would be wise to call her this winter.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Two-way Tamera" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6720" align="alignnone" width="850"] ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 15: Tamera Young[/caption]rnrn 10. Tamera Young rnrn 2017 notable stats: 34.2 percent from three, 11.8 assist percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Rotation wing rnrnYoung had a bit of a lost season in 2017, getting dealt from Chicago to Atlanta. But she is a legit 6'2, capable of guarding threes or fours, and was an absolute defensive monster as recently as 2016. As a free agent, she can pick her next destination, and there are plenty of ways she can help a team as a true two-way player.rnrn[nextslide teaser="How the Sun rose" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6721" align="alignnone" width="850"] UNCASVILLE, CT - AUGUST 23: Connecticut Sun Guard / Forward Shekinna Stricklen (40) gestures to the referee during the game as the Connecticut Sun host the Dallas Wings on August 23, 2017 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn 9. Shekinna Stricklen rnrn 2017 notable stats: 41 percent from three, 2.2 steal percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Starting wing rnrnIt is easy to get lost in the remarkable shooting display of Stricklen in 2017—including seven threes in a single game against the Storm —and miss all that she does. Her turnover percentage of just 10.5 in the high-octane Curt Miller offense reflects a career-long ability to take care of the ball. Per Synergy, she finished 32nd of 125 WNBA players in defensive points per possession (minimum 50 possessions). She gets her shot whenever she wants it, of course, and that is what will keep her employed for as long as she cares to play, but she is not one-dimensional.rnrn[nextslide teaser="The valued understudy" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6722" align="alignnone" width="850"] MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 4: Renee Montgomery[/caption]rnrn 8. Renee Montgomery rnrn 2017 notable stats: 23.0 assist percentage, 35.8 percent from three rnrn Projected 2018 role: Backup point guard in Minnesota or starter elsewhere rnrnIt is hard to imagine Minnesota letting Montgomery head elsewhere, so let's just stipulate that she'd make an excellent starting point guard. She hits threes in bunches, she finished eleventh in the league, per Synergy, in defensive points per possession, she just had the most efficient season from two of her career, and she's still just 31. She filled in admirably for Lindsay Whalen when the latter got hurt late in the 2017 season. She is a key component to one of the great teams in the history of the league.rnrn[nextslide teaser="The Great Wheel of Efficiency" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6724" align="alignnone" width="850"] WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 1: Crystal Langhorne[/caption]rnrn 7. Crystal Langhorne rnrn 2017 notable stats: 67.1 true shooting percentage, 19.7 defensive rebounding percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Starting four/five rnrnEven amid a challenging season for the Seattle Storm, Crystal Langhorne's team finished fourth in offensive efficiency in the league, which is what happens when you employ the most efficient scorer this side of Nneka Ogwumike. Though she is no longer the offensive rebounding force she was early in her career with Washington, Langhorne is in most other respects the same player who made a pair of all-star teams with the Mystics: she seldom misses, collects plenty of defensive rebounds, and defends opposing bigs well enough. The Storm cored her last season, and the smart money is on them doing so again.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Mother of twins and baskets" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6725" align="alignnone" width="850"] INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 2: Candice Dupree[/caption]rnrn 6. Candice Dupree rnrn 2017 notable stats: 18.0 PER, 20.1 defensive rebounding percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Starting wing rnrnHere's what Dupree's 2017 looked like: asked by Indiana to assume Tamika Catchings' role in the offense, she didn't miss a beat, putting up numbers at similar efficiency to those she managed in Phoenix despite taking on the usage load of a number one scorer. Oh, did we mention she did it while raising newborn twins with her wife, DeWanna Bonner ?rnrn[nextslide teaser="Underrated Sky" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6726" align="alignnone" width="850"] ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 1: Jessica Breland[/caption]rnrn 5. Jessica Breland rnrn 2017 notable stats: 38.1 percent from three, 5.2 block percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Starting four rnrnI'm not sure there's a more underrated player in the WNBA than Jessica Breland. Not only has she been a career-long rebounding machine, capable of guarding threes, fours or fives, she went out and added a shot from beyond the arc in 2017 while finishing third in the league in block percentage. And yet, she's made just one all-star team*, she's played for three teams, somehow she gets overlooked as she nears 30. It absolutely puzzles me.