2024 WNBA Power Rankings Week 5: Rivalry Weekend Didn’t Disappoint - WNBA (2024)

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Whew! What a week. Rivalries were brewed, GIFs were made, career-highs were set, and Commissioner’s Cup action ended. Let’s see how each team fares a little over one month into the season.

Stats and analysis as of Sunday, June 16.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. New York Liberty (12-2)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week: W at Aces 90-82
• This Week: Tuesday at Phoenix, Thursday vs. Sparks, Saturday vs. Sparks
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 106.9 (1); DefRtg: 94.4 (4); NetRtg: 12.5 (2); eFG%: 52.4 (2)

The Liberty are on an eight-game win streak and earned the right to host the Commissioner’s Cup championship game at Barclays. They look good. Only one game this week, so New York was rested and ready for a 2023 Finals rematch with Las Vegas. Breanna Stewart continued to make tough shots look easy (14 points, 12 rebounds), Sabrina Ionescu did an impeccable job as a point guard (15 points, 12 assists), and the Liberty lit the 3-point arc on fire, going 7-8 in the first quarter.

But Jonquel Jones was the reason they won. Notching a career-high in points with 34 (12-16 from the field and 4-5 from deep—WHAT!), Jones was getting everything she wanted. She stayed out of foul trouble, held A’ja Wilson below her average, and stayed aggressive toward the rim the entire game. Jones is making her bid for the MVP consideration, and you better start paying attention.

2. Connecticut Sun (12-1)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: W vs. Fever 89-72, W at Sky 83-75, W at Wings 85-67
• This Week: Tuesday vs Sparks, Friday at Aces, Sunday at Seattle
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.9 (4); DefRtg: 90.7 (1); NetRtg: 13.2 (1); eFG%: 47.9 (7)

The Sun got back to their winning ways this week, and their star starters got it done. DiJonai Carrington, who probably aced drama class in school, went off for 22 points in the win over Indiana. But her defense against Caitlin Clark and Arike Ogumbawele this week shined, holding them to only seven and 11 points, respectively. Plus, after announcing she would make her Olympic debut in Paris this summer, Alyssa Thomas erupted for 20 points and six (!) steals in the win over the Wings.

Something flying under the radar: The Sun signed guard Veronica Burton off waivers earlier this month. She’s another defensive specialist for this squad that could be crucial for their bench come playoff time.

3. Indiana Fever (5-10)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week: L at Sun 72-89, W vs. Dream 91-84, W vs. Chicago 91-83
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Washington, Friday at Atlanta, Sunday at Chicago
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.5 (8); DefRtg: 110.8 (12); NetRtg: -12.3 (12); eFG%: 49.0 (4)

Aliyah Boston has come alive. The pace of the Fever offense has been more suited for her to shine. She’s spinning, pump faking, floating it – it’s been poetic around the rim. In the win over Atlanta, Boston erupted for a 17-point, 8-rebound first half. She finished the game by matching her career-high in points with 27 and grabbing 13 rebounds total.

Boston looks like she trusts herself again. She’s remembering what’s in her bag, and her Fever teammates have better gotten her the ball in ideal situations.

In the win over Chicago, Boston kept it rolling. She had another solid performance (19 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists) as she battled in the paint against her college teammate Kamilla Cardoso. This is the first time the Fever have strung together two wins in a row; I don’t think it’s a coincidence with Boston’s more front-and-center role in the offense.

4. Atlanta Dream (5-6)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: L vs. Mystics 68-87, L at Fever 84-91, W vs. Sparks 87-74
• This Week: Wednesday at Lynx, Friday vs. Fever, Sunday vs. Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.8 (10); DefRtg: 99.8 (5); NetRtg: -3.0 (7); eFG%: 45.7 (11)

The Dream, er, hasn’t been looking great. In the dropped game against Washington, head coach Tanisha Wright said, “I don’t think I did a great job of preparing them for what they were going to see tonight. Washington is a good team.”

The hardships carried over to the Fever game two days later. Atlanta’s first half was horrendous. The offense was out of sync, heads were down, and the vibes seemed off. Luckily, basketball games have two halves, and the Dream has Rhyne Howard. She finished with 26 points (6 three-pointers), but it wasn’t enough to get past a humming Fever squad. Atlanta dropped two games in a row.

They turned things around against the Sparks on Sunday, led by Allisha Gray’s 25 points and Tina Charles’ dominant 20-and-11 performance. It was especially impressive how the Dream held Sparks’ Dearica Hamby to only 10 points in 34 minutes of play. Atlanta has a rigorous week ahead; let’s see which team shows up.

