Top 10 WNBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings

Ranking the best WNBA Small Forwards of the 2024 WNBA season as Breanna Stewart lead the way. Also where DeWanna Bonner, and more rank

By admin | July 2, 2024

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Who is the Best WNBA Small Forward Right Now?

The 2024 WNBA continues to cruise along as the final few weeks of the regular season have arrived. As the playoffs approach and teams continue to make their stride for playoff position, the performances of the top WNBA stars continue to pick up. This includes an extremely talented small forward group that features some of the top WNBA players in the game. One of those players include reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart who lands at the top of the Top 10 Best WNBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings list.

Stewart, who joined the New York Liberty before the start of the 2023 WNBA season as a free agent signing, rewarded the Liberty with a strong first season in route to leading the team to the WNBA Finals.

Fast forward to year two with the Liberty, Stewart continues to play at an All-Star level while helping the Liberty jump out to the best record within the WNBA after starting the season winning 15 of their first 18 games on their schedule.

Joining Stewart among the best small forwards in the WNBA include Connecticut Sun teammates DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas, Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks, Maddy Siegrist of the Dallas Wings.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Best WNBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Kayla Thornton

Team: New York Liberty

WNBA Stats: 6.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.7 apg

The big question entering the 2024 WNBA Season was whether or not the New York Liberty could build on their impressive run to the WNBA Finals last season. That seems to be the case to start the season as the Liberty currently sit atop the 2024 WNBA Standings with an impressive 15-3 overall record.

One of those key pieces to their success who does not get the recognition of the other top stars is Kayla Thornton who is in her second season with the team. The veteran small forward delivers strong leadership and understanding of the game of basketball as well as her role among the rosters.

Overall Thornton has averaged 6.4 points per game to go along with 2.6 rebounds while shooting 41.5 percent from the field.

Dorka Juhasz

Team: Minnesota Lynx

WNBA Stats: 5.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg

Just missing the Top 10 WNBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings list is one of the many weapons of the Minnesota Lynx roster that recently won the Commissioners Cup Championship. After starting 27 games last season, Dorka Juhasz has slid into a reserve roll this season while still finding a way to average six points per game.

While the overall production is limited, Juhasz has added value off the bench including posting 3.5 rebounds but even more importantly delivering the team a strong shooter who is shooting 52.3 percent from the floor and 40 percent from behind the three-point line on attempts this season.

Top 10 WNBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings

10. Bridget Carleton

Team: Minnesota Lynx

WNBA Stats: 8.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.8 apg

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 WNBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings list is the Minnesota Lynx small forward Bridget Carleton. When you sit tied for the most wins in the WNBA with 13 total to start the season, it is quite easy to understand the team is loaded with weapons.

That is simply the case with the Minnesota Lynx who has five players averaging at least 26 minutes and at least eight points per game. One of those players is Bridget Carleton who has made 12 starts on the season while adding eight points to go along with 1.1 steals, 1.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game.

With touches coming sparingly, Carleton has made it work while delivering the Lynx one of the top five starting rotations in the WNBA.

9. Alysha Clark

Team: Las Vegas Aces

WNBA Stats: 8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.3 Spg

The star fire power of the Las Vegas Aces spreads across the entire roster as the team continues to put together one of the best overall teams in the league.

With visions of posting a three-peat this season after winning the WNBA Championship in each of the two previous seasons, the team has turned to a deeper roster including Alysha Clark who has seen her overall minutes increase to 29.3 minutes per game over 12 starts and 14 total games this season.

Clark is a solid contributor on both ends of the floor posting 1.3 steals per game while also attacking the glass averaging 3.9 rebounds. To go along with those statistics, the Aces forward has averaged 8.2 points per game on the offensive end of the floor.

8. Aaliyah Edwards

Team: Washington Mystics

WNBA Stats: 8.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.1 apg

What an up and down roller coaster season the Washington Mystics have put together losing multiple key weapons from last year’s teams. While the team has had their struggles all season while landing tied with two other teams with just four wins to start the season, Aaliyah Edwards has been a bright spot all season at the small forward position.

Edwards, who was drafted by the Mystics with the sixth overall pick during the 2024 WNBA Season has averaged 8.8 points per game to start her career while also adding 1.1 assists per game and 6.3 rebounds.

As Edwards continues to develop, the former UConn Huskies forward has been equally impressive on the defensive end of the floor during her rookie season while posting 1.1 blocked shots per game. The potential upside is showing for Edwards during her rookie season as she looks to develop into one of the top forwards within the WNBA.

