A new month means new rankings! Last week, we saw some top teams get upset and some close-call OT matchups. There wasn’t too much movement in my rankings, but as we head into July, here’s one word to describe each team.
Stats and analysis as of Sunday, June 30.
1. New York Liberty (16-3)
- Previous Ranking: 1
- Last Week: L vs. Lynx (Commissioner’s Cup Championship), W at Dream 81-75
- This Week: Tuesday vs. Lynx, Saturday vs. Fever
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 108.6 (1); DefRtg: 96.3 (4); NetRtg: 12.3 (1); eFG%: 53.7 (1)
Rolling. Four starters for the Liberty are averaging double figures as they continue to roll through most of their competition. But Breanna Stewart’s bag is deeper than Mary Poppins’. At nearly 20 ppg, Stewie became the fastest player to 5,000 points (in only 242 games) and shows no signs of slowing down. Now, it just seems silly that the storyline at the beginning of the season was her low shooting percentage from beyond the arc. She’s hovering over 40% from deep in the last five games. Stewart and Co. dropped the Commissioner’s Cup to the Lynx on Tuesday, but they have a chance at their get-back early this week.
P.S. Yes, the starters have been solid, but the bench has been electric, too. In 40 games last season, Kayla Thornton made 25 3-pointers. In only 19 games so far this season, Thornton has already drained 25. And that doesn’t even include the 5 she drained during the Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
2. Minnesota Lynx (14-4)
- Previous Ranking: 2
- Last Week: W at Liberty (Commissioner’s Cup Championship), L at Wings 88-94, W at Sky 70-62
- This Week: Tuesday at Liberty, Thursday vs. Sun, Saturday vs. Mystics
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.9 (3); DefRtg: 91.3 (1); NetRtg: 11.6 (2); eFG%: 52.3 (2)
Real. Even though it may not count on their overall record, the Lynx defeating the Liberty in Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup championship showed the league that the Lynx—and their tenacious defense—are the real deal. Holding Jonquel Jones to a dismal 3 points and Sabrina Ionescu to only 5 points in the second half quieted the New York crowd and the doubters watching at home. The Lynx have been sneaky; they flew under the radar for many heading into this season, but there’s no denying their potential now.
The reason I’m keeping them at the two spot: The championship hangover loss to the Dream snapped their six-game run (seven if you count the Cup championship). But I don’t see them staying here for too long.
3. Connecticut Sun (14-4)
- Previous Ranking: 2
- Last Week: W at Mystics 94-91 (OT), L vs. Dream 78-74
- This Week: Monday at Mercury, Thursday at Lynx, Sunday vs. Dream
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.6 (4); DefRtg: 93.0 (2); NetRtg: 8.6 (3); eFG%: 47.7 (8)
Slippage. The win-loss record says dominance, but the Sun haven’t looked as scary as they did since their blazing 13-1 start to the season. If you dig a little deeper, most of those wins (despite the Lynx) were against lower-tier teams. Now that some resistance has arrived (Aces, Storm, Liberty), the Sun hasn’t risen to the challenge. But if they continue to hang their hat on the defensive end of the ball, that’s been a staple to creating their offense. July’s schedule is a tough stretch of opponents for the Sun. If the slippage continues, I see them dropping out of the Top 5.
4. Las Vegas Aces (10-6)
- Previous Ranking: 5
- Last Week: W at Sky 95-83, W at Mystics 88-77
- This Week: Tuesday vs. Fever, Thursday vs. Mystics, Friday vs. Sparks, Sunday vs. Wings
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.8 (2); DefRtg: 103.0 (9); NetRtg: 2.8 (5); eFG%: 50.9 (3)
Gawd. As in the Point Gawd has been doing the Lord’s Work in willing these Aces to a four-game winning streak. They look like Vegas of old with Chelsea Gray back handling the rock, and that’s because they’re back in the top two in Offensive Rating and hold the fastest pace in the league. At first, her passing and conductor-like skills were whipping them into shape and feeding players on the fast break. But on Saturday, in the victory over the Mystics, Gray’s scoring kicked in. She had a season-high 22 points and 4 assists, only missing one shot the entire 26 minutes (3-3 on 3-pointers and 8-9 from the field).
The Aces are so back. Another tell-tell sign is that A’ja Wilson scored a season-low 11 points in Saturday’s match-up, and Las Vegas could still pull out a win. The last time A’ja Wilson was held under 20 points in the regular season was her 14-point, 11-rebound performance in a loss to the Mystics last year.
