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You need a good bench to win in the WNBA. Having a certified player come in and make an impact can make all the difference.

As we approach the halfway point of the season, here are three serious candidates for the Sixth Player of the Year award. Two players are members of teams vying for playoff spots, and the other has been so good that she is the exception to the rule that you have to be on a winning team to be considered for such an award.

Myisha Hines-Allen (Washington Mystics)

Rules were made to be broken, and the Washington Mystics’ Myisha Hines-Allen is a rule breaker. Her versatile scoring ability as a forward is what every team wants on their roster. She’s big and strong enough to attack the paint and athletic enough to run point-forward and make plays.

In her first season coming off the bench full time, she’s averaging 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. She’s also shooting her best percentage from deep at 43 percent.

The biggest blemish on her resume is her team’s 5-17 record. While her play hasn’t resulted in many wins, it’s hard to find another player producing more than Hines-Allen while coming off the bench. That’s why she’s currently the best reserve in the WNBA.

Temi Fagbenle (Indiana Fever)

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Caitlin Clark may be the talk of the town in Indiana, but Temi Fagbenle has been superb. She’s embracing her role of coming off the bench and providing top minutes for the Fever.

She’s only played in 11 games, having dealt with a foot injury and now a thumb injury. But, she’s averaging 8.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and is expected to return soon. If Fagbenle can play more in the second half of the season, she very well may win this award and help the Fever reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Kayla Thorton (New York Liberty)

Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Kayla Thornton is playing important minutes for a championship contender. The forward is playing the most reserve minutes for the New York Liberty, registering 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Her minutes are crucial in keeping the offense flowing, helping to ensure that, when the stars catch a breather, the team’s production doesn’t fall off a cliff. One of the reasons she’s been so effective is that her 3-point shooting continues to improve. Thornton is shooting a career-high 37 percent from deep, and her coming off the bench and catching fire from beyond the arc give the Liberty one too many weapons for teams to overcome.

If Thornton continues to produce at this level the rest of the way, the Liberty will be tough to beat come playoff time.