The WNBA is currently at their All-Star break, roughly midway through the season (every team has played between 18-21 games of their 40 game season), so I believe now is a perfect time to do our second roundup of the year on how the former SEC players are doing in the WNBA. All in all, five former SEC players were named WNBA all-stars (and were all on Team Wilson, led by team captain and former SEC star A’ja Wilson).
We have also had a couple of transactions involving former SEC players since our last update. Khaalia Hillsman (who had been signed right before our last update) has since been released by the Chicago Sky (after playing in just one game). Also, the Los Angeles Sparks have since signed two former SEC players (Destanni Henderson and Rae Burrell) to rest-of-season hardship contracts. With that being said, there are now 23 former SEC players in the WNBA (after starting the season with 21).
With all of that out of the way, let’s jump right in to seeing how the former SEC players are doing in the WNBA (on a team-by-team basis with the team’s ordered by record):
SEC Women’s Basketball in the WBNA Roundup: All-Star Edition
Las Vegas Aces (19-2 record)
A’ja Wilson (South Carolina) – A’ja Wilson continues to make a case for yet another MVP trophy while leading the Aces to an impressive 19-2 record. Wilson served as one of the All-Star game captains in this past weekend’s All-Star game after finishing as the highest total vote getter. Wilson is now a five-time All-Star. The former UofSC star is currently averaging 19.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 2.1 BPG while shooting 53.2% from the field on the year. Wilson still leads all former SEC players in both scoring and rebounding. The reigning MVP also still ranks top 10 in the WNBA in scoring per game (sixth) and rebounding (fifth), and also leads the league in blocks.
Candace Parker (Tennessee) – Candace Parker continues to be a steady role player for the Aces in year 16. Parker is currently averaging 9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 1.5 SPG across 18 games played. Parker is also shooting 46.5% from the field and 33.3% from deep. The former Vol also continues to knock down shots from the line at a high mark, 89.3%. While the counting numbers are not what we have seen from Parker in the past, you cannot understate that Parker still plays a key role in the success of the Aces.
Sydney Colson (Texas A&M) – After not playing much early in the year, Colson has now played in 11 of the Aces’ last 14 contests (14 total games played on the year). However, it has still been in limited minutes as the former Aggie is averaging just 4.4 minutes per appearance. Overall for the season, Colson has totals of 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 14 assists on 4/6 shooting. Colson has been a lot more active recently in terms of getting into games, but now the next step is trying to carve out more of a rotation spot.
New York Liberty (14-4)
The Liberty are still currently the only team in the WNBA without a former SEC player.
Connecticut Sun (15-5)
DeWanna Bonner (Auburn) – Bonner is our second of the five SEC All-Stars from this past weekend that we will look at. The former Auburn star continues to be one of top scorers in the WNBA. Bonner is currently averaging 18.3 PPG and 4.8 RPG on the year while shooting 43.5% from the field and 37.6% from deep. The 35-year old has seen an uptick in production since our last update, averaging 20.8 PPG and 5.4 RPG on strong 48.6%/45.2%/86.8% shooting splits over the last 12 games. Bonner ranks third among all former SEC players in scoring this season. Bonner is now a five-time All-Star.
Tyasha Harris (South Carolina) – Harris continues to be one of the top bench options for the Sun, and also continues to be one of the most efficient three-point shooters in the league. Harris is averaging 4.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG, and 1.6 APG. Harris is shooting 40.6% from deep on the year, one of the top marks in the league. Overall, Harris is shooting 40.4% from the field and has played in all 20 games this year for the Sun (all off the bench at 15.1 minutes per game).
Washington Mystics (11-8)
Shakira Austin (Ole Miss) – Shakira Austin has been out for the last several weeks with a hip injury which came at a bad time as the 22-year old was enjoying a strong sophomore season. For the year, Austin is averaging 11.4 PPG and 7.8 RPG on 50.8% shooting. Austin has played in 13 games on the year, and ranks fourth among all former SEC players in rebounds per game.
Atlanta Dream (11-8)
Rhyne Howard (Kentucky) – Here is another instance of a player stepping up their game since our last update. Howard is now averaging 18.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 3.5 APG while shooting 43% from the field and 39.6% from three on the year. Across the Dream’s last ten games, Howard is averaging 20.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 3.8 APG on 47.2% shooting from the field and a strong 45.1% shooting from deep. The Dream is 7-3 in that stretch and have won six games in a row to climb up the standings. Howard is now 2-for-2 on All-Star game appearances in the former Kentucky stars’ young career, and now ranks second among all former SEC players in scoring.
Allisha Gray (South Carolina) – Gray continues to form a strong 1-2 punch in Atlanta with Howard (in what is now an All-Star 1-2 punch). Gray is averaging 18.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 3.2 APG on 48.4% shooting (33.3% from deep) on the year. Gray is also another player on this list who has stepped up their game recently, shooting 50.6% from the field in the Dream’s current six game winning streak. Gray became a first-time All-Star this year, while also being the only former SEC players to compete in the WNBA Skills competition alongside Dream teammate Cheyenne Parker.
