An ineresting UConn/WNBA statistic

[CamrnCrz1974]

One of the UConn/WNBA statistics that really stands out...Defensive Win Shares.

Crediting Defensive Win Shares to players is based on Dean Oliver's Defensive Rating (more on Dean Oliver can be found here). Defensive Rating is an estimate of the player's points allowed per 100 defensive possessions (please see Oliver's book for further details).

Here is a description of the process of crediting defensive win shares to players:

1. Calculate the Defensive Rating for each player.
2. Calculate marginal defense for each player. Marginal defense is equal to (player minutes played / team minutes played) * (team defensive possessions) * (1.08 * (league points per possession) - ((Defensive Rating) / 100)).
3. Calculate marginal points per win. Marginal points per win reduces to 0.32 * (league points per game) * ((team pace) / (league pace)).
4. Credit Defensive Win Shares to the players. Defensive Win Shares are credited using the following formula: (marginal defense) / (marginal points per win).

For the 2015 WNBA season, here are the top five players, according to Defensive Win Shares:

1. Maya Moore-MIN 1.2
2. Rebekkah Brunson-MIN 1.2
3. Tina Charles-NYL 1.0
4. Sancho Lyttle-ATL 1.0
5. Kiah Stokes-NYL 1.0

 

[MilfordHusky]

Thanks, Cam. Maya is at the top of many lists.

 

[Orangutan]

#6? Why it's noted defensive specialist Elena Delle Donne.

With Kiah and Tina, Laimbeer has really built the Liberty in his own image (minus the dirty play), hasn't he?