Top 20 WNBA players countdown, ranked for the 2018 season: Part 1

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Renee Montgomery #21 of the Minnesota Lynx protest the ball against Alana Beard #0 of the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Three of the 2017 WNBA Finals on September 29, 2017 at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Renee Montgomery #21 of the Minnesota Lynx protest the ball against Alana Beard #0 of the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Three of the 2017 WNBA Finals on September 29, 2017 at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
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ROSEMONT, IL – SEPTEMBER 3: Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the Chicago Sky goes for a lay up against the Seattle Storm on September 3, 2017 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
ROSEMONT, IL – SEPTEMBER 3: Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the Chicago Sky goes for a lay up against the Seattle Storm on September 3, 2017 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

15. Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky

Another year, another evolution for Courtney Vandersloot, who forced her way into Chicago’s starting lineup, and reached another level as a distributor. She’s the current active leader in assist percentage at 32.3 percent, but in 2017? She led the league with a 41.9 percent mark. Her three-point percentage of 38.2 means defenders can’t sag off her, and that led to finishing around the rim at an elevated rate, with Vandersloot sinking 56.7 percent of her twos. Defensively, she was elite as well, finishing seventh in the league, per Synergy, in defensive points per possession. Vandersloot is 29, and at the peak of her powers.