WNBA playoffs 2024: A'ja Wilson and the top 25 players - ESPN

When it comes to naming the top player in the WNBA, there's no surprise: The Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson went wire-to-wire at No. 1 in ESPN's top 25 rankings of WNBA players in 2024. Our playoff edition, which features four players who weren't on our midseason list, includes only players from the eight teams in the postseason. But it's still difficult to narrow the list down to 25.

Wilson became the first player to score 1,000 points in a WNBA season — she finished with 1,021 in the regular season — and also set the record for rebounds in a season with 451. Multiple records fell in 2024: The Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark had the most assists in a season, and the Atlanta Dream's Tina Charles set the marks for career rebounds and double-doubles.

Rookies weren't eligible for our preseason top 25 player rankings in May, allowing them a little time in the league to prove themselves. But Clark has steadily climbed up the rankings. She was No. 15 on August's list and has made another big leap ahead of the playoffs, as did Kelsey Mitchell, Clark's Indiana backcourt mate.

As we get set for the first round of the WNBA playoffs to open Sunday (1 p.m. ET, ESPN), here's a look at the top players — as voted on by ESPN's Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel — who will be competing for the 2024 WNBA championship trophy.

Center | 6-foot-4
2024 stats: 26.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG
Midseason ranking: 1

Wilson led the WNBA this season in scoring, blocks, player efficiency rating and win shares. Her scoring average is the highest ever for a season, besting Diana Taurasi's 25.3 PPG in 2006. Wilson's averages in rebounding, blocks and steals (1.8) also are career highs. She had two games this season with 40-plus points and nine others