The first week of the WNBA season has begun. Massive games have already taken place so far, such as the New York Liberty vs the Indiana Fever, the Indiana Fever vs the Chicago Sky, and the New York Liberty vs the Las Vegas Aces. These games are important for the teams involved as they can send a message early in the season. There have also been memorable moments, such as a dispute between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. Here’s what we learned from the first week of WNBA action.
Three Key Takeaways From The First Week Of The WNBA
A’ja Wilson is Dropping Off
A’ja Wilson has dropped off a level so far this season. Last year, she had a historic campaign. She became the first player to score 1,000 points when she averaged 26.9 points. So far this season, she has averaged 22.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 4 assists, a slight drop off. Whilst it is not bad, she has not started as well as Napheesa Collier, who was last season’s DPOY. If she continues on this form, then she may not win league MVP again this season. Her slow start to the campaign can be attributed to her not playing in Unrivaled, as she has been rusty to begin the season. The Las Vegas Aces need her to be at her best to give themselves a chance to win another championship. Last year, they fell to the New York Liberty in the semifinals.
Napheesa Collier is Taking the WNBA By Storm
Napheesa Collier is coming into her own this season. So far, she is averaging 29.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists across four games. It is no surprise that she started well, as she was exceptional in Unrivaled and finished second in MVP voting last year. In 14 games for Unrivaled, Collier averaged 25.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 18.6 minutes. She also outperformed everyone and won the 1v1 tournament. Collier is playing with a chip on her shoulder after narrowly missing out on a championship last year. If she continues playing like this, then she could win the league MVP. It is hard to believe the former UConn graduate was drafted sixth in her draft class, given how good she has become.
Rickea Jackson Hasn’t Started Well
Rickea Jackson will feel as though she could have gotten off to a better start this season. In the first game against the Minnesota Lynx, she scored eight points, and in the following game versus the Golden State Valkyries, she recorded 13 points. This is underwhelming, as some felt she was the best scorer in last year’s draft. To make matters worse, she is out indefinitely with a concussion. She collided with Alanna Smith when diving for a loose ball and fell to the ground clutching her face. Her performances aren’t a cause for concern yet, as it is still early in the season, and she didn’t start well last year, either. It is still surprising as she played in Unrivaled this offseason, while others like A’ja Wilson did not.
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