The Role of the Sixth Player: Celebrating the Sixth Player’s Legacy in the WNBA

The WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Award is an annual recognition given to the league’s most impactful reserve player, highlighting their ability to excel in a supporting role. These players bring unmatched energy and intensity to the game, often shifting momentum with their presence on the court. Offensively, they provide essential scoring boosts. Defensively, they add strength and resilience on the court. Their versatility allows them to adapt to any role the team requires, whether as a scorer, defender, or playmaker, ensuring consistency during the game when starters are resting. The Sixth Player of the Year Award shines a light on the essential role that the sixth player fulfills. It shows that players off the bench can contribute in many different ways, emphasizing the idea that every role on a team matters.

To be eligible for the Sixth Player of the Year Award, a player must come off the bench in more games than she starts throughout the season, with the winner determined by a panel of writers and broadcasters. First introduced in 2007 as the Sixth Woman of the Year Award, it has been awarded annually since its inception, with the name later changed around 2020 to “Sixth Player of the Year Award,” a move seen as promoting inclusivity. Plenette Pierson, who played for the Detroit Shock and appeared in every game during her sixth season, became the award's first recipient and is also a three-time WNBA Champion and former All-Star. Candice Wiggins, selected third overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx, was the second to win the award after an impressive rookie season averaging over 15 points per game. DeWanna Bonner is the only player in WNBA history to win the Sixth Woman of the Year Award three times, winning consecutively from 2009 to 2011. She spent nine years with the Phoenix Mercury before playing the past five seasons with the Connecticut Sun. Bonner is now set to join the Indiana Fever for the 2025 WNBA season.

Over the last five seasons, four of the Sixth Player of the Year winners have won WNBA titles with the Las Vegas Aces. Dearica Hamby earned the award twice, in 2019 and again in 2020. She is the third player to win the award more than twice, joining DeWanna Bonner and Allie Quigley, who won it back-to-back in 2014 and 2015. Kelsey Plum, recently traded to the LA Sparks, won the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Award in 2021. She averaged 14.8 points and 3.6 assists per game. This season, Plum will team up with Hamby on the Sparks. It will be their first time playing together since Hamby’s trade. The following winners were Brionna Jones and Alysha Clark. Drafted by the Connecticut Sun in 2017, Jones spent almost a decade with the team. The three-time All-Star has now signed with the Atlanta Dream. Clark, a 12-year veteran and three-time WNBA Champion, earned the Sixth Player of the Year title in 2023. She played a part in leading the Las Vegas Aces to their first two WNBA Championships. Recently, Clark rejoined the Seattle Storm, the team where her WNBA journey began. The latest recipient of the award is Tiffany Hayes, who claimed the honor last year after coming out of retirement. She was the top scorer among all bench players. After spending last season with the Las Vegas Aces, she is set to join the Golden State Valkyries for their inaugural season.

The Sixth Player of the Year Award allows the WNBA to celebrate players who embody teamwork, selflessness, and the crucial impact of those coming off the bench. Sixth players are defined by their adaptability and resilience, consistently rising to challenges, adjusting to in-game dynamics, and demonstrating perseverance. By continuing to honor these players, the league not only nurtures their growth but also inspires future generations. Honoring bench players who make a difference ensures their efforts are remembered. The landscape of the WNBA has changed with trades and will change again after the draft. As teams find their footing, the season ahead promises unpredictability. Could another seasoned veteran take home the Sixth Player of the Year title, or will a newcomer break through?