2024 WNBA Power Rankings: Who Can Stop the Lynx?

Ronny Mark 3 weeks ago Celebrity, NBA, Sports Leave a comment 8 Views

The Lynx are red hot, the eighth seed is still up for grabs, and A’ja Wilson scored her 1,000th point—cheers to the last full week of the regular season! Plus, this was only the second 40-game season in league history, so that means a whole lotta records were broken.

As we gear up for the playoffs, which start September 22, let’s wrap up our final regular-season power rankings. Did your favorite team leap the ranks?

1. Minnesota Lynx (29-9)

Previous Ranking: 2
Last Week: W at Dream 76-64, W at Liberty 88-79
This Week: Tuesday at Sun, Thursday vs. Sparks
Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.7 (4); DefRtg: 94.8 (2); NetRtg: 8.9 (2); eFG%: 52.2 (2)

There’s a new number one! The Lynx have been looking nearly unstoppable since the Olympic break. They grabbed their second win over the Liberty on Sunday, and that moved them up a spot in the power rankings. They have won 13 of their last 14 games. WHAT?! And now, there’s a chance for the Lynx to sneak in and swipe the top seed in the playoffs. It’s remarkable what Cheryl Reeve’s crew have been able to put together this season.

We’re the number two team in the league and we just played the number one team, and we’re really prideful about that,” Reeve said. “Our belief to be successful every game that we play. It’s a hell of a win.”

The team’s commitment on the defensive end has been beautiful to watch. They’ve been disruptors. In order to earn the top seed, the Lynx will need to win out (versus the Sun and Sparks), and the Liberty will need to lose out (versus the Mystics and Dream). It’s unlikely, but the Lynx have incredible momentum heading into the postseason.

2. New York Liberty (31-7)

New York became the first team to eclipse 30 wins in the season. The win came on the road against Dallas on Tuesday, where five Liberty players hit double figures. Breanna Stewart’s 27 points in 27 minutes led the way, with Jonquel Jones’ 19 points and Sabrina Ionescu’s 14 points and 11 assists right behind. The depth of New York has been their green flag all season long. Rookie Leonie Fiebich has been a massive part of that. She’s shooting the best 3-point percentage out of rookies on at least 100 attempts this season at 43.4%. Fiebich makes for insane firepower coming off the bench for the Liberty in the postseason.

Sunday, the Liberty pick up their seventh loss of the season to the Minnesota Lynx, the only team that has beaten them twice (three times if you count the Comissioner’s Cup). Stewart’s monster 38-point, 18-rebound performance wasn’t enough to hold off Napheesa’s Collier’s crew. It snapped their five-game West Coast win streak. In their stellar season, the Lynx have been the Liberty’s kryptonite. Can New York turn things around if they meet again in the Finals?

3. Las Vegas Aces (25-13

The Aces move up to the third spot after the regular-season sweep of the Sun. And because they have the best player in the world on their roster. With 29 points in Sunday’s win, A’ja Wilson is the first player to reach 1,000 points in a season. Wow. She passed Jewell Loyd for the single-season record in points earlier last week. Wilson is truly in a stratosphere of her own. I hope we never take for granted the greatness we’re witnessing.

“I see the hours she puts in that nobody sees. She’s her hardest critic,” teammate Alysha Clark said of Wilson. “That’s something that I think needs to be celebrated. When you have players of this caliber that are playing now, appreciate that. Because one day, she’s not going to be here. She’s going to retire and go on and live her life, and people are going to marvel at what she’s done. Marvel at it now.”

I know I am.

4. Connecticut Sun (27-11)

The Sun dropped a spot in this week’s power rankings because, with Sunday’s loss, they finish 0-3 on the Aces this regular season. The Aces were the only team to sweep the Sun this season. Despite Connecticut remerging as the top team defense, A’ja Wilson was too much for them (see above).

But for Sun fans, take heart in this: DeWanna Bonner continues to make history. She’s now third all-time in WNBA career games played. Plus, Bonner is only 27 points away from becoming the third all-time league-leading scorer, too. What she’s been able to do this late in her career has been a marvel.

