When you’re studying this, meaning you made it by means of Sunday. 4 WNBA video games that tipped off at precisely the identical time — what was your tactic?

I made a decision to have all 4 on my laptop and bounce between the 4 for the primary halves (principally, to see if I might deal with such a feat), after which settle in for the one or two that have been closest heading into the second half.

Ah, God laughs at our best-made plans, does she not? As a result of that wasn’t true on the half — and even heading into crunch time, all 4 of the video games have been in single-digit territory.

“I will simply watch the shut video games,” she stated, tempting destiny and guaranteeing her sanity could be examined. pic.twitter.com/CxqkIGbYWg

— Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings) June 5, 2022

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Alas, at halftime, I made a decision that as a result of my “solely shut video games” plan was tomfoolery I’d simply choose the 2 that appeared most compelling — Aces-Wings and Solar-Storm. I used to be curious how the starter-heavy Aces would fare with Jackie Younger out and A’ja Wilson carrying three first-half fouls, making this must-watch tv. The Storm have been lastly at full* power with Sue Hen, Ezi Magbegor and Mercedes Russell again within the beginning lineup, and I questioned how they’d play in opposition to Connecticut’s jumbo lineup.

* Submit Covid-19 and post-injury full power, that means it nonetheless will take a number of video games (or extra) to get to true full power.

By time for dinner, my mind had watched a variety of basketball, my pen had taken a variety of notes and I used to be beginning to really feel as if, one-third of the way in which into the season, these groups are beginning to present themselves and I’m very excited for the subsequent two-thirds. However please, no extra quadruple simultaneous begin occasions.

On to this week’s energy rating …

1. Connecticut Solar, 9-3 (3)

The Aces and Solar cut up two video games in Las Vegas final week with Las Vegas profitable the primary sport by eight factors and Connecticut taking the second sport by seven. I believe I communicate for a lot of once I say I wouldn’t be disenchanted if these are the 2 groups that find yourself within the WNBA Finals. Frankly, they’re very a lot on a 1a and 1b stage, however the Solar get the sting because the No. 1 staff this week due to the fortitude they confirmed on their street journey. Connecticut went 3-1 within the final week with wins over Las Vegas, Phoenix and Seattle — with out a lot as a apply or shootaround for 2 of these video games. Recently, coach Curt Miller has rolled out the Solar’s “jumbo lineup” of Alyssa Thomas, Courtney Williams, DeWanna Bonner, Jonquel Jones and Brionna Jones, and that’s going to current some points for opponents. At level guard, Alyssa Thomas completed with 12 assists, 11 rebounds and eight factors in opposition to the Storm, changing into the primary WNBA participant in historical past to report such a stat line, per Across The Timeline. “Previously, we weren’t discovering these methods to win when different groups have been occurring runs,” Brionna Jones stated concerning the veteran staff’s means to win on the street, particularly when it didn’t look nice late in opposition to Phoenix and Seattle. “We’ve been capable of settle in, and when groups go on that run, we are able to go on the subsequent run.” The Solar, even with the lack of Jasmine Thomas, are discovering themselves and discovering methods to win.

2. Las Vegas Aces, 10-2 (1)

There goes Kelsey Plum, making our fantasy league look silly for letting her fall to the fifth spherical. With Younger out (ankle sprain) and Wilson sidelined with foul hassle, Plum completed with a career-best 32 factors and 5 assists Sunday in opposition to the Wings. Plum performed all 40 minutes as Becky Hammon tinkered a bit with the beginning lineup to account for Younger’s absence. “I instructed Becky, ‘Don’t sub me except I suck,’” Plum stated. Theresa Plaisance acquired the beginning nod, which kicked Dearica Hamby from the 4 to the three, matching her up in opposition to Arike Ogunbowale. Nonetheless, with some adversity, the Aces got here out with a win over the Wings to cap a 2-1 week. Las Vegas will get an prolonged restoration this week, however we’ll have an opportunity to see the Aces in a road-trip swing just like the Solar’s once they play at Los Angeles, Seattle and Minnesota twice over a seven-day span.

3. Chicago Sky, 7-3 (5)

Coach James Wade attributed the Sky’s current win over the Mystics and their offensive efficiency (we’ll get to that) to his staff’s chemistry lastly coming collectively. Towards Washington, Chicago shot 55 % from the ground, shot 45 % on 3-pointers, assisted on 81 % of its buckets and tallied a season-best 11 steals. The bench accounted for 35 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists, which is large contemplating the grueling nature of the season that requires avoiding working starters too far into the bottom earlier than the playoffs. The Sky bench will obtain one other enhance this week as Julie Allemand, whose season in France ended final week, is anticipated to affix the staff by Tuesday. General, a 3-0 week strikes the Sky up two spots. This will probably be a attempting week for the Sky, although — a three-game street journey in opposition to Washington, Connecticut and New York.

4. Washington Mystics, 7-5 (4)

Because the final energy rating, the Mystics went 1-2 with a win over Indiana and losses to New York and Chicago. Elena Delle Donne performed in opposition to New York, however the Mystics have been with out Tianna Hawkins and Alysha Clark. Towards Chicago, Delle Donne sat whereas Hawkins and Clark performed. The Mystics have been anticipated to have rotations and personnel that might fluctuate, making it tough to decipher the “actual” Mystics staff. However given the single-digit losses and the truth that they’ve been with out head coach Mike Thibault (who’s in well being and security protocol), I didn’t entertain shifting them for the sake of shifting them, particularly when there wasn’t one other staff close to them within the rankings that deserved to maneuver. With 4 of their subsequent six at residence (giving extra time for relaxation), it’ll be fascinating to look at Delle Donne’s availability.

