A lot has been happening in the WNBA lately. Between the race for the finals and Napheesa Collier’s explosive comments about the league’s leadership, the All-Rookie, All-WNBA, and All-Defensive team selections have been almost forgotten. The All-Rookie Team was announced a few days ago. It features Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Dominique Malonga, and Janelle Salaün.
None of those selections is surprising. Bueckers, Citron, and Iriafen had their spots locked down months ago. While Malonga got off to a slow start, she quickly made league history. She became the youngest player to record a double-double, for example, and looked great in her playoff debut. Janelle Salaün helped lead the Golden State Valkyries to a historic playoff appearance.
The WNBA only has one All-Rookie team, so snubs are inevitable in most seasons. This year, Monique Akoa Makani, who flew under the radar as an undrafted player on a star-studded team, falls into that category. The 24-year-old surprised many with her immediate impact on the Phoenix Mercury and continues to prove her talent as the starting point guard for one of the two finals teams. In fact, Akoa Makani is one of two rookies still playing significant minutes. The other one is her teammate Kathryn Westbeld. The finals are the perfect opportunity for Akoa Makani to highlight her impressive rookie season and show that she deserved a spot on the All-Rookie Team.
Akoa Makani will face a tough challenge in the finals
Finals teams rarely rely on 24-year-old rookies to run the show, but the Phoenix Mercury have found plenty of success with Akoa Makani in the starting lineup, averaging the sixth most minutes on the team. What makes it work is a combination of Akoa Makani’s experience playing professionally in France before coming to the WNBA, her defense, and Alyssa Thomas’s playmaking ability.
Akoa Makani’s defense, in particular, has stood out in the playoffs. In the first round, the Mercury trusted her to guard four-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu. In the next series, the rookie matched up with Courtney Williams. The finals will present even more challenging matchups.
Between Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, and Dana Evans, the Aces have an incredibly strong and veteran guard rotation. During the regular season, Akoa Makani’s primary matchup against the Aces was Jackie Young.
Young has played a great postseason so far, averaging 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.4 steals. She is the team’s second-leading scorer behind A’ja Wilson and usually the key to the Aces’ success. If Young doesn’t have a good game, there is little support for Wilson, and, as great as the four-time MVP is, she can’t always outscore other teams’ stars all by herself.
Limiting Jackie Young could be the key to the Mercury winning a championship.