It’s been incredible to continue to watch her journey, and this — I say reemergence, but maybe even newfound confidence,” head coach Stephanie White said of her vet. “I think it’s a tribute to her teammates being able to get her the ball in positions to be successful and a tribute to her work to be able to play at such a consistent level for such a long time.”

Lucky for us, we’re only a week away from Playoff Bonner. What a treat.

5. Seattle Storm (24-14)

Storm star Jewell Loyd was a recent guest on the Queens of the Court: A WNBA Podcast, and she was asked to fill in the blank: “The Seattle Storm win the championship if…” Loyd responded with, “If you feel loved.” Her goal this season was to spread love throughout the locker room and make sure her teammates feel empowered in their roles on the team. It’s been working. Her Storm are riding a four-game winning streak as they finish the regular season. They’ve been aiming to finish strong to potentially move up in playoff seeding to earn home-court advantage, as they’re sitting as the fifth seed. If the current standing holds, Seattle will battle Las Vegas in the first round. Tuesday’s match-up would be a preview. The two top all-time single-season scoring leaders battling it out? Yes, please!

6. Indiana Fever (20-19)

There were many broken records for the fever last week, and the history repeats itself a few times. Kelsey Mitchell set a new franchise record for total points scored with 733 (and counting). She broke the previous record set by…er…herself. Aliyah Boston set the new single-season rebounding record with 338 rebounds (and counting) this season. She set the previous record in her rookie season with 335.

Breaking records has become like second nature for rookie Caitlin Clark. In Sunday’s win over Dallas, she broke the WNBA rookie single-season scoring record set by Seimone Augustus 18 years ago with 746 points (and counting). Clark finished the win with a career-high 35 points and eight assists. Mitchell chimed in for 30 points—her second 30-point game this month. Clark and Mitchell combined for 12 of the team’s 16-made 3-pointers. Can’t wait to see this duo (and the Fever crowd!) in their first playoff series in nine years. The last time the Fever won 20 games in a season was in 2015 when they went to the Finals. Clark was only 13 years old. It’s a new day in Indy.

7. Phoenix Mercury (18-20)

Previous Ranking: 7
Last Week: L vs. Sun 69-88, W at Sky 93-88
This Week: Tuesday at Sparks, Thursday vs. Storm
Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.5 (8); DefRtg: 105.3 (9); NetRtg: -3.9 (8); eFG%: 50.4 (6)

The Mercury are back in the win column for the first time in three games (and for only the second time in eight games) after topping the Sky on the road. Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi combined for 51 of the Mercury’s 93 total points in the victory. Natasha Cloud added 18 points and 11 assists, too. As we wrap up the regular season, Phoenix is a lock at the seventh seed. If the current standings hold, the Mercury will face a red-hot Lynx in the first round, a team they are 1-3 in the regular season. Hopefully, Kahleah Copper, who missed the last game with a back injury, will be healthy for their first-round match-up because they will need her.

8. Washington Mystics (13-25)

After the Mystics’ statement 31-point win over the Sky on Wednesday and a road win against the Dream on Friday, Sunday’s game brought the drama. There is nothing like an overtime thriller to decide the eighth and final playoff spot! In a two-game mini-series last week, Washington came up just short against the Dream. Two wins would’ve secured their spot for the playoffs after starting the season 0-12. Wow! But a last-second 3-point attempt by Brittney Sykes didn’t fall, which kept the Dream’s playoff hopes alive. They were without Aaliyah Edwards and Shakira Austin, but if they make this miracle last-second playoff push, hopefully, they’ll get their power frontcourt back in rotation.

9. Chicago Sky (13-25)

League Pass
Tickets
Shop
Sign Up
POWER RANKINGS
2024 WNBA Power Rankings: Who Can Stop the Lynx?
Wed, Sep 18, 2024, 3:41 AM
Jordan Robinson
The Lynx are red hot, the eighth seed is still up for grabs, and A’ja Wilson scored her 1,000th point—cheers to the last full week of the regular season! Plus, this was only the second 40-game season in league history, so that means a whole lotta records were broken.