5. Seattle Storm (12-6)
- Previous Ranking: 4
- Last Week: W vs Fever 89-77, W vs Wings 97-76
- This Week: Monday vs. Wings, Friday vs. Sky, Sunday vs. Sky
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.8 (5); DefRtg: 94.2 (3); NetRtg: 6.6 (4); eFG%: 47.7 (10)
Urgency. The aura surrounding this Storm team screams urgency to me. Not only is it their pace (second fastest in the league), but this current roster, as assembled, feels like there is a short window to figure it out and bring another championship back to Seattle. There seems to be more grace given to a younger squad to explore their ups and downs, but not the Storm. Their moves in free agency conjured up competitive veterans to become contenders—not in four years, but now. This squad started the season losing three out of their first four games, and people panicked. Since then, they’ve gone on a six-game win streak and currently riding a three-win wave.
Jewell Loyd has been magnificent. This week, she exploded for back-to-back 30+ point games, a callback to her scoring champion ways a season ago. It started when the Fever came to town, and Loyd dropped a season-high 34 points (6-9 from 3-point land) in 34 minutes with one eye. Then, two days later, a 30-piece over Dallas included 18 points in the second half. The Storm have had their foot on the gas, and I expect that urgency to carry them deep into the playoffs.
6. Phoenix Mercury (9-9)
- Previous Ranking: 6
- Last Week: W vs. Sparks 92-78, L vs. Fever 82-88
- This Week: Monday vs. Sun, Wednesday at Wings, Sunday at Sparks
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.0 (7); DefRtg: 102.7 (9); NetRtg: -3.7 (7); eFG%: 49.2 (6)
Dominate. Brittney Griner has been dominating the paint for Phoenix since her return from injury. If you take out the two games against Minnesota (where the Lynx held BG to 10 and 11 points, respectively), she’s averaging 23 ppg on over 60% from the field. On Sunday, she dropped 24 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. The Mercury are 5-3 since BG has returned to the starting line-up. Griner has been key to the Mercury hitting their groove.
But this is the third week in a row where the Mercury have split games. They have proven they can beat the top teams in the league—they are the only squad to defeat both the Liberty and the Lynx—but then will lose to the Fever. Their identity is brewing under new head coach Nate Tibbetts, and the team’s ceiling is still very high; that’s why I’m keeping them ranked at 6 this week.
7. Indiana Fever (7-13)
- Previous Ranking: 7
- Last Week: L at Storm 77-89, W at Mercury 88-82
- This Week: Tuesday at Aces, Saturday vs. Liberty
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.5 (6); DefRtg: 108.9 (12); NetRtg: -8.4 (10); eFG%: 50.7 (4)
Adjusting. Sunday’s close win over the Mercury was the first over a team that’s above a .500 record. Previously, they were 0-8. With five players in double figures, they rallied back from being down 15 because of Caitlin Clark slicing through the Mercury defense like a butter knife. Temi fa*gbenle and Aliyah Boston sprinted the floor to get easy transition buckets. Kelsey Mitchell was scorching from beyond the arc. And Clark was draining her signature logo 3s—she finished with 15 points and 12 assists.
At the start of this month, the Fever began making adjustments—like playing Clark more off the ball and using Boston as a facilitator in the post—and it has paid off. After going 1-9 in May, their adjustments triggered a 7-4 record in June. Huge confidence builder. July kicks off with two powerhouses in the Aces and Liberty, but as much as their offense has improved, Indiana’s defense (dead-last in DefRtg) still has a long way to go.
8. Atlanta Dream (7-10)
- Previous Ranking: 9
- Last Week: W at Sun 78-74, L at Liberty 75-81
- This Week: Tuesday vs. Sky, Friday at Wings, Sunday at Sun
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.2 (12); DefRtg: 101.0 (6); NetRtg: -5.8 (9); eFG%: 44.8 (12)
Pace. I knew Jordin Canada would be the difference maker. Canada, who had her first full week back after nursing a hand injury, has been playing with poise. On offense, she’s pushing the pace and allowing Atlanta to run in transition. The flow is so much better. But it’s also her defense. In the win at Connecticut, she swiped 3 steals — she led the league last year for a reason. And against New York, she held Sabrina Ionescu (averaging 18.8 ppg) to zero (!) points at halftime and had a monster block on her. Canada’s 9 points and 9 assists kept the Dream in the game for three quarters against the league-leading Liberty.
Also, a shout-out to late signee Maya Caldwell. She has been a spark plug off the bench. Coach Tanisha Wright was pleased with how Caldwell stayed ready for her number to be called. The former Georgia Bulldog has been bringing energy on both sides of the ball. In Sunday’s matchup with the Liberty, she had 8 points and 3 rebounds in 25 minutes of action.
The Dream just needs to stay above water until they get Rhyne Howard back healthy. Then, they’ll really be cooking with grease.
