The WNBA regular season has hit the stretch run and it is nearly time to name the award winners. One award is of particular interest in the Pacific Northwest and that is the Rookie of the Year award.

Jewell Loyd has made an immediate impression on the league and has been the subject of much praise. And why not? She was the top overall pick. She left Notre Dame a year early. The only other players in franchise history to be taken with the first pick are household names: Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson.

But it is not all talk. There is substance to the argument.

She leads all rookies in scoring (10.7 ppg) and is the only rookie to rank in the top five in scoring, rebounding, and assists. She has led the Storm in scoring 10 times this season, which is the most of any rookie. The next closest is her own teammate Ramu Tokashiki at four.

The 5-foot-10 guard was named Rookie of the Month in July after averaging 10.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and shooting 46 percent from three. She bested her July by putting up 12.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in August but somehow did not get Rookie of the Month.

Her numbers have steadily increased over the course of the year. Loyd is also having her most impressive stretch of the season right now.

Over her last six games, she is averaging 15.8 points with 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. The only other players who are averaging 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists over that time are Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings, Kelsey Bone, Jantel Lavender, and Maya Moore.

That is some elite company and speaking of elite… let’s talk about Loyd’s free throw shooting. She isn’t just a great free throw shooter. She is already all-time great.

How about this?

Going into Tuesday’s game against Minnesota, she has made 90 percent of her free throws and has taken the 12th most in the league. Despite the relatively small sample size, that 90 percent is second all-time in WNBA history behind only Elena Delle Donne (who shoots a ridiculous 94.2 percent for her career).

How about this stat? Loyd is one of only three rookies in either the NBA or WNBA to shoot 90 percent or better from the free throw line with at least 3.0 attempts per game.

The other two? Delle Donne and her own teammate, Sue Bird.

That’s right, no NBA rookie had ever done that. Ernie DiGregorio shot 90.2 percent from the line in the 1973-74 season for the Buffalo Braves but only averaged 2.4 attempts. Hall of Famer Chris Mullin got close as well with the Golden State Warriors in 1985-86 by taking 3.8 per game but shot 89.6 percent. What a slacker!

Probably the more important part of Loyd’s candidacy is the fact that she is one of the few options on a team that is rebuilding. Just ask her coach, Jenny Boucek:

“I don’t think another rookie in this league has been asked to carry as much of a load as she has,” Boucek told ESPN.com. “Some rookies come into this league and they are playing behind veterans, so they don’t have to play consistent minutes. But she’s been thrown into a significant role with nowhere to hide. She’s guarded some of the best players in the world.”

She is doing what every GM, coach, fan wants from a rookie. Continually get better and be able to take on more responsibility.

Oh, I guess it would be good to note that if Loyd did win Rookie of the Year, she would be the first Storm player to ever win the award.

#LoydROY