Our WNBA Power Rankings for Week 6 Monday, July 8th:

1. Washington Mystics (9 – 4) – The Mystics should probably be 10 – 4 after leading the Aces by 15 at the half before being forced to  cancel the game due to an “act of god.”  Earthquakes aside, there’s no reason to think the Mystics are anything other than the top team in the W this season despite suffering a loss on Sunday to the Sparks.  Elena Delle Donne appeared to suffer a bloody nose after a no call on a missed jumper in the 2nd minute of the game and did not return.
2. Las Vegas Aces (9 – 5) – The Aces ride a three game winning streak into the number 2 spot in our rankings and boast 4 representatives among the top 20 in wnba All Star voting as of July 2nd.  They looked outmatched in the 1st half of their match against the Mystics but were spared the loss when a 6.9 southern cal earthquake shook the Mandalay Bay Events Center.  A’ja Wilson looks like she wants to follow up her 2018 Rookie of the Year award with a 2019 MVP.
3. Connecticut Sun (9 – 5) – Nothing good to report from the Sun this week who played one game at home and lost to the Minnesota Lynx.  Expect the competition to only get stiffer as Eurobasket has ended and many teams are expecting reinforcements.  Head coach Curt Miller has his hands full righting the ship and avoiding a repeat of last year’s narrative which saw a disappointing one game end to a strong season.
4. Los Angeles Sparks (7 – 6) – The Sparks are looking a bit more like themselves this past week as they cap a three game win streak with a strong win against the Mystics (albeit without Delle Donne).  My faith in the preseason favorites is restored and I expect them to just get better as the season progresses.  Nneka Ogwumike looks to be hitting her MVP form as the court is opened up by the dangerous outside play of Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray, who recorded the WNBA’s 8th regular season triple double on Sunday.
5. Minnesota Lynx (8 – 6) – Minnesota took advantage of slumping teams this week recording wins against the Dream and Sun.  Odyssey Sims has acclimated well to her new team and looks to be a long term solution at point guard.  Injuries have forced the Lynx to rely on their depth which is probably performing to its peak at present.  If they’re to challenge for a title, they’ll need reinforcements from their injured list.
6. Phoenix Mercury (6 – 6) – Phoenix gets ranked 1st among teams even at .500 this week because they’re about to get Diana Taurasi back and when you add the GOAT to a .500 team seeing strong performances from Britney Griner and DeWanna Bonner, I expect a lot.  The Mercury are a team nobody wants to face in the playoffs regardless of how strong their season record is, so as long as they hold onto a playoff spot, I won’t be betting against them.
7. Chicago Sky (7 – 7) – The Sky matched the Aces through three quarters on the road before disappearing in the 4th and dropping below .500 for the first time since opening 1 – 2 but rebounding with a solid win at home against the Wings.  They’ll need to do a better job closing out close games against playoff contenders if they’re going to hold onto a playoff spot.  Jantel Lavender has proven to be a strong pickup and should be encouraged to continue to assert herself as a top scorer for this team.
8. Seattle Storm (8 – 8) – It is not surprising that the Storm have finally hit a rough patch as the injuries to star players multiplied.  Still, the three game losing streak is not representative of how well the Storm have played losing two of the three by 2 points or less.  Competition for the final few spots in the playoff picture has become tighter and the Storm could find themselves on the outside looking in if they don’t get some help soon.  They’ll enjoy having the week off to regroup.
9. New York Liberty (7 – 8) – I had penciled in the Liberty in the 7 slot after a 4 game win streak until they were blown out by the visiting Aces.  Kia Nurse has emerged as a constant scoring threat from anywhere on the floor at anytime of the game, but a lackluster shooting night for her translated into a blowout loss.  The margin for error for this Liberty team is low, but when they’re clicking, they’re as dangerous as anyone.  They return 4 players from Eurobasket this week as they continue to turn their season around and challenge for a playoff spot.
10. Indiana Fever (6 – 9) – The Fever are on the outside looking in and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon.  Most expected the Fever to be another year or two away from seeing their rebuild come to fruition but another solid draft pick next year could round out this team of young talent.  Indiana is one of three teams without a player in the top 20 for all star voting so a 6 – 9 record is actually quite remarkable and a testament to Pokey Chatman’s coaching.
11. Dallas Wings (4 – 9) – Dallas has a stark home – road split boasting a winning record at College Park Center at 4 – 3 but has yet to record a win on the road.  Rookie Arike Ogunbowale has been a (sometimes) bright spot in an otherwise difficult year for a team searching for their identity in the wake of the Liz Cambage trade and Diggins-Smith injury.  You won’t hear any complaints from the rookie though, who is getting a chance to do exactly what she wants to do, put up shots in volume.
12. Atlanta Dream (3 – 10) – The dream conquered an injury plagued Storm team on the road this week before losing by 2 to Phoenix.  Brittney Sykes is perhaps the most underrated player in the WNBA and if I were the Dream’s front office, I’d try to build around the athletic guard.  Everyone is getting ample playing time and a chance to step up as Nicki Collen continues to search for answers on the roster.