As we gear up for the playoffs, which start September 22, let’s wrap up our final regular-season power rankings. Did your favorite team leap the ranks?

Stats and analysis as of Sunday, September 15.

1. Minnesota Lynx (29-9)
Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx

Previous Ranking: 2
Last Week: W at Dream 76-64, W at Liberty 88-79
This Week: Tuesday at Sun, Thursday vs. Sparks
Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.7 (4); DefRtg: 94.8 (2); NetRtg: 8.9 (2); eFG%: 52.2 (2)
There’s a new number one! The Lynx have been looking nearly unstoppable since the Olympic break. They grabbed their second win over the Liberty on Sunday, and that moved them up a spot in the power rankings. They have won 13 of their last 14 games. WHAT?! And now, there’s a chance for the Lynx to sneak in and swipe the top seed in the playoffs. It’s remarkable what Cheryl Reeve’s crew have been able to put together this season.

“We’re the number two team in the league and we just played the number one team, and we’re really prideful about that,” Reeve said. “Our belief to be successful every game that we play. It’s a hell of a win.”

2. New York Liberty (31-7)
Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty

Previous Ranking: 1
Last Week: W at Wings 105-91, W at Wings 99-67, L vs. Lynx 79-88
This Week: Tuesday at Mystics, Thursday vs. Dream
Team Stats: OffRtg: 107.4 (1); DefRtg: 95.3 (2); NetRtg: 12.1 (1); eFG%: 52.3 (1)
New York became the first team to eclipse 30 wins in the season. The win came on the road against Dallas on Tuesday, where five Liberty players hit double figures. Breanna Stewart’s 27 points in 27 minutes led the way, with Jonquel Jones’ 19 points and Sabrina Ionescu’s 14 points and 11 assists right behind. The depth of New York has been their green flag all season long. Rookie Leonie Fiebich has been a massive part of that. She’s shooting the best 3-point percentage out of rookies on at least 100 attempts this season at 43.4%. Fiebich makes for insane firepower coming off the bench for the Liberty in the postseason.

3. Las Vegas Aces (25-13)
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces

Previous Ranking: 4
Last Week: W at Fever 86-75, W at Fever 78-74, W vs. Sun 84-71
This Week: Tuesday at Storm, Thursday vs. Dallas
Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.6 (2); DefRtg: 99.7 (5); NetRtg: 5.9 (4); eFG%: 51.9 (4)
The Aces move up to the third spot after the regular-season sweep of the Sun. And because they have the best player in the world on their roster. With 29 points in Sunday’s win, A’ja Wilson is the first player to reach 1,000 points in a season. Wow. She passed Jewell Loyd for the single-season record in points earlier last week. Wilson is truly in a stratosphere of her own. I hope we never take for granted the greatness we’re witnessing.

I know I am.

4. Connecticut Sun (27-11)
Alyssa Thomas #25 and DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Connecticut Sun

Previous Ranking: 3
Last Week: W at Sparks 86-66, W at Mercury 88-69, L at Aces 71-84
This Week: Tuesday vs. Lynx, Thursday vs. Sky
Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.0 (7); DefRtg: 94.5 (1); NetRtg: 7.5 (3); eFG%: 48.6 (8)
The Sun dropped a spot in this week’s power rankings because, with Sunday’s loss, they finish 0-3 on the Aces this regular season. The Aces were the only team to sweep the Sun this season. Despite Connecticut remerging as the top team defense, A’ja Wilson was too much for them (see above).

“It’s been incredible to continue to watch her journey, and this — I say reemergence, but maybe even newfound confidence,” head coach Stephanie White said of her vet. “I think it’s a tribute to her teammates being able to get her the ball in positions to be successful and a tribute to her work to be able to play at such a consistent level for such a long time.”

Lucky for us, we’re only a week away from Playoff Bonner. What a treat.

