Just yesterday, our Eric Nemchock highlighted how the Phoenix Mercury, despite their disappointing overall record, are, in fact, winning.
They’re winning the foul game, as the Mercury, led by Alyssa Thomas, are drawing fouls at a high rate, while committing them at a low rate. As Eric notes, free throw rate is one of the “Four Factors,” meaning one of the four areas of the game that some analysts believe most influence winning.
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Such wins aren’t coming for Phoenix. At least not yet. And on Saturday night, they lost both the game and free throw game to the Los Angeles Sparks in an epic overtime thriller.
Phoenix’s situation, however, does not nullify the overall importance of the foul game, especially in a WNBA now overflowing with whistles. More than ever, drawing fouls is a valued skill, earning teams extra possessions and points.
That means being a grifter is a good thing.
Yes, “grifter” often is applied as a pejorative, an unsavory accusation fired by the fans of a team that is being felled by a player who is drawing tons of fouls and living free throw line. Yet, when the players on those same fans’ team find themselves benefitting from the blowing of whistles, every drawn foul is, naturally, well-deserved.
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Sunday’s two-game WNBA slate features of a number of players who, fair or foul, frequently are finding their ways to the line.
So, let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the most gifted grifters in the W. In the comments, share your thoughts on whether or not you see foul drawing as a skill. And be sure to also share who you think will draw the most fouls on Sunday.
Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty): 8.1 free throw attempts per game
Can Breanna Stewart seal the New York Liberty’s spot in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game from the line?
Since the Washington Mystics, the Liberty’s opponent on Sunday afternoon, commit an average of 23.1 fouls per game, the the third-most in the league, and thereby send their opponents to the line 24.5 time game, which also is a top three mark, that might be a safe bet (3 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
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The current league-leader in free throws per game, Stewie is taking and making the most of her career, not only getting to the line over eight times per game but also drilling a career-best 89.5 percent of her opportunities. She also owns the two highest free throw-attempt games of the seasons, with games of 21 and 17 free throws.
Stewart’s enhanced foul drawing is a testament her willingness to adapt in order to win. As her 3-point shot continues to trend the wrong direction, she’s maintained her offensive productivity by scoring in whatever way is necessary. As she put it after her season-high 21 free throw game against the Indiana Fever:
Listen to me. We didn’t shoot the ball well? Like, f*** it. Honestly, we want to win games, whether they’re pretty or they’re ugly, and that’s going to be the separator down the line
Seeing Brittney Sykes at No. 2 in free throw attempts per game should not be a surprise.
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Sykes’ gift for the grift has been a foundational aspect of her offensive game. Last season, when she was still a member of the Mystics and before the WNBA prioritized freedom of movement for offensive players, Beckett Harrison wrote about Sykes’ voracious free throw game.
Two teams, another country and a new season later, the playbook is the same for Sykes. With a combination of power, craft and guile, she induces hacks from opponents and makes her home at the line. This season, her resume includes a 15-for-15 and 13-for-13 free throw performance, both of which were in wins for the Toronto Tempo.
On Sunday, she and the Tempo host the team where she began her WNBA career with: the Atlanta Dream (3 p.m. ET, WNBA League Pass).
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Although an aggressive defensive, the Dream have succeeded in limiting fouls, sitting in the top three for the fewest fouls committed and free throws surrendered. Can Sykes cause Atlanta to deviate from their low-foul standard?
Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics): 6.1 free throw attempts per game
As a team, the Mystics take a league-leading 26.7 free throws per game, with Sonia Citron leading the squad with 6.1 attempts per contest, which is the sixth-highest mark in the league.
That number is reflective of the more aggressive offensive mindset that has defined the sophomore’s season. She’s not just a shooter, although she’ll still drain a sweet game-winner. Empowered as an on-ball offensive initiator, Citron is putting pressure on defenders and forcing them to foul her.
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Last season, she attempted 3.4 free throws per game, with less than 20 percent of her points coming from the line. Now, over 30 percent of her scoring is via free throws.
Shakira Austin also ranks in the top 10 in free throws per game at 5.7, a career-best number that, as with Citron, is indicative of her expanded offensive role.
So, fair warning, Barclays Center might be hosting a free throw fest on Sunday afternoon, with the Mystics and Liberty trading trips to the line.
Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream): 6.1 free throw attempts per game
Allisha Gray matches Citron with 6.1 free throws per game. Similarly known as a shooter, Gray has furthered leaned into her aggressive driving instincts to generate scoring opportunities, especially as her 3-ball has been a bit off to start the season.
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Last Sunday, when the Dream hosted Citron’s Mystics, Gray scored 12 of her 15 points at the line, unafraid to risk her goggles going askew in order to earn those points. (Lish, however, needs to start making her freebies like she did at Unrivaled, when she won the 3×3 league’s second $50k free throw challenge.)
Angel Reese also sits just inside the top 10 in free throws per game, ranking ninth with 5.9.
It’s Reese’s relentless that results in all those whistles, although Dream fans surely believe more should be going in her favor. Whereas players that operate from the perimeter may intentionally seek fouls, those committed against Reese are a credit to her effort. The only way to slow her is the foul her.
Not only is Toronto a high foul team, committing 22.8 fouls per game that thus far have result in opponents shooting 23.5 free throws per game, but they also are the second-worst rebounding team in the league.
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Reese, in short, could feast, as futile attempts to stop her fuel repeated trips to the line.