5. Chicago Sky (4-9)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: L vs Sun 75-83, L at Mystics 81-83, L at Fever 83-91
• This Week: Thursday vs Wings, Sunday vs Fever
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.4 (9); DefRtg: 100.1 (6); NetRtg: -2.7 (6); eFG%: 45.0 (12)

Angel Reese has been balling. So far in the month of June, she’s leading five statistical categories amongst rookies, including points, rebounds, and steals. The Rookie of the Year candidate started her week with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals against the Sun. Her teammate (and the other half of the “Sky Scrapers” nickname) Kamilla Cardosa added a 10-point, 9-rebound, three-block performance. They became the first pair of rookie teammates to each have 10+ points and 9+ boards in the same game since Chiney Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas (Sun) in 2014.

Reese is the first rookie in the 2024 draft class to rack up 100 points and 100 rebounds. Actually, she became the fastest player to record 100 rebounds since Breanna Stewart (2016). It’s safe to say her game is translating to the next level. Now, as for the Sky as a whole, with three losses this week—and only one win in the Commissioner’s Cup—Coach T-Spoon may still have to tinker with the line-up to get back in the win column.

6. Washington Mystics (2-12)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: W at Dream 87-68, W vs. Sky 83-81
• This Week: Wednesday at Fever, Saturday vs Wings, Sunday vs. Wings
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 94.2 (12); DefRtg: 101.9 (7); NetRtg: -7.7 (11); eFG%: 48.4 (6)

Sound the alarms; the 12-game losing streak has been snapped! Brittney Sykes returned to the starting lineup this week against Atlanta and dropped 18 points in the Mystics’ first win of the season. Having her presence on the floor gave Washington the boost to get them over the hump, finally. But on Thursday, news broke that she ended the game with a new foot injury. It could be serious, which is really unfortunate for the Mystics.

On Friday, Washington inched out an 83-81 victory over Chicago at home, making it their second straight. Ariel Atkins took over with a 29-point, three-rebound performance to secure the home win.

Despite their stars in Sykes and Shakira Austin still sidelined, the Mystics are finding their groove.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Minnesota Lynx (10-3)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: W at Aces 100-86, W vs. Sparks 81-76
• This Week: Monday vs Wings, Wednesday vs Dream, Saturday vs Mercury
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 104.9 (3); DefRtg: 92.7 (2); NetRtg: 12.2 (3); eFG%: 54.2 (1)

This week, the Lynx’s two wins helped them clinch their spot in the Commissioner’s Cup championship against the Liberty on June 25. It’ll be an epic battle between Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and a shoot-out between Kayla McBride and Sabrina Ionescu—wow, I cannot wait.

Collier swiped eight steals in the win over the Sparks Friday, a career-high and franchise record, and 30 points. They rallied from a 12-point deficit to secure the victory. “[Coach Cheryl Reeve was] like, ‘Go in there. We need you to focus in to change the tide a little bit,’” Collier said post game. “I think everyone does what they can do to do what the team needs.”

Reeve added: “The most important thing with this team is that, through the tough moments, the frustrating moments, they don’t break. They don’t separate. They problem-solve together.”

Minnesota has won six of its last seven games and has solidified its position as the best team in the Western Conference. But the Lynx are coming for that top spot.

2. Seattle Storm (9-5)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: W vs Sparks 83-64, W at Wings 92-84, L at Mercury 78-87
• This Week: Wednesday at Aces, Sunday vs Sun
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.6 (5); DefRtg: 93.9 (3); NetRtg: 5.6 (4); eFG%: 47.1 (8)

At the top of the week, Nneka Ogwumike dropped a season-high 26 points on her former team, the LA Sparks. “She makes it look easy and effortless, but it’s all the preparation that goes into it,” Jewell Loyd said of Ogwumike. “She puts a lot of work into her body and her game. To see her go out there on this floor is awesome.”

Ogwumike looks comfortable with this squad. It’s an idyllic fit for play style and for this time of her career. And it’s fun to see her dominate like she has so far.

On Sunday, the Mercury and Brittney Griner proved to be too much for the Storm. And a dismal 29% first-half shooting rut didn’t help either.

But, something else that’s awesome? After a 1-4 start, they’ve won eight of their last 10 and are proving to be a contender.

3. Las Vegas Aces (6-6)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: L vs. Lynx 86-100, W at Mercury 103-99, L vs. Liberty
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Storm, Friday vs. Sun
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.4 (2); DefRtg: 104.2 (10); NetRtg: 1.2 (5); eFG%: 49.9 (3)

Tuesday’s loss against Minnesota marked the third straight for the Aces, a first for the franchise in the Becky Hammon era. What a statement.

