Jon and Paul explore mysterious injuries and player absences in the WNBA and question whether fans are getting the whole story. Also, a closer look at the full list of All Stars after the reserves were announced earlier today.
Queens of the Court
2019 WNBA Week 7: Mystery, Intrigue, and All Stars
Jon and Paul discuss the hot topics in the WNBA this week including a game cancelled by Earthquake, a mysterious face injury, an all star voting update, America’s power couple, and more.
Queens of the Court
2019 WNBA Week 6: Earthquakes, Power Couples, et al
Our WNBA Power Rankings for Week 6 Monday, July 8th:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jon and Paul delve into the top stories form the WNBA this week and ask, “how you would you beat the Mystics?” We take a closer look at some of the top performing rookies on the season and speculate what it will take for the Sun to keep one of the top 2 spots come playoff time.
Our WNBA Power Rankings for Week 5 Monday, July 1:
Washington Mystics (9 – 3) – We all know what Washington is capable of on offense, but it is their defensive efficiency that stands out as they take the top spot from the Connecticut Sun after a 43 point blowout win at home. Burn THAT down, Sun. Apart from what has become a star studded starting lineup the Mystics are getting strong contributions from the bench and are now the team to beat. Oh and Emma Meeseman returns in a week.
Connecticut Sun (9 – 4) – The Sun had a shaky week on the road and have lost 3 in a row after starting 9 – 1. De Ja Vu anyone? The Sun started the 2018 season 7 – 1 before falling to 10 – 10 with a mid season rough patch. Luckily they bounced back and won 9 of their last 10 but Curt Miller’s squad has to hope for more this season. The top two seeds get important byes in the current wnba playoff format and the Sun aren’t likely to secure a top 2 spot if they fall to .500 again.
Las Vegas Aces (7 – 5) – Aces’ fans can’t help but feel a little frustrated with how this year has gone. They’re up, they’re down, they win, they lose. If there’s one thing the Aces are, it’s inconsistent. Former Number 1 pick A’ja Wilson dropped 39 on 14 – 20 shooting in a win against the fever. Former Number 1 pick Kelsey Plum went 0 – 8 in that same game. There’s no doubt the talent is there (I sound like a broken record). What is it going to take to win a few in a row and find some separation from the rest of the pack?
Seattle Storm (8 – 6) – The Storm continue to impress by winning with a “next woman up” mentality despite the growing injury list. Jewell Loyd is out for 2 – 4 weeks with an ankle injury, so Sami Whitcomb steps up and drops 13, 6, and 5 in a tight home loss to the surging Mercury. Presumably the Storm will get most of their stars back this year, but can the current crop keep them in the hunt for the top spots until then?
Los Angeles Sparks (6 – 6) – The Sparks are 1st in my rankings among teams even at .500 because of what I expect from this group of talent. They bounced back with a couple of wins this week against quality opponents in the Aces and Sky with the win against the Sky looking a bit more like the kind of score lines I was expecting from the Sparks this season. Candace Parker is only going to get better as the season goes on. Look out for a marquee matchup with Washington this week!
Phoenix Mercury (5 – 5) – The Mercury are 2nd among teams even at .500 because Diana Taurasi isn’t back yet. Odd that it was rumored Taurasi would return a week ago and still hasn’t played a minute. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see how good the Mercury are going to be when she returns. Are they title contenders? Are they middle of the pack? Unclear. In a season when every team has significant strengths, its going to be the teams that can squeeze out the close ones that will thrive and no one is better at that than Diana Taurasi.
Chicago Sky (6 – 6) – The Sky have lost three in a row but all to quality opponents. Despite the losses I am actually more of a believer in the Sky now than I was a few weeks ago. I like the shooting, I like the pace of play, I like the team chemistry that continues to grow. I question who they turn to late in a game when they need a bucket. Do they have that player right now? You can say that anyone of the starters (and some bench players I might add) could be that player on any given night, but that’s also an indication to me that they simply don’t have that type of star right now.
Minnesota Lynx (6 – 6) – The Lynx have played 10 straight games decided by a single digit scoring margin including a number of nailbiters, but that amount of tension day in and day out is going to wear on a young team still developing its new identity. I expect this team to continue to hover around the .500 mark for the rest of the season. It also wouldn’t surprise me to hear the Lynx mentioned in trade rumors later this summer as they will look to build the next potential dynasty.
New York Liberty (5 – 7) – The Liberty are 5 – 3 in their last 8 after a slow start. I expect them to challenge for a playoff spot, particularly when they get their overseas talent back in a week or so. The identity of this team is starting to take shape with Tina Charles at the helm and strong, young, guard support from Asia Durr, Kia Nurse, and Brittany Boyd. The future is bright for the Liberty.
Indiana Fever (5 – 9) – The Fever have struggled of late losing 4 in a row after what many thought was a surprisingly positive start to the season. But for the most part these losses have been tight. They’ll need more consistency from their guards if they’re going to start winning those close ones, but veteran Candace Dupree has been an ageless wonder providing some much needed leadership and scoring.
