MIES (Switzerland) - In the last of our series looking at talents around the globe, we see who's stock is hot just now, who you should put your faith in and who's worth taking a chance on in the Americas.

If you consider this talent as a precious commodity, we picked 12 stars who might provoke a different response on a player stock market.   

The list below follows on from our previous European player stock market HERE , the Asian player stock market HERE and the African player stock market HERE.

BUY NOW!

Breanna Stewart - USA

Having missed out on the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Washington DC because of injury. you can bank on the 2018 MVP in Tenerife to be back leading her team to glory in Sydney. Everybody is bracing themselves for her to do the business in the upcoming WNBA season and recapture her amazing form, because as she has shown so often and most recently at Tokyo 2020, she is the baller that makes the greatest team in the global game tick. You know what's coming, so you should be stepping out and buying as much Stewart stocks as possible!

Bridget Carleton - Canada

Canada has needed a scorer to emerge in these past years to really give them that extra edge which can stop them being a vanilla Quarter-Finals team that seems to always fall short of the last four and a true tilt at the podium. Now, Carleton could be the solution. Maybe helped by the arrival of head coach Victor Lapena who will give her license to play more freely, the guard excelled at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Osaka, making the All-Star Five and most importantly, showing she could be a leading star in Sydney after going 10 from 13 behind the arc.  A baller definitely on the rise! 

Kamilla Silva Cardoso - Brazil

As Brazil consoled themselves at missing out on the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, the sunshine poking from behind those clouds was the play of Silva Cardoso at the Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade.  She may not be heading to Sydney, but at least signed off on a high note with an eye-catching 17 points and 13 rebounds double-double in the loss to Serbia and is very much now charged with a big chunk of responsibility in helping Brazil to start competing at a higher level again in the future. Plus, she just won an NCAA title with South Carolina Gamecocks and has every chance to be a big star within the Americas region, if not beyond. 

Brionna Jones - USA

Having posted yet another outstanding EuroLeague Women season with ZVVZ USK Praha, Jones is now looking ready to finally push for a more regular roster spot for her country. She gave herself a big chance after an excellent offering at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Washington DC when she was unfortunate not to be handed a place on the All-Star Five having led her team in efficiency, scoring and rebounding. She is also more than muscle in the paint, having shown how much more she is by competing at 3x3 too. Meanwhile with the team's standout center Brittney Griner looking highly doubtful for Sydney, opportunity knocks for Jones and so it might be worth snapping up those stocks!

HOLD ONTO YOUR STOCKS

A'ja Wilson - USA

The star act along with her teammate Breanna Stewart en-route to USA being crowned Olympic champions in Tokyo, Wilson should be back for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, even if she missed the recent Qualifying Tournament. The level of maturity she showed in the Japanese capital was huge and she looked unstoppable at times. Plus, you know you're doing good things when South Carolina Gamecocks erect a statue in your honor. A class act, keep those Wilson stocks close!

Kia Nurse - Canada

When Nurse got injured last year, there were big concerns over Canada making it to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. But now they have a ticket safely in their hands despite not having the guard at their disposal in Osaka, it does not mean that she will not take back up her role as team leader from the backcourt. The prospect of an even more effective one-two punch alongside Bridget Carleton in Sydney is exciting and a high quality baller, keep the faith with those Nurse stocks because she should be back strong!

Jazmon Gwathmey - Puerto Rico

 
Without the towering presence of Gwathmey, an already under-sized Puerto Rico shrinks rapidly, although it's not just the much needed physical presence of the frontcourt ace that remains so important. She is such a critical leader in terms of her all around play, plus her production and especially her scoring and rebounding contributions. With Gwathmey dropping anchor in the paint at both ends of the court, Puerto Rico has one firm foothold in any game. If they want to keep competing at global events, they have to have her present and firing. The fact she led her country in efficiency, scoring and rebounding at the Qualifying Tournament for Sydney speaks volumes. 

Natalie Achonwa - Canada

Always an absolute rock for Canada and someone that her country can count on in a massive way, it was super to see Achonwa in fine form in Osaka a few months ago and clearly relishing being part of a new chapter under Coach Lapena. She was one of Canada’s most productive players and averaged an impressive 16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. That was more than enough to be named in the All-Star Five and with her experience also so important, she is going to be a big presence in Sydney. 

TAKE A CHANCE ON

Diana Taurasi - USA

There's probably nothing left to say about the baller that many consider as the women's basketball GOAT. So, why take a chance on? Well, it was widely stated and also suggested by Taurasi herself that her final calling card would be Tokyo 2020. However, it is perhaps now looking like the legend could be making moves to continue her amazing legacy by stepping out at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney. And, you just can't ignore that possibility, because if she does, expect assists and clutch buckets like always - and yet another gold medal for her eye-popping collection.

Laeticia Amihere - Canada

Another player on our Americas stock market who is celebrating being crowned an NCAA champion with South Carolina Gamecocks recently. Amihere is slowly but surely beginning to develop into the kind of player Canada needs on the international stage. They are in transition and need her to become a dominant force in the frontcourt. Still only 20-years-old time is on her side and with an Olympics already under her belt and no doubt a FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup debut to come, great things could be on the horizon.

Arella Guirantes - Puerto Rico

Is Guirantes about to join Jazmon Gwathmey, Jennifer O'Neill, Isalys Quinones and Pamela Rosado as a bonafide leading light for Puerto Rico? Some might argue that after her terrific debut back in February at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualfying Tournament, she has already sealed the deal. The rising star averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, including a 25-point, 5-rebound performance against Belgium. Yes, there's surely more to come and so worth taking a chance on!

Sabrina Ionescu - USA

It's been such a long time since Ionescu was in full flow, pre the serious injury that derailed her seemingly unstoppable trajectory. But, having finally confessed it has taken her a long, long time to get back near the levels needed, is it worth putting faith back in the guard that she is going to realize that incredible potential? It could certainly be the case and she is worth taking a chance on because she may be an option for Sydney. Either way, just posting a strong club summer would be something to bring a smile back to the faces of female hoops fans who have followed her with such excitement since those stellar NCAA years.

Disclaimer: The player stock market are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking systems. All comments are purely those of the expert.

FIBA