Ranking the Top Five Players to Watch in the WNBA Playoffs

With the start of the WNBA playoffs just around the corner, there is much intrigue surrounding this postseason. The names and storylines are all there; from A'Ja Wilson's dominant MVP season to rookie sensations and a new era of W basketball, fans will be tuning in to see the best of the best go at it. For me, there are players on every team I'll be going out of my way to watch, but here are my top five must-see players for the 2024 WNBA Playoffs.

1. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

After Sunday's win over the Dallas Wings, Caitlin Clark broke the record for most points in a rookie season with 769. She also has more assists in a season (337) and a single game (19) than anyone and became the first rookie to record a triple-double (she now has two). Clark's meteoric rise over the last two years shows no signs of slowing down, and she has now led the Fever to their first playoff appearance in eight years.

The most exciting part of Clark's game is undeniably her long-range shooting. She currently leads the W in three-point attempts (9.0), which has her defenders on alert at all times. Because of her threat as a shooter, her passing is unlocked, especially in the open court, as she is averaging a league-leading 8.4 assists a game. Clark is the engine of the Fever's run-and-gun playstyle (third in pace) and makes this team a real threat in the playoffs.

2. A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

In the 28-year history of the WNBA, no player had recorded a 1,000-point season... until Sunday. A'ja Wilson's 29-point effort (13/25 from the field) in the Aces' 13-point victory over the Connecticut Sun set her apart from the field for good. Wilson's resume is already one of the most decorated in the sport's history, and she is well on her way to securing her third MVP and third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year.

As a team, the Aces will look to become the first three-peat champions since the 1999 Houston Comets (who won the first four WNBA championships), and a large, if not the sole reason for Vegas' success is Wilson's dominant run. Her 32.24 usage rate is the 10th highest in W history and has led to her averaging the most points ever at 26.9 a night. A two-way force, Wilson's efficient, volume scoring is accompanied by her league-leading 2.6 blocks on an Aces team that is ranked fifth in defensive rating (first over the last 10 games). If the Aces can secure their third championship in as many years, A'ja Wilson's 2024 season could be the best we've ever seen.

3. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

The W has been blessed with many great players, most of whom have filled in at the forward spot. Combo, do-it-all wings - like Candace Parker or Breanna Stewart - that can elevate their team's play on both ends are some of the most valuable assets in this league. Fortunately, for the Minnesota Lynx, Napheesa Collier has been that huge value add for a team looking to return to championship form.

Collier enters the postseason averaging the fifth most points (20.9) on an efficient 49.2 percent from the field. A mid-range, post-up specialist, Collier uses deft footwork and fakes to carve out space in the paint, where she connects on 42 percent of her attempts. This season is also her best passing year, averaging a career-high 3.4 assists.

On the other end of the floor, Collier has proven to be one of the most switchable and disruptive defenders. She is sending back 1.4 shots a game and snatching 1.9 steals (third in the W). All of this activity has the Lynx ranked second in defensive rating and makes Collier a legit Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

4. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty

The Liberty has been the best team in the WNBA all year as they feature arguably the most talented roster in the association. One of the core pieces of this team is dual-threat guard Sabrina Ionescu.

The former number one overall pick seamlessly exchanges between pick and roll maestro to off-ball shooter. Her volume shooting makes her a primary responsibility as she comes off ball screens with the ability to pull up or dump it off to a rolling teammate. Yet, with the addition of Courtney Vandersloot last season, Ionescu has become as dangerous away from the ball as she is with it. Nearly 80 percent of her three-pointers are assisted, meaning you better not lose sight of her after she gets rid of the rock.

Ionescu's eight attempted threes a game (33.3 percent shooting) only trail Clark's and that long-range prowess opens up her playmaking. Sabrina currently sits fifth in the W averaging 6.2 assists. This combo threat of shooting and passing is why the Liberty has put the ball in Ionescu's hands more (26.9 usage rate) and the results speak for themselves. New York has the best offense in the league and boasts a whopping 11.7 net rating. So far, they've looked like the team to beat, and Sabrina Ionescu is at the center of this team's success.

5. Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun

Here are some of the boxes Alyssa Thomas checks:

• Stat sheet stuffer

• Defensive menace

• Got that dawg in her

• Ultra competitor

• Two torn labrums

It's crazy to think of playing basketball without being able to lift your arms above your head, and yet Thomas has gone on to be one of the most impactful two-way players in the game. Preferring to get surgery after her playing career, Thomas has found ways to win basketball games as a playmaker, a bruising interior scorer, and a dogged defender.

Her 7.9 assists per game and 40.2 assist percentage are the second-highest averages in the W, yet she has one of the lowest usage percentages in the league. Thomas' high-level rebounding (8.5 per game) flows effortlessly into pinpoint open-court passes, and her quick processing and decision-making skills allow the Sun's offense to operate through her unimpeded.

Defensively, Thomas is a vocal and demonstrative leader whose versatility and competitive drive have anchored the best defense in the WNBA. Thomas' active hands (1.6 steals) have played a role in the Sun turning their opponent over more than any other team, leading to a league-high 18.6 points off turnovers.

A two-way tenacious player, Alyssa Thomas may not have an aesthetically pleasing game, but when push comes to shove, she's the fighter you want when war begins.