At the conclusion of the WNBA’s first month of the 2021 season, the WNBA has named Jonquel Jones of the Connecticut Sun and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm their Players of the Month. In addition, Michaela Onyenwere of the New York Liberty was named the Rookie of the Month.
In her eight games in May, Jonquel Jones averaged 20.3 points, 10.5 rebounds (led the WNBA), 3.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks. The Sun finished the month with a 6-2 record, including a franchise best start of 5-0.
Jones scored 20 points in four games, including three straight to end the month. She also led the WNBA in recording six double-doubles, including two consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles.
Meanwhile, Breanna Stewart averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds (second in WNBA) and 2.0 blocks in six games in May, leading the Storm to a 5-1 record. She helped the Storm end the month on a four-game win streak.
Stewart ranked second in the WNBA behind Jonquel Jones in double-doubles with four. She has the highest-scoring game so far this season, putting up 36 points on May 22 in a win against the Dallas Wings.
Michaela Onyenwere, sixth overall draft pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, averaged 12.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in seven games with the New York Liberty. She scored 18 points in her debut against the Indiana Fever and ended off the month with a sensational 29-point performance on May 29 against the Atlanta Dream.
Top WNBA players of the month: Biggest snubs
Sabrina Ionescu
Sabrina Ionescu averaged 16.1 points, 7.1 assists (2nd in WNBA) and 6.6 rebounds in seven games with the New York Liberty leading the team to a 5-2 record. On May 18, she recorded the ninth regular season triple-double (10th overall) in WNBA history against the Minnesota Lynx.
Ionescu also recorded two additional double-doubles, including a 25-point, 11-assist performance in the season opener that ended with her securing a win with a game-winning jump shot.
Betnijah Laney
Betnijah Laney averaged 22.3 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in seven games with the New York Liberty. She scored 20 points or more in each game, including a season-high 30 points in the season opener. She is one of only two players to shoot 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range while averaging 20 points per game (Jonquel Jones).
Courtney Williams
In six games in May, Courtney Williams averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals with the Atlanta Dream leading them to a 4-2 record. This included a 31-point, 12-rebound and seven assist performance (all season highs) against the New York Liberty to end the month on May 29. After losing their first two games of the season, the Dream bounced back winning their last four games to end the month. She should have been considered one of the top WNBA players for May.