Each week this summer, we’ll delve into various aspects of this year’s WNBA rookie class. From Jewell Loyd on down, we’ll provide inside access to the youngsters’ seasons, showcasing the impact the game’s future stars are having today.

In this week’s installment, we feature Natalie Achonwa, a member of the 2014 draft class who was forced to miss last season due to injury. 

At this point, “good enough” is sufficient for Fever forward Natalie Achonwa.

That’s not to say the 22-year-old rookie is satisfied. If you’ve ever seen Achonwa play—or talked to those who have—you’ll quickly realize that “satisfied” is not in her vocabulary.

But now, two weeks into a WNBA career that started one year too late, you can’t blame Achonwa when she describes herself, her play and her knee as “good enough.”

Let me explain: It’s March 31, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana, and Achonwa, a senior captain for Notre Dame, is attempting to lead the undefeated Irish past Baylor in the Elite Eight. A victory would mean the fourth straight Final Four for the Irish (and for Achonwa).

Achonwa (pronounced: uh-CHON-wuh) is the unquestioned leader of the team—vocal and personable, passionate and playful. Also: very good at basketball. She’s averaged nearly eight rebounds and 15 points per game on 61 percent shooting en route to an AP All-America Third Team selection.

Still, when the Ontario native takes a tumble with five minutes left in the game, something is wrong. Achonwa shrieks, clutches her left knee and is soon helped to her feet by the training staff. Before limping to the locker room for tests—which would conclude that Achonwa had suffered a torn ACL on the play—she breaks free from the grasps of the concerned trainers, takes a couple gimpy steps toward her huddled teammates and pounds her fists in the air as she shouts an expletive-marked battle cry.

“Win this s—!” she exclaims. “This is my court!”

True to their leader’s impassioned demand, the Irish finish off the undermatched Baylor squad, winning 88-69. Achonwa would come back minutes later to help her teammates cut down the net—a time-honored tradition for NCAA tournament victors—but would miss both Final Four games, including a loss to UConn in the title game.

Two weeks after the injury, Achonwa was selected ninth overall by the Fever but sat out the 2014 campaign due to the injury. She spent last year as director of operations for the Notre Dame women’s team, which, she says, allowed her to stay “active and engaged in the game.”

She finally got her WNBA debut June 5 and has established herself as an early-season candidate for the Rookie of the Year award, posting healthy numbers across the board. As of June 24, Achonwa ranked in the top five among all rookies in points (second), rebounds (fourth), and field goal percentage (fifth).

“There was a lot of excitement and relief at the same time,” Achonwa said of her debut season. “Excitement to be back on the floor and also relief that the gamble the Fever made when they took me is gonna pay off. I’m going to make sure that it’s going to. I’m just trying to repay my debt.”

For a player who’s coming off a torn ACL and has a history of injury, as Achonwa does, it’s not easy to return to peak pre-injury form. Has she had to change her approach to the game?

“Yeah, a little bit,” Achonwa admits. “I was slow before. I couldn’t jump before. So that’s nothing new. I’m just trying to outsmart other teams, using my basketball IQ to my best advantage.”

Fever head coach Stephanie White marvels at the intangibles Achonwa brings to the table.

“She’s got sort of a point guard mentality in a post player’s body,” White said. “So we like to have the ball in her hands. She has great maturity. She reminds me a lot of Tamika [Catchings] when Tamika came in as a rookie. Sort of mature beyond her years on and off the court.”

For veteran teammate Catchings, the intelligent, never-satisfied approach is evident.

“The thing that I love the most is just how hard she works,” Catchings, a 14-year veteran of the WNBA, said. “She works so hard. She’s constantly trying to get better; she’s constantly trying to do better for herself, which inevitably does better for the team. I love having a young player like that.”

And about the knee?

“It’s good,” Achonwa said before a June 19 game against New York. “Good enough to play. It’s a battle, and it’s going to be every day for the next year. I’m not at 100 percent, but I’m working with our trainers—still rehabbing, still strengthening. It’s just a grind.”

Quick bits from the 2015 rookie class

Sky guard Jacki Gemelos, a third-round pick in the 2012 draft who has been plagued by numerous ACL injuries, finally tallied her first WNBA minutes June 19 against Atlanta. … Liberty guard Brittany Boyd, who was featured in last week’s Rookie Report, had a season-high 18 points in last week’s win over Atlanta and broke some ankles in the process:

Relive @adifferent1five's two outstanding crossovers from yesterday's game in Atlanta! BRITTANY BOYD #WNBABallot pic.twitter.com/aSmgFHiL6D

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 22, 2015