Rookie Rankings: July 14, 2008

By Chris Bubeck

July 14, 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 fifth installment.

No. 1: Candace Parker, L.A. Sparks (1st pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
20	33.9	18.5	.498	7-17	9.5	4.0	1.6	2.5

Skinny: The phenom turned in her best performance of the season by scoring a career-high 40 points and adding 16 rebounds, six assists and five blocks in an overtime win over the Comets on July 9. She also hit a clutch free throw to force the overtime period. "She's only getting better,'' Sparks coach Michael Cooper said of Parker, who now leads the league in rebounding with 9.5 per game. "I think she's starting to figure this league out, and she's starting to figure out how our team can function and evolve with her - not around her, but with her."

No. 2: Candice Wiggins, Minnesota Lynx (3rd pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
20	29.1	16.4	.400	24-78	3.5	3.4	1.9	0.3
Skinny: Wiggins continues to prevent Parker from running away in the race for top rookie and was honored as the Hanns-G 'Go Beyond' Rookie of the Month for June after averaging 18.6 points a game last month. She has scored in double figures in 18 straight games and has made at least one 3-pointer in eight of her last nine contests.

No. 3: Nicky Anosike, Minnesota Lynx (16th pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
20	26.8	9.2	.430	0-1	6.7	1.2	2.3	1.2
Skinny: Anosike has scored in double figures in three straight games for the first time this season and is averaging just under 13 points a game over that span. The second-round pick from Tennessee turned in one of her most impressive performances of the season on Saturday with 12 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six steals in a win over the Comets.

No. 4: Tamera Young, Atlanta Dream (8th pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
20	27.2	8.9	.343	10-29	5.4	1.7	1.1	0.4
Skinny: Young helped the expansion Dream to their first win with 10 points and eight rebounds vs. the Sky on July 5 and added eight points in a victory over the Lynx. The James Madison product is averaging just under 11 points a game over her last seven and has four games of at least five rebounds in that span.

No. 5: Essence Carson, New York Liberty (7th pick)
GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3PM-A	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG
19	21.1	7.2	.391	4-15	2.9	1.0	1.2	0.2
Skinny: Carson has two double-digit scoring games so far this month, including a 16-point effort vs. the Storm on July 3 followed by a 12-point performance in a win at Phoenix. She has also picked it up on the defensive end by recording two steals in three of her last four games.

Honorable Mention: