With Sabrina Ionescu and Chennedy Carter out with ankle injuries, Crystal Dangerfield has stepped up as the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year. Dangerfield started the season coming off the bench before being inserted into the starting lineup.

With Slyvia Fowles out indefinitely, the Minnesota Lynx will need Dangerfield to step up even more. In a 94-64 blowout win over the New York Liberty, Dangerfield scored 22 points and dished out four assists.

Dangerfield was drafted in the second round of the 2020 WNBA Draft, and she is out to prove people wrong. A lot of people questioned Dangerfield’s height. But coming from UCONN, she played in a lot of big games and was well-coached.

The former UCONN point guard makes up for her size with speed and strength. For being small, Dangerfield is strong enough to finish inside the paint. Dangerfield is real good, pushing the tempo and creating opportunities in the open court. So far this season, Dangerfield is averaging 13.6 points and 3.2 assists per game. While shooting 47.1%from the field and 32.6% from three-point land.

“I didn’t know just how good she was, how fast she would be able to adjust and her decision making in the pick-and-roll,” Reeve said of Dangerfield. “She’s just really good. That’s a player who is hurting. She’s one of my most banged up players, but you would just never know it. When she’s out there between the lines and she’s hoopin’, that’s hard to do. It speaks to her belief in herself and her resilience. We just trust her, and she’s played great.”

Coach Reeve talks about Dangerfield

Dangerfield is an outstanding pick-and-roll player; she makes excellent decisions out of the pick-and-roll. With her speed, she can either turn the corner and get in the lane, or Dangerfield can come off the screen and hit a jumper. If Dangerfield can keep playing well, she can win the Rookie of the Year award.