Unequalled introduced the league’s All-Unequalled First and Second Groups on Thursday — and the outcomes have been largely unsurprising.
Napheesa Collier, who has been the league’s most dominant participant on each ends, was named to the primary staff, together with Kayla McBride (Laces Membership) and Chelsea Grey (Rose Membership).
The All-Unequalled Second Group was comprised of Skylar Diggins-Smith (Lunar Owls), Rhyne Howard (Vinyl), and Angel Reese (Rose Membership).
All three had standout seasons; Diggins-Smith averaged 17.9 factors and 4.8 assists, whereas clinching 5 video games with game-winners. Howard averaged 20.5 factors and 1.3 steals per sport, whereas Reese averaged 13.1 factors and 12.1 rebounds per sport.
Every of the league’s prime two groups was honored with two All-Unequalled choices; the Lunar Owls have been represented by Collier (First Group) and Diggins-Smith (Second Group), whereas the Rose was represented by Grey (First Group) and Reese (Second Group). The opposite two postseason groups have been every awarded one All-Unequalled participant, with Kayla McBride repping the Laces and Rhyne Howard repping the Vinyl.
Who have been the largest snubs from the All-Unequalled Groups?
SB Nation beforehand delineated Unequalled picks, and there have been discrepancies between our picks and the precise choices.
Official All-Unequalled Groups [actual results]:
First Group: Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Grey, Kayla McBride
Second Group: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese
SB Nation All-Unequalled Groups [our votes]:
First Group: Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Grey, Kayla McBride
Second Group: Allisha Grey, Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby
Allisha Grey averaged 19.1 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and a pair of.7 assists per sport — she was the Lunar Owls’ second-leading scorer and the Seventh-leading scorer general. However, Diggins-Smith dealt with extra playmaking obligations and did have 5 game-winners, so recognizing her as an All-Unequalled Second Group member is smart.
Dearica Hamby, in the meantime, was the league’s fifth-leading scorer, averaging 19.9 factors per sport and 10.1 rebounds. She was most likely the largest snub from the All-Unequalled Group, and doubtless would have secured a spot if she closed the ultimate weekend out higher (she averaged simply 10.5 factors per sport on 37.5% taking pictures within the closing two video games.
Nonetheless, she battled effectively in opposition to the league’s prime bigs and was a giant a part of why Vinyl in the end secured a postseason berth.
Different gamers additionally had All-Unequalled circumstances however have been largely stored out of our consideration as a consequence of their staff’s lack of success. Brittney Griner, for instance, averaged 16.7 factors, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, however her Phantom Membership completed with a league-worst 4-10 file and was outscored by 137 factors throughout 14 video games. Breanna Stewart averaged 19.1 factors and 10.1 rebounds per sport, however her Mist membership missed the playoffs. Sabrina Ionescu was additionally individually efficient — averaging 18 factors, 7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists — however missed 5 video games as a consequence of prior commitments and was additionally a member of the league-worst Phantom.
A number of gamers may have made stronger circumstances in the event that they have been extra obtainable; Alyssa Thomas, for instance, averaged 11.3 factors, 11.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, whereas serving to to anchor the Laces’ protection. However, she solely performed in 8 video games as a consequence of a knee harm she suffered within the opening weeks. Jackie Younger has been nice for the Laces — averaging 15.5 factors and three assists — however she’s solely appeared in 6 contests for the Laces.