7. Rickea Jackson

Team: Los Angeles Sparks

WNBA Stats: 9.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.8 apg

Get ready to learn her name as Rickea Jackson is slowly developing into the future of the WNBA after being selected fourth overall during the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.

While Jackson might not get the recognition of other top WNBA rookies, her production on the floor has done the talking. Through 17 games, Jackson has averaged just below 10 points per game (9.8) while also adding 3.3 rebounds all while averaging just 23.4 minutes per game.

While there are room for improvements including on the defensive end of the floor and her ball handling skills, Jackson continues to improve including in the month of June featuring one double double to go along with four games with at least 10 points.

6. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton

Team: New York Liberty

WNBA Stats: 12.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg

When you look at the New York Liberty roster it is hard not to see a roster loaded with stars that all have the talent to play among the best within their position. This includes Betnijah Laney-Hamilton who along with teammate Breanna Stewart has formed a dynamic tandem at the position.

Hamilton, who played her collegiate basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is averaging 12.1 points per game while averaging 33.1 minutes per game this season.

Leading that scoring push has been Laney-Hamilton’s production from the field shooting 44.8 percent to go along with a 34 percent mark from behind the three-point line. To go along with scoring the Liberty small forward has averaged 1.5 steals per game to go along with 3.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds over 15 games played this season.

5. Alyssa Thomas

Team: Connecticut Sun

WNBA Stats: 12.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 7.7 apg

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 WNBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings list is the second Connecticut Sun All-Star Alyssa Thomas. Thomas, who plays alongside DeWanna Bonner at the position currently ranks fifth in the WNBA in rebounding while posting 9.6 rebounds per game to start the season.

The former Maryland Terps small forward is in the middle of her 11^th WNBA season while not showing any signs of slowing down while looking to help lead the Sun to the WNBA Championship.

Thomas has also averaged 12.4 points per game this season while also helping to orchestrate the team’s offense while dishing out 7.7 assists per game.

4. Maddy Siegrist

Team: Dallas Wings

WNBA Stats: 14.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.2 apg

While the broken left finger might sideline Maddy Siegrist for most of the rest of the season, it is hard to look past her improved play to start the season. The former Villanova Wildcats talented scorer has improved her overall scoring from 3.7 points per game last season to 14.6 points per game over 13 games this season.

Siegrist over those 13 games posted a 52.3 percent shooting percentage from the floor. While the third-year star lands high among the top small forwards in the league, the growth from last season has the Dallas Wings young shooter rising among the best in the game.

3. DeWanna Bonner

Team: Connecticut Sun

WNBA Stats: 16.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.8 apg

As you look around the WNBA, the position breakdowns and how rosters are built do not facilitate the traditional style positions leading to teams having multiple stars at one position.

One of those teams is the Connecticut Sun who have a pair of dynamic small forwards who can play at multiple positions with DeWanna Bonner being one of those stars. Bonner, who is one of the aging veterans in the WNBA continues to dominate in route to posting her 15^th straight season averaging double figures.

Bonner’s strong play and strong leadership qualities have the Sun sitting in second place within the league with a 13-3 record heading into the June 27^th, 2024, WNBA schedule. To go along with those numbers Bonner is shooting 42.4 percent from the floor while adding 6.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

2. Dearica Hamby

Team: Los Angeles Sparks

WNBA Stats: 17.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.5 apg

The struggles have shown up all season for the Los Angeles Sparks while the wins have come extremely sparingly to start the season. However, despite the struggles, one Sparks star is putting together a strong campaign to start the season while averaging a career high 17.8 points per game.

Dearica Hamby, who joined the Sparks last season has taken over leadership roles as the teams starting small forward while improving her overall play. Even more impressive has been Hamby’s overall play including posting 10.5 rebounds per game to go along with 3.5 steals which are both career highs. On the opposite end of the floor the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon is averaging 1.5 steals per game.

1. Breanna Stewart

Team: New York Liberty

WNBA Stats: 19.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.0 apg

In at number one on the Top 10 WNBA Small Forwards 2024 Rankings list is the New York Liberty small forward and the WNBA reigning league MVP Breanna Stewart.

Stewart enters the 2024 WNBA season with a chip on her shoulder and her play has proved that as she looks to land the Liberty a WNBA Championship during the 2024 WNBA season.

While the overall numbers have dropped off from her MVP season, the former UConn Huskies forward enters the final week of June 2024 ranked fifth in the WNBA in scoring (19.7 ppg), 10^th in rebounds (8.6 rpg), and 13^th in assists (4.0 apg).

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