Best WNBA players from each NCAA Conference in 2015

There are many different conferences represented in the WNBA. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) leads all conferences with 34 players in the WNBA and the Big Ten, and Southeastern Conference (SEC) each have 21 and 20 players, respectively. Along with the Big Five power conferences, there are eight other conferences represented in the WNBA.

Conference	Number of Players in the WNBA
Atlantic-10	4
Atlantic Coast Conference	34
American	14
Big Ten	21
Big 12	10
Big East	4
Big South	1
Colonia Athletic Association	2
Conference USA	4
Missouri Valley Conference	1
Pac 12	13
Southeastern Conference	20
West Coast Conference	3

** This list does NOT take into account previous conference alignment and is based on conference alignment from the 2014-15 college basketball season

Here are the players from each conference that have stood out to so far this WNBA season, plus a few honorable mentions. Connecticut, Maryland, Notre Dame and Rutgers are their own categories because of conference realignment, and the fact that some of the most accomplished alumni from those schools played in conferences, that looked a lot different than they do now (for example: the old Big East, old ACC).

Big Five Conferences:

Atlantic Coast Conference

Best Player in 2015: Riquna Williams (Tulsa Shock, University of Miami)

• Williams is averaging 14.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 apg and has increased her scoring significantly with the injuries to Diggins and Sims. She ranks second in the WNBA in three-point makes and fifth in steals.

Honorable Mention: Ivory Latta (Washington Mystics, University of North Carolina)

• Latta is averaging 12.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.5 apg while leading the WNBA in three-point makes (29). This is her sixth consecutive season averaging 12+ points per game at the point guard position.

Big Ten

Best Player of 2015: Alex Bentley (Connecticut Sun, Penn State University)

• Bentley is averaging a career-high 16.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 2.2 apg having started all eleven games for the Eastern Conference-leading Sun. She is also doing it on the defensive end, averaging 2.7 steals per game, which ranks second in the league.

Honorable Mention: Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx, University of Minnesota)

• The veteran is averaging 12.8 ppg and 4.4 apg in her twelfth season in the WNBA, helping to lead the Lynx to the best record in the league so far this season. She ranks sixth in the WNBA in assists per game.

Big 12

Best Player of 2015: Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury, Baylor University)

• After returning from her suspension, Griner has been impressive averaging a career-high 17.8 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game. Phoenix is 5-1 with her in the lineup.

Honorable Mention: Plenette Pierson (Tulsa Shock, Texas Tech University)

• In her 15th season in the WNBA, Pierson is having her best season yet, averaging a career-high 13.6 points per game and adding nearly five rebounds per game as well. She has been key for the Tulsa Shock and will be relied on even more as the team progresses without Skylar Diggins.

Pac-12

Best Player of 2015: Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks, Stanford University)

• In the eight games she's played this season, Ogwumike is averaging a career-high 18.5 points per game as well as a league-leading 11.5 rebounds per game. She's recorded five double-doubles and has yet to score less than 11 points in a game this season.

Southeastern Conference

Best Player of 2015: DeWanna Bonner (Phoenix Mercury, Auburn University)

• Bonner has really stepped up to fill the void left by Taurasi for the Mercury. She is averaging 17.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game. She ranks fifth in the league in scoring average and has recorded six 20+ scoring games this season.

Honorable Mention: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx, Louisiana State University)

• Augustus is having another stellar season for the Lynx, averaging 14.9 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game. She's also shooting an impressive 47.6% from the field.

University of Connecticut

Best Player of 2015: Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx)

• The reigning MVP got off to a slow start (by her standards) to the season but has picked it up as of late. In her last four games, she is averaging 23.2 points per game and has recorded two double-doubles.

Honorable Mention: Tina Charles (New York Liberty)

• Charles, another MVP winner from UConn, is having another solid season for the Liberty. She is averaging nearly a double-double at 16.2 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game.

University of Maryland

Best Player of 2015: Kristi Toliver (Los Angeles Sparks)

• In her six games back with the Sparks, Toliver is averaging 20.5 points per game and 5.7 assists per game, all career-highs. She exploded for a 43 points game vs. Tulsa on July 3rd and is shooting a staggering 51.3% from the field.

Honorable Mention: Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun)

• Thomas has started all 11 games for the Sun in her second year in the league, averaging 10.1 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game. She is a valuable part of a young Sun team that is leading the Eastern Conference.

University of Notre Dame

Best Player of 2015: Skylar Diggins (Tulsa Shock)

• Prior to her season-ending knee injury, Diggins was the most impressive Notre Dame alumni in the WNBA this season. She was averaging 17.8 points per game and 5.0 assists per game while leading Tulsa to eight wins in nine games. Without her in the lineup, Tulsa is just 2-3.

Honorable Mention: Kayla McBride (San Antonio Stars)

• McBride is averaging 14.0 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game for the Stars this season. She knocked down a game-winner with 22 seconds left to beat the Storm on June 27th.

Rutgers University

Best Player of 2015: Cappie Pondexter (Chicago Sky)

• Pondexter's scoring average (17.8 ppg) and field goal percentage (.473) are the highest they have been since the 2012 season. She is one of the most accomplished active players in the league and has proven this season that she still can play at a very high level.

Mid-Major Conferences:

Atlantic-10

Best Player of 2015: Natasha Cloud (Washington Mystics; St. Joseph's University)

• In her rookie season, Cloud is averaging 3.2 points per game for the Mystics and has appeared in all of the team's eleven games this season. She's also averaging nearly 16 minutes per game.

American

Best Player of 2015: Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury, Temple University)

• Dupree is averaging 14.6 points per game for the Mercury and is helping to fill the void left by Taurasi's absence. She is shooting 47.6% from the field and has started every game this season for Phoenix.

Big East

Best Player of 2015 (tie): Allie Quigley (Chicago Sky, DePaul University); Sugar Rodgers (New York Liberty, Georgetown University)

• Quigley is averaging 9.8 points per game for the Sky and has scored in double-figures in all six of her starts this season. She had only started one game in her career prior to this season.
• Rodgers is averaging a career-high 10 points per game for the Liberty and has appeared in all 12 games for New York. Her scoring average is up four points from last season.

Big South

Best Player of 2015: Avery Warley- Talbert (New York Liberty, Liberty University)

• Warley-Talbert is the only player from the Big South in the WNBA. She has appeared in seven games this season for the Liberty.

Colonial Athletic Association

Best Player of 2015: Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky, University of Delaware)

• Delle Donne is averaging 25.8 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game and has recorded a league-leading seven double-doubles this season. She is the frontrunner for MVP and scored a career-high 45 points vs. Atlanta on June 24th.

Conference USA

Best Player of 2015: Sancho Lyttle (Atlanta Dream, University of Houston)

• Lyttle is averaging 10.3 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game for the Dream. She has started every game this season for Atlanta.

Missouri Valley Conference

Best Player of 2015: Alex Harden (Phoenix Mercury, Wichita State University)

• Harden is the only player in the WNBA from the Missouri Valley Conference. She is averaging 3.0 points per game for Phoenix and has appeared in every game for the Mercury this season.

West Coast Conference

Best Player of 2015: Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky, Gonzaga University)

• Vandersloot is averaging 12.3 points per game, 4.9 assists per game and 3.5 rebounds per game for the Sky this season. She recorded a double-double (14 points, 10 assists) vs. New York on June 30th.