Last week was one where standings, rankings, and records didn’t matter much. There were upsets galore—Sparks over the Aces, Fever over the Liberty, and the Sky over the Storm. It was a perfect example of the top-to-bottom, high-level competition that runs through this league’s veins.
Let’s get into my power rankings after Week 8 of regular-season play.
Stats and analysis as of Sunday, July 7.
1. New York Liberty (17-4)
Previous Ranking: 1
Last Week: W vs. Lynx 76-67, L at Fever 78-83
This Week: Wednesday at Sun, Thursday vs. Sky, Saturday at Sky
Team Stats: OffRtg: 107.7 (2); DefRtg: 96.2 (4); NetRtg: 11.5 (1); eFG%: 52.8 (1)
The Liberty still hold onto the top spot despite being upset by the Fever on Saturday. Sabrina Ionescu had a team-high 22 points on 9-23 shooting, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added a 20-piece to keep it close. But the Fever’s Caitlin Clark kept slicing through New York’s defense, and the Liberty came up short in the final toe-to-toe of the regular season.
The week kicked off with Jonquel Jones’ revenge wrath against the Lynx. After scoring 4 and 3 points in their previous two meetings, the latter being the Commissioner’s Cup championship, Jones erupted for 21 points (61% from the field, including three long balls) and 12 rebounds in the redemption win.
2. Connecticut Sun (17-4)
Previous Ranking: 3
Last Week: W at Mercury 83-72, W at Lynx 78-73, W vs. Dream 80-67
This Week: Wednesday vs. Liberty, Sunday vs. Mercury
Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.6 (3); DefRtg: 93.6 (2); NetRtg: 9.0 (3); eFG%: 48.2 (7)
Sometimes, you gotta pop out and… block a breakaway layup to seal the game. Just nasty, DiJonai Carrington! Connecticut is back to its winning ways with some extra motivation. Carrington, who many thought was snubbed from Team WNBA’s all-star team, showed up with 17 points and the W in Minnesota.
DeWanna Bonner earned her sixth All-Star selection last week and balled out. She dropped 24 points on 10-16 shooting against the Lynx’s league-leading defense. Then turned around and had 23 points with seven (!) made 3-pointers on Sunday versus Atlanta.
The Sun seemed to have heard me talk about slippage last week. They’ve kicked into high gear. This upcoming week, they battle the Liberty, the team that gave them their first loss of the season. But if Carrington and Bonner keep this up, Liberty will be in trouble.
3. Minnesota Lynx (15-6)
Previous Ranking: 2
Last Week: L at Liberty 67-76, L vs. Sun 73-78, W vs. Mystics 74-67
This Week: Tuesday at Sparks, Friday at Storm, Sunday vs. Fever
Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.7 (5); DefRtg: 92.0 (1); NetRtg: 9.7 (2); eFG%: 51.8 (3)
Courtney Williams went off for 17 points and 7 assists in the Lynx’s lone win of the week. Kayla McBride added a 17-piece, and Bridget Carleton had 13 points and 6 rebounds in Sunday’s contest. For Minnesota, it was ‘win by committee’ with their MVP out.
Napheesa Collier aggravated the plantar fasciitis in her left foot during the loss on July 4 to Connecticut. She is now sidelined indefinitely. With the Olympics on the horizon, I’d imagine the Lynx proceed with extreme caution with Collier, but it is the Lynx’s first match-up with the Fever this week. As a fan, I’d love to see Aliyah Boston and Collier battle for boards, but I also totally understand if she’d shelved until Paris.
4. Las Vegas Aces (13-7)
Previous Ranking: 5
Last Week: W vs. Fever 88-69, W vs. Mystics 98-77, L at Sparks 93-98 OT, W vs. Wings 104-85
This Week: Wednesday at Storm, Friday at Dream, Sunday at Mystics
Team Stats: OffRtg: 108.2 (1); DefRtg: 101.5 (6); NetRtg: 6.7 (5); eFG%: 52.5 (2)
A’ja Wilson continues to soar. After her 28-point, 10-rebound performances in the win over the Wings, Wilson became the all-time leading scorer in Starzz/Silver Stars/Aces franchise history. She also holds the franchise records for most rebounds (1,855) and free-throws made (1,101).
“That means a lot. It really does,” Wilson said after setting the record and after a celebratory water bottle shower. “But then I have to always give it to the ones that laid the foundation down before me. The ones that grinded it out. The ones that had to do extra just to get seen a little bit. Now we’re playing on national television, taking charter flights and everything else.”
Coach Becky Hammon, who is third all-time in the franchise’s scoring, had this to say about her superstar: “(Wilson’s) just the greatest player to ever put on a Starzz or Aces uniform. It’s not just what she’s doing for our franchise. It’s how she moves the needle across the world. She’s a special person and a special player. So enjoy it because she’s a rarity. Players like her, people like her don’t come around very often.”
Wilson and Co. did drop an overtime battle in Los Angeles on Friday; it brought them down to earth after their six-game winning streak. But Sunday’s convincing win over the Wings had them right back in the winning column.
5. Seattle Storm (14-7)
Previous Ranking: 4
Last Week: W vs. Wings 95-71, L vs. Sky 88-84, W vs. Sky 84-71
This Week: Wednesday vs. Aces, Friday vs. Lynx, Sunday vs. Dream
Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.0 (4); DefRtg: 94.3 (3); NetRtg: 7.7 (4); eFG%: 47.8 (10)
Count ‘em! Ezi Magbegor threw a personal Block Party for the 4th of July, and the Sky had VIP access. She finished Friday’s contest with a career-high 8 blocks. Magbegor registered 16 blocks in three games this week! With her league-leading total blocks (54) and second-best blocks per game (2.6), Magbegor’s emphatic swats are an automatic highlight. She has taken on the role of rim protector in Seattle with a vengeance, working tirelessly as the last line of defense. The 24-year-old is just getting started; I see a game with double-digit blocks in her …
