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The All-Star break is over, and the second half of the WNBA season is underway. We’re currently at the point where teams towards the top fine-tune their abilities, and teams towards the bottom push for a playoff spot. Here’s how they rank amongst each other going into another week of action.
1. Chicago Sky
The Sky beat three teams currently in the playoffs; the Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, and the Dallas Wings. They defeated the Sparks with Candace Parker failing to score a single point and beat the Wings without Courtney Vandersloot.
Rebekah Gardner scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Sparks. All-Stars Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman both scored 23 against the Wings, while Copper added 14 rebounds, and Meesseman added seven assists. The Sky are clicking as a collective unit right now.
2. Las Vegas Aces
The Las Vegas Aces came back from the All-Star break looking much better than they did going into the break. The Aces beat the New York Liberty twice and bested the Connecticut Sun on the road. In the second game against the Liberty, the Aces put on an absolute clinic.
They set the WNBA record for the most points in a half with 71 and would go on to win the game by 34. A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum had impressive stat lines. Against Connecticut, the Aces fought hard in the second half to secure the win Sunday afternoon.
3. Seattle Storm
The Storm went 2-0 this week, beating the Indiana Fever and a Wings team they tend to struggle with. The Storm held the Fever to 36 percent from the field and 16 percent from three. They then held Arike Ogunbowale to 4-18 shooting from the field. Stewie only had four points going into the half, but she answered the call with 15 in the second half. Seattle’s defense has been suffocating, and it will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the Sky this week.
4. Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun went 2-1 this past week, beating the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream. They would go on to lose to the Las Vegas Aces. Due to health and safety protocols, the Connecticut Sun were without reigning WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones in the game against the Aces. DeWanna Bonner played great in the game against the Aces. She scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
5. Washington Mystics
Elena Delle Donne says she’s planning to ramp up in the second half of the season, and the first half went according to plan. They went 2-1 this week, beating the Sparks and Lynx. Delle Donne shot 10-14 for 26 points against LA, while Natasha Cloud added 21 points and nine assists.
The Mystics did allow the Mercury to come back and beat them in Phoenix. Delle Donne answered with 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Lynx. The Mystics are finally healthy and will push for that last home-court advantage spot in the WNBA playoffs.
6. Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream ran into two of the top teams in the league this week, the Chicago Sky and the Connecticut Sun. They would get blown out by both but bounce back with a good win against the Phoenix Mercury. In the game against the Mercury, the Dream were without their young star Rhyne Howard and Monique Billings. This was an impressive win given their circumstances, even with Phoenix being under them in the standings.
7. Dallas Wings
The Wings have a tough week, losing to the Storm without Allisha Gray. Losing Satou Sabally to injury yet again. They got a win in the middle of the week over a Lynx team starting to find their rhythm and then lost to the Sky. The on-court philosophy and energy just aren’t what they need to be right now. Their talent with likely lead them to a playoff spot, but they can do more if they come together.
8. Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx came out on top in a double overtime battle against the Phoenix Mercury this past week. Rachel Banham and Aerial Powers played great in the fourth quarter and the overtime periods. Powers scored 35, and Banham scored 25 off the bench. The rest of the week was up and down for the Lynx. They would go on to lose to the Dallas Wings, beat the Indiana Fever, and lose to the Washington Mystics.
9. Phoenix Mercury
Some may not want to hear this, but Diana Taurasi has been HOOPING. She’s scored 20-plus points in three of her last four games. They lost to the Lynx in a thrilling double-OT game. They responded with a terrific win over the Mystics but then lost to the Dream. The loss to the Dream gave Atlanta the season series and tiebreaker, which is huge considering they are just a game behind them.
Skylar Diggins-Smith, Diana Taurasi, and Sophie Cunningham have all been playing at a high level lately, which could push them back into the playoffs. DT in a playoff setting with no single elimination games? Look out.
10. New York Liberty
This week, the New York Liberty lost both games to the Las Vegas Aces. In the first game, the Liberty tried to make a run at the end of the game but was a little too late to do so. In the second game, New York got absolutely cooked by the Aces, allowing the most points in a half in WNBA history. The Liberty still have a lot of work to do if they want to make a push for the playoffs.
11. Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks are now on a three-game losing streak after losing to the Washington Mystics and the Chicago Sky this past week. Both losses were by more than 10 points. They do have a chance to bounce back this week and start making a push for the WNBA playoffs.
12. Indiana Fever
The Fever’s losing streak is continuing. They let go of Bria Hartley to bring in Rennia Davis, leaning more into their youth movement. I’m glad they have stuck with their young guns this season, allowing them to grow and mature by playing the game and not sitting on the bench. This season will help every single one of them in their future, and they will be better next season.
An avid sports fan and journalist who’s main focus is the lovely game of basketball. If I’m not covering the game, I’m either playing ball or watching it.
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