Detroit's Deanna Nolan is averaging 16.0 points per game in the postseason.
Allen Einstein
WNBAE/Getty Images
Which players step up their performances from the regular season to the WNBA Playoffs?

Quantifying statistics to find the answer is an inexact science, especially considering the small number of playoff games played for many of these players.

But, WNBA.com compiled the scoring averages for every player in the 2003 WNBA Conference Finals to determine which players had the best and worst scoring differentials between their regular and postseason career scoring averages.

Detroit has a trio of players in the top 10 in Deanna Nolan, Swin Cash and Ruth Riley. All-Stars Yolanda Griffith and Lisa Leslie also stands near the top of the list with a +3.6 and +2.7 differential, respectively.

All statistics through first round of 2003 WNBA Playoffs; due to the rounding of scoring averages to one decimal place, differentials listed might apear to be off by one-tenth of a point for some players.

(L-R: Regular Season Games Played, Regular Season Points Per Game, Playoff Games Played, Playoff Points Per Game, Scoring Differential)

THE RANKINGS
RANK
PLAYER
REG. SEAS. GP
REG. SEAS. PPG
PLAY. GP
PLAY. PPG
DIFF.
1
Deanna Nolan (DET)
91
9.5
3
16.0
6.5
2
Rebecca Lobo (CON)
121
6.7
2
12.5
5.8
3
Taj McWilliams-Franklin (CON)
143
12.1
5
15.8
3.7
4
Yolanda Griffith (SAC)
144
16.3
10
19.9
3.6
5
Swin Cash (DET)
65
15.7
3
19.0
3.3
6
Lisa Leslie (LAS)
205
17.6
24
20.4
2.7
7
Ruth Riley (DET)
92
7.5
6
10.0
2.5
8
DeMya Walker (SAC)
116
7.3
3
9.0
1.7
9
DeLisha Milton (LAS)
159
11.3
24
12.3
1.0
10
Brooke Wyckoff (CON)
98
3.5
2
4.5
1.0
RANK
PLAYER
REG. SEAS. GP
REG. SEAS. PPG
PLAY. GP
PLAY. PPG
DIFF.
11
Mwadi Mabika (LAS)
206
11.6
24
12.4
0.7
12
Katie Douglas (CON)
82
9.3
2
10.0
0.7
13
Adrienne Johnson (CON)
181
5.6
7
6.3
0.7
14
Barbara Farris (DET)
111
4.0
3
4.3
0.3
15
Tamecka Dixon (LAS)
201
11.5
23
11.6
0.2
16
Kedra Holland-Corn (DET)
162
10.0
11
9.8
-0.2
17
Ruthie Bolton (SAC)
184
11.0
11
10.7
-0.3
18
Tangela Smith (SAC)
189
11.5
11
11.2
-0.3
19
Debbie Black (CON)
162
4.3
5
4.0
-0.3
20
Nikki Teasley (LAS)
66
9.0
9
8.2
-0.8
RANK
PLAYER
REG. SEAS. GP
REG. SEAS. PPG
PLAY. GP
PLAY. PPG
DIFF.
21
La'Keshia Frett (SAC)
142
4.1
12
3.3
-0.8
22
Nicky McCrimmon (LAS)
125
2.3
18
1.4
-0.9
23
Chantelle Anderson (SAC)
26
1.6
3
0.7
-0.9
24
Ticha Penicheiro (SAC)
173
6.7
11
5.3
-1.4
25
Elaine Powell (DET)
133
7.6
3
6.0
-1.6
26
Hamchetou Maiga (SAC)
45
1.8
2
0.0
-1.8
27
Shaquala Williams (LAS)
25
2.0
2
0.0
-2.0
28
Jennifer Gillom (LAS)
216
13.4
12
11.4
-2.0
29
Jessie Hicks (CON)
142
4.1
2
2.0
-2.1
30
Sheila Lambert (DET)
30
3.0
3
0.7
-2.3
RANK
PLAYER
REG. SEAS. GP
REG. SEAS. PPG
PLAY. GP
PLAY. PPG
DIFF.
31
Ayana Walker (DET)
66
3.3
2
1.0
-2.3
32
Edna Campbell (SAC)
111
9.2
8
6.5
-2.7
33
Kara Lawson (SAC)
34
7.7
3
5.0
-2.7
34
Lady Grooms (SAC)
217
4.9
11
1.8
-3.1
35
Stacey Thomas (DET)
126
3.4
1
0.0
-3.4
36
Lynn Pride (LAS)
112
3.8
1
0.0
-3.8
37
Nykesha Sales (CON)
162
14.1
5
10.2
-3.9
38
Vanessa Nygaard (LAS)
107
4.6
3
0.7
-3.9
39
Wendy Palmer (CON)
205
11.3
3
6.7
-4.6
40
Shannon Johnson (CON)
155
13.2
5
8.2
-5.0
41
Cheryl Ford (DET)
32
10.8
3
5.7
-5.1
42
Astou Ndiaye-Diatta (DET)
138
8.6
3
3.0
-5.6
43
Sophia Witherspoon (LAS)
207
10.7
15
5.0
-5.7