Rookie Rankings: June 16, 2008

By Chris Bubeck

June 16, 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 third installment.

No. 1: Candace Parker, L.A. Sparks (1st pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
9	34.8	16.7	.452	5-10	10.0	4.4	1.8	2.1

Skinny: The phenom set the bar a little high with her dazzling 34-point, 12-rebound, eight-assist effort in her debut, but has continued to establish herself as one of the premier players in the league despite her limited pro experience. The 6-foot-4 forward again came close to a triple-double on June 6 with 19 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in a loss to the Mercury and has reached double figures in scoring every game so far. She is just behind teammate Lisa Leslie for the league lead in rebounds per game and is near the top in many other categories as well.

No. 2: Candice Wiggins, Minnesota Lynx (3rd pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
10	27.9	17.3	.429	13-40	3.1	3.9	1.6	0.2
Skinny: Wiggins continues to come off the bench, but is making a charge toward the top of the rankings behind a recent offensive surge. She has scored at least 17 points in each of her last seven games, including a season-best 26-point performance on June 14, and is averaging 22.6 points a game over that span. She is now leading all rookies in scoring with an average of 17.3 points a game and is 10th overall in the league in that category.

No. 3: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky (2nd pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
5	24.6	10.8	.533	0-0	7.6	0.6	1.0	3.0
Skinny: The much-anticipated matchup between the top two picks in 2008 Draft didn't live up to the hype on June 3 when Fowles and the Sky faced off with top pick Candace Parker and the Sparks. Fowles scored only four points before spraining her knee in the third quarter and is expected to be sidelined until next month. She was starting to hit her stride before the injury with consecutive double-doubles.

No. 4: Alexis Hornbuckle, Detroit Shock (4th pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
11	21.9	7.1	.362	6-17	4.7	1.7	3.0	0.2
Skinny: Hornbuckle makes her debut in the top five and has been a steady contributor off the bench for the veteran-laden Shock. The 5-11 guard turned in her first double-double in surprising fashion with 11 points and 15 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, in a win over the Mercury on June 14. Hornbuckle opened eyes with seven steals in her debut and has continued to be a terror on the defensive end with a league-best three steals a game.

No. 5: Nicky Anosike, Minnesota Lynx (16th pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
10	25.2	8.6	.391	0-1	6.7	1.6	2.3	1.5
Skinny: Anosike, one of three Tennessee players in the top five along with Parker and Hornbuckle, has seen her point totals diminish of late but she is still contributing in other ways. She has started every game for the Lynx, who are still near the top in the West despite losing four of their last five after a 5-0 start. Anosike had 11 points, matched a season high with four blocks and dished out three assists in a loss to the Monarchs on June 12.

Honorable Mention: