2. New York Liberty: Arike Ogunbowale, 5’8 G, Notre Dame
It is easy to coast on thinking about Ogunbowale as she was last year — a killer, who understands the moment and gets to the basket at will — and miss what she’s done this season, which is to become a complete playmaker. The assist rate keeps rising, up to 21 percent on the year, while the turnover rate, always a strength, continues to fall, down to 10.8 percent. She hasn’t turned the ball over more than twice in a game since January 24. This is no small thing for the Liberty, who finished 11th in the league in turnover percentage last season. For the Liberty, this means a dynamic duo of Ogunbowale and Tina Charles to create inside-outside matchup nightmares, and maximizes shooters around them, with Amanda Zahui B. and Rebecca Allen up to the task. Kia Nurse can be a legit third offensive option and defensive stopper. It’s a pretty strong starting five, along with whichever other options New York chooses to bring along for the ride in free agency. Sugar Rodgers is the likely first option as a shooter (note, in previous version, we incorrectly said Rodgers is unsigned for 2019, she is under contract), but Durr would offer a different look at the two guard spot.