Top 20 WNBA players countdown, ranked for the 2018 season: Part 2

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Candace Parker #3 of the Los Angeles Sparks plays defense against Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx 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) /

2 of 11

LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 15: Chelsea Gray #12 and Brian Agler of the Los Angeles Sparks pose for a portrait at Los Angeles Athletic Club on May 15, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

10. Chelsea Gray

It’s worth considering just how much the ascension of the Sparks into a duopoly with the Minnesota Lynx came directly from Chelsea Gray turning into an all-league player. After all, Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike were great, yet the Sparks did not separate from the pack until Gray came over from the Sun in a trade following the 2015 season. Her physicality at the position—5’11 and massively strong—makes her impossible to stop going downhill, and she is quick enough to ably defend opposing 1s as well. She made almost half her threes last season, so no one can sag off her defensively, either, or let her get an open look via screen. And there’s even more ahead of her: she’s just 25.

Home/WNBA