Reese Leads ESPN's Top 15 WNBA Finals Players — SkimNews
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- Angel Reese ranks No. 1 in ESPN's postseason rankings, averaging 18.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 2.2 blocks while shooting 38.5% from three; she was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and is credited as the biggest reason the Dream reached the Finals for the first time since 2013.
- Gabby Williams comes in at No. 2 as the highest scorer remaining in the Finals at 22.7 PPG, nearly eight more than her regular-season average, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
- The Atlanta Dream placed three of the first four players (Reese, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada), while the Golden State Valkyries' depth earned them five ranked players, including No. 8 Kiah Stokes, a three-time WNBA champion who limited A'ja Wilson in the semifinal sweep and now draws the Reese matchup.
- Allisha Gray is ranked No. 6 but is uncertain for Game 1 after sustaining a left hand injury in Game 1 of the semifinals; she underwent a minor procedure and told reporters Thursday she was hopeful about her availability at Chase Center.
- DeWanna Bonner, a two-time WNBA champion, joined the Dream with five games left in the regular season after starting in Phoenix and has seamlessly stepped into the starting lineup since Gray's injury, posting 23 points in Game 1 of the semifinals.
- Jordin Canada, a two-time title winner with Seattle (2018, 2020), is averaging almost seven points more in the playoffs than the regular season at 19.2 PPG and 8.8 APG while playing her best basketball at age 31.
Why it matters: With both franchises seeking their first championship and the Dream placing three players in the top four versus the Valkyries' five ranked players overall, the rankings frame a series where Atlanta's star-heavy top end meets Golden State's proven depth — and Gray's uncertain hand injury (the Dream's regular-season leading scorer) could swing the title picture.
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