Finals Impact Rankings: Top 15 players in the 2024 WNBA Finals

The matchup was analyzed, the picks and predictions were made. The 2024 WNBA Finals begin next Thursday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) between the No. 1 seed New York Liberty and the No. 2 seed Minnesota Lynx.

And there's no shortage of star power and underdog stories. Five players who received MVP votes will play in the WNBA Finals, led by 2024 MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier, two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and former No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu.

Both teams also moved past some key second-round (or later) draft picks, including three starters in Minnesota's Bridget Carleton and New York's Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich.

At the start of Game 1, ESPN's Michael Voepel, Alexa Philippou and Charlie Creme debut their player influence rankings for the WNBA Finals. All players on the roster are expected to help decide the championship series. Some will continue to lead their teams in scoring or defense, and any of them could have a game-changing performance.

We rank the top 15 based on their play so far in the 2024 postseason.

2024 playoff stats: 27.1 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 3.9 APG

Collier is the leading scorer in the 2024 playoffs and was very efficient, shooting 54.6% from the field and 45% from distance. In the four previous meetings this season with New York, including the Commissioner's Cup final, Collier averaged 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. Collier, the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, was just as strong on that court. She is a calm and respected leader of the Lynx, and even though this is her first time in the Finals, nothing fazes her. — Voepel

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2024 playoff stats: 20.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.8 APG

Stewart told the crowd at Barclays Center after Game 1 of the semifinals that she wanted to make up for her unusual performance in last year's final, when she went 3-for-17 as the Liberty lost Game 4 in Brooklyn. That version of Stewart — who was expecting the birth of her second child and grieving the recent death of her father-in-law — was nowhere to be found this year. Stewart scored 34 points on 63% efficiency in Game 1 against the Aces and posted 19 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, which was reflected throughout the Liberty's closeout win on Sunday. — Philippou

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2024 playoff stats: 20.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.2 APG

Ionescu's playoff scoring in 2024 was by far the best of her career: her previous best postseason average was 14.3 PPG in three games in 2022. In 10 playoff games last year, Ionescu averaged 13, 7 PPG. She praised the Lynx defense as being particularly difficult to deal with. In the four previous meetings this season, Ionescu averaged 16.5 points while shooting 34.2% from the field and 17.9% from distance. That's something she wants to improve on in the finale. — Voepel

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2024 playoff stats: 14.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 53.9% FG

The 2021 MVP has been solid but not spectacular this postseason. Her best game was a 20-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 2 against the Atlanta Dream. She has never scored more than 14 points in any other game. At 6-foot-10 and with the ability to shoot from deep — she made three 3-pointers in Game 4 against the Las Vegas Aces — Jones could be a difficult opponent for the Lynx. She seemed more comfortable in New York this season, and despite being the Liberty's third option, she's good enough to take over a series on both ends of the court. — cream

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2024 playoff stats: 13.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 5.9 APG

In her first season with the Lynx, Williams was exactly what they needed: an energetic point guard who could score and defend. She previously played in the WNBA Finals with the Connecticut Sun in 2019 and 2022. Williams said around midway through the season that she was letting the stress of the schedule get to her a little. But she stepped up and was a key part of the Lynx, including 24 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in Game 5 of the semifinals. — Voepel

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2024 playoff stats: 13.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 33.3% 3FG

Since moving from Las Vegas to Minnesota, McBride has been a franchise staple for four seasons and had her best season since 2019. Her scoring and 3-point shooting dipped slightly in the postseason, but McBride remains Minnesota's best option after Collier. McBride is not afraid and is ready to have the ball in critical moments. She's the type of deep shooter who can lead a team when she's hot. — cream

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2024 playoff stats: 10.5 PPG, 59.1% 3FG, 1.8 APG

Fiebich, the Liberty's 24-year-old rookie from Germany and runner-up in the 2024 Sixth Player of the Year voting, was inserted into the starting lineup starting in the postseason, which wasn't a complete surprise: New York boasted a league-best 23.8 net rating in the regular season with the starters plus Fiebich instead of Courtney Vandersloot (at least 100 minutes). Fiebich's increased role has paid off for New York: She is 13 of 22 on 3-pointers in the playoffs and provides more length on defense as a 6-4 winger. — Philippou

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2024 playoff stats: 9.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.9 APG

Smith began her WNBA career in 2019 as the No. 8 pick of the Phoenix Mercury. But the last two seasons have been pivotal – last year in Chicago and this year in Minnesota – and she averaged a career-best 10.1 points and 3.2 assists in the regular season. As reliable as she was on offense, Smith was also a very effective defender. They ranked sixth in defensive win shares (2.9) during the regular season. — Voepel

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2024 playoff stats: 10.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.5 APG

This is the best of Carleton's six seasons in the WNBA, with career-highs in scoring (9.6), rebounds (3.8) and 3-pointers per game (2.3). Carleton's 91 3-pointers in the regular season are three times as many as their season-best total (30). Her play stood out in the Commissioner's Cup final as she scored a team-high 23 points and beat the Liberty by going 8 of 10 from the field and 6 of 8 from distance. — Voepel

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2024 playoff stats: 6.0 PPG, 2.8 APG, 1.0 SPG

Laney-Hamilton's season has been difficult due to injuries: she was sidelined earlier this summer with a knee problem that required her to undergo minor surgery. Then, upon her return, she experienced a scare when she collided with Jones in the final game of the regular season. Laney-Hamilton didn't have a breakout game in these playoffs, but coach Sandy Brondello said the team wants her to keep shooting. And even if she doesn't get going offensively, Laney-Hamilton's defensive presence is crucial for New York to lock things down on the perimeter. — Philippou

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2024 playoff stats: 6.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.5 RPG

One of two New York players to win a WNBA championship, Vandersloot has adapted seamlessly to coming off the bench and adding to the Liberty's reserve corps as a playmaker capable of making plays downhill gave further impact. But when she played the entire decisive fourth quarter of Game 4 against Las Vegas, she also showed that she can still have an impact and be called upon to make winning contributions regardless of whether she's in the starting lineup. — Philippou

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2024 playoff stats: 6.4 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 50.0% FG

When Hiedeman arrived from the Suns in the offseason, she saw her playing time and all of her numbers decline with the Lynx. But her playoff experience was valuable and Hiedeman played particularly well in Minnesota's two crucial games. Her high-energy attacking style suits Williams well when the Lynx want to push the tempo or be more aggressive on defense. — cream

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2024 playoff stats: 4.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 50.0% FG

It was a little-publicized deal, but Minnesota's acquisition of Hines-Allen paid immediate dividends. She wasn't as productive in the playoffs as she was during the long regular season, but Hines-Allen gives the Lynx more flexibility upfront. She's a physical presence who offers an alternative to the finesse that Smith and Carleton bring, giving coach Cheryl Reeve another center back to use against Jones. — cream

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2024 playoff stats: 2.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 13.4 MPG

In Game 2 against the Aces, Thornton's productivity off the bench – she set a career high in a single postseason quarter with nine points in the second quarter – helped New York build a six-point lead at halftime to a four-point win. A strong finals series from Thornton, whether she's scoring or bringing her trademark grit and toughness, could help tip things in the Liberty's favor. — Philippou

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2024 playoff stats: 2.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 33.3% 3FG

After five seasons outside the WNBA, Zandalasini returned to the Lynx this season and played minutes in all 47 games. She was also a member of the Lynx in 2017 and 2018, making her the last player associated with Minnesota's previous title team in 2017. That year, she played 11 minutes in five playoff games and scored two points. The 6-2 Zandalasini has scored 15 points in these playoffs, including 12 on 3-pointers. — cream