Like many WNBA fans, I am impatiently awaiting the new collective bargaining agreement and the ensuing free agent frenzy that will follow. With nearly every veteran in the league hitting unrestricted free agency, most of the attention will be on the stars and where they will land. While those players are extremely important and their signings will impact the league, I think it is more fun to look at some role players who could be underrated this offseason.

One of my favorite ways to do that is by looking at the three-point leaders in three-point attempts per 36 minutes. I discussed the value in looking at per-36-minute stats back in September, but that article did not look at three-point attempts. While three-point makes and percentage are, of course, very important, I believe attempts can get underrated. If a player is only taking a couple of threes per game, they’re not going to get guarded out there no matter how high their percentage is. On the team level, the four teams that attempted the fewest threes all missed the playoffs, but the Valkyries made the playoffs by shooting the most threes despite having the third-lowest three-point percentage. With so many players potentially changing teams this offseason, I’m going to watch to see where these notable three-point shooters wind up.

Chloe Bibby, F, IND, 9.8 3PA per 36

At some point I want to do a deep dive into how the Indiana Fever managed to have so much success with Caitlin Clark and half of her teammates injured. I’m confident one of the reasons they made it as far as they did is that they surrounded Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell with willing shooters. Only Rhyne Howard attempted more threes per 36 than Bibby, but Bibby shot 40.5 percent on those looks compared to 32.2 percent for Howard. Bibby was actually better for Golden State earlier in the season but she played well enough for both teams that she has earned a rotation spot somewhere.

Kayla Thornton, F, GSV, 7.7 3PA per 36

I nominated Thornton for Most Improved Player a couple of months ago, but at that time I was focused mostly on her career-highs in points and rebounds. It didn’t even register that she was shooting 7.7 threes per 36, up from her previous career-high of 5.6. Thornton shot just 28.2 percent on threes, her lowest percentage since 2019. If she can keep the volume from last season while shooting closer to the 35.7 percent she shot in 2024, I see no reason why Thornton can’t be an All-Star again next season.

Kiana Williams, G, PHX, 8.8 3PA per 36

Williams played more minutes this season (107) than in her first three seasons combined. Williams doesn’t fit with all teams, but on the Mercury where she can cede ballhandling duties to Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, her willingness to take threes makes her a nice backup point guard. If she continues to let it fly, she could earn even more playing time next season.

Kierstan Bell, F, LVA, 8.7 3PA per 36

Bell’s spot in the starting lineup while playing just 10.1 minutes per game in the playoffs became a bit farcical, but I am impressed by her willingness to shoot threes even when they’re not going in. The Aces need someone who can play hard on defense and doesn’t need the ball on offense, and Bell has stepped into that role. There are plenty of players who shoot a better percentage but are afraid to let it fly when they’re open. Bell is a career 26.5 percent three-point shooter, but she shot better than that this season. Hopefully she can continue to improve.

Amy Okonkwo, F, 6.9 3PA per 36

Like Kayla Thornton, Okonkwo earned more recognition for her two-point scoring than her three-point shooting, but that may be a mistake. Okonkwo shot 49.2 percent overall but just 33.3 percent on twos. She averaged 20.2 points per 36 minutes in her eight games for Dallas, though those games came at the end of the season when Dallas was playing out the string. Dallas has a ton of young players under contract next season, which could lead Okonkwo to get an opportunity somewhere else. Just 16.7 percent of Okonkwo’s baskets were unassisted, so I would hope that she stays in Dallas where she can continue to get fed by Paige Bueckers, but if she continues to space the floor and attack the glass, she could be successful anywhere.