Before the league takes a nearly month-long hiatus for the All-Star Game and the Paris Olympics, welcome to the last edition of ESPN’s WNBA Power Rankings.
The list for this week has some significant shuffles: Following a perfect week, the New York Liberty took the top spot once again. The Sun’s 27-point victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday—who had Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi back in the starting lineup following recent injury concerns—was enough to maintain them in second place for the time being, despite the Las Vegas Aces’ best efforts to push the Sun down to third place.
The Minnesota Lynx, who are still without Napheesa Collier, fell two points in the rankings, while the Atlanta Dream—who have lost seven straight games—took over as the new lowest team. Meanwhile, the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever both rose.
The 2024 WNBA season will soon come to an end as focus will turn to this Saturday’s All-Star Game, which pits the American Olympic squad against a group of WNBA All-Stars. This will be the first time fans will see not just the appearance of Team USA, but also that of competitors such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Sun colleagues and fiancées Alyssa Thomas and DeWant to Bonner.
Editor’s Selections
Aces’ Wilson goes on a 20-15 run to win three straight games.
Before US coach Reeve’s Lynx 9d, Clark and the Fever rallyMedcalf, Myron
The keys to Liberty’s prospects of winning a WNBA title are great at times and mediocre at others. 14dPhilippou, Alexa
When players have the chance to defeat Olympians, they always appear to have a little bit more energy.
Then a large number of the league’s finest players will travel to Paris, and not simply to represent America. With seven and four active WNBA players on their squads, respectively, Australia and Canada are among the teams with the largest rosters. Iliana Rupert, Gabby Williams, and Marine Johannes are among well-known faces in France.
Olympic athletes make up the Aces; four are on Team USA, along with Megan Gustafson (Spain) and Tiffany Hayes (Azerbaijan, 3×3).
There will therefore be a lot of basketball over the next month despite the WNBA’s break. Before the league hits the pause button, the WNBA plays games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Prior rankings: May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24, July 1 | July 8, Preseason
1. Liberty in New York (20–4)
Prior order: 2.
This week: July 16 vs. CON
There was no finer week of results for the Liberty. They easily overcame the Sky on Thursday and Saturday after defeating the Sun in Connecticut on Wednesday. What impressed me the most? For the first time since joining the team, Breanna Stewart (hamstring) missed a game on Saturday, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (knee) missed the entire three games. However, with the help of substitutes Leonie Fiebich, Kayla Thornton, Kennedy Burke, and Ivana Dojkic, New York was able to maintain their momentum and became the first team to win 20 games this season.
Sabrina Ionescu, who scored 28 points and dished out six assists in Chicago on Saturday, has been playing at an all-WNBA first-team level, which has been a major contributor to the successful week. Having played in five WNBA seasons, the former No. 1 choice now has 17 of the most 25-point, five-assist games; only Diana Taurasi (20) and Cynthia Cooper (18) have more.
2. Connecticut Sun (18–5)
Prior order: 1.
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This week: on July 16 at NY
The Sun bounced back from their 71-68 home setback to New York on Wednesday, winning their biggest game of the season by 27 points against Phoenix. Rachel Banham received the game ball. With her eight 3-pointers made on 11 attempts, she holds the record for most 3-pointers made by a bench player in league history. In addition to recording her first career double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds), DiJonai Carrington had a fantastic afternoon. She also outplayed Kahleah Copper brilliantly in the second half.
The Sun’s 18-5 record still ties 2005 for their greatest start in franchise history, despite their four losses over the last three weeks.
Connecticut will have another opportunity to defeat New York on Tuesday in Brooklyn, which would boost its confidence going into a championship run. Pay attention to how the Sun begin the match: All of their prior games this season versus the Liberty ended with a 10-point deficit at the half.
3. Aces of Las Vegas (16-7)
Prior: 3
This week: July 16 vs. CHI
Another week, and A’ja Wilson continues to dominate. Throughout the week, the front-runner for MVP award put up staggering stat lines: on Wednesday against the Storm, on Friday against the Dream, on Sunday against the Mystics, and on Wednesday against the Storm, scoring 24 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks. She became the first player in league history to finish three games with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
For an Aces team still trying to find its footing, defeating Seattle on home court was big. The team then handled the Dream with ease. When the Aces fell behind the Mystics by 15 early on Sunday, things appeared a little precarious, but they overcame the deficit to win by 12. More than any other team in the league, Las Vegas has now won two games with a comeback of 15 points or more this season.
