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The 10 best players in the 2025 WNBA playoffs ranked, from 'unicorn' to top-tier
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- The 10 best players in the 2025 WNBA playoffs ranked, from 'unicorn' to top-tier
When the 2025 WNBA playoffs begin Sunday, Sept. 14, some of the top players in the league will be playing for a title.
The postseason will feature players like the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx , the 2025 MVP, Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson and last year's champions, New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and guard Sabrina Ionescu .
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Others are also pushing for a ring, and their greatness should be recognized. Here are the top 10 players of the WNBA playoffs ranked, from 'unicorn' to top-tier (Statistics, per game in the 2025 season):
10. Satou Sabally , F, Phoenix Mercury
Points:16.4, Rebounds:5.9, Assists:2.4, Steals:1At 6-foot-4, the Phoenix forward is a rare combination of speed, size and handles ― a "unicorn", if you will ― that aren't seen with most players at her position. Sabally is a nightmare matchup on both sides of the ball, but her most potent weapon is her 3-point shooting (65 made in 2025 at 32% shooting). Her quick release often catches opposing defenders off guard and gives them little time to react. Sabally has a knack for making defenses look silly.
9. Jackie Young , G, Las Vegas Aces
Points:16.5, Rebounds:4.4, Assists:5, Steals:1.3
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Young might be one of the most underrated players in the 2025 WNBA playoffs. Young is a brick wall as a defender and her strength is unsuspecting at the guard position. What's more, she has impeccable handles and footwork, allowing her to manipulate defenses at will. Young can shoot from anywhere and ranks top-15 in the WNBA in points per game and made 3-pointers.
8. Nneka Ogwumike , F, Seattle Storm
Points:18.3, Rebounds:7, Assists:2.3, Steals: 1.1
Look up the word consistency in the dictionary, and you'll likely find Ogwumike's picture next to it. The 14-year veteran has averaged nearly 54% shooting in her career, which is equally impressive and frightening. Ogwumike's a three-level scorer who also has underrated skills as a passer and facilitator. Furthermore, she defends at a high level, frequently by causing disruption and mayhem.
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7. Sabrina Ionescu, G, New York Liberty
Points:18.4, Rebounds:4.9, Assists:5.5, Steals:1.3
Ionescu has made a name for herself with cold-blooded shooting and assists on a rope that few others can duplicate. The former Oregon Duck boasts a ridiculous logo-esque range and excellent vision, which makes her one of the most elite guards in the WNBA. Ionescu is in the top 10 in both points per game and assists per game. However, her defense should not be dismissed. She falls within the top 15 in the league in steals per game.
6. Breanna Stewart , F, New York Liberty
Points:18.1, Rebounds:6.6, Assists:3.5, Steals:1.4
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Stewart is fantastic at using her size and body control to her advantage to pick apart defenses. When she's not knocking down shots from beyond the arc, the Liberty forward can be found doing damage in the paint. Nearly 59% of Stewart's scoring comes from 2-point shots, and she's second in the league in free throws made per game (5.5). Stewart is also one of the WNBA's best defenders and allows the lowest points on drives and closeouts .
5. Kelsey Mitchell , G, Indiana Fever
Points:20.2, Rebounds:1.8, Assists:3.4, Steals:0.9
Mitchell arguably has one of the fastest first steps in the league. Her head-turning speed makes her one of the hardest players to guard, and when paired with her scoring, the Fever guard is electric. Mitchell ranks second in points (890) and first in made 3-pointers (111). She's also especially dangerous in transition when utilizing her defensive chops to strip defenders and score on the other end.
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4. Allisha Gray , G, Atlanta Dream
Points:18.5, Rebounds:5.4, Assists:3.5, Steals:1.1
Gray won three Player of the Month Awards this season, the only guard to do so in WNBA history . She's a menace on both sides of the ball and lethal in transition. The Dream guard's smooth footwork, breadth of shot selection and sticky defense make her a rare combination of skill. Her production on the court has propelled her to a ranking of sixth or better in points, made 3-pointers and free throws per game in the WNBA.
3. Alyssa Thomas , F, Phoenix Mercury
Points:15.7, Rebounds:9, Assists:9.3, Steals:1.6
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The Mercury forward is a walking triple-double who put up an astounding eight this season, breaking the WNBA season record she set. Thomas, who broke the single-season assists record (352 and counting), also leads the league in assists with 9.3 per matchup. If that wasn't enough, she is an elite defender with freight train strength, who ranks seventh in steals per game (1.6) and third in rebounds per game (9.0).
2. Napheesa Collier, F, Minnesota Lynx
Points:23, Rebounds:7.4, Assists:3.2, Steals:1.6
Collier can do it all. She's a three-level scorer with a signature turnaround jumper that's seemingly impossible to stop. The Lynx forward offers a blistering 23 points per matchup and has put up 22 games of 20 points or more and six games of 30 or more points this season. Collier's also an athletic defender who punishes opponents frequently and ranks fifth in steals (1.6 per matchup) and blocks (1.6) per game.
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1. A'ja Wilson, C, Las Vegas Aces
Points:23.4, Rebounds:9.9, Assists:3, Steals:1.6
Wilson is top-tier, a human cheat code that defies logic. The Aces forward is arguably the best two-way player in the league, able to guard every position and put up points from anywhere. She leads the WNBA in scoring (23.4 points per game) and blocks (2.6 per contest) and is second in rebounds (9.9 per matchup) and ninth in steals (1.6 per game). This year, Wilson broke the record for most 30-point games in a single season with 13, seven of which were double-doubles. The eight-year veteran already owns the record for most points in a season with 1000 and has another scoring title within her sights.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 best players in 2025 WNBA playoffs ranked, from 'unicorn' to top-tier
