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Let's Set Odds: Who Will Win WNBA Rookie of the Year?

By Donnavan Smoot

Former Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard.
Former Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard. / Andy Lyons/GettyImages
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The WNBA Draft was last night and was dominated by the Indiana Fever. Out of the 12 first round picks, four of them were made by the Fever. Their first overall pick was NaLyssa Smith from Baylor, who is set to shine on a rebuilding team. Great picks were made around the league. With less than a month before the season starts, let’s set the odds for who will win WNBA Rookie of the Year. 

WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds

  • Rhyne Howard: +300
  • NaLyssa Smith: +350
  • Nyara Sabally: +500

Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream: +300

Howard is an efficient, scoring guard who can get buckets and contribute on the defensive side of the ball with her rebounding. At 6’2”, Howard has great size for a guard and should be able to use that to her advantage to expand her game.

The Dream were the second worst team in the league last season and are in need of a new franchise cornerstone.They will give her every opportunity to run the offense through her. Howard can score at all three levels, which makes her a great candidate to transition to the league seamlessly and win this award.

NaLyssa Smith, Indiana Fever: +350

Smith averaged an impressive 20 PPG and 11 RPG in her last season at Baylor. I don’t expect her to walk into the league and do that, but her ferocity on the glass is an area where she can make a name for herself. Many of these rookies will be scoring threats, but if she can be an elite dual threat player from Day one, that will boost her up this list. 

Although the Fever have four first round draft picks, it’s clear Indiana is invested in her and will have her development at the top of the list. 

Nyara Sabally, New York Liberty: +500

Sabally gets the nod here because she may be the most at home in her situation. She played with Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu at Oregon and the two already have a good report. New York made the playoffs last season, but were still several games under .500. Sabally shot over 50% from the field last year and was respectable from three-point range. She has the tools to be a great complimentary player to Ionescu and could be a staple in the Liberty’s rotation. 

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