Since Chelsea Gray entered the lineup again on June 19, the Aces have gone 10-1; their only setback came on July 5 in an overtime loss to the Sparks during the second game of a back-to-back.
play 1:48 A’ja Wilson’s double-double power of 28 points AcesA’ja Wilson leads the Aces past the Mystics with a game-high 28 points and 17 rebounds.
4. Seattle Storm (16-8)
Prior order: 5.
This week: on July 16 at LA
The Storm finished their nine-game homestand with a 7-2 record; their only defeats came on July 5 in Chicago and on Wednesday against the Aces. Jordan Horston entered the starting lineup during that time as well, which has been beneficial. For instance, in Seattle’s 81-70 victory over the Dream on Sunday, the former Tennessee star finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.
Nneka Ogwumike also had a strong comeback against the Lynx, scoring 26 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Although she did not have her best game against the Aces (10 points and 12 boards), she still recorded her 107th career double-double, which is good for fifth most in WNBA history.
Due to an ankle injury, Skylar Diggins-Smith was unable to play in the second half of the game on Sunday. Will she be back in time for the final Tuesday game before the All-Star/Olympic break in Seattle?
5. Fever with Indiana (11–14)
Prior order: 6.
This week: on July 17 at DAL
The Fever rebounded from a depressing 89-84 loss to the Mystics by defeating the Mercury and the Lynx, two.500 or better teams. Although neither team was playing at full strength—Minnesota was without Collier on Sunday, and Phoenix was particularly thin-handed on Friday—the Fever will take any victory they get in their attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Even better: after beginning the season 0-8 against teams that had a winning record, Indiana has won four of its last five games against teams that had that record.
The Fever’s 81-74 victory on Sunday was very noteworthy, especially considering that it took place in an arena that Caitlin Clark is quite familiar with. In the fourth quarter, the Fever outscored the Lynx 28-14. Through her first 25 games of the season, Aliyah Boston has averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game—something only Ionescu (twice), Candace Parker, and Lindsay Whalen have accomplished. Boston also recorded her first career 15 points and 15 rebounds game, ending Clark’s five-game streak of consecutive double-doubles.
After starting 1-8, Indiana has improved to 10-6 and still has a game to win in Dallas before taking a break for the Olympics.
play 1:57
Aliyah, Caitlin Clark, Boston helps Fever overtake the LynxCombined, Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark score 34 points as the Fever defeats the Lynx 81-74.
6. Lynx of Minnesota (16-8)
Prior order: 4.
This week: July 17 vs. ATL
Weeks for the Lynx have been better. They went 1-2, defeating the Sparks but losing to the Storm (28 points) for their biggest loss of the season, and then losing to the Fever at home while still without Napheesa Collier (plantar fasciitis).
Minnesota is now 3–2 and in fourth place in the standings sans Collier, who left the game early due to a foot injury. The Lynx’s offensive rating dropped to 10th in the league (94.8), and their defensive rating dropped to fifth (99.0) in the four games that Collier has been completely absent from the field. It ranks fourth (101.9) and first (92.2) in Minnesota’s 20 games with her.
When the team plays the sliding Dream on Wednesday, Cheryl Reeve’s team has a chance to get back in the victory column.
7. Mercury Phoenix (12-12)
Prior order: 7.
This week: on July 16 at WAS.
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The week had its ups and downs. Before things got better, the Mercury’s injury woes continued: on Friday against the Fever, they could only muster seven players, and Brittney Griner had to leave the game due to a hip injury. Luckily for Phoenix, Griner, Diana Taurasi (who had missed four of the previous five games), and Natasha Cloud (who was injured Friday) were all available on Sunday against Connecticut. However, the Sun easily defeated the Mercury 96-69, causing Phoenix to suffer their biggest defeat of the year. Phoenix has struggled against Connecticut; of its three 20-point losses this season, two were against the Sun.
