DeWanna Bonner | Indiana

DB hasn’t gotten herself going yet in her first seven games in Indy threads... but I have a feeling that’s going to change this week. She’s one of the greats, ranking 3rd all time in points, 8th in rebounds & 12th in steals and it’s only a matter of time before that mentality kicks in. The 2x champ can be a nightmare on both sides of the ball & most importantly, she knows how to win. I don’t expect these career lows to last long. If she gets back into vintage form this week, the Fever have a real chance to head into next week 3-0 in the Cup standings.

Aziaha James | Dallas

We caught a glimpse of what ZaZa can do back on May 27th vs Connecticut. 9 points in 9 minutes, to be exact! It’s been a hot & cold start for the rookie, but the same can be said for the team as a whole. If she can get going, not only can Dallas beat LA & Phoenix, they’ll also have a real chance to cause a shocking upset over undefeated Minnesota; Za did not play in their last meeting when the Wings lost by only 4 points! A 3-0 or even 2-1 week would totally swing momentum & give this team newfound confidence.

Aaliyah Nye | Las Vegas

Nye was one of the best rookies in the preseason and showed flashes of that on Sunday vs Seattle scoring 10 points in 11 minutes off the bench. She was the x-factor then and will surely be the x-factor moving forward as the Aces take on California with games vs the Valks & Sparks for a chance to go 3-0 in the standings. If she can get the 3 ball clicking at a high clip like she’s capable of doing, it will be a major difference-maker.

Dominique Malonga | Seattle

This could be a very interesting week for Seattle with games against Phoenix and Minnesota. Their first meeting with the Storm was a forgettable 81-59 blowout. 6 days later, revenge was exacted with a 7 point win. Against Minnesota, they struggled in the closing minutes and lost by just 5. Needless to say, these 2 games are very winnable, especially if their 6’6” rook gets going early! Malonga’s minutes have steadily increased and so has her production/efficiency. A 2-0 week would certainly shake things up in the Western Conference.

Naz Hillmon | Atlanta

The Dream are currently riding a four-game win streak and are one of the hottest teams in the W. Naz has A LOT to do with their success, averaging just over 26 mpg and 9.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.7 apg & 1.7 spg off the bench in the last three contests. She could very well find herself in the starting rotation soon, maybe even as early as this week! Atlanta opens Commissioner’s Cup play against Connecticut on Friday.

Elizabeth Williams | Chicago

Chicago is coming alive & so is Williams. Riding a two-game win streak, they open CC play on Saturday in a showdown with Indiana. In their last meeting [on opening day], Elizabeth was held to just 1 point. Since then, she’s come into her own & has given the Sky quality production coming off the bench. If Angel Reese or Kamilla Cardoso get in foul trouble or are having an off-night, she can sub in and put in work on the glass. She’s well known for her stout rim protection, having garnered All-Defensive Team accolades in recent years.

Lexi Held | Phoenix

The rookie no one is talking about… yet! That’ll soon change following a breakout on Tuesday & Thursday vs the Lynx & Valkyries. 29 minutes off the bench saw her pour in 16 points vs Minny, followed by 24 minutes in 27 minutes vs Golden State. Phoenix currently does not have depth at the guard spot, and with Megan McConnell going down with injury in her first game, more will be expected from Lexi. They’ve been up & down to start off the season and boast a 2-1 record in CC play. With this surge of confidence, I think it’s safe to expect a boost in production from the rook.

Natisha Hiedeman | Minnesota

No surprise here really. Tisha has been incredible all season long and if she keeps up this stellar play, she may find herself in the running for Sixth Woman & Most Improved at season’s end. She’s fresh off tying a career-high 18 points to move the Lynx to 2-0 in Cup play. She’s the ultimate spark plug and a big reason why this team is undefeated. Current averages of 8.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg & 2.8 apg.

Kate Martin | Golden State

“The Glue”… but also, the x-factor! If anyone is going to will her team to more tough wins this season, it’s Kate Martin. She’s everything you’d expect from an x-factor. Hard-nosed, gritty & committed on both sides of the ball. She gets crucial stops! She makes clutch plays! Sunday’s loss to Minnesota saw her rack up a career-best 14 points off the bench. With two Cup games this week (including a matchup with Kate’s former team Vegas), she’ll have to replicate that magic and get GS back on the winning track. A poor performance this week could totally take them out of Cup contention in the Western Conference. Kate will come out guns blazing!

Marine Johannès | New York

It almost seems unfair to have Marine as an option off the bench for an already loaded team. The Frenchwoman is one of the most devastating 3-point shooters in the league who gets right to work when she checks. It’s instant production! She sees the floor remarkably well and uses those elite combo skills to be effective both dishing and scoring. “La Magicienne” has emerged as a super role player and an integral part of the Libs’ early season dominance.