The WNBA season has been active for less than two weeks, and we have already had many great performances and impressive wins. The league is full of the best women’s basketball players in the world, and this week, many women showcased their talents — five stood out above the rest and have been named this week’s Player of the Week.
PFSN’s WNBA Players of the Week
Natasha Cloud, G, New York Liberty (2-0)
17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, 2.5 spg, 1.0 bpg
63.2% FG, 60.0% 3PT, 100% FT
Natasha Cloud was a significant offseason addition for the New York Liberty, and she has added to the championship roster. The 10-year pro has improved throughout her career and is currently playing some of her best basketball.
Cloud has made big plays down the stretch of two of the three wins for the Liberty, including their most recent game against the Indiana Fever. The 2019 WNBA champion was thought to be a luxury in the off-season, but she is looking more like a necessity for the Liberty. The addition of Cloud keeps the Liberty as the favorites in the WNBA.
Skylar Diggins, G, Seattle Storm (3-0)
18.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 10.3 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.0 bpg
43.9% FG, 50.0% 3PT, 78.9% FT
Skylar Diggins has been one of the top guards in the WNBA since entering the league out of Notre Dame in 2013. The six-time All-Star joined the Seattle Storm last season and had a down year compared to some of her past years.
This year has been different for Diggins as she is currently leading the WNBA in assists over the last week, including 14 dimes against the Mercury. The duo of her and her running mate, Nneka Ogwumike, makes the Storm one of the top contenders in the league.
Nneka Ogwumike, F, Seattle Storm (3-0)
23.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.3 bpg
60.8% FG, 50.0% 3PT, 66.7% FT
Ogwumike is one of the best players in the league, and she has been that since entering the league out of Stanford in 2012. She has been half of one of the most lethal duos in the league with Diggins.
The 2016 MVP was the best big on the floor playing against Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and the Phoenix Mercury in a win. She was also the best player, as evidenced by her performance against the reigning MVP, A’ja Wilson, in a win against the Las Vegas Aces. If Ogwumike can keep this level up, the Storm have a real chance to win big.
Napheesa Collier, F, Minnesota Lynx (2-0)
30.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.5 spg, 2.0 bpg
55.9% FG, 42.9% 3PT, 90.9% FT
Over the last year, Napheesa Collier has officially cemented herself as the second-best women’s basketball player in the world. Last year, she was the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. In the inaugural season of her league, Unrivaled, she was the MVP, and thus far, she has been the best player in the WNBA this season.
Over this last week, she has averaged the most points per game at over 30. She is one of three players over the last week who are averaging over two steals and blocks per game. Collier is the favorite to win MVP, and she is on the fast track to do so with her play thus far.
Jonquel Jones, C, New York Liberty (2-0)
18.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.5 spg, 2.5 bpg
61.9% FG, 55.9% 3PT, 85.7% FT
The reigning Finals MVP, Jonquel Jones, has picked up right where she left off last season. The former 2021 MVP has been steadily gaining prominence for the New York Liberty since joining the team in 2023.
Jones is coming off a 26-point, 12-rebound effort in a win against the highly talented Fever. Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu are the two most notable players for the Liberty. Still, Jones is their most important player because she is one of the most versatile centers in the WNBA.
The WNBA has had more great performers this week who did not make the final cut. Azura Stevens is averaging 17.7 points and 11.7 rebounds, Kelsey Plum is averaging 23 points a game, and Aliyah Boston is averaging 18.3 points and 10.0 rebounds.
This is just the beginning of the great play from the world’s best women’s basketball players.
