Our WNBA Power Rankings for Week 7 Monday, July 15th:

1. Washington Mystics (9 – 6) – The Mystics took a couple tough losses to Phoenix and Las Vegas this week without 2 time All Star Captain Elena Delle Donne on the court.  But to be frank, I don’t care.  They’re still the best team in the WNBA when at full strength and despite the fractured nose, I expect Delle Donne to return before too long and continue leading this team to a top seed by the end of the season.  Meeseman returned form the Euros this week and looked good.  Mystics = scary.
2. Las Vegas Aces (11 – 5) – Kudos to the Aces for sending 3 players to the All Star game as starters in Captain, A’ja Wilson and standouts Liz Cambage and Kayla McBride.  They’re win streak is up to 5 but needs an asterisk as they were down by 15 to the Mystics in Vegas when disaster struck and the conclusion had to be postponed.  Still, this uber-talented team is putting it all together and looking like the kind of superteam fans were excited about in the preseason.
3. Connecticut Sun (11 – 6) – The Sun broke their 5 game losing streak this week and recorded two hard fought wins against the Mercury and Fever.  I am hesitantly optimistic about how they build upon these wins and hopeful that Jonquel Jones’ nod as an all star starter will give her confidence to step up and put this team on her back when necessary.  But in a year with as much parity as we’re seeing, I am not confident that they’ll hold onto a top spot for the rest of the season.
4. Minnesota Lynx (10 – 7) – As with many others, I was expecting the Lynx to be in rebuild mode without Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, or Rebekkah Brunson, but a new deadly trifecta has emerged in Odyssey Sims, Sylvia Fowles, and Napheesa Collier.  The trio looks deadly and the supporting cast looks strong.  If Maya Moore comes back in the future, the Lynx will continue to be a top-tier team to be reckoned with.
5. Seattle Storm (10 – 8) – With Sue Bird still working her way back from injury, Jordin Canada has emerged as one of the most electric and exciting point guards in the WNBA sitting among the league leaders in assists and steals.  The Storm have to feel very optimistic about the future given the depth that has been on display this year.  Natasha Howard and Jewell Loyd earn all star starter nods, and assuming Natasha Howard avoids suspension (domestic violence allegations), the Storm should only get stronger as the season goes along.
6. Los Angeles Sparks (9 – 7) – After watching Candace Parker go down with her second injury on the year which is being reported as an ankle injury, I have lost faith that the Sparks can make a deep run in the playoffs.  Many believe Parkers injury could be as serious as an achilles tear and I can’t help but have flashbacks to Kevin Durant’s injury in the playoffs for the Warriors which he rushed back from and immediately reinjured.  Hopefully Parker and the Sparks can avoid a similar fate.  Nneka Ogwumike gets snubbed on All Star voting but will likely join Chelsea Gray in Vegas off the bench.
7. Chicago Sky (9 – 8) – Diamond DeShields continues to step into the limelight for a Chicago Sky team that holds their own against anyone in the league but haven’t been able to string together multiple wins.  However, players returning from injury and the euros could provide additional depth to a team that might surprise viewers come playoff time.  This won’t be their year, but I’m excited to see how this team develops over the next few years.
8. Phoenix Mercury (7 – 8) – Taurasi returned for 16 minutes in a loss to the Sun and looked impactful but did not play two days later in the Mercury’s loss to the Lynx.  Brittney Griner secured a spot amongst the all star starters but Dewanna Bonner did not despite many believing her to be a solid candidate for MVP.  Chances are Taurasi simply needed more time to recover after making her season debut.  I expect Phoenix to hold onto a playoff spot and be dangerous in the fall.
9. New York Liberty (7 – 10) – Sophomore guard Kia Nurse earned her first all star selection but Tina Charles did not.  The Liberty are looking almost whole again after returning 3 players from the Euros but still have work to do if they’re to find themselves in the playoff picture.  Amongst the teams on the outside looking in, they definitely have the talent and cohesion to get there but might lack the clutch late game heroics needed to record a few more W’s.
10. Dallas Wings (5 – 11) – Rookie Arike Ogunbowale is probably your frontrunner for Rookie of the Year after a slight dropoff in production from Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier and Ogunbowale’s high usage.  Dallas looks like a gritty team that is slowly discovering their power.  Undersized after Liz Cambage was traded to Vegas, the Wings’ forwards have their work cut out for them on both ends of the floor night in and night out in containing the other teams in what has been a forward-dominated season so far.
11. Atlanta Dream (5 – 11) – Atlanta has begun to find a winning formula in tight, pesky defense and aggressive iso-play.  I don’t love the offensive flow and shot selection, but if they can clean some of that up and set up more open looks, they’ll likely find themselves out of the basement before year’s end.  Tiffany Hayes and Renee Montgomery impress night in and night out, but would do well to be more selective when it comes to the difficulty level of the shots they take.
12. Indiana Fever (6 – 12) – Teaira McCowan looks like she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come and has already asserted herself as one of the best rebounders and shot blockers in the league.  As the offensive game develops, she will offer the Fever a coveted option to play inside-out with a series of talented shooters surrounding her.  Kelsey Mitchell needs to improve her efficiency and shot selection, but Tiffany Mitchell (no relation) looks deadly as a 6th woman of the year candidate.