Rookie Rankings: May 19, 2008
Posted May 20 2008 1:19PM
By Chris Bubeck
May 19, 2008 -- Throughout the 2008 WNBA season, WNBA.com
will run its completely unofficial Rookie Rankings, highlighting the play of the
top five rookies to this point. Here's a look at our first installment, which
features several players who made impressive impacts over the league's opening weekend.
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GP
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MPG
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PPG
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FG%
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3PM-A
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RPG
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APG
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SPG
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BPG
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| 1 |
39.0 |
34.0 |
.632 |
2-2 |
12.0 |
8.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
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Skinny: Parker would have likely occupied the top spot in the initial rankings based upon her status as the No. 1 draft pick, her stellar college career at Tennessee and her impressive play with the U.S. National Team no matter what she did in her first game. The 6-foot-4 forward solidified her standing by turning in the most impressive debut in WNBA history with 34 points and nearly recording a triple-double with 12 rebounds and eight assists in a thrilling opening-day win over the Mercury. After one game she leads rookies in each of those categories. It is only one game so far, but if Parker keeps this up, she may be a serious candidate for MVP in addition to Rookie of the Year.
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GP
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MPG
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PPG
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FG%
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3PM-A
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RPG
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APG
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SPG
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BPG
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| 1 |
15 |
6.0 |
.333 |
0-0 |
7.0 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
4.0
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Skinny: If you checked out the recent WNBA GM Survey, then you know it is Fowles - not Parker - that many executives pick to be the best player in five years out of the current rookie crop. The 6-6 center flashed some of that potential before fouling out after 15 minutes of action in her debut. Fowles, who averaged 10.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in three preseason games, scored just six points against the veteran-laden Storm, but added seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
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GP
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MPG
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PPG
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FG%
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3PM-A
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RPG
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APG
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SPG
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BPG
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1
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31.0 |
12.0 |
.417 |
0-3 |
5.0 |
4.0 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
Skinny: Ajavon led all rookies in scoring in the preseason and was third overall by averaging 19.7 points a game in three contests. The 5-foot-8 guard out of Rutgers expects to see plenty of time for the Comets this season and played 31 minutes in her regular season debut despite coming off the bench. Ajavon stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. So far she has bragging rights over fellow Rutgers product and No. 7 pick Essence Carson, who tallied two points in her Liberty debut.
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GP
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MPG
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PPG
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FG%
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3PM-A
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RPG
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APG
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SPG
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BPG
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1
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29.0 |
15.0 |
.385 |
2-6 |
4.0 |
2.0 |
4.0 |
0.0 |
Skinny: Wiggins opened eyes and her improved draft prospects with a pair of 40-point games in this year's NCAA Tournament. The 5-11 guard is a pure shooter and has quickly made an impact in her first professional season. After scoring 18 points in her lone preseason game, the former Stanford star netted 15 points including a pair of 3-pointers off the bench to help the Lynx to a surprising victory over the Shock in her first regular season action. Wiggins also added four steals, four rebounds and two assists.
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GP
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MPG
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PPG
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FG%
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3PM-A
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RPG
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APG
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SPG
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BPG
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| 1 |
16.0 |
21.0 |
.750 |
0-0 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
Skinny: Wiggins won't be the only Lynx rookie to have an impact on the team this season. Second-round pick Nicky Anosike joined Wiggins by scoring in double figures in the season-opening win over Detroit, but it was Houston who turned in the best performance. The third-round pick out of Connecticut poured in 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor in just 16 minutes of action. "People believe what they want to believe,'' Houston said after the game. "I can't control anybody's feelings. For me, I know what I am capable of doing, and I just always stay true to myself.''
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Honorable Mention:
Jolene Anderson, Connecticut Sun (10.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 22.0 MPG)
Nicky Anosike, Minnesota Lynx (11.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 22.0 MPG)
Laura Harper, Sacramento Monarchs (10.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 22 MPG)
Alexis Hornbuckle, Detroit Shock (8.0 PPG, 3.5 SPG, 19.0 MPG)
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