Dallas Wings (4 – 7) – Dallas won two out of three games this week that were all decided by 3 points or less. Rookie sensation Arike Ogunbowale looks like she is starting to adjust to the league despite posting a 2 – 23 game in their lone loss this week. And to me, Dallas looks like a team that recently remembered that they’re actually really talented. Their record is more a reflection of how intensely competitive the WNBA is this year.
Atlanta Dream (2 – 8) – The nightmare season continues for the dream who can’t seem to find any answers to a league overflowing with talent. Shots aren’t falling, the defense doesn’t look sharp, and on the court leadership is lacking. I expect the Dream to be involved in trade talks to move their veteran talent and get younger in a hurry. The rebuild is on.
Jon and Paul break down where we are after 1 month of the WNBA season discussing departures for the European Championships, continued travel woes for the W, and player returns we’ve been waiting for.
Our WNBA Power rankings for Week 4 Monday, June 24:
Connecticut Sun (9 – 2) – Despite a road loss on Sunday to the streaking Chicago Sky, the Sun continue to separate themselves as the elite team in the WNBA this season. As the rest of the league says goodbye to some of their players to the European Championships, the Sun remain intact and strong. Expect them to continue their run of dominance as the team chemistry spreads to a deep bench. Burn it down indeed.
Washington Mystics (7 – 3) – Two of the Mystics three losses on the season have come at the hands of the Sun, but the rest of the league should be on notice after Elena Delle Donne had a killer week looking very much in midseason MVP form. They lose Meeseman to the Euros but have more than enough depth to continue winning until she returns. Look for the Mystics to return to the WNBA finals this year.
Seattle Storm (7 – 4) – Dan Hughes’ return to action breathes new life into his defending champs and the Storm remain undefeated at home after a tight win against Indiana. Natasha Howard and Jewell Loyd look like the second coming of Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird so the future is bright for a Storm team that has a knack for winning even without their injured stars.
Chicago Sky (6 – 3) – If you’re like me, you’ve been hesitant to buy into the Chicago Sky this season as the frontrunners they’ve appeared to be, but after an 18 point win against the Sun, they’re turning some heads. Diamond DeShields looks deadly in transition and the pace of game is propelling the sky to some high scoring games that they’re winning. They have a tough week ahead with games against the Mystics, Storm, and Sparks but if they can take 2 out of 3, expect them to rise even further in these rankings.
Las Vegas Aces (5 – 4) – The Aces split their games this week to stay ahead of the curve on the season but they’ll need more consistency if they’re going to make a deep playoff run. The bench has been a strength for Las Vegas but they’ll need more from their number 1 picks (Jackie Young, A’ja Wilson, and Kelsey Plum) to challenge the league leaders. Mark your calendar for Tuesday night at 10pm EST when the Storm visit the Aces live on twitter.
Minnesota Lynx (5 – 5) – The Lynx remain in the fold challenging the top teams but look like they simply don’t have enough firepower to win consistently. This year will be a monumental success if they reach the playoffs, win a game or two, and look forward to the return of Maya Moore next year and how scary they will be when Moore, Collier, and Fowles develop their chemistry. The new era in Minnesota looks promising and Cheryl Reeve’s history of success will undoubtedly continue.
Los Angeles Sparks (4 – 6) – The Sparks have lost 3 in a row since Candace Parker’s return and fans are starting to wonder what seems to be the problem. On paper the Sparks appear to be among the most talented teams in the league, but something isn’t clicking. First year coach Derek Fisher will likely be looked at if they don’t turn this season around. With all the stars off the court this season, many thought the Sparks would be a shoo-in for the finals. The picture is less clear now.
Indiana Fever (5 – 6) – The Fever are winning games by committee getting contributions from whoever is hot that night whether it’s off the bench or in the starting five. They’re routinely winning the battle on the boards but lead the league in fouls. If they can clean up the foul trouble, maybe they can win a few more of the close ones. Hard not to root for the Fever to make it back to the postseason for the first time since Catchings retired.
Phoenix Mercury (3 – 5) – The Mercury teased a Taurasi return before reneging this past Sunday. They emerged victorious against the struggling Sparks nonetheless and with Taurasi’s return on the horizon, expect the Mercury to rack up a few wins in short order and work their way back into the playoff picture. Easy to forget the Mercury stretched the defending champion Storm the furthest in last years finals with a team that looks very much like the one on the court when Taurasi returns.
New York Liberty (3 – 7) – The Liberty played two tight games this week but lost both. Rookie sensation Asia Durr is beginning to find her confidence and Kia Nurse has developed into scoring threat from anywhere on the court when you need a bucket. Brittany Boyd has been effective as the team’s primary point guard, but expect New York to look for another solid option at PG in next year’s draft. I hear the Oregon Ducks have a decent point guard the Liberty could be targeting…
Dallas Wings (2 – 6) – The Dallas Wings are searching for answers in the front court and everyone is getting a chance to step up. Guard play will be this teams strength bolstered when Skyler Diggins-Smith returns, but rookie Arike Ogunbowale picks up right where she left off at Notre Dame putting up big scoring numbers, but requiring a lot of shots to do it. Efficiency will be the key if Dallas is going to develop into a contender this year or beyond.
