2016 WNBA MVP Race: Week 1

It's been only a week into the 2016 WNBA regular season and fans have already seen memorable performances from the game's best players. While there have been changes in the league, the names that stood out on opening week are the familiar ones.

Here's Week 1 of the 2016 WNBA MVP Race.

1. Maya Moore

The 2014 MVP winner is known for her scoring and ability to take charge when games are on the line, but in the Lynx's first two wins, Moore also did a great job of facilitating, averaging 8 APG in those two matches to go with her 24.5 PPG on 56.7 field goal shooting. A Moore that's effective in setting up her teammates while also being dangerous with ball is a big plus for the Lynx.

2. Tina Charles
There's a reason why Charles have already won an MVP award in the league and finished third in MVP voting last season. Charles' post presence has been a vital part of the New York Liberty's success, and she continued to show how effective she is as an interior operator the squad, averaging 24 PPG and 11 RPG in back to back wins for the Liberty.

3. Candace Parker
She may be motivated by an Olympic roster snub, but either way, Parker was bound to be this phenomenal. She came off a terrific 2015 season and was well-rested during the offseason. She opened the 2016 season with a 34-point performance, showing why she remains one of the best forwards in the league.

4. Elena Delle Donne
The reigning MVP missed the Chicago Sky's season opener, but when she returned, she gave her team the production that it had missed. Delle Donne scored 28 points on an array of moves in a 97-80 loss to the Lynx, shooting 60 percent from the field. Expect nothing less from her as the season progresses.

5. Odyssey Sims
With the absence of Skylar Diggins, Sims once again stepped up for the Dallas Wings not only in scoring but also sharing the leather. She had solid averages of 16.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.3 APG in the Wings' first three games, leading them to a 2-1 record.

6. Sylvia Fowles
The reigning WNBA Finals MVP had given the Lynx their much-needed post presence last season when she helped the team win the 2015 WNBA title. Having been with the team for more time, Fowles is now showing how good the Lynx are with her as the main big. Fowles continues to give opponents a difficult time inside the shaded area. In the Lynx's first two games, she is averaging 20.5 PPG and 13.5 RPG while shooting an impressive 63 percent from the field.

7. Jewell Loyd
As the Seattle Storm continue to transition from the past to the future, Loyd continues to benefit, and she showed exactly what she is capable of doing when she has a bigger role. Loyd averaged 25.5 PPG in the Storm's first two games, including a career-high 30 in a win over the Phoenix Mercury. She is also averaging 4.5 RPG and 3.9 APG, while also shooting better from the field this year (52.9 overall, 30 three-points) than last year (41.1 overall, 20.8 three-points).

8. Diana Taurasi
Looking at the Mercury's first three games, it's clear Taurasi still stands out as the team's best player. She averaged 24.3 PPG including 38.2 percent from three-point area, 4 RPG, and 5.7 APG in that stretch, basically doing it all for Phoenix.

9. Angel McCoughtry
It's no surprise McCoughtry is once again leading the Atlanta Dream, even with new players on the squad. McCoughtry is averaging 15 PPG, 6 RPG, 2 APG, and 2 SPG so far in the season, with the Dream sitting on a 1-2 record.

10. Breanna Stewart
Stewart averaged 18.5 PPG and 9.5 RPG in her first two official games in the professional level, an indication that there is no letting up in her game and that she isn't having a difficult time adjusting to the WNBA style of play.

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