Latest Research

How Do WNBA Players Age? (Part III)

November 2025

An analysis of how different play styles distinctly age in the WNBA. Examining how scoring, rebounding, assists, and defensive statistics change with age reveals which player types are best suited for long-term contracts.

Key Findings:

  • Assists age better than scoring, which ages better than rebounding
  • Three-point scoring peaks at 32, while two-point scoring peaks at 24
  • Steal rate ages better than blocks
  • Turnover rate perpetually decreases throughout a player's career

Research Highlights:

  • Play style-based aging curve analysis
  • Scoring method comparison (3PT vs 2PT vs FT)
  • Offensive vs defensive rebounding aging
  • Free agency and contract implications

How Do WNBA Players Age? (Part II)

November 2025

An analysis of how different positions and generations age differently in the WNBA. Examining guards vs bigs and comparing aging curves between the 1997-2011 and 2012-2025 eras reveals key insights for roster management.

Key Findings:

  • Guards reach peak productivity at age 24, bigs at 25
  • Guards age slower than bigs from ages 26-29
  • Modern players (2012-2025) peak earlier but decline faster
  • Older generation players (1997-2011) age about a year slower

Research Highlights:

  • Position-based aging curve analysis
  • Generation comparison (1997-2011 vs 2012-2025)
  • WS per 100 possessions normalized analysis
  • Roster management and contract implications

How Do WNBA Players Age? (Part I)

October 2025

An analysis of player aging curves and productivity changes throughout WNBA careers. Understanding when and how WNBA players peak and decline is crucial for roster management and player development decisions.

Key Findings:

  • WNBA players peak from ages 23-27
  • Players improve by 0.5 WS from age 22 to peak at 25
  • Decline begins at age 25, with larger and more consistent decline starting from age 28
  • Steep decline of 0.8 WS from ages 28-31

Research Highlights:

  • Win Share (WS) data from 1997-2025
  • Age-adjusted productivity analysis
  • Per-possession efficiency metrics
  • Roster management implications

Evaluating Player Productivity in the WNBA

September 2025

An in-depth analysis of Win Contribution (WC) metrics and how they measure player impact on team success. This comprehensive study reveals fascinating insights about player efficiency across different eras and positions, with detailed comparisons to other advanced metrics like RAPTOR, PER, and Win Shares.

Key Findings:

  • WC achieved 95.6% accuracy (R² = 0.956) in predicting 2024 WNBA wins
  • Angel Reese contributed 5.07 wins for the Chicago Sky in 2024
  • Tamika Catchings leads all-time with 106+ career wins
  • Yolanda Griffith tops efficiency at 0.353 wins per 100 possessions

Research Highlights:

  • Comprehensive analysis of all WNBA seasons
  • Position-specific efficiency metrics
  • Comparison with established metrics (RAPTOR, PER, PIE)
  • Historical context and era adjustments