5. Seattle Storm (24-14)
#24 Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm

Previous Ranking: 4
Last Week: W at Sparks 90-82, W at Wings 83-81, W vs Sparks 90-87
This Week: Tuesday vs Aces, Thursday at Mercury
Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.0 (6); DefRtg: 96.2 (4); NetRtg: 5.8 (5); eFG%: 47.6 (10)
Storm star Jewell Loyd was a recent guest on the Queens of the Court: A WNBA Podcast, and she was asked to fill in the blank: “The Seattle Storm win the championship if…” Loyd responded with, “If you feel loved.” Her goal this season was to spread love throughout the locker room and make sure her teammates feel empowered in their roles on the team. It’s been working. Her Storm are riding a four-game winning streak as they finish the regular season. They’ve been aiming to finish strong to potentially move up in playoff seeding to earn home-court advantage, as they’re sitting as the fifth seed. If the current standing holds, Seattle will battle Las Vegas in the first round. Tuesday’s match-up would be a preview. The two top all-time single-season scoring leaders battling it out? Yes, please!

6. Indiana Fever (20-19)
#0 Kelsey Mitchell and #22 Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever

Previous Ranking: 6
Last Week: L vs. Aces 75-86, L vs. Aces 74-78, W vs. Wings 110-109
This Week: Thursday at Mystics
Team Stats: OffRtg: 104.0 (3); DefRtg: 107.5 (11); NetRtg: -3.4 (6); eFG%: 52.1 (3)
There were many broken records for the fever last week, and the history repeats itself a few times. Kelsey Mitchell set a new franchise record for total points scored with 733 (and counting). She broke the previous record set by…er…herself. Aliyah Boston set the new single-season rebounding record with 338 rebounds (and counting) this season. She set the previous record in her rookie season with 335.

7. Phoenix Mercury (18-20)
Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury

Previous Ranking: 7
Last Week: L vs. Sun 69-88, W at Sky 93-88
This Week: Tuesday at Sparks, Thursday vs. Storm
Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.5 (8); DefRtg: 105.3 (9); NetRtg: -3.9 (8); eFG%: 50.4 (6)
The Mercury are back in the win column for the first time in three games (and for only the second time in eight games) after topping the Sky on the road. Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi combined for 51 of the Mercury’s 93 total points in the victory. Natasha Cloud added 18 points and 11 assists, too. As we wrap up the regular season, Phoenix is a lock at the seventh seed. If the current standings hold, the Mercury will face a red-hot Lynx in the first round, a team they are 1-3 in the regular season. Hopefully, Kahleah Copper, who missed the last game with a back injury, will be healthy for their first-round match-up because they will need her.

8. Washington Mystics (13-25)
Ariel Atkins #7 of the Washington Mystics

Previous Ranking: 10
Last Week: W at Sky 89-58, W at Dream 72-69, L vs. Dream 73-76 OT
This Week: Tuesday vs. Liberty, Thursday vs. Fever
Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.9 (9); DefRtg: 101.4 (7); NetRtg: -3.5 (7); eFG%: 50.6 (5)
After the Mystics’ statement 31-point win over the Sky on Wednesday and a road win against the Dream on Friday, Sunday’s game brought the drama. There is nothing like an overtime thriller to decide the eighth and final playoff spot! In a two-game mini-series last week, Washington came up just short against the Dream. Two wins would’ve secured their spot for the playoffs after starting the season 0-12. Wow! But a last-second 3-point attempt by Brittney Sykes didn’t fall, which kept the Dream’s playoff hopes alive. They were without Aaliyah Edwards and Shakira Austin, but if they make this miracle last-second playoff push, hopefully, they’ll get their power frontcourt back in rotation.

