Top 10 WNBA Power Forwards 2023 Rankings

Ranking the best WNBA Power Forwards of the 2023 WNBA season as Breanna Stewart lead the way. Also where Nneka Ogwumike, & more rank

By admin | April 19, 2024

WNBA Power Forwards

The landscape of the WNBA roster is not set up like most traditional basketball leagues such as the NBA which utilizes the (PG, SG, SF, PF, C) construction. The WNBA however often uses a guard, forward, center combination that might put two shooting guards or two power forwards out on the floor at the same time. With this construction of the lineup, it allows a team like the New York Liberty to feature two of the best power forwards in the WNBA including Breanna Stewart who headlines the Top 10 WNBA Power Forwards 2023 Rankings.

Stewart, who was one of the most attractive WNBA free agents elected to sign with the New York Liberty during the off-season. A move that has paid off for the Liberty as Stewart currently leads the WNBA in rebounding averaging 9.8 rebounds per game while sitting in second in scoring while averaging 23.4 points per game.

As Stewart headlines the top power forwards in the WNBA in 2023, other top power forwards joining her on the list include Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun, Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks, and NaLyssa Smith of the Indiana Fever. Here is a look at the Top 10 WNBA Power Forwards 2023 Rankings list.

Honorable Mention

Karlie Samuelson

Team: Los Angeles Sparks

WNBA Stats: 7.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.7 APG

Landing just outside of the Top 10 WNBA Power Forwards 2023 rankings list is the Los Angele Sparks power forward/forward Karlie Samuelson.

Samuelson, who forms a strong power forward combination with Azura Stevens has been solid in 18 games to start the 2023 WNBA Season. The former Stanford Cardinal forward has bounced around since arriving in the WNBA in 2018 returned to the Sparks for the 2023 schedule.

Over 18 games, Samuelson has started nine of those contests while averaging 7.8 points per game to go along with 2.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and nearly a half a steal per game while providing a spark on both ends of the floor.

In addition, Samuelson is a solid shooter who is currently shooting 48.2 percent from behind the three point line and 49.4 percent from the field.

Nia Coffey

Team: Atlanta Dream

WNBA Stats: 6.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 APG

The former Northwestern Wildcats guard/forward has made a living being a solid player on both ends of the floor since entering the WNBA back during the 2017 WNBA schedule.

In 2023, Nia Coffey converted from a role player to a player seeing the court for over 21.4 minutes per game while starting all 18 games played this season.

Over those 18 games, the Atlanta Dream power forward is averaging 6.5 points per game to go along with 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Meanwhile on the defensive end of the floor Coffey is averaging 1.2 blocked shots per game while posting 3.6 rebounds per game.

Top 10 WNBA Power Forwards

10. Tianna Hawkins

Team: Washington Mystics

WNBA Stats: 6.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.3 APG

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 WNBA Power Forwards 2023 rankings is the former Maryland Terps forward Tianna Hawkins. Hawkins who was drafted during the 2013 WNBA Draft has been a key role player for the Washington Mystics since returning to the club for the 2022 WNBA Season.

Hawkins is currently averaging 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while averaging just under 20 minutes per game (19.4). While Hawkins doesn’t measure up to the top tier power forwards on the list, the lack of consistent minutes and the role within the team holds back her true capabilities at the position.

9. Betnijah Laney

Team: New York Liberty

WNBA Stats: 10.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.1 APG

It is hard to not see production on the New York Liberty roster as the team is loaded with talent at nearly every position including the power forward position.

While Breanna Stewart has been the main weapon for most of the season the Liberty tend to use a strong lineup that features both Stewart and Betnijah Laney at the forward position with both anchoring down traditional roles of a power forward.

Laney is currently averaging 10.4 points per game in 28.3 minutes per game while also adding three rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

8. Michaela Onyenwere

Team: Phoenix Mercury

WNBA Stats: 10.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG

After spending her first two seasons with the New York Liberty the former UCLA Bruins star was traded to Phoenix Mercury in a move to open up space for the team’s offseason additions.

The move has been a positive one for the Mercury as Michaela Onyenwere has taken advantage of the additional playing time while being a starter in 14 of the team’s 18 games this season.

In those games, the former Bruins star has posted a career high 10.2 points per game while also adding 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists. On the defensive end of the floor Onyenwere is averaging 3.2 of her 4.7 rebounds while also nearly adding one steal (.8) and one blocked shot per game (.7).

7. Alanna Smith

Team: Chicago Sky

WNBA Stats: 10.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.9 APG

Over the years the Stanford Cardinals program has ranked among the best in women’s college basketball while producing a long list of talented stars for the WNBA.

