Elena Delle Donne has put up numbers this season that are on par with some of the best in the WNBA’s history. 24.1 points per game. 9.2 rebounds per game. 2.2 blocks per game. 95% from the free throw line.
She’s the current leader in field goals made (164) and total points (491). She’s had two games in which she’s scored at least 40 points (40 and 45). If the season were to end today, she would boast one of the highest Player Efficiency Ratings in the history of the WNBA (33.6).
Delle Donne has been the talk of the league for much of the season, and her numbers justify the conversation. She hasn’t been topped in the race to bring home WNBA MVP honors at all this season.
And yet, despite the unreal performances, the dominant games on both ends of the floor and the game-winning shots, there’s a case to be made for Maya Moore. She has put together a phenomenal stretch of games that’s earned her WNBA Player of the Week honors in the Western Conference for the two past weeks.
Moore is widely regarded as one of the league’s best players and has the Minnesota Lynx sitting firmly atop the Western Conference standings as the second half of the season hits its stride. Currently, Moore is in the midst of one of the best individual scoring streaks the league has ever seen. She’s scored 20+ points in 11 straight games, tying Cynthia Cooper for the second-most all-time.
All the while, Delle Donne has still been the best player in the league this season. Moore may be coming for the throne, but she hasn’t quite surpassed Delle Donne. Yet.
Delle Donne has been challenged by Maya Moore on another level each and every week, but she’s managed to be able to fend her off thus far. She’s averaging 26.2 points per game during her last six contests and has not scored less than 20 points in that span. It’s going to be a fierce battle with Moore and other competition to bring home MVP honors, but she’s done quite enough to justify her ranking so far this year.
Take what Maya Moore is doing this season and put it in any other season and she’s almost assuredly the favorite to bring home MVP honors. But the talent at the top is so great in the WNBA that even 11-straight 20-point games isn’t enough to give her the edge. Moore has been brilliant and has helped pace a Lynx squad that has been the best team in the Western Conference, without question. During her past 11 games, she’s averaging 24.8 points and 8 rebounds per contest.
The Liberty are the top team in the Eastern Conference and have been getting solid contributions from much of their rotation. But the catalyst all along has been the play of 2012 WNBA MVP Tina Charles. She’s dominated the glass and has continued to be a force on the block, showcasing her variety of offensive skills in an efficient manner. Charles was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second straight week and led the Eastern Conference in field goal percentage (53.8%)
The Phoenix Mercury are playing well as of late and are 8-2 in their last 10 games, and Brittney Griner has been a huge part of that surge. Griner has played 12 games this year and is already the league leader in blocks (53) and blocks per game (4.4). And she’s also getting it done on the glass while scoring a career-best 16.1 points per game. The Western Conference playoff race is just heating up, and Griner has the Mercury positioned to challenge the Lynx for the top spot.
The Sparks have gotten themselves back into the playoff conversation out West, and Nneka Ogwumike has been a large part of that. They’ve been superb with Candace Parker in the fold, but prior to her return it was Ogwumike’s play that was keeping the Sparks afloat. The 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year leads the league in minutes per game (36.1) and is averaging career-best numbers in rebounds per game (8.4) and assists per game (2.5).
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