9. Chicago Sky (13-25)
Michaela Onyenwere #12 of the Chicago Sky

Previous Ranking: 9
Last Week: L vs. Mystics 58-89, L at Lynx 66-83, L vs. Mercury 88-93
This Week: Tuesday at Dream, Thursday at Sun
Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.6 (10); DefRtg: 102.8 (8); NetRtg: -5.2 (10); eFG%: 45.8 (11)
Cancel your Tuesday plans! The Sky will head south to Atlanta for a do-or-die game with heavy playoff implications. Chicago has been without Angel Reese, who recently had surgery to fix her fractured wrist and is out for the remainder of the season. They surely miss the rookie’s rebounding and scoring production as they ride this three-game losing skid. Chennedy Carter is having a career season (17.5 PPG, 3.1 APG, 1.1 SPG) and needs a career-high showing on Tuesday to keep the Sky in the post-season mix. The post-Olympic break hasn’t been kind to Chicago—they’re 3-11 since returning to action. But rookie head coach Teresa Weatherspoon is eager to show off her clipboard in a playoff setting. If Chicago does secure the eighth seed, they’ll potentially face a New York Liberty team they defeated in May.

10. Atlanta Dream (13-25)

Previous Ranking: 8
Last Week: L vs. Lynx 64-76, L vs. Mystics 69-72, W at Mystics 76-73
This Week: Tuesday vs. Sky, Thursday at Liberty
Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.9 (12); DefRtg: 100.5 (6); NetRtg: -4.6 (9); eFG%: 44.8 (12)

Atlanta is still dreaming of the playoffs, and Sunday’s clutch overtime win versus the Mystics helped keep hope alive. It was their third overtime in their last five games. Tina Charles’ game-high 20 points led the way for the Dream, while Jordin Canada’s 14 points and five dimes aided in the victory. After Rhyne Howard’s hot shooting streak to start the month, she cooled, going for a dismal 3-12 from the field for 14 points. But they got the win, and that’s what really matters.

Real quick: Tina Charles is having an incredible season. Recently, she became the first Dream player in history to record 500+ points and 300+ rebounds in a single season. In 15 seasons, Charles has now done this seven (!) times. It’s been fun to see her hooping again, but to still be so dominant? It’s nothing short of amazing.

11. Dallas Wings (9-30)

Previous Ranking: 10
Last Week: L vs. Liberty 91-105, L vs. Liberty 99-67, L vs. Storm 81-83, L at Fever 105-106
This Week: Thursday at Aces
Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.2 (5); DefRtg: 111.5 (12); NetRtg: -9.3 (11); eFG%: 49.0 (7)
What a brutal week for the Wings. After two losses to the Liberty for a combined 46 points, Dallas also lost two close games for a combined three points. Rough. It’s an eight-game losing streak to end the season for a banged-up Wings squad, who are officially out of playoff contention.

Arike Ogunbowale still had an unreal season. She became the franchise’s leading scorer on Thursday, passing legend Deanna Nolan. It took Nolan nine years to Ogunbowale’s five. And on Sunday, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 4,000 career points—just a bucket.

12. Los Angeles Sparks (7-31)

Previous Ranking: 12
Last Week: L vs. Sun 66-86, L vs. Storm 82-90, L at Storm 87-90
This Week: Tuesday vs. Mercury, Thursday at Lynx
Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.0 (11); DefRtg: 106.5 (10); NetRtg: -9.5 (12); eFG%: 48.0 (9)
Despite finishing last place, Dearica Hamby has had an unforgettable season with the Sparks. She’s made substantial statistical jumps in nearly every category. Her 3.4 rebounds per game jump specifically landed her in the history books; Hamby passed Lisa Leslie for the most rebounds in a single season. Leslie responded on X and said, “You have had an awesome season with Team USA and the LA Sparks Records are meant to be broken! #AnotherOne I’m so proud of you.” Hamby finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to Seattle on Sunday.

This will mark the Sparks’ fourth straight season without post-season hoops. It’s been a turbulent landing this season—they’re winless in September—but they have to feel optimistic about their draft lottery hopes and get a healthy Cameron Brink back next season. It’ll be showtime back in LA in no time.

2024 WNBA Power Rankings: Who Can Stop the Lynx?

Related Articles

About Ronny Mark

Check Also

Leave a Reply Cancel reply