Our Week 3 WNBA Power Rankings (Monday, June 17):

1. Connecticut Sun (8 – 1) – Burn It Down! At this point its the Connecticut Sun and then everybody else.  They’ve been extremely dominant this year and having witnessed them live in action I can say that they are efficient, imposing, and absolutely deserving of their record and the top spot in our power rankings as well as the WNBA standings.
2. Seattle Storm (5 – 4) – Seattle earns our 2nd spot in the rankings this week due to a tough schedule, and extreme resilience in the face of a team-wide injury bug.  Latest to go down is back up point guard Jordin Canada.  With Sue Bird still recovering from injury this leaves the Storm without a true point guard but they still manage to put up a good effort and kept the Sun close through three quarters.
3. Las Angeles Sparks (4 – 3) – Los Angeles has been inconsistent this year with some big wins and surprising losses, but they get Candace Parker back this week and there’s every reason to believe that will lift them to a new level.  I expect the Sparks to go on a run at some point soon and really find their rhythm.
4. Washington Mystics (4 – 3) – The mystics drop down in our rankings this week after 2 losses to other top teams.  They lose Emma Meeseman to the European championships for a month and this will undoubtedly hurt.  But there should be enough talent on the floor still to challenge the top teams.  Look out for matchups this week against the Sparks and Aces to show their quality.
5. Chicago Sky (4 – 2) – Chicago leapfrogs up in our rankings this week after a strong showing with two well earned victories.  Diamond DeShields is showing why she’s been considered a top prospect in every phase of her career and the Jantel Lavender pick up from LA is paying dividends.  Backcourt duo Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot continue to impress from long range and as play makers.  A couple more wins this week and I’ll be a true believer.
6. Las Vegas Aces (4 – 3) – The inconsistent Aces continue to show flashes of brilliance and then at times appear pedestrian.  The pieces are there and with more time together there’s every reason to believe the chemistry will develop and they’ll become every bit the title contenders fans expected at the beginning of the year.  Lookout for a potential statement win this week when they play at home against the Mystics.
7. Minnesota Lynx (4 – 5) – The lynx have just completed a very tough stretch of schedule in which they lost 4 games in a row by 6 points or less each game.  Many expected this to be a rebuilding year so it comes as no surprise that they’ve cooled off after a hot start to the season.  Napheesa Collier continues to impress and sits comfortably atop the rookie candidates for rookie of the year.
8. Indiana Fever (4 – 4) – Indiana has an opportunity this week to score three wins with games against the Dream, Sky, and Storm.  They’re going to need more efficiency from their guards and hastened development for 3rd overall draft pick Teaira McCowan if they’re going to stay in the playoff picture this whole season.
9. New York Liberty (3 – 5) – The Liberty have looked great recently posting a 3 – 1 record after opening the season 0 – 4.  A career night for Amanda Zahui B against the LA Sparks, and more production from Kia Nurse and Asia Durr have them in position to make a push for a playoff spot.  Depth is perhaps New York’s biggest problem at the moment as they have rarely gotten impactful performances off the bench.
10. Phoenix Mercury (2 – 4) – The Mercury look like they’re missing the game closing skills of Diana Taurasi as they fall to 2 – 4 on the season this week.  Luckily, there is talk that Taurasi could be ready to return as early as this Sunday, providing some much needed scoring and playmaking at the guard position.  it may take a game or two for this team to get back to form, but expect them to climb out of the basement before too long.
11. Dallas Wings (1 – 5) – Dallas recorded their first win of the season this week with a 71 – 61 victory over the Atlanta Dream in which rookie Arike Ogunbowale led the team in scoring with 17.  I expect more from a Dallas Wings team that boasts some of the top talent from the NCAA over the past few years.  But look for them to struggle until team leader and face of the franchise Skyler Diggins-Smith returns later this season.
12. Atlanta Dream (1 – 5) – Head coach Nikki Collen has to be losing sleep wondering how this group went from 2nd in the 2018 WNBA standings to last in the 2019 season.  No doubt they miss Angel McCoughtry and will be a better team with her on the floor.  But the current starting 5 and bench depth was largely responsible for their continued success after McCoughtry went down last year.  Where is the spark that gets the Dream back on track?