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Raining threes" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6727" align="alignnone" width="850"] UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT- JULY 25: Allie Quigley[/caption]rnrn 4. Allie Quigley rnrn 2017 notable stats: 43 percent from three, 18.8 assist percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Shooter, from anywhere, at anytime rnrnThis late-blooming star finally received her due, starting for Amber Stocks in Chicago, getting selected to her first all-star team, all while sinking threes as effectively as ever despite increased defensive attention and a heavier minutes load. Note also that within Stocks' offense, she managed to become an effective secondary playmaker alongside the great Courtney Vandersloot. There's really not a more prototypical two guard in the league.rnrn[nextslide teaser="The stopper" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6728" align="alignnone" width="850"] MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 4: Maya Moore and Alana Beard[/caption]rnrn 3. Alana Beard rnrn 2017 notable stats: 55.1 true shooting percentage, 3.5 steal percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Premature ender of opposing possessions rnrnWhat greater joy is there in WNBA viewing than watching Alana Beard defend someone? It's hard to think of any. Finally, she won Defensive Player of the Year honors, stripping the ball seemingly at will, while posting her most efficient offensive shooting season since 2006. Rumors of her retirement were unfounded, per a league source, and we are all the better for it. Except for anyone trying to score on her, that is.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Brand-new Brunson" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6729" align="alignnone" width="850"] MINNEAPOLIS, MN - October 20: Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson of the Minnesota Lynx's are seen during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz on October 20, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn 2. Rebekkah Brunson rnrn 2017 notable stats: 34.8 percent from three, 22.0 defensive rebounding percentage rnrn Projected 2018 role: Stretch four moving toward the Hall of Fame rnrnThere might have been no more surprising development in 2017 than Brunson's embracing of a new role: perimeter shooter for a Minnesota Lynx team looking to diversify offensively. Not only did it create another question for opponents to answer in Brunson herself, the newfound room led to the best season of Sylvia Fowles' career, with Minnesota finishing atop the league in offensive efficiency. If Cheryl Reeve is to be commended for conceiving of it, and she should, Brunson's ability to add another dimension in her age-35 season, trading offensive boards for the three-point line, must be recognized as well .rnrn[nextslide teaser="The Superstar" slider="true" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_6730" align="alignnone" width="850"] NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 10: Tina Charles[/caption]rnrn 1. Tina Charles rnrn 2017 notable stats: 25.7 defensive rebounding percentage, 10.8 turnover percentage, many others rnrn Projected 2018 role: Superstar rnrnOnce again, Tina Charles lifted the New York Liberty into the upper echelon of the WNBA without the kind of complementary star that essentially every other top-tier team could count on. With a usage rate around 30 percent once more, the Liberty lived and died on Charles' performances. Somehow, she manages to be more than the sum of her diversified scoring game, however, with a solid 16.2 assist percentage a testament to her ability to pass out of double-teams, and a turnover rate reflecting how unflappable she is in the face of relentless defensive pressure. Oh, did I mention she was 27th of 125, per Synergy, in defensive points per possession? Assuming the Liberty aren't sold to a new owner intent upon causing a riot among the fan base, and Charles wishes to remain, figure she'll stay in New York as long as the team does in 2018. But if by some chance she goes elsewhere, she can fundamentally change any franchise's trajectory.rnrn* Originally, this article said Jessica Breland did not make an all-star team. We regret the error.

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Ranking the Top 20 2018 WNBA Unrestricted Free Agents

The Best of the Rest

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