6 2020 Season Predictions

seattle storm celebrating

1. MVP: Breanna Stewart. When the reigning MVP, Elena Delle Donne is most likely missing the season, and the MVP who won the year before that is back, and only 25, it makes sense to pick Breanna Stewart as MVP. Fun dark horse pick would be Emma Meesseman, as the finals MVP goes from the bench to the best player on her team.

2. Rookie of the year: Sabrina Ionescue. While there are other rookies who will likely get serious playing time and put up numbers, notably Satou Sabally and Chennedy Carter, it makes sense to favor Sabrina. Carter will split playmaking with Courtney Williams and Sabally is playing with Arike Ogunbuwale. Ionescue is going to be leading the team in usage from the very start.

3. Champion: Seattle Storm. This is the year for the Storm to get to defend their championship, with a hopefully healthy Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart. Add in a much improved Jordan Canada, an improved Natasha Howard, and this team is deeper and more talented than any other team. 

4. Projected Standings:

  1. Seattle Storm
  2. Los Angeles Sparks
  3. Chicago Sky
  4. Washington Mystics
  5. Minnesota Lynx
  6. Las Vegas Aces
  7. Atlanta Dream
  8. Phoenix Mercury
  9. Connecticut Sun
  10. Indiana Fever
  11. Dallas Wings
  12. New York Liberty

5. DPOY: The boring answer is to say Natasha Howard, who won it last year. But I also think it is a good answer, as she is squarely in her prime and there is no reason for her to drop off. The only thing standing in her way is with Breanna Stewart back will they split the credit and the vote. Another player with a good chance worth highlighting is Napheesa Collier. Wing players are less likely to get this award, as bigs are more integral to defense, but Collier excelled last year with high steal and block rates for a wing. In year 2, she should be even better.

6. Mystics make semifinals. This is definitely my most ambitious prediction, but I believe in the Washington Mystics organization and in Emma Meesseman’s ability to be the most valuable type of player in modern basketball, the big wing. This team is lacking in other areas to get farther, but the semifinals is possible. 

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