Jon’s first power rankings.
So Paul has been our power ranking guru but it’s time to switch it up for this week while on vacation and give Paul the week off. Here is my week 10 power rankings!
Connecticut Sun (16-6) – BURN IT DOWN!!! The Sun are back and in a big way. This streaky team has gone on another huge winning steak. After starting the season 9-1 and having a bad stretch they are back on top of our power ranking and holding down the number one seed for the playoffs. This team plays great D and shares the basketball so well. They play to exploit match ups and almost any one of their starters can go off on any given night. I have a feeling this team is going to stay as the number 1 team all year because when they are hot they are basically unbeatable. Hopefully they can continue this into the playoffs.
Washington Mystics (15-7)– Washington has taken sole possession of the 2 seed as they knocked off the Aces in the earthquake make up game. They have been playing amazing basketball lately and look as good if not better then last year. The MVP race looks all but locked up as Elena Delle Donne has been going off and took down another player of the week scoring 26 and 8 and has been the reason this team is where they are. They are my favorite to win the whole thing this year but as this year has shown anything can happen.
Las Vegas Aces (15-8) – Las Vegas is our number 3 team as they keep playing great basketball. They are clearly one of, if not the deepest team in the league as they are able to be next one up with Dearica Hambey with A’ja Wilson going down. They are 2-2 out of the break with one of those losses being the resumed game from the earthquake last month. They score in bunches, they exploit any match ups they need to, and they aren’t as selfish as you would think a team with this much star power can be. They need to fix their turnover problem as they average 14 a game so if they bring that down they will be fighting for one of the top two seeds for the whole second half of the season.
Los Angeles Sparks (13-8)– CP3 is back (Candace Parker!!!!) and in her first week back she won player of the week with the Sparks going 2-0. She is the GOAT! Averaging 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in her first week back. She has looked electric and has made this team better in every way. Last week we were saying this could be the what if season for the Sparks and Candace has quickly changed everything. The team just looks scary as they have the depth and skill to be the best in the league. Watch out here they come!!!!!
Phoenix Mercury (11-10) – The Currently injury plagued Mercury are still playing great basketball. They have moved up to 5th on this list and they can beat anyone on any given night. A real contender to go to the finals this year. Brittney Griner is playing at an MVP level this season and has had two monster games coming out of the all-star break 28-26 points in both of those games. They are 1-2 out of the break but that doesn’t mean they haven’t played good basketball and with the amount of injuries they have been battling I am happy to put them in the 5th spot.
Chicago Sky (12-9) – The Chicago Sky are the biggest surprise to me this season as they keep on BALLING! Diamond DeShields is proving why she is an Allstar night in and night out and Steph Dolson is proving she is one of the most underrated bigs in the league. They are sitting at 6th on the power ranking but are actually in 5th place and I can see them staying up around this level all season because they play as a family. I love this team and hope they can continue to get better. They could be a dark horse come play off time as they have the shooters to win any game.
Seattle Storm (12 –11) – The Seattle Storm magic might be wearing off a bit. They have been able to battle through it all this season but they are currently on a 3 game losing streak coming out of the all star break with losses vs the Mystics and Sparks and have fallen to 7th on our power rankings. They will always be a threat but as for competing for a championship this year after winning last year it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for them.
Minnesota Lynx (10 – 11) – The Lynx are one of the teams in the playoff picture to be worried about. They are on a 4 game losing streak and have lost 5 of 6 but all close games with the worse loss coming by 11 points to the Fever. They’re looking to snap the streak tonight against the dream but if they lose again tonight the road doesn’t get much easier as they play the top two teams Friday (CT) and Sunday (DC). The streak could easily get to 7 by the end of the week if they don’t win tonight. On a high note, Napheesa Collier was just named Rookie of the month. But she only averages 11 points per game tand he Rookie of the year has gone to the highest scoring rookie 12 of 15 seasons and Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 15 per game.
Indiana Fever (8– 15) – The Allstar break did wonders for the Fever. They have come out of the break 2-0 with a 2 point win over the Dream, with a game winning shot from Allstar game MVP Erica Wheeler. Then a 20 point come back against the Lynx to win by 11. The team is playing better basketball and could continue to fight for the final playoff spot.
New York Liberty (8 – 13) – After sending Kia Nurse and Tina Charles to the all star gaming and getting their long list of Euro basketball players back I expected the Liberty to keep playing exciting basketball. Since coming back from the break that has not been the case as the Liberty are 0-2 losing by 15 to the Sun and 23 to the Wings. With Asia Durr back into the starting lineup I expect to see some more exciting basketball as she was playing great before her injury. Hopefully we can see them get back to playing tough competitive basketball.
Dallas Wings (6-16) – Dallas out of the break have been looking like they have all season, young and inexperienced. They have had flashes of good basketball with Arike Ogunbowale taking over as the top rookie this year and reacquired Megan Gustafson showing why she deserves to play in this league, having scored 11 points with 8 boards in back to back games. The team is 2 years younger in average age than any team in the league. The future with Diggins-Smith, Jefferson, and Stevens all coming back could be huge factors next year and AS I was writing this Dallas traded Theresa Plaisance for Kristine Anigwe good move for both sides.
Atlanta Dream (5 – 17) – Atlanta’s abysmal season continues. It’s getting bad at this point as they are on a 7 game losing streak after winning 3 outta 4 before that. After coming one game shy of the WNBA finals last year it’s sad to see where this team is at. The Dream are missing McCoughtry bad and there hasn’t been many updates lately on her return. It’s looking more like she might take this whole season to rehab with the team as far back as they are.