Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson top list of 25 best WNBA players - ESPN

With the second half of the 2023 WNBA season underway, it's time to update ESPN's ranking of the top 25 players in the league.

The list's top five features three players from the league-leading Las Vegas Aces: A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, with Kelsey Plum not far behind at No. 7. At the midway point, the 19-2 Aces — who led the way with five players in the top 25 — remain favorites to win their second consecutive league title. Speaking of repeats, the New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart is back as the No. 1 player behind two first-place votes; Wilson earned the other. The Connecticut Sun 's Alyssa Thomas was the unanimous No. 3 player for ESPN's panel of voters: M.A. Voepel, Kevin Pelton and Alexa Philippou.

Four players — Satou Sabally, rookie Aliyah Boston, Brittney Sykes and Cheyenne Parker — enter the rankings after not being included in the preseason, while Ariel Atkins, Kelsey Mitchell, Diana Taurasi and the injured Brionna Jones fell out. Stay tuned for an updated top 25 player ranking later in the season.

Forward | 6-foot-4 Preseason rank: 1 2023 stats: 23.1 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.1 APG

The 2018 MVP is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists per game this season, which wasn't the expectation when she teamed with fellow former MVP Jonquel Jones and All-WNBA picks Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot in New York. Among that constellation of stars, Stewart has shined brightest, starting with a career-best 45 points on 15-of-21 shooting in her home debut at Barclays Center. She also produced a 43-point outing earlier this month against Phoenix. Stewart is the heavy favorite to capture MVP at Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill. — Pelton

Forward | 6-foot-4 Preseason rank: 2 2023 stats: 19.7