{"id":783725,"date":"2026-07-25T12:53:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T12:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/783725\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T12:53:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T12:53:09","slug":"the-art-of-shot-blocking-from-centers-to-guards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/783725\/","title":{"rendered":"The art of shot blocking, from centers to guards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats newsletter. We\u2019re excited to announce a new partnership with Hudl<\/a>. Hudl\u2019s industry-leading tools – Sportscode, Instat, and Fastmodel – elevate the preparation, performance, and player development of WNBA and NCAA teams. We appreciate their support and look forward to working with them to help bring more insight about the women\u2019s game to you.<\/p>\n

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Aside from a momentum-shifting or go-ahead basket, few plays ignite a crowd like a blocked shot. Swatting away a shot attempt not only prevents points but also establishes a team\u2019s defensive presence, making it one of basketball\u2019s most electric moments.<\/p>\n

To become an elite shot blocker, though, requires balancing aggression with risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great feeling,\u201d Mystics center Shakira Austin said to Her Hoop Stats. \u201cIt definitely gets me going, and I think it\u2019s just about having that moment for the team, having it for myself, but just being entertaining, getting the crowd involved, talking a little s\u2013.\u201d<\/p>\n

The WNBA\u2019s top shot blockers are the names most fans would expect: Las Vegas star A\u2019ja Wilson, Valkyries defensive anchor Kiah Stokes, 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner and Chicago\u2019s 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso.<\/p>\n

But height alone doesn\u2019t make an elite rim protector. Technique, anticipation and timing matter just as much.<\/p>\n

Austin is eighth in the WNBA with 1.4 blocks per game.<\/p>\n

\u201cA good shot blocker just has a great feel for the game,\u201d Austin said. \u201cTiming things up, people\u2019s dribbles, the timing of their attacks. Like for me, I like to read people\u2019s feet. So once I see them go into a stride, I know that they\u2019re probably not going to put their other foot down. So I can go up and jump with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those same instincts apply well beyond the paint.<\/p>\n

Valkyries guard Veronica Burton is tied for sixth among guards with 0.6 blocks per game and recorded a career-high five blocks against Indiana on May 28.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo credit: Chris Poss<\/p>\n

Golden State ranks sixth in the league with 4.2 blocks per game, helping an undersized defense become the WNBA\u2019s best at preventing points in the paint.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s just a timing thing,\u201d Burton told Her Hoop Stats. \u201cIt\u2019s understanding when to be aggressive on the defensive end, and I think I\u2019ve also probably been fouling more this year than I had before. So understanding when to even take that risk, and knowing when it is smart to go for that one is not because you know it can be a hard call or no call\u2026 It goes with understanding whoever I\u2019m guarding, their tendencies and the shots that they like to take, and just kind of being in the right spot at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, the Aces lead the WNBA with 5.1 blocks per game, anchored by Wilson along with Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and NaLyssa Smith.<\/p>\n

But as outside shooting continues to increase across the league, teams also need guards capable of making plays away from the rim. Most of Burton\u2019s blocks have come on mid-range jumpers.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe played a lot with Unrivaled, and so it was a lot of one-on-one,\u201d Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said about Burton. \u201cI think she was kind of developing a little bit more of a skill set that she didn\u2019t do so much overseas because you have to cover so much crap on three-on-three. You feel like you\u2019re on an island. So I think it was just credit to her and what she built.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blocking shots is about much more than size or standing near the basket. In a league where every possession matters and momentum can swing a game, the best shot blockers know when to gamble and when to stay grounded.<\/p>\n

\u201cA block is exciting, especially for (guards),\u201d Burton said. \u201cWe may not be as used to that, but it\u2019s probably even better than a steal because it\u2019s just like you\u2019re saving a shot attempt. So I think it\u2019s a rewarding feeling, but again, there\u2019s risk involved with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site<\/a>, our podcast<\/a>, and our social media accounts on Twitter<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n