The Phoenix Mercury rookie began 40 video games and averaged 7.7 factors and a pair of.7 assists this previous season, stable numbers however ones that received’t blow you away. However the Cameroonian guard was answerable for all of the little issues, together with vital defensive assignments, and finally turned one in all Phoenix’s most pivotal gamers.
The Mercury — now a WNBA Finals staff — have notably been significantly better with Akoa Makani on the ground than along with her off of it; in the course of the season, they outscored groups by 9.6 factors along with her on the ground, they usually had been outscored by 0.8 factors along with her off it.
The WNBA introduced on Monday that 72 media voters chosen the next 5 rookies:
No voting breakdown was shared.
I, a senior WNBA author for SB Nation who serves as one in all 72 media voters, voted for Bueckers, Citron, Iriafen, and Salaün for the All-Rookie staff. However, I finally chosen Akoa Makani instead of Malonga since she performed a significantly bigger function for the Mercury than Malonga did for the Storm (she additionally contributed to extra wins).
Why voters seemingly chosen Dominique Malonga over Monique Akoa Makani
Nonetheless, Dominique Malonga established herself as a worthy candidate as nicely, and performed an more and more bigger function on the Storm. In her final 15 video games, she’s averaged 12.4 factors, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks (distinction that along with her first 15 video games, during which she averaged 4.5 factors in 8.5 minutes per night time). Per 36 minutes, she was the second-highest scorer within the rookie class (averaging 19.4 factors per sport).
Had Malonga had a bigger function earlier within the season, she seemingly would have gotten my vote. However, in Could and June, greater than 20 rookies averaged extra minutes per sport than she did. To me, that minimal function put her under somebody like Akoa Makani, who was so integral to Phoenix’s success all season lengthy.
I truly thought of a number of different rookies for the All-Rookie staff, together with Connecticut Solar rookies Saniya Rivers, Leila Lacan, and Aneesah Morrow. However, solely 5 may go on the ultimate poll.
This was a stacked rookie class.