Atlanta Dream (2 – 7) – The Dream have had arguably one of the most difficult schedules thus far in 2019 but will have a chance to reevaluate and regroup with 6 days off this week before a Sunday clash with the New York Liberty. Reports that the dream wanted to trade all star Angel McCoughtry in the offseason support the hypothesis that they are tanking the season and in the midst of a rebuild. Surprising news on the heels of a second place finish in 2018. Time to look to the future.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Jon and Paul break down the highlights from the week and keep fans up to date on their favorite social media follows. Spotlights on Amanda Zahui B, Elena Delle Donne, Courtney Williams, and Candace Parker’s return to action.
Connecticut Sun (5 – 1) – Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Sun’s 5 – 1 start is that they’re doing it against the other top talent in the league boasting wins over Washington, LA, and Las Vegas. The Sun are looking every bit like favorites to win the title this year, but we saw this hot start for the Sun in 2018 as well before they struggled the second half of the season. How do they prevent that from happening as some of the league’s injured stars start to return?
Washington Mystics (4 – 1) – The mystics are looking scary good. They haven’t lost with Elena Delle Donne on the floor and this team looks hungry. They have the superstar power, the depth, and the balance to be WNBA champs this season. That said, they have played the easiest schedule so far of any team and they’ll be challenged this week against the Sun and the Storm. So check back next week to see how they fared.
Los Angeles Sparks (3 – 2) – The Sparks had a tough week, scraping past the Liberty, falling to the Sun, and edging out a nailbiter against the Lynx. But this team has displayed a lot of grit in securing W’s in some tough, close games. Chelsea Gray has picked up right where she left off last year and the Sparks are finding just enough to stay ahead until Candace Parker gets back on the court, which should be soon.
Minnesota Lynx (4 – 2) – The Lynx faced a tough schedule this week losing to the Storm and Sparks in close games and squeaking out a win against Phoenix. Odyssey Sims has stepped up big in her first year with the Lynx and the rookies have been big despite the two losses. Tough to lose Jess Shepard to an ACL tear, but its a “next woman up” mentality for Cheryl Reeve.
Seattle Storm (3 – 3) – I’ve seen enough from the Storm so far this season to believe they’re capable of making a run this year without Stewie. Natasha Howard has emerged as one of the best two way players in the league, which is super scary for the rest of the league when Stewie comes back next year. I don’t think they’ll have enough depth to repeat as champions but they’ve earned this number 5 spot.
Phoenix Mercury (2 – 2) – Phoenix has played a tough schedule so far and every game has been decided by single digits. Bringing Leilani Mitchell back was the right call and she has rewarded the team for it with strong play off the bench in two games back. Its unclear how good Phoenix can be this year. They looked like the biggest challengers to the Storm’s dominance in 2018 but it feels like they are still working out some kinks without Taurasi.
Indiana Fever (3 – 2) – The Fever are beating the teams they’re supposed to beat but they don’t have enough talent to challenge the top teams in the league just yet. If they make the playoffs this year, it will be a huge win for an organization many were picking to bring up the rear in the standings this year. You can catch them in action tomorrow night on twitter at 7pm against the Seattle Storm in what should be a good game.
Las Vegas Aces (2 – 3) – My faith in what the aces are capable of this year is beginning to wane after a loss to the NY Liberty. They’ve played a tough schedule so far, but the loss to NY has brought up questions about how well this stacked lineup is gelling together. Number 1 overall pick Jackie Young has yet to have the breakout game you’d expect from a number 1 pick, and I wonder whether there are enough shots to go around for all of these stars.
Chicago Sky (2 – 2) – The Sky have been tinkering with lineups and minutes this past week looking for a formula to maximize their potential. This has revealed a bench that could be a strength for this Sky team who has “good” talent top to bottom but lacks star power. Diamond Deshields could be the player with the most star potential but inconsistent finishing has plagued her. Stil, there’s something about the composition of this team that makes me wonder if they’ll look like the Sun in a year or two.
Atlanta Dream (1 – 4) – Blah Blah Blah, where’s McCoughtry, right? They struggled to score against the Sun and finding consistent buckets is the problem right now. They need more from a front court that has been disappointing so far in 2019. Was 2018 a fluke? With games against Dallas and Indiana coming up, they have an opportunity to reassert themselves and return to the form that sent them to WNBA semis last year.
New York Liberty (1 – 4) – The Liberty climb out of the basement this week with a victory over Las Vegas. Tina Charles had a stellar week in which she tallied enough points to claim the Liberty’s all time scoring record to go along with her Liberty rebounding record she continues to build upon. However, the pieces around Charles aren’t doing enough and NY is likely to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Dallas Wings (0 – 4) – The wings should consider themselves in full rebuild mode after a slow start to the season in which no one seems to want to be the go-to player aside from Rookie Arike Ogunbowale who only earned 5 minutes in the Wings’ most recent loss to the Mystics. Diggins-Smith can’t get back soon enough to lead this team on and off the floor and get this franchise back in the Win column.
