Don’t let the towering frame fool you — Jonquel Jones can get to the hoop with the best of them. The uniquely nimble Connecticut Sun big catches a pass from teammate Natisha Hiedeman in transition, then immediately blows past her defender with a seamless through-the-legs crossover on October 6, 2021. Jones racked up 25 points and 11 rebounds in Game 4 of their semi-final clash against the Chicago Sky.

Jonquel Jones

Jonquel Jones blows past defender with crossover in 2021 Semi-Finals

As long as Brittney Griner roams the paint, putting one past the Phoenix Mercury is next to impossible. Up by two in the final seconds of Game 5 of their semi-final battle against the Las Vegas Aces, Griner checks A’ja Wilson in the high post, trails her under the hoop, then pins her would-be game-tying shot attempt against the backboard. Griner added 28 points and nine boards in addition to the series-clinching defensive stop on October 8, 2021.

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner pins layup off glass, clinches series win in 2021 Semi-Finals

Instant classic performances hit different in the postseason. In the midst of a record-breaking game, Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot baits her defender into a sense of complacency out on the perimeter, then lobs a no-look entry pass into the paint for a Candace Parker bucket. Vandersloot finished Game 1 of their semi-final series against the Connecticut Sun with a triple-double, including a playoff-record 18 assists on September 28, 2021.

Courtney Vandersloot

Courtney Vandersloot lobs playoff-record 18 assists in 2021 Semi-Finals game

Kahleah Copper. Makes. Things. Happen. The Chicago Sky wing star sprints up the floor against a transitioning Phoenix Mercury defense, tracks down an outlet pass from teammate Candace Parker then heads straight to the rim for an acrobatic layup through contact. The soon-to-be-named Finals MVP dropped 22 points in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on October 15, 2021.

Kahleah Copper

Kahleah Copper takes ball to the rack for acrobatic finish in 2021 Finals

With a track record of big buckets spanning more than two decades, Seattle Storm veteran Sue Bird lives for the clutch. Down by three points in the final minute of a second-round matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, Bird picks and pops out to the three-point line then buries a game-tying jumper over the outstretched arms of Diana Taurasi on September 26, 2021. Bird finished with 16 points in the overtime clash.

Sue Bird

Sue Bird buries clutch three over Diana Taurasi in 2021 Playoffs

Only under the bright lights of the WNBA Finals do stars become heroes and heroes become legends. After returning home to suit up for the Chicago Sky last offseason, 14-year-veteran Candace Parker finds herself in the exact right place at the exact right time. Down three after helping her squad chip away at a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit, Parker sets up in position out at the perimeter, catches a pass from teammate Courtney Vandersloot then buries a triple to even the score with less than two minutes remaining in Game 4 of the championship series. Parker finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, five dimes and four steals as her squad went on to clinch the first title in franchise history in front of a raucous home crowd.

Candace Parker

Candace Parker triple helps fuel comeback to clinch title in 2021 Finals

When the going gets tough, Diana Taurasi gets going. Down a game in their semi-final matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, the Phoenix Mercury legend works a pick-and-roll hand-off with teammate Brianna Turner before straight up launching a high-arcing rainbow over the extended arm of center Liz Cambage. Taurasi connected on 8-of-11 triples on the night, culminating in a career-high 37 points in the September 30, 2021 contest.

Diana Taurasi

Diana Taurasi pops off for playoff career-high 37 points in 2021 Semi-Finals

There’s only so much one can do when DeWanna Bonner pulls out the quick release. With a slim fourth-quarter lead over the Chicago Sky and time on the shot clock rapidly expiring, the Connecticut Sun forward catches a pass well beyond the three-point line and immediately jacks up a triple over the outstretched arms of Diamond DeShields. Bonner’s deep hoop counted for three of the 15 points she logged in Game 2 of their semi-final matchup on September 30, 2021.

DeWanna Bonner

DeWanna Bonner catches and buries contested three in 2021 Semi-Finals

Don’t put it past Skylar Diggins-Smith to make the impossible look easy. Steady with the rock in the final minute of an overtime clash in the WNBA Finals, the Phoenix Mercury point guard studies her defender before striking hard with a crossover and heading straight to the cup for an up-and-under layup. Diggins-Smith’s late hoop served as the dagger in their must-win Game 2 matchup against the Chicago Sky on October 13, 2021.

Skylar Diggins-Smith

Skylar Diggins-Smith drive seals victory in 2021 Finals

Having the length to check Satou Sabally is half the battle, keeping up when she puts the ball on the floor is a different story. Playing in her first WNBA playoff matchup, the Dallas Wings forward blasts past her defender and heads straight to the hoop for a contested layup. Sabally put up 12 points in the first-round matchup against the Chicago Sky on September 23, 2021.

Satou Sabally

Satou Sabally drives to the rack in 2021 Playoff matchup

A’ja Wilson can do it all – sometimes in a single possession. The Las Vegas Aces big doubles on Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, bats a pass attempt out of the air, collects the rock in stride, then pushes the ball up the floor to lace a one-handed dime to a streaking Riquna Williams in Game 2 of their semi-final matchup on September 30, 2021.

A'ja Wilson

A'ja Wilson intercepts pass, takes ball up the floor in 2021 Semi-Finals

You don’t win four Defensive Player of the Year awards without knowing how to control the game on D. Acutely aware of what’s unfolding around her, Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles cheats off her own check to jump up and turn aside a Candace Parker layup attempt, then collects the rock as the pair land back down on the ground. Fowles finished with 17 points, eight boards and two blocks in the second-round matchup against the Chicago Sky on September 26, 2021.

Sylvia Fowles

Sylvia Fowles slides over from help-side to block layup attempt in 2021 Playoffs

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