Laeticia Amihere (South Carolina) – Amihere is currently averaging 4.0 PPG and 1.3 RPG on the year, while playing in roughly half of the Dream’s games this season (10-of-19). The rookie out of South Carolina is shooting 47.8% from the field, while averaging 9.2 minutes per game.
Dallas Wings (11-9)
Teaira McCowan (Mississippi State) – After an injury and playing in EuroBasket caused McCowan to miss the early chunk of the season, the 26-year old returned in late June to provide a boost for the Wings. McCowan is currently averaging a strong 10.7 PPG and 8.7 RPG, while shooting 50.6% across 10 games this year. McCowan has been consistently around those numbers across the first five years of the former Bulldogs’ WNBA career, and remains one of the more underrated former SEC players in the WNBA.
Diamond DeShields (Tennessee) – Deshields remains out with a knee injury, having yet to play this season.
Minnesota Lynx (9-11)
Tiffany Mitchell (South Carolina) – Mitchell is another player who had an injury pop up at an inopportune time. Mitchell has been out since June 22nd with a wrist injury, but could be close to returning. While Mitchell had slowed down a bit after our last update, the 28-year old is still having a strong season. Mitchell is currently averaging 10.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 2.5 APG on the year. Mitchell is shooting 42.9% from the field across 13 games (11 starts) this season.
Chicago Sky (8-12)
Isabelle Harrison (Tennessee) – Harrison remains out indefinitely with a knee injury and has yet to play this season.
Los Angeles Sparks (7-13)
Zia Cooke (South Carolina) – Cooke is currently averaging 4.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG, and 1.0 APG on the year while shooting 28.4% from the field. While it has not been the smoothest of all rookie seasons for Cooke, the youngster has still played every game this season for the Sparks (and has made two starts) while averaging 14.3 minutes per game. There is something to be said for this year’s No. 10 overall pick being a constant in the Sparks’ rotation this season.
Destanni Henderson (South Carolina) – As previously mentioned, Henderson was an injury hardship signing for the Sparks in mid-June and quickly began getting minutes. Henderson is averaging 5.0 PPG and 2.5 APG on the year, while shooting 36.2% from the field. The 2022 No. 20 overall pick has played in 10 games (making one start), while averaging 16.9 minutes per appearance on the year.
Rae Burrell (Tennessee) – Burrell is the other former SEC player to sign a hardship deal with the Sparks in mid-June. Burrell is averaging 4.1 PPG and 1.6 RPG across 10 games since being signed. The 2022 No. 9 overall pick is shooting 32.5% from the field and averaging 11.5 minutes per game on the year.
Indiana Fever (5-15)
Aliyah Boston (South Carolina) – The runaway Rookie of the Year and 2023 No. 1 overall pick continues to have a stellar rookie season, even if the Fever are struggling as a team. Boston is averaging 15.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 2.3 APG on the year while shooting a superb 61% from the field. Boston currently ranks third in rebounds per game and fifth in points per game for all former SEC players. Boston was also an All-Star starter this year for Team Wilson.
Victoria Vivians (Mississippi State) – Vivians has stayed pretty consistent numbers-wise since our first update. The former Bulldog is averaging 4.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 1.4 APG on 39.5% shooting this season. Vivians has played in 19 games this year, while also making three starts.
Maya Caldwell (Georgia) – Caldwell is averaging 2.3 PPG on the year while shooting 33.3% from the field for the Fever. The 24-year old has appeared in 19 games this season (with one start), while playing 11.2 minutes per game.
Victaria Saxton (South Carolina) – This year’s No. 25 overall pick has struggled to carve out a rotation spot as a rookie, but is still a young player with potential. Saxton has grabbed four rebounds total on the year across six games.
Phoenix Mercury (4-15)
Sophie Cunningham (Missouri) – The former Missouri standout is in the middle of arguably her second best year as a pro. Cunningham is averaging 10.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.9 APG. The 26-year old is shooting 40.6% from the field, 31.6% from three, and 86.7% from the line. Cunningham has played in and started 16 games on the year.
Seattle Storm (4-16)
Jordan Horston (Tennessee) – Horston has been arguably the SEC’s second best rookie this year, averaging 7.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, and 1.2 SPG across 17 games (5 starts) on the year. This year’s No. 9 overall pick is shooting 35.6% from the field, and ranks second in rebounding and fourth in scoring among all WNBA rookies.
Mercedes Russell (Tennessee) – Russell is averaging 3.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 1.4 APG on the year. The 27-year old is shooting 43.1% from the field across 17 games (11 starts). Russell is playing 16.5 minutes per game.