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WNBA Power Rankings: Aces are No. 1, Sparks rise to No. 5 after clinching season-series against Dallas

June 26, 2023

The Sparks are hoping their two-game winning streak courtesy of back-to-back comeback wins against the Dallas Wings is the start of something special this season. Despite being down two starters lately, Layshia Clarendon (foot injury) and Lexie Brown (non-COVID illness), they found a way to win via career years by Nneka Ogwumike, Jordin Canada, and Destanni Henderson. Those efforts have the Sparks at .500, 7-7 overall, and most importantly fifth in the WNBA Standings.

The rankings (and records through Sunday, June 25):

1. Las Vegas Aces (12-1): The Aces went 2-0 last week as A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray were all named All-Star starters Sunday. Las Vegas is currently on a five-game winning streak as Kelsey Plum and Candace Parker are also having quality seasons to round out the team’s starting lineup. The Aces are a juggernaut, averaging a league-high 93.2 points, outscoring opponents by nearly 16 points per game.

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2. Connecticut Sun (12-3): The Sun went 3-0 last week, in an emotional stretch of games that saw two-time All-Star Brionna Jones go down with a season-ending Achilles injury. Meanwhile, do-it-all point forward Alyssa Thomas responded to not being selected as an All-Star starter with a 14-point, 11-rebound, and 12-assist triple-double in Sunday’s 96-72 win vs. Chicago, which was her second triple-double in a three-game stretch.

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3. New York Liberty (9-3): The Liberty went 2-0 last week as Breanna Stewart was named an All-Star starter and team captain for the second consecutive year. New York’s starting lineup boasts five All-Stars as guards Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot are seemingly on the shortlist to receive All-Star reserve selections.

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4. Washington Mystics (8-5): The Mystics went 1-1 last week, suffering a notably tough 89-88 overtime loss at New York Sunday. Elena Delle Donne is the team’s clear-cut favorite to be selected as an All-Star reserve. Meanwhile, Shakira Austin’s hip injury is concerning for a team that depends on the 6-foot-5 center’s versatility to make the game easier for Delle Donne and the rest of the talented Mystics team.

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5. Los Angeles Sparks (7-7): The Sparks went 2-1 last week, ending their five-game homestand with back-to-back comeback wins against the Dallas Wings. Nneka Ogwumike was named an All-Star starter for the second consecutive season. Ogwumike, an eight-time All-Star selection, is averaging a career-high 20.2 points and 9.7 rebounds in her first 13 games this season, including seven double-doubles. Meanwhile, point guards Jordin Canada and Destanni Henderson were key contributors in helping the Sparks end their recent three-game losing streak. When it comes to the playoffs, winning the season series and postseason tiebreaker against Dallas could come in handy.

However, if the Sparks want to crack the top four in the power rankings and more importantly the WNBA Standings, they are going to have to beat one or more of the WNBA’s top teams.

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6. Dallas Wings (6-8): The Wings went 1-2 last week. Dallas beat the Atlanta Dream 85-73 at home on Tuesday but lost back-to-back road games at Los Angeles on Friday and Sunday. Meanwhile, Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally were named All-Star starters, which shows Dallas has two of the most talented players in the WNBA. Natasha Howard should also receive heavy All-Star reserve consideration.

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7. Atlanta Dream (5-7): The Dream are on a two-game losing streak but Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Cheyenne Parker should all receive major considerations to be selected as WNBA All-Star reserves.

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8. Indiana Fever (5-8): The Fever have already matched their win total from last season’s 5-31 showing. Rookie center Aliyah Boston was named an All-Star starter after her first 13 games in the WNBA, placing her as a top-10 player, averaging 15.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Boston will be the first rookie to start a WNBA All-Star game since 2014. The Fever went 1-1 last week with an 80-68 win at Seattle 80-68 and a competitive 101-88 loss at Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell appears to be on track for an All-Star reserve selection.

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9. Chicago Sky (5-9): The Sky are on a six-game losing streak after starting the season 5-3. All six of those losses have come to teams currently in playoff position: Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Indiana, Washington (twice) and Connecticut. Chicago guards Kahleah Copper and Marina Mabrey are both averaging more than 16 points per game.

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10. Seattle Storm (4-9): Storm guard Jewell Loyd was named an All-Star starter, after leading the WNBA in scoring at 25.4 points per game. The Storm went 1-2 last week, including a competitive loss to the Connecticut Sun and a 23-point win against the Phoenix Mercury.

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11. Minnesota Lynx (4-9): The Lynx went 1-1 last week, pulling off their third straight win against the Sparks, 67-61 on Tuesday, but losing 89-68 at home to the Connecticut Sun. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier looks like a lock to be named an All-Star reserve soon after averaging 20.9 points and 7.5 rebounds through 13 games this season.

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12. Phoenix Mercury (2-10): The Mercury fired second-year head coach Vanessa Nygaard Sunday after the team’s 2-10 start. Nygaard, a coach with 20 years of experience including nearly a decade at the Windward School in Los Angeles, played five years in the WNBA, including the 2003 season with the Sparks. Mercury lead assistant coach Nikki Blue has been elevated to interim coach for the rest of the season. The good news for the Phoenix is that Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi are back in the starting lineup. Mercury point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who is currently out on maternity leave, was recently seen working out in an Instagram video. However, the fact remains that the Mercury are currently on a five-game losing streak with pending home games against Dallas, Indiana and Minnesota this week.

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