The FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 Player Rankings heading into the tournament

SYDNEY (Australia) - As the minutes tick down to the start of the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023,  it's time to take a look at the most influential ballers who are waiting to step out at the event.

What better way to do it than with our first Volume of the Player Power Rankings? We've already had the Team Power Rankings, as well as some young guns who are ready to make a splash, and now FIBA women's basketball specialist Paul Nilsen has been reviewing the leading lights ready to shine in Sydney.

Do you agree with @basketmedia365 on his top ten picks? Who is too high or too low?  Perhaps most importantly, which other players can parachute into this power ranking during the tournament and tear up the script? Join the debate #FIBAAsiaCupWomen

#1 Xu Han - China

Now a bonafide global star after producing fantastic performances last year in Sydney to help China take silver at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, she has also stepped out in the WNBA. The jewel in the crown for China, the towering center will have added responsibility with powerhouse Yueru Li out injured. That fact only solidifies and in fact boosts her influence and importance for the team. With incredible mobility for her size, a sweet shot and extended shooting range that kills teams, she'll be a leader for sure. 

#2 Jisu Park - Korea

The highlights from THAT incredible performance in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifiers highlights why her return is so important. Having missed the main event in Sydney last year with a medical issue, it's second time lucky for Korea's star center. Another Asian WNBA baller who has made a name for herself far beyond the sphere of the Continent, you can expect her to be the do-it-all player that she has always been. With her in situ, Korea's medal prospects jump enormously. 

#3 Himawari Akaho - Japan

The FIBA Women's AsiaCup 2021 MVP when leading Japan to their fifth straight title, Akaho was a defensive colossus two years ago in Amman. Since then she has continued to be a standout figure for Japan and continually showing that it is not always about putting big numbers up. In fact, in Jordan two years ago, her numbers were mediocre to the initial eye, but anyone who had seen the games saw how central she was to her team's success. The forward will be so again and will contribute heavily at both ends of the floor. 

#4 Li Meng - China

Death. taxes and Li Meng leading China whenever she is on the floor are three of life's guarantees.Full of experience and with a great track record, she can bring the noise scoring-wise against any opponents with her unstoppable drives to the hoop and her long-range shooting from the wings. But she also does the dirty work as well, meaning she contributes in every facet of the game and is a big factor at both ends of the floor. China are just such a better team with her on the court.

#5 Maki Takada - Japan

 

An inspiring figure for Japan who works relentlessly in the paint and has the added ability to knock down perimeter shots, Takada is such a fundamental pillar of Japan's success. She is another baller who might not make highlights reels very often, but ask any of her teammates or coaches about how important her leadership is and you will recognize quickly that her influence is really massive. She was one of the few players who did okay in Japan's otherwise dreadful FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 campaign.

#6 Leeseul Kang - Korea

An absolute offensive machine, Kang erupted in a big way at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup last year with a staggering 37 points against Bosnia and Herzegovina. That highlighted her capacity to take Korea away from their opponents and out of sight. If she can re-discover her shooting touch from long-range in particular, she will be vital to her team's podium prospects. With Ji Su Park likely to draw a lot of the opponents' defensive resource into the paint, those kick outs to Kang could prove really productive. 

#7 Tess Madgen - Australia

With a number of players unavailable or ruled out by injury, Madgen's role could be highly significant. She could well prove to be the 'glue' that holds everything together for a relatively inexperienced Opals side. A member of the team that won bronze last year at the Worlds on home soil, she won't put up any eye-popping numbers, but this is a tournament all about leadership for every team. Australia maybe even more so. Others will log more on the statsheet, but Madgen does all the things that the statsheet doesn't reflect.

#8 Penina Davidson - New Zealand

 

Davidson is a real anchor for the Tall Ferns at both ends of the floor and is a walking double-double when she is on top form. She will likely lead New Zealand in both points and rebounding, although it will be difficult because she will be top of her opponents' scouting reports so will receive a lot of defensive attention. Powerful, smart and able to make moves as well as doing the job cleaning up on the glass, there is no chance for New Zealand if Davidson is not playing at her usual high level. That is how important she is.

#9 Darcee Garbin - Australia

Coming off a highly impressive 12 months or so, Garbin was part of the Australia team that took the third podium step at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and while only a cameo role, she followed that up with a terrific debut season in EuroLeague Women. The new challenge of playing with DVTK Hun-Therm will have surely given her the confidence to step up while wearing the gold and green. The forward has the opportunity to show how much she has grown and could be a major source for points and rebounds.

#10 Vanessa De Jesus - Philippines

 
There's no doubt that there is a real buzz around the addition of Duke's De Jesus for Philippines but will she live up to the hype? Nobody is probably expecting her to put up Top Performer level displays, but in terms of this ranking, she is certainly a player capturing a lot of attention and someone who looks determined to give her country what they need. The guard should really be a big plus when it comes to Philippines playing more disciplined and she could form a nice one-two punch with Jack Animam who's returned.

*The player power rankings are entirely subjective and are in no way a true, accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.