One of those women’s player is Alanna Smith who was drafted during the 2019 WNBA Draft. After appearing in just nine games this season, Smith has turned into a full time player in her first year with the Chicago Sky this season while averaging a career high 27.1 points per game during 19 total games played.

In those games, Smith has averaged career highs in scoring (10.0 PPG), rebounds (6.6), assists (1.9), steals (1.2), and blocked shots (1.6). Smith is a strong threat on the offensive end of the floor and an even stronger threat on the defensive end of the floor.

6. Jonquel Jones

Team: New York Liberty

WNBA Stats: 10.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.4 APG

The off-season was very busy for the New York Liberty who acquired Courtney Vansloot, Breanna Stewart as well as Jonquel Jones while building to compete for a WNBA Championship.

The moves have paid off as the Liberty has posted the second best record in the WNBA to start the season. Jones has been a strong addition to a loaded roster while providing depth and athleticism on both ends of the floor.

After averaging at least 14 points per game in the three previous seasons, Jones is averaging 10.2 points per game this season while also averaging 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. However, while her offensive numbers have trended down, her defense has been strong while averaging 1.4 blocked shots.

5. NaLyssa Smith

Team: Indiana Fever

WNBA Stats: 15.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.5 APG

Rounding out the top five on the Top 10 WNBA Power Forwards 2023 rankings list is the Indiana Fever power forward NaLyssa Smith. Smith is one of six players within the WNBA averaging at least 14 points per game to go along with at least nine rebounds per game.

Overall Smith is averaging 15.6 points per game while averaging nearly 10 rebounds per game (9.7) over her first 19 games of the season.

Overall, the former Baylor Bears power forward has posted nine double doubles this season including four of those contests scoring at least 23 points.

4. Napheesa Collier

Team: Minnesota Lynx

WNBA Stats: 21.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 APG

Despite landing at number four among the best power forwards in the WNBA entering mid-July, Napheesa Collier is well worth the consideration for the top spot while also ranking among the best players in the WNBA.

The Minnesota Lynx fifth year veteran has averaged 33.8 minutes per game to start the 2023 WNBA season over 19 total games. Over that stretch Collier has tied for the third most points per game (21.8) to start the season.

The Lynx power forward has also been strong on the defensive end of the floor averaging 1.2 blocked shots, 1.7 steals, and 7.9 rebounds per game.

3. Nneka Ogwumike

Team: Los Angeles Sparks

WNBA Stats: 19.4 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.9 APG

Since arriving with the Los Angeles Sparks with the first pick of the 2012 WNBA Draft, Nneka Ogwumike has been one of the faces of the organization while turning in strong seasons one after another.

The same can be said for Ogwumike’s 2023 WNBA season as she is currently averaging the most points of her career during any single season while averaging 19.8 points per game.

In addition, the Sparks power forward has turned in 10 double doubles over the course of her first 18 games this season. Ogwumike has also added a career high 9.5 rebounds per game while also adding 1.7 steals and 2.9 assists per game.

2. Alyssa Thomas

Team: Connecticut Sun

WNBA Stats: 14.9 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 8.0 APG

The power forward position within the WNBA is loaded with talent including within the top five that features Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and NaLyssa Smith, Nneka Ogwumike as well as Alyssa Thomas.

While Stewart is well deserving of the top spot, Alyssa Thomas is making a run at it as well as she is posting one of the best seasons of her WNBA career. The former Maryland Terps power forward is averaging the second most points of her career with 14.9 per game while also posting a career high 9.8 rebounds and a career high eight assists per game.

Thomas currently ranks 2nd in the WNBA in assists, tied for 1d in rebounds, and tied for 24th in scoring with 14.9 points per game. In addition, Thomas also leads the WNBA in steals while averaging 2.1 steals per game.

1. Breanna Stewart

Team: New York Liberty

WNBA Stats: 23.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.1 APG

Coming in at number one on the Top 10 WNBA Power Forwards 2023 rankings is Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty. As you start to look around at the top players in the WNBA at any position Stewart ranks among the tops of those lists.

The current Liberty power forward ranks among the leaders in scoring and assists among all active WNBA players while also ranking among the leaders in assists as a power forward. In 17 games played over the course of the 2023 WNBA season Stewart is averaging 23.4 points per game to go along with 9.8 rebound and 4.1 assists.

In addition, the first year Liberty star has also been as strong as any player in the league on the defensive end of the floor averaging 1.5 blocked shots and 1.6 steals per game while helping the team to the second best record in the WNBA.

How would you rank these WNBA Power Forwards so far into the 2023 WNBA Season? Rank below in the WNBA Power Rankings