Thanks to a monster game against Phoenix from Jackie Young (34 points, 21 points in the second quarter!!) and A’ja Wilson (32 points, 15 rebounds), Vegas got back into the win column. But, it was short-lived. In their prime-time matchup against the Liberty on Saturday, the Aces couldn’t contain Jonquel Jones and only got a 16-point output from their bench.

Wilson, who finished with 21 points, was teary in the post-game press conference. “I love my teammates so much that I will take any hit. Good, bad, ugly. I’m gonna go out there, and I’m gonna try to be the best,” she said when asked how she holds herself accountable for the team’s defensive struggles. They’re currently ranked 10th in defensive rating. “…It starts with me, and it’s going to always be with me, because I have 11 other women in that locker room that I need to pull greatness out of.”

The Aces have lost as many games as they did the entire 2023 regular season (6).

Positive: Chelsea Gray has graduated from “OUT” on the injury report to “QUESTIONABLE,” which means we are inching closer and closer to seeing the Point Gawd return to action. Boy, do the Aces need her.

4. Phoenix Mercury (7-7)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week: L vs. Aces 99-103, W vs. Storm 87-78
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Liberty, Saturday at Lynx
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.6 (5); DefRtg: 93.9 (3); NetRtg: -4.6 (8); eFG%: 48.8 (5)

ESPN’s LaChina Robinson perfectly put Kahleah Copper’s incredible season into context:

1. Copper has had only one 30-point game before this season. She already has five (including Sunday’s 30-piece on the Storm).
2. She started only 15 games total in her first four years playing for the Mystics and Sky. In 2019, she started zero of the 34 games in Chicago.
3. The 2021 season—where Copper was an all-star, champion, and Finals MVP—was a turning point, and she hasn’t looked back.

This Mercury team has been a pleasant surprise. I knew Copper going to Phoenix via trade and Natasha Cloud signing in free agency would be monumental, but I’m still shocked at how well it’s working so quickly. Sunday against Seattle, Diana Taurasi, who notched her 300th career win, looks to have turned the clock back 20 years (13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists). And Brittney Griner, in only her fourth game back, showed everyone just how great this team can be. She exploded for 28 points on 10-15 shooting (she even drilled a 3-pointer! Her first since last May) and made it nearly impossible to score over.

“I’ve been playing against BG since I was 13,” Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike said. “Her size has always been an issue. The evolution of her skill set, which she displayed today, makes it difficult for us to stop her.”

Good luck to the rest of the league trying to stop her, too.

5. Los Angeles Sparks (4-10)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: L at Storm 79-85, L at Lynx 76-81, L at Dream 74-87
• This Week: Tuesday at Sun, Thursday at Liberty, Saturday at Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.3 (11); DefRtg: 103.6 (11); NetRtg: -7.3 (10); eFG%: 47.1 (10)

This brutal seven-game road trip isn’t off to the best of starts for the Sparks. Three of their total four wins came at home; they won’t have a home game for the rest of the month. Oddly, they’re shooting better on the road, 42% from the field (vs. 40% at home) and 35% from 3 (vs. 29% at home). Still, this skid could make or break a team.

*Whispers* It’s not getting any easier. This week, they will battle against the Sun and twice against the Liberty. Yikes.

A bright spot: Rickea Jackson. I simply love watching her play basketball. She earned her first career double-double on Friday against the Lynx (19 points, 10 rebounds). With her timely buckets and overall craftiness, she has exceeded expectations already.

6. Dallas Wings (3-9)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: L vs Storm 85-92, L vs Sun 67-85
• This Week: Monday at Lynx, Thursday at Sky, Saturday at Mystics, Sunday at Mystics
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.7 (7); DefRtg: 104.2 (11); NetRtg: -5.6 (9); eFG%: 47.1 (9)

The Wings’ roster includes some of the league’s least experienced players, with five rookies and only a two-year head coach, and it’s starting to show. They’re currently riding a seven-game losing streak.

The frustrating part when watching Dallas is that they keep it close, but then there’s a disappearing act. They fizzle out and start to turn the ball over (they lead the league in TOs per game at 17.3). What the Wings do best: offensive rebounds. They’re second in o-boards per game with 11 and first second-change points at 18.5 per game.

The Wings’ stacked four-game schedule this upcoming week could potentially right the ship if they clean things up. The injuries to Natasha Howard, Jaelyn Brown, and Satou Sabally are hovering like a dark cloud. Right now, Arike and Co. just need to stay afloat.