Janelle Salaün is absolutely tearing it up off the bench for the Golden State Valkyries, averaging a ridiculous 13 points and 4.1 boards per game as the WNBA season hits its halfway mark. Seriously, folks, nobody, and I mean NOBODY, coming off the bench in this league is scoring more than she is right now. She's not just playing well, she's putting on a clinic as a reserve, making her the undeniable, clear-cut favorite for the Sixth Player of the Year award.
Salaün's Offensive Firepower Is Unmatched
Can you believe this? Salaün was a starter last year, but this season she's embraced that reserve role and has been nothing short of incredible. Her scoring isn't just volume, it's efficient. Her outside shooting is beyond tremendous, knocking down an insane 39.7 percent of her 3-point attempts. And get this: she's launching 6.5 threes per game, which is a WNBA high for *any* reserve. Talk about pure firepower and efficiency when it matters most! Her ability to step on the court and immediately contribute, bringing that scoring punch and clutch shooting, is exactly why the league values this specific role. If a WNBA team wants to win it all, they need this kind of bench production, and Salaün is providing it in spades for the Valkyries.The League's Other Bench Bosses Stepping Up
While Salaün might be running away with it, there are other players making some serious noise off the bench. Take Sophie Cunningham from the Indiana Fever, for instance. Everything about her game is LOUD, usually for all the right reasons. She’s a fierce competitor, providing that fire that truly keeps the Fever together. Cunningham is dropping 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game when she comes in. Even on a squad with threatening scorers like Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark, Cunningham gets a ton of defensive attention. Only Salaün has scored more off the bench! Plus, her season-long plus-minus is a stellar +29, putting her in the top 20 for bench players. That positive metric screams her value to Indiana. Then there’s Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks. This player just keeps getting better every single year, and this season is no exception. She's averaging 12.3 points, 2.0 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game. We've seen some absolutely incredible performances from her, like that 24-point explosion in a win against the Phoenix Mercury, and two more 22-point nights against the Las Vegas Aces and the Fever. She's hitting a career-high 43.6 percent from the field and a career-best 36 percent from three. The only potential snag for Burrell is she’s been inserted into the Sparks' starting five due to key players missing action. If she keeps starting, she might not even qualify for the award. But if she remains a reserve, she’s absolutely on that short list of nominees and one to watch. Bench production, my friends, is absolutely vital. These players are showing us exactly why the Sixth Player of the Year award exists, proving how deep WNBA rosters have become, and how critical every single player is to a team's success. It’s always exciting to watch these battles unfold across the league. Speaking of intense games, our very own Seattle Storm just wrapped up a tough battle on the road, falling to the Washington Mystics 84-79. It was a close one, and you know our Emerald City squad is already looking to bounce back next time out. We're always ready to bring that 12s energy, no matter what!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.