RANKS: There’s a new No. 1, while the champs dip to 4th
Nneka Ogwumike and the Seattle Storm went 3-0 last week and climbed to No. 3 in this power rankings. PHOTO: Courtesy Seattle Storm
By W.G. RAMIREZ
The defending champion New York Liberty losing two straight caused a ripple effect atop the rankings. They drop, while the Minnesota Lynx take over the top spot. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas continue to descend, even though it salvaged a win against the Indiana Fever.
The Phoenix Mercury, meanwhile, continue to look like a legitimate threat, as they won three game last week thanks to one of the stingiest defenses in the league, allowing 78.2 points per game.
During a five-game win streak, the Mercury have outscored opponents by 11.2 points per win.
This week will tell us a lot more about Phoenix, and also the surging Seattle Storm, with tough slates in front of them.
Here are this week's rankings:
1. Lynx (12-1) - (LW: 2) Minnesota is the best team in the WNBA, for now. How the team survives without Collier remains to be seen. Lost with Collier is 24.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Games in Washington and Atlanta this week will provide a better picture how cohesive this team will be without their MVP candidate.
2. Mercury (11-4) - (LW: 3) Phoenix went 3-0 last week and rolls into this week on a five-game win streak, including four road victories. The Mercury will enjoy a five-day rest before hosting the Liberty and Aces on Friday and Sunday.
3. Storm (9-5) - (LW: 5) Seattle also went 3-0 this week, as coach Noelle Quinn seems to have her troops playing well thanks to staying fairly healthy. Four players have played and started 14 games, while the switch from Alysha Clark to Erica Wheeler in the starting lineup has proven to be a key move.
4. Liberty (10-3) - (LW: 1) The last time New York lost two straight was early last season, to Chicago and at Minnesota. New York didn't lose two straight at all in 2023, at least not in the regular season. The Liberty have a tough three-game road stretch to survive, over a five-game span beginning Wednesday.
5. Dream (10-4) - (LW: 4) Atlanta would love to have all four losses back, as their four defeats came by way of an average of 5.2 points per game - two possessions. Give the Dream a second chance in those games against Washington, Indiana, Connecticut and New York, and there's a possibility we're talking about an undefeated team.
6. Valkyries (7-6) - (LW: 8) Is Golden State going to be the greatest expansion team in WNBA history? The Valks, the first expansion teams since 2008, are currently on pace to finish the season 24-20, a record that would likely see them sneak into the bottom half of the playoff race. No wonder the Valkyries lead the league in attendance.
7. Aces (6-7) - (LW: 6) A big win over the Fever was needed. Now Las Vegas needs to finish the homestand strong with two wins before playing its next five on the road.
8. Fever (6-7) - (LW: 7) Indiana has hit a lull, and has a tough game in Seattle on Tuesday night. Caitlin Clark will head into that game with just one made 3-pointer on the road this season.
9. Mystics (6-8) - (LW: 10) Washington moves up a spot after winning two of three. A tough game against the league-best Lynx will test the Mystics mettle.
10. Sparks (4-10) - (LW: 9) Los Angeles has trouble closing out games, and until it fixes that, things could get worse. First up is Chicago.
11. Wings (3-12) - (LW: 13) The return of Paige Bueckers and arrival of Li Yueru has bolstered this team. A tough test against Atlanta on Tuesday will tell us more.
12. Sky (3-10) - (LW: 11) Chicago could use a big game from Kamilla Cardoso before she leaves briefly to compete for Team Brazil at the AmeriCup Tournament starting on June 28.
13. Sun (2-12) - (LW: 12) Six straight losses, including four last week, and the West Coast gauntlet continues this week with games in Las Vegas, Seattle and Minnesota.