5. Dallas Wings, 6-5 (6)

The Wings went 1-2 during the last week, beating Seattle (with out Hen or Magbegor) and dropping shut video games to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Notable concerning the Wings schedule so far: They’ve completed nearly all of their work on the street. Eight of their 11 video games have been away from Dallas, and so they’ve gone 5-3 in that stretch, together with their final 5 video games. (Solely Los Angeles has performed extra street video games.) So, I give Dallas some additional credit score — particularly for shut losses — with this schedule, and particularly what meaning for physique clocks, rehab and prehab and sleep schedules. Seven of their subsequent eight will probably be at residence, and I wouldn’t be stunned to see some large wins from the Wings.

6. Seattle Storm, 5-5 (2)

Hen and Magbegor are out of well being and security protocols, and Russell is again from her non-basketball-related damage. However don’t count on the Storm to succeed in their potential instantly. Errors occur, miscommunications occur. And so they’re much more more likely to occur when a staff hasn’t been training collectively (or training in any respect). That was very evident late within the loss to Dallas when the Storm had a miscommunication off a display screen. Hen thought she was passing to Breanna Stewart, however as an alternative the move resulted in a turnover when the Storm have been dealing with a four-point deficit. The Storm are sitting at .500 now, however they’re staring down a difficult street: a 10-day street swing beginning Friday in opposition to Dallas (Dallas twice, then video games at Minnesota, Connecticut and New York). Getting in apply time throughout that stint will probably be powerful, so how Seattle jells over the subsequent two weeks will probably be vital.

7. Atlanta Dream, 7-4 (7)

5 of the Dream’s wins have come in opposition to opponents with solely three whole wins (Indiana 3 times, Phoenix and Minnesota). Although it has been enjoyable to observe how a lot better Atlanta performs than final season (particularly on protection), its 7-4 report is a bit deceptive. But it is a staff that has proven development since final season (one thing that may’t be stated for each WNBA staff), and even a few of the losses, together with Friday’s 73-65 loss to the Sky, inform me lots about the place the Dream are going. Towards Chicago, Atlanta battled from a 20-point deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead. It is a staff that’s studying to scrap and struggle collectively. The hardest components of Atlanta’s schedule are nonetheless forward because the Dream have but to play Connecticut or Las Vegas. However only a third of the way in which into the season, the Dream are only one win away from matching their 2021 win whole.

8. Los Angeles Sparks, 5-7 (9)

After Liz Cambage and Nneka Ogwumike dominated inside for a two-point win over Dallas final week (combining for 36 factors, 18 rebounds and 4 blocks), it appeared the Sparks’ momentum would carry into Sunday’s sport in opposition to Phoenix, particularly contemplating the Mercury have been with out Tina Charles. Nneka did Nneka issues, however no different starter hit double-digits scoring, and the Sparks struggled to gradual Skylar Diggins-Smith, who had 29 factors. Fairly confounding: Cambage, the Sparks’ large offseason acquisition, was pulled from 61-61 sport with 7:40 to go and didn’t return. She completed with eight factors, six rebounds and two blocks in 13 minutes of play.

9. Minnesota Lynx, 3-8 (10)

Minnesota strikes up a spot this week partly due to Indiana’s report and partly due to the Lynx choosing up a win over New York. (For 5 minutes within the fourth quarter, because the Liberty mounted a 16-0 run to chop Minnesota’s result in one, it appeared as if the Lynx is likely to be headed for a rankings drop, however the truth that they dug in and ultimately discovered a response deserves some credit score.) Aerial Powers put up a season-best 27 factors. Powers constantly bringing that form of efficiency along with her power might assist the Lynx set up some actual momentum within the coming weeks. (Sylvia Fowles can do lots, however even her affect solely goes to this point.) With Moriah Jefferson sidelined no less than one other week or so with a quad damage that has held her out all of June, Minnesota continued to search for solutions dealing with the ball, particularly in opposition to some zone appears that New York threw on the Lynx.

10. New York Liberty, 3-8 (12)

If Connecticut and Las Vegas have been 1a and 1b, then contemplate New York and Phoenix 10a and 10b. Each groups snapped seven-game dropping streaks this previous week, however the Liberty get the sting right here for choosing up a win in opposition to a greater staff (Washington vs. Los Angeles). New York beat the Mystics on the street 74-70 (after beating Indiana and earlier than falling to Minnesota) with Sabrina Ionescu hitting 5 3s. Within the reverse of final season, an early season reduce from Minnesota at level guard is proving to be an vital a part of the Liberty’s potential success as Crystal Dangerfield continues to show her worth.

11. Phoenix Mercury, 3-8 (11)

Coach Vanessa Nygaard pulled out an actual Tara-ism after the Mercury’s win over Los Angeles, saying, “a hungry lion hunts finest.” Ought to it take seven consecutive losses for a lion to get hungry? One would assume not. However the Mercury did choose up a much-needed win, and did so with out Charles (who had 21 in opposition to the Sparks the primary time these two groups performed). With six of their subsequent eight on the street, let’s see if that win offers a momentum enhance or only a vivid spot in a drought.

12. Indiana Fever, 3-10 (8)

The Fever went 0-3 this week, and the stretch forward doesn’t look that a lot kinder. Will Aliyah Boston be becoming a member of an already younger staff in Indianapolis subsequent yr? ¯_(ツ)_/¯

(High photograph of the Solar: Abbie Parr / Getty Pictures)