The Case for the W
A statistical and contextual argument for Alyssa Ustby as a WNBA-ready forward.
The Leap: UNC Senior vs Italy Rookie Pro
- PPG: 10.9 at UNC vs 19.5 in Italy (+8.6)
- RPG: 9.5 at UNC vs 10.3 in Italy (+0.8)
- FG%: improved to 56% in Italy
- Went from All-ACC First Team to Serie A1 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year
Six Findings
- She led a professional league in scoring in her first year out of college — at 23.
- Her rebounding numbers are elite at every level she has played.
- She was named both Player of the Year AND Defensive Player of the Year — a dual distinction that speaks to two-way impact.
- Her college program-record 1,269 rebounds signal durability and motor, not a one-year burst.
- She improved her PPG by 8.6 points moving from NCAA to a professional league, the opposite of what most players experience.
- At 6'2" with her combination of scoring and rebounding, she fits a clear WNBA positional need.
The Verdict
"When a player has that kind of length, athleticism, and scoring instinct, then the other team has a problem." — Lynne Roberts, USA Basketball