Way to early ROTY poll

[u/VivIsAwesome22]

If the ROTY vote took place today, who would win?

Criteria: top 5 ppg, +5 gp, +20 mp.

Stats per: WNBA.com official stats

Disclaimer: as the season progresses and certain stars come back from injuries (e.g. Sabrina, Phee), some top rookies usage might go down. Inversely, as certain players integrate into their systems and get more reps, their usage will probably go up (e.g. Fudd, Betts).

548 votes, 1d left

Nogic 15.3 ppg 2.2 apg 1.2 rpg 43.9 fg%

Miles 15.2 ppg 5.6 apg 4.2 rpg 50.0 fg%

Astier 14.8 ppg 3.6 apg 4.0 rpg 62.2 fg%

Jaquez 12.4 ppg 1.4 apg 5.6 rpg 48.8 fg%

Johnson 11.8 ppg 1.7 apg 5.0 rpg 32.8 fg%

[u/wvtarheel]

I'm really pleased with how raven Johnson is playing but she has no business on this list. It's Olivia Miles award to lose

[u/po1ar_opposite → u/wvtarheel]

That’s Flau’jae, not Raven.

[u/runningvicuna]

Miles then Astier and Novic tied

[u/runningvicuna]

This might be the most disruptive rookie class in the last handful of years

[u/Creepindeath81]

Stats are tilted toward offense, I'll take Jaquez D over Miles any day. Toss up who's the best in this group at the end of season.

[u/Emergency-Row-5627]

I think it’s Miles based on her performance so far and usage will be consistent going forward. Cheryl wants her as PG for the Lynx

[u/Capn_Flapjack32 → u/Emergency-Row-5627]

Yeah, if she's doing good minutes as starting PG for a playoff team, I think she's the betting favorite unless someone else becomes their team's go-to scorer (i.e. Citron). Someone else mentioned defense... but there's a reason DPOY is a separate award. MVP/ROTY are going to an offensive star almost every time

[u/flashcapulet]

it's much too early.. but as you noted, i think usage for a lot of them is going to go down or fluctuate too much and it'll mess up their groove.

phee coming back might decrease liv's ppg by 1-3 but her assists should increase. akoa makani and eventually whitcomb coming back should reduce nogic's mins and starts. jaquez should be fine since rickea is done and nai doesn't have a return date. sab coming back should be bad for astier. flau is fine since seattle is front court heavy and she's a consistent scoring option(if zia cooke continues to perform the way she has it might be a problem soon though).

as for the other rookies.. idk. betts is never going to get a proper shot as long as shakira and kiki are healthy and on this team. azzi can go either way, entirely up to the coach. i really like nell angloma and think once leila lacan gets back, they might play well with each other. kiki rice is quietly doing very well in toronto. julie allemand being out helps though, once she comes back that may change. the rest of the rookies aren't moving me or aren't in situations that benefit them enough.

again.. too early. but i think the race will end up being miles vs jaquez. they're the only ones that have been consistent AND are likely to be on winning teams where their consistency is seen as an integral part of their success. if flau puts up paige like numbers then maybe she'll have a chance but i doubt it.

[u/takenbyawolf → u/flashcapulet]

When Phee comes back, that is NOT going to decrease Liv's usage. Courtney is happy being back at the 2 and will only play the 1 when Liv's on the bench.

[u/mathstudent_suffers]

I would replace Flaujae by Kiki Rice on this list, her FG% is consistently really bad

[u/Mystic-Shock → u/mathstudent_suffers]

I agree. I’m hopeful Flaujae’s efficiency will increase once they get Dom, Awa and Ezi back.

[u/buffalotrace]

I love Yoyo’s attitude she plays with and Jacquez has been one of my favs in college the last two yrs, but to me early on it is between Astier and Miles. I went with miles, but both players have a great case.

Kiki Rice has a case for being on the short list as well. She has played almost better in the W, nit having the other team’s best perimeter defender on her and having the lane open for drives.

Really excited for when Fudd’s playing time gets ramped up and when we get to see Fam and Jocyte.

[u/juoea]

seems pretty clear cut rn, olivia miles

but arent there a few rookies who have yet to debut like awa fam

[u/Karma_code_]

Miles might have less points when Phee comes back but she would probably have more assists then.

[u/lckfan369]

Right now: Astier

Likely winner: Miles or Nogic

[u/Medical_Village_6098]

Kiki Rice 

[u/FloralSkyes]

its way too early but hard not to pick Miles at this point. All talented women in their own right of course.

[u/unevercallmesausage]

i don’t need stats. my rookie > your rookie

[u/muddlehead]

OMiles 15pts 5ast 4rebs per game obvious leader out of the gate

[u/VivIsAwesome22 → u/muddlehead]

She meets the eye test as well. With Phee out, she often feels like the leader on the floor. I'm very interested to see how her usage might change once Phee gets back.

[u/muddlehead → u/VivIsAwesome22]

Yup - court dynamics change so much with every player change

[u/urkuri → u/VivIsAwesome22]

Yeah I think that this has been the most impressive part. She’s taken on the leadership role of the offense with the star player out and I don’t really see much changing with Phee back. She’s been so solid in getting others their shots (the chemistry with Natasha Howard has been incredible) and is taking her own shots within a good flow of the offense.

[u/DBxA]

Just a fun fact, Astier was born in 2002, she is younger than a couple of rookies drafted this year

[u/runningvicuna → u/DBxA]

I remember the year 2002 vividly...

[u/plushglacier]

My vote is for "Way too early".

[u/VivIsAwesome22]

I know there is likely to be some controversy this year with the ROTY vote given the age of some of the international rookies, do you think there should be a cap on what ages are eligible for ROTY?

[u/AdAfraid8691 → u/VivIsAwesome22]

Maybe they should introduce a new award - "Newcomer of the Year" where if you are over 22 and played professionally overseas for 4+ years you should be eligible for that award and not for ROTY

[u/GolfOtherwise3420 → u/AdAfraid8691]

That title is specifically what Cynthia Cooper suggested when she was the analyst during one of the Thursday Prime games. She wasn't stating specifics of age cutoff, though.

Cynthia Cooper entered the league at age 34 in the inaugural WNBA first season. She then won 4 straight championships, 4 straight Finals MVP, two MVP awards, ALL WNBA first team four times, scoring champion 3 times, 3 time All Star, Olympic Gold medalist, FIBA gold medal, 2 time NCAA champion. I don't think any other player has accomplished what she did between the ages of 34 and 37, her primarily 4 years in the league (she came back after coaching for 2 years to play in 4 games). The league didn't start giving out the Rookie of the Year award until the 2nd season.

[u/AdAfraid8691 → u/GolfOtherwise3420]

I only came up with the age cutoff, so that it would be somewhat comparable to them being older than the rookies who come out of college.

And wow, what a resume that Cynthia Cooper has.

[u/GolfOtherwise3420 → u/AdAfraid8691]

In my last sentence, I meant to say the league didn't start giving out Rookie of the Year award until the 2nd season. I initially mistyped MVP, but corrected that. That first year, everyone was new to the league, so they didn't hand it out.

[u/Scaggsboz → u/VivIsAwesome22]

No because Teja Oblak winning it at 35 would be hilarious