8. Phoenix Mercury: Alanna Smith, 6’4 F, Stanford
Reunited and it feels so good: Sandy Brondello and Alanna Smith, bringing their connection from Australia to the United States. Smith is shooting 46.6 percent from three-point range and 53.6 percent overall from the field, as a high-usage focal point of Stanford’s offense. She outdueled Brown and Lauren Cox in Baylor’s only loss of the season, and her defensive metrics are similarly impressive—block rate at almost ten percent, steal rate around 2 percent. She provides plenty of offensive firepower and another person to gameplan against along with Phoenix’s big three. A lineup with Smith and Briann January (assuming she returns) stretching defenses alongside the trio of Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and DeWanna Bonner is probably the best starting five in the league.