NEW YORK, August 7 -- Some players get all the MVP love. Certain WNBA stars (they cannot be named or else we risk making them ineligible to compete in Beijing... seriously!) are pretty much locks to be in the MVP running year in and year out.

But those players have other things to think about right now. They're off in China vying for large gold medallions. And while they're overseas representing their respective countries...

...How about a little love for the teammates they've left behind? How about some appreciation for the underappreciated? It's about time!

And when you remove the Olympic layer of players, there's another batch of serious MVP contenders who are fully capable of creeping into the regular top 10. And while the top couple of players on this week's list will look somewhat familiar, it feels good to show off the next tier of WNBA stars.

Now here are my non-Olympic player rankings for the 2008 season through the start of the Olympic break.

Lindsay Whalen, Connecticut Sun

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 15.3
• 5.9
• 5.4
• 1.6
• 0.0
• .481
• .361
• .804
• +19.9

• Last Week’s Rank - 1

I've said it before and I'll say it again. She's the main reason the Sun sit atop the Eastern Conference right now. She can score, she can dish and she's a leader.

Sophia Young, San Antonio Silver Stars

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 18.2
• 5.8
• 2.5
• 1.6
• 0.5
• .494
• .000
• .782
• +18.7

• Last Week’s Rank - 3

Young has made the transition from solid rookie to on-the-verge sophomore to WNBA superstar in her third season. She's a force down low and has been the league-leading Silver Stars' most reliable contributor this season.

Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 15.3
• 3.7
• 5.0
• 1.3
• 0.3
• .429
• .333
• .859
• +15.2

• Last Week’s Rank - 11

Tweety can light up the scoreboard every now and then, but her season numbers might not dazzle you. But watch her play and you'll be able to tell how valuable she is to the Shock. Her intensity, skill and athleticism at both ends is astonishing.

Candice Dupree, Chicago Sky

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 17.2
• 8.4
• 2.0
• 1.0
• 1.5
• .489
• .000
• .795
• +19.2

• Last Week’s Rank - 13

Like Young above, in less than three seasons, Dupree has made the progression into a legit star in this league. She's terrifically gifted with the ball down low and she's bigger and stronger than she might appear at first glance. Without her, the Sky would be a lot worse than 8-17.

Asjha Jones, Connecticut Sun

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 16.8
• 6.2
• 2.2
• 0.6
• 0.8
• .489
• .200
• .775
• +16.4

• Last Week’s Rank - 14

Though she may not be quite as vital to Connecticut's success as Whalen, Jones is putting up career highs in scoring and rebounding per game and has held the Sun's frontcourt together this season without Nykesha Sales and Margo Dydek.

Katie Douglas, Indiana Fever

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 16.3
• 4.3
• 3.0
• 1.6
• 0.4
• .372
• .340
• .798
• +12.4

• Last Week’s Rank - 15

Douglas has slowed down after a red-hot start, but she's still capable of putting up big scoring numbers from the outside and is arguably the league's best perimeter defender. She needs to have a big finish to her regular season for the recently struggling Fever to stay in playoff position.

Shameka Christon, New York Liberty

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 16.4
• 3.4
• 1.6
• 1.2
• 0.6
• .408
• .401
• .818
• +12.8

• Last Week’s Rank - NR

Christon, too, has cooled down of late, but she's more responsible than anyone in New York for the Liberty being in second place in the East after a 6-1 run prior to the Olympic break. If both she and No. 14 below keep contributing, the Libs could be a tough matchup in the postseason.

Ann Wauters, San Antonio Silver Stars

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 14.8
• 7.4
• 1.5
• 1.1
• 1.3
• .531
• .320
• .737
• +17.6

• Last Week’s Rank - NR

She may be the third option in San Antonio, but her numbers have been terrific and she adds a dimension in the paint that the Silver Stars have been missing without a 100-percent Ruth Riley.

Candice Wiggins, Minnesota Lynx

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 16.4
• 3.5
• 3.2
• 1.7
• 0.2
• .409
• .330
• .837
• +15.3

• Last Week’s Rank - NR

Sure, she was the third pick in the draft, but few expected this kind of production out of Wiggins in her rookie season. Despite usually coming off the bench for Don Zierden's squad, she's putting up big scoring numbers and is a major reason for Minnesota still having a shot at the postseason.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Washington Mystics

• PPG
• RPG
• APG
• SPG
• BPG
• FG%
• 3P%
• FT%
• EFF

• 13.3
• 7.3
• 1.6
• 1.7
• 1.0
• .525
• .280
• .730
• +16.3

• Last Week’s Rank - NR

Taj's numbers might not blow you away, but this 37-year-old force in the paint comes to play every day and is one of the most consistent and positive players in the league. Alana Beard is the star in Washington, but Taj is the leader.

On the Outside Looking In (season averages - last week's rank) 11. Alana Beard (Washington): 16.0 ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.9 rpg (NR) 12. Jia Perkins (Chicago): 16.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg (NR) 13. Betty Lennox (Atlanta): 16.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.6 apg (NR) 14. Janel McCarville (New York): 12.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg (NR) 15. Nicole Powell (Sacramento): 13.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 apg (NR)