30 Rock: Celebrating The WNBA's 30-Point Revolution


During the WNBA’s 20th season, 30 has become the league’s most prominent number. Nothing better reflects the WNBA’s evolution than the 25 30-point games entering the Olympic Break. It’s evidence of many things, from offenses becoming more innovative to scorers now coming in many styles and sizes. Like the NBA, uptempo attacks have become the W’s staple. Size literally doesn’t matter, considering three-point specialists can dominate just as effectively as traditional low-post bruisers.

So what, besides players evolving, has changed around the WNBA? For one, the shot clock now resets to from 24 to 14 seconds on offensive rebounds, speeding up the game and adding possessions, an element Washington coach Mike Thibault’s approved of.

“It’s given us more possessions,” Thibault explained. ” In theory, there should be a little bit more scoring. I’m hoping the evolution of our league right now is that we’re starting to have more good shooters.”

An in-depth look at the numbers indicates the WNBA is trending that way. Emma Meesseman is paced to set a league record for three-point shooting over a season (55.3%), a mark coupled with her career-high 15.7 points. Sugar Rodgers, whose 43.5-percent mark ranks her fourth, leads the league with 70 long-range conversions. Moreover, among the WNBA’s top-ten scorers this season, seven are averaging at least one three-pointer per game.

The chief element behind the WNBA’s overall evolution, though, is obviously athleticism. Nine players are averaging at least 14 points and five rebounds, an interesting blend of rebounders displaying scoring touch and athletic wings pushing the break once the ball comes off the rim.

Says 2015 MVP Elena Delle Donne, “There are so many talented plahyers in this league, and I feel like the talent continues to improve. I think the biggest thing is just players being able to play freely in transition.”

If you need evidence, look no further than the 21-3 Los Angeles Sparks. Led by MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike and two-time MVP Candace Parker, L.A. leads the WNBA in scoring (83.9), assists (21.3), three-point shooting (39.3 percent), and overall field-goal percentage (49.6).

Their ranking in offensive pace? Ninth, sporting a tempo of 78.6 points per 100 possessions. L.A.’s figure says more about where the WNBA’s trending than anything else, considering the difference between first and eighth is only 5.0 points.

With the Olympic Break allotting plenty time for pensive thoughts on the league’s growth, let’s sift through the top 30-point games of the season, a campaign enriched by an array of high-scoring masterpieces that double as previews for the WNBA’s ever-evolving future:

Maya Moore: vs. Connecticut Sun – 40 points (13-27 FG, 11-12 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks

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Breanna Stewart: vs. Atlanta Dream – 38 points (12-16 FG, 3-4 3PT, 11-13 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

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DeWanna Bonner: vs. Dallas Wings – 38 points (12-23 FG, 4-8 3PT, 10-12 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

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Nneka Ogwumike: vs. Atlanta Dream – 38 points (13-14 FG, 12-14 FT), 11 rebounds, 3 assists

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Elena Delle Donne: vs. Seattle Storm – 35 points (14-24 FG, 3-3 3PT, 4-5 FT), 11 rebounds

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Candace Parker: vs. Seattle Storm – 34 points (12-20 FG, 3-6 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals

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Tina Charles: vs. Connecticut Sun – 32 points (13-25 FG, 2-4 3PT), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

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