After seeing so many “rookie watch” type blogs over the past two weeks ranking the best WNBA rookies, I decided to rank the five worst performing WNBA rookies so far. But that’s WAY too mean and way too harsh for a blog title or even an idea. So let’s call them underperforming – no let’s just call them struggling. And some are not even struggling from a stats or performance standpoint, but just have not been able to squeeze into the talented rotations inherent on even the worst WNBA teams. I also recently suggested this topic to a prominent W youtuber who declined but said that it was an interesting idea. Well, here’s hoping for the clicks.

This was a difficult post to write for many reasons, the first of which is that there just aren’t that many rookies in the WNBA. A majority of rookies taken in the second round have already been waived or are playing overseas this year – and pretty much all of the third rounders have been waived or are playing overseas. And spoiler alert – I’m not including any rookies that were drafted and already waved.

Moreover, just making it to the WNBA is a HUGE accomplishment. The fact that the players below are getting minutes – even the small allotment that some of them are getting – is already already a massive win, so please keep that in perspective as you read this piece.

Alissa Pili – Minnesota Lynx

Let’s start with Alissa Pili. She has definitely had her games, including a 20 point game in just 15 minutes of playing time back on May 30th. But she is only averaging 5.7 minutes and 2.7 points. She is shooting 41% from three but it is difficult to tell if there is enough of a sample size to even know if this is an accurate percentage. And that is the biggest problem: she just isn’t getting enough minutes. The Lynx are a juggernaut this year and are stacked with high level talent.

On another weaker team, she would probably be averaging 15-20 mins like some of the cohorts in her draft projection range. Like Kate Martin (who has been getting more PT on a team that has been struggling of late) Pili thrives on being a shooter and someone who can create her own shot. Not only does she need minutes but she needs the ball – which could be an even bigger issue than the other players on this list. Still, Pili did just sign a deal with Nike today, to rep their N7 (an indigenous focused) brand – so I think she is going to be ok.

Marquesha Davis – New York Liberty

Marquesha Davis is having a similar minutes issue with the New York Liberty where, again, the team is stacked. Unfortunately, unlike Pili, she has not really had a breakout game – instead just trying to pick up PT wherever she can. It is interesting because she had a similar lack of minutes at the University of Arkansas before she transferred to Ole Miss. At Ole Miss she average 14/game and ended up scoring over 1000 points in her career there. Still it is tough to get meaningful game time on the court when the roster ahead of you is Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot. But it is not a great sign that in Vandersloot’s recent personal absence, the team opted to give most of her minutes to Ivana Dojkic instead of Davis.

Nika Muhl – Seattle Storm

Nika is the last of the three rookies where minutes and playing time are the biggest issue. I get it, it is a league issue more than a player issue. But not getting minutes is a bad sign. And Nika is getting the least minutes of any rookie at just 2.3 minutes per game. She is not even on track to play 30 games this season – and has only entered six games for the Sonics. She was an immediate fan favorite but it is clear that her VISA issues that made her missing a training camp and initial season games has set her back. Although she was drafted later than expected, due to her high visibility in the NCAA tournament, I think more is expected of Nika. Oddly, if Nika is waived by the Storm, I could see her finding a home elsewhere – possibly a team where D and a high IQ player is needed ASAP. And honestly, maybe that would be the best thing. Sorry, Seattle fans.

Stephanie Soares – Dallas Wings

Soares was technically drafted in 2023 but missed last year due to injury. She’s averaging over 10 minutes per game but has yet to really find her groove with the Wings. And honestly, the Wings could use Soares at her best. At Iowa State, Soares dominated the glass. In 2021-22, she averaged 20.5 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocks, en route to leading the Mustangs to a 32-4 overall record. The Wings are in the middle of a 7 game losing streak and desperately need a bigger post presence and boards. But Soares has had only 6 rebounds, 1 block, and 8 rebounds… in the past FIVE GAMES. Still she did play 14 minutes today for the Wings – and while they were getting blown out, one hopes that Wings coach Latricia Trammell might have finally seen Soares’ upside.

Jacy Sheldon – Dallas Wings

Speaking of the Wings, let’s talk the #5 draft pick: Jacy Sheldon. You know it breaks my heart to include Jacy on this list. And I feel like she is quite honesty borderline. She is clearly someone the Wings look upon for meaningful minutes at times to spell Maddy Siegrest or Sevgi Uzun or Arike Ogunbowle. But she was also the fifth pick in the draft so it is my opinion that more is expected. And let’s face it, her stats are not great: 1.8 pts, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. She did finally play 23 minutes today and got 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists. She was a -1 but in a blowout, that is honestly a commendable +/- IMO.

But Jacy Sheldon was never a stat padder at Ohio State. Sure, they were better – but she was the ultimate point guard – making everyone around her better. When she is in the game, she is a presence on defense, flying around the court – and to be fair, that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet. Maybe like Maddy Siegrest, she will get have a massive sophomore season uptick in the stats department – if she hands around the Dallas Wings. I am rooting for Jacy, who was one of my favorite college players last year. We shall see.

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