Top WNBA off-season additions so far

If your choice is anybody other than my No. 1, then you’re just wrong, but just to keep you waiting, here’s my list in reverse.

5. Iziane Castro Marques, Atlanta.

WHY? This move isn’t likely to pay as many dividends early on as it will in the future. Castro Marques is a veteran player who can help lead the expansion franchise, but considering what the Dream gave up to get her, she’s going to be expected to make a difference sooner rather than later. I hope she gets that chance.

4. Swin Cash, Seattle.

WHY? The reason this is such a big trade is because of the pieces the Storm kept. Keeping Lauren Jackson and pairing Cash with guard Sue Bird frees up the former Detroit Shock star to increase her scoring with a solid defender behind her. Cash might not every bit of what she was, but Seattle made themselves a Western Conference contender with this move.

3. Tamika Whitmore, Connecticut.

WHY? Well, she was the other main half of the trade to get No. 2, plus she’s an All-Star quality player in herself and the Sun got away with an extra draft pick, too. While Whitmore dropped off a bit, she can still light it up when she gets going. The trade and rights to Jessica Foley also make this an important addition.

2. Katie Douglas, Indiana.

WHY? It’s not every day you get to add a player who is consistently in contention for MVP. Plus, with her hometown connection, the marketing helps the team out. This was a team on the verge of upsetting conference favorite Detroit en route to the WNBA Finals before an injury to Tamika Catchings sealed their fate.

1. Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles.

WHY? Because she’s Lisa Leslie, only one of the greatest players in the WNBA before her pregnancy. Oh, and you also have to take into account that she’s not coming into training camp rusty. She spent her off-season with Team USA getting acclimated to the game again against some of the top college players as well as in the FIBA Americas tournament.