9. Chicago Sky (6-11)
- Previous Ranking: 8
- Last Week: L vs. Aces 83-95, L vs. Lynx 62-70
- This Week: Tuesday at Dream, Friday at Storm, Sunday at Storm
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.3 (10); DefRtg: 99.8 (5); NetRtg: -2.5 (6); eFG%: 44.9 (11)
Hungry. The Sky remains such a fun team to watch. Their hunger to win, to be better, and to prove doubters wrong oozes through the screen each time they step on the court. Their appetites grow with each big win (like over the Fever in Week 6). I attribute hunger to desire and even tenacity. And with Angel Reese at the helm of your team, those elements come naturally. In Sunday’s loss against the Lynx, she set a new WNBA single-season record: 10 consecutive games with a double-double, breaking a previous tie with two-time MVP Candace Parker. Reese finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds in under 35 minutes. With that performance, Reese now leads the league in total rebounds and rebounds per game. As! A! Rookie! No one would want to fight Chicago for the final playoff spot if the season ended today. Once that hunger materializes into wins? Whew.
10. Washington Mystics (4-15)
- Previous Ranking: 10
- Last Week: L vs. Sun 91-94 (OT), L vs. Aces 88-77
- This Week: Tuesday at Sparks, Thursday at Aces, Saturday at Lynx
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.5 (9); DefRtg: 102.1 (7); NetRtg: -4.5 (8); eFG%: 50.3 (5)
Almost. The Mystics are at the top of the bottom tier of teams. They make nearly every game competitive and have some players playing some of their careers’ best basketball. Still, they’re not quite able to get over the hump; they’re almost there, though. Last week, Washington came up short in a thrilling overtime game with the Sun on Thursday, who they managed to score 91 points on btw, and on Saturday, were leading the Aces at halftime. They continue to go toe-to-toe with the league’s best teams but fizzle out in the final quarter. Both Myshia Hines-Allen and Stefani Dolson had big weeks for the Mystics. Hopefully, they can keep building off their momentum as this week’s game slat as a few winnable opportunities.
11. Dallas Wings (4-14)
- Previous Ranking: 12
- Last Week: W vs Lynx 94-88, L at Storm 76-97
- This Week: Monday at Storm, Wednesday vs Mercury, Friday vs Dream, Sunday at Aces
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.2 (8); DefRtg: 107.0 (11); NetRtg: -8.8 (11); eFG%: 47.7 (9)
LuckyLefty. There has been an outcry for Dallas to sign a point guard to a hardship contract. But not just any point guard—specifically Odyssey Sims, aka the Lucky Lefty. So far, it has been lucky for the Wings, as Sims’ first game back with the team (she was also signed to the Wings for 28 games in 2023) snapped an 11-game losing streak as Dallas upset Minnesota on Thursday. Sims was in Paris playing for a sports league on Monday. Then, three days later, she’s back in the W, dropping 18 points and 4 assists. What a difference a week makes.
“She has the same mentality as me. She wants to get to the basket, she wants to drive, she wants to find open players, so I love playing off of her, and we communicate a lot when we’re on the court,” Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale said of Sims. “She also came to every home game this year. She supported us even when she wasn’t on the team. That’s just a testament to who she is as a person.”
A jam-packed upcoming week for the Wings; tides can turn if they get a few W’s to help rebuild their confidence, especially with Sims helping right the ship.
12. Los Angeles Sparks (4-14)
- Previous Ranking: 11
- Last Week: L at Mercury 78-92
- This Week: Tuesday vs Mystics, Friday vs Aces, Sunday vs Mercury
- Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.6 (11); DefRtg: 105.6 (10); NetRtg: -9.0 (12); eFG%: 48.4 (7)
Searching. The Sparks are ending June much differently than how they started. A two-game winning streak (including upsetting the Aces) in Commissioner’s Cup play June 5-7 made everyone take a double look at Los Angeles. But now, riding a seven-game losing streak and with only eight active players (Cameron Brink, Layshia Clarendon, Lexie Brown, and Azura Stevens are all out), the Sparks are searching for someone to step up.
Dearica Hamby has been a constant, at least. She tied her career-high of 29 points in the Sparks’ final road trip game against the Mercury on Friday. Aari McDonald also posted a career-high 10 assists in the loss. Rookie Rickea Jackson has shown promise. So has Zia Cooke recently. LA has signed (and waived) Queen Egbo this week. Maybe they have their eyes set on another available scorer. Regardless, Hamby will need some help if the Sparks plan on winning any more games.
WNBA reporter Jordan Robinson writes columns onWNBA.comthroughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at@HeyJordanR.The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.
