Let’s breakdown why Kayla McBride is the most underrated player in the WNBA.
On a stacked Minnesota Lynx team led by Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride is currently averaging 16.5 points, with a 48.6% from the three, and a 46.9 field goal percentage. What many might not know is McBride currently leads the league in three pointers made and three point percentage, and she is currently shooting an effective field goal percentage of 62.7. On defense, McBride is having a 0.228 in defensive win shares, and a defensive rating of 90.4. McBrides defense is a key part of Minnesota’s success as she is elite at shutting down opposing three-point shooters and truly stifling some of the best Catch and Shoot 3-point-shooters in the league (Kelsey Plum 3/11& 2/8, Jewell Loyd 1/9, Diana Taurasi 1/7)
McBride’s best games came against the Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream where McBride shot for 70% and 85.8% from the three, and had over 30 points in both games. Against the worst four teams allowing the highest three point percentages, McBride averages a 39.15 three point percentage.
Kayla McBride is a well experienced player, and right now she is having the best three point shooting so far in all her previous 10 years of experience. McBride is shooting more from the three during this 2024 season, and is on track to having one of her best seasons. McBride is one of seven players who are shooting as many three pointers, but for McBride’s case she has been the only one effectively shooting from the three. The Lynx have their “big three” in Napheesa Collier, Alanna Smith, and Kayla McBride, but we really don’t hear much about McBride. Being 31, many thought McBride’s effectiveness would decline, but the guard is having the time of her life. To add to her shooting, McBride has tied the record for most three pointers made over a two game span period. She also has made 43 threes in the first 11 games to this season which is the most by any player in the span in WNBA history.
McBride is making her All-Star case this year, as she has previously made three appearances, and is now proving she should be in her fourth appearance. One thing to note is the first returns for the All-Star game fan voting came in and Kayla McBride was nowhere on the list for the 18 players shown. Kayla McBride may not be the biggest name in the league, but she certainly is playing like a top end player right now. She is a main part of the reason for why the Minnesota Lynx are the best three point shooting teams in the league right now, and her numbers will only continue to go up as the season continues.
https://twsn.net/2024/06/kayla-mcbride-is-the-wnbas-most-underrated-player