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WNBA Season Preview 2019: 5 Rookie of the Year favorites

By Jasmyn Wimbish

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UNCASVILLE, CT – MAY 13: Asia Durr #25 of The New York Liberty is introduced prior to a game against the Connecticut Sun on May 13, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT – MAY 13: Asia Durr #25 of The New York Liberty is introduced prior to a game against the Connecticut Sun on May 13, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Asia Durr — New York Liberty

The award may be Asia Durr’s to lose this season and she is is the favorite for winning Rookie of the Year before the season starts. The former Louisville product is in the perfect situation in New York, giving her the freedom to do what she does best, score…a lot. Durr averaged 21 points a game at Louisville and fill the box score by scoring in a multitude of ways.

It’s not that Durr’s just a 3-point shooter, or lives in the mid-range, she can do it all on offense. She can pull out a defender, cross them up real quick and take a step back jumper, or just as quickly leave them in the dust, utilize a euro step to lay the ball in. Hand in her face, double-teamed it doesn’t matter, you give Durr an inch of space and you’ll regret it.

Just as the rest of these rookies on this list Durr will have to work to adjust her game to the WNBA, she will seldom get the wide-open look aside from a blown defensive assignment, and standing at 5-foot-10 she’ll have to make sure her shot isn’t getting blocked by some of the league’s taller players when she takes it to the rim. Durr’s will be on a team that won just seven games last season, so she’ll have plenty of opportunities to grow throughout her rookie year and get adjusted to the style of play all while potentially averaging 18 points a game.

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While Durr isn’t a lock for the award, as this class is filled with so many talented rookies that haven’t even been mentioned in this list, if she’s able to replicate the success she had at Louisville she’ll most definitely run away with the award.

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