The 2022 WNBA Free Agency class is littered with household names. Yet, with multiple league and finals MVPs in the bucket of unrestricted free agents, one name keeps popping up in WNBA fan and media circles: Rebecca Allen.
Allen, a 6’2″ forward who just completed her sixth season in the W, saw her role expand significantly last year on an up-and-coming New York Liberty team. With additional minutes, Allen was able to show off her ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Virtually every counting stat – including minutes, points, shooting volume (from 2, 3, and FT), rebounds, assists, blocks and steals – were career highs for Rebecca in 2021.
Unlike many players in expanded roles, her efficiency metrics continued to shine despite the significant increases in volume. Among the 33 players who shot over 100 3-pointers last year, only eight of them ended the year with a higher percentage than Allen’s 38.1% mark from deep, and only one of those players measures at over 6′. Effectively, Allen is the most accurate high-volume three-point shooting forward in the entire WNBA.
While finishing around the rim remains an area of opportunity, her proven long-range shooting stroke was backed up by an impressive 89.2% mark from the charity stripe in 2021.
Size and shooting are two things that every team wants and needs more of, and Allen provides just that.
Shooting prowess aside, it’s quite possible that her strongest area as a basketball player is actually on defense. For a Liberty team that lacked the presence of a true defensive anchor in the form of a traditional center, Allen was a turnover-causing machine. She finished second in the league in steal percentage, and posted career highs* in both blocks and steals per 100 possessions. (*excluding the 2015 season, in which she only played in two games)
Virtually every team in the WNBA could use size, shooting, and defense. For that reason, suiters will be lined up around the block when negotiations begin on the 15th.
There’s no reason to believe that with even more opportunity, Allen can’t continue to dominate on both ends. The only question remains: which color jersey will she be wearing while doing it?
Related: 2022 WNBA Free Agency Tracker
Michael Burns
Founder of HoopSocial. Girl Dad. WNBA stan. Syracuse Orange and Charlotte Hornets fan. Sarcasm is my native tongue. You can follow me on Twitter at @mike_hoopsocial.