3. Alana Beard
2017 notable stats: 55.1 true shooting percentage, 3.5 steal percentage
Projected 2018 role: Premature ender of opposing possessions
What 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.