Positively, Kahleah Copper kept up her impressive play, scoring 30 points in back-to-back games on Wednesday and Friday. With eight of these games thus far this season, she leads the WNBA.
The Mercury, who are 1-2 on the week, will try to get back on track and surpass.500 when they travel to the Mystics on Tuesday.
8. Chicago Sky (September 14)
Prior order: 8.
This week: on July 16 at LV
The Sky had a 1-2 week, winning one against Atlanta and losing two against the Liberty. Angel Reese finished with 8 points and 16 rebounds on Saturday, snapping her WNBA record string of 15 straight double-doubles. Despite this setback, she still has 18 games this season with 10 or more rebounds.
The Sky suffered its biggest losses of the season against New York (by 15 and 14 points, respectively), but with the Liberty so thin-headed, Saturday’s game in Chicago felt like an easy win. Rather, the Sky scored just 67 points, which is their second-lowest total of the year, with just 34 of those points coming from the paint, tying a season low.
One encouraging thing: Marina Mabrey went 8 for 12 on 3-pointers against the Liberty, seemingly rediscovering her long-range shooting ability.
play 0.31%
Liberty breaks Angel Reese’s double-double streak, leaving her furious.Despite her best efforts, Angel Reese is unable to continue her 15-game double-double streak as the Liberty defeat the Sky 81-67.
9. Mystics of Washington (6–18)
Prior order: 9.
This week: July 16 vs. PHO
This week’s victory over the Fever, who had defeated the top-ranked Liberty team the week before, demonstrated that the Mystics had not been as poor as their record would suggest this season. The Mystics lost a close game to the two-time reigning champion Aces on Sunday, 89-77. Washington had their first 20-point lead of the season in the first game, leading by as many as 22 points, and then had an early lead in the second game, leading by 15, until Las Vegas rallied.
Ariel Atkins scored 62 points in both games, including a career-high 36 points against the Phoenix Suns. She could use one more strong performance for the Mystics to defeat Phoenix on Tuesday.
After starting 0–12, Washington, which is still missing Shakira Austin, Brittney Sykes, and Karlie Samuelson, has gone 6–6.
play 1:18
Mystics lose despite 36 points from Ariel Atkins.With 36 points, Ariel Atkins fires it up, but the Aces win and the Mystics lose.
10. Sparks of Los Angeles (6-17)
Prior order: 12
This week: July 16 vs. SEA
The Sparks defeated the Wings 87-81 on Saturday, their second road victory of the season, following a 15-point loss to the Lynx, who were missing Napheesa Collier. Is Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, and Azura Stevens the next big three in Los Angeles? Against Dallas, the three scored 66 points in total, with Stevens (16) and Jackson (23) setting season highs for points scored. After missing the first 20 games of the season due to an arm injury, Stevens looks to be getting back into her groove. The rookie has already scored 20 points in two of her last three games.
11. Washington Wizards (5-19)
Prior order: 10.
This week: July 17 vs. IND
Dallas is the squad that needs the Olympic break the most. This week, the Wings lost to Phoenix and Los Angeles for their 18th and 19th losses of the season, respectively, surpassing their entire loss tally from 2023 (18). Leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale has also had a difficult run of play, going 10-for-42 and scoring 13 points or less in each of the previous three games.
When play resumes next month, Dallas, which is now in last place in the WNBA rankings, is hopeful that the return of Maddy Siegrist and Satou Sabally will spark a late push for the playoffs. They would want to close the first half of the season with a victory over Indiana on Wednesday at home.
12. Atlanta Dream (7–16)
Prior order: 11.
This week: July 17, @ MIN
Although they do not have the worst record in the league, the Dream may be more infatuated than anybody else. They could really use a win, as they have not won two straight since late May. At seven games, they have the longest ongoing losing streak in the league. Atlanta is 3-11 since June 1 and has lost 10 of its previous 11 games due to Rhyne Howard’s (ankle) absence since mid-June and Jordin Canada’s (hand/finger) restricted playing time this season.
The bright side: Aerial Powers made her comeback against the Storm on Sunday after overcoming her own injury. Maya Caldwell also performed admirably, leading the team in scoring with 19 points. The Dream needs to stay healthy over the next month in order to secure a postseason berth. They are now two games behind eighth-place Chicago.
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