WNBA Power Rankings: Mystics up, Storm down and Dream continuing to surprise

Ten days into the 2022 WNBA season, it is easy to really feel as if we’ve extra questions than solutions concerning the league’s 12 groups.

Nearly all of squads are nonetheless lacking a number of, key contributors as a result of abroad commitments, accidents, COVID-19 protocols, and so on. A number of have simply welcomed gamers again over the previous few days, making it troublesome to completely decide every staff’s ceiling and flooring and the way all of the items match. The Connecticut Solar (1-1), for instance, had been brief two starters to begin the season, although these absences weren’t felt as acutely with the staff taking part in simply two video games thus far. The Seattle Storm (1-3), in the meantime, have been with out Mercedes Russell as a result of a non-basketball-related harm, whereas two-time WNBA Finals MVP Breanna Stewart and backup guard Epiphanny Prince have missed the previous two video games in COVID-19 protocols.

The excellent news for groups and followers? A number of gamers, together with the likes of reigning Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, Kayla McBride and Satou Sabally, will quickly rejoin their groups from abroad play, with Spanish and Turkish league competitors concluding this weekend.

Even with so many shifting components, some groups have already performed about 14% of their regular-season slate, and there aren’t any asterisks within the standings when vying for postseason berths. That mentioned, Energy Rankings are an train in assessing the place every staff is at proper now — even with restricted knowledge to work with — so this is an effort to do exactly that via Week 2 of WNBA play.

Earlier rankings: Preseason | Week 1

1. Washington Mystics
Report: 3-1
Earlier rating: 3

The Mystics stunned some by changing into the one staff to begin the season 3-0 due to wins over the Fever, the Lynx and most impressively the Aces, handing Vegas its sole lack of the season so far. The absence of level guard Natasha Cloud, who has missed the previous two video games in COVID-19 protocols, lastly caught as much as them Friday, when the Wings scored 26 factors off 21 Washington turnovers to finish the upset. The silver lining, although, was that Alysha Clark (Lisfranc harm) took the courtroom for the primary time since profitable the title with the Seattle Storm in 2020, logging slightly below 20 minutes. And Elena Delle Donne appears to be shifting in the correct path, recording her third consecutive sport with at the very least 19 factors.

A lot of the offensive points from Friday ought to be labored out as soon as Cloud returns. With Clark and shortly Elizabeth Williams within the rotation, the Mystics’ progress on the defensive finish, the place the staff thinks it may be particular this summer season, will probably be a storyline to comply with shifting ahead.

This week: at Dallas (Tuesday), at Atlanta (Friday), vs. Chicago (Sunday)

2. Las Vegas Aces
Report: 3-1
Earlier rating: 1

Tuesday’s loss to the Mystics apart, the Aces have so far thrived below Becky Hammon’s free-flowing, pace-and-space type of basketball. Nobody has impressed greater than the one-two punch of Jackie Younger and Kelsey Plum, who’re every averaging north of 17 factors per sport. Younger’s 11.3 discipline targets tried per sport and 55.6% discipline objective share would each be profession bests ought to she preserve them up all season, whereas Plum is taking pictures a blistering 52% on 6.3 3s tried per sport. Plum’s not the one one launching 3s, although: The Aces set franchise data in each made 3s (16) and makes an attempt (35) in Friday’s win over Atlanta. And that is to not point out the prowess of Dearica Hamby and A’ja Wilson — the highest two rebounders within the league — on the glass.

Whereas depth is a possible space of concern for Vegas (4 starters are averaging over half-hour per sport), the return of Riquna Williams from a foot harm will alleviate a few of that, as demonstrated by her 14 factors off the bench towards the Dream. This week’s pair of rematches towards the reloaded Mercury will supply a troublesome take a look at.

This week: vs. Phoenix (Tuesday), vs. Minnesota (Thursday), vs. Phoenix (Saturday)

3. Connecticut Solar
Report: 1-1
Earlier rating: 7

The Solar supply the smallest pattern measurement of video games to research, having performed simply twice throughout the primary 10 days of the season. They had been flat in some areas of their season-opening loss to the Liberty, however bounced again robust with a radical takedown of the Los Angeles Sparks (77-60) at dwelling through which Alyssa Thomas and Jonquel Jones mixed to outrebound the Sparks 23-21. After lacking nearly all of 2021 rehabbing from an Achilles tear, Thomas has seemed like her regular self, compiling back-to-back performances with at the very least 23 factors whereas additionally dominating the glass (11 rebounds Saturday), serving to facilitate (5 assists) and being a pressure defensively.

Now that every one their main items might be included into the fold, this week ought to be a telling one for the Solar, as Courtney Williams will lastly swimsuit up after serving her two-game suspension and DeWanna Bonner might play as early as Tuesday after coming back from abroad. Can Williams deliver the form of dynamic shot creation and offensive firepower within the backcourt this staff has missed since she initially left? And the way will coach Curt Miller navigate lineups with a plethora of bigs (Bonner, Thomas, Jonquel Jones and Brionna Jones) at his disposal?

This week: at New York (Tuesday), vs. Indiana (Friday), at Indiana (Sunday)

4. Chicago Sky
Report: 2-1
Earlier rating: 8

After dropping their season opener to the Sparks, the Sky bought again on observe with wins over the Liberty and Lynx as they awaited the return of their full staff. Allie Quigley made her 2022 debut Saturday after lacking time with a knee harm, whereas Kahleah Copper has lastly tied a bow on her abroad season. Nonetheless settling in together with her new staff, free company get Emma Meesseman confirmed off simply how impactful she might be with a 17-point, seven-rebound, seven-steal outing towards Minnesota (all had been staff highs), and Courtney Vandersloot stepped up as a much-needed nearer within the fourth quarter with 10 factors. Probably the most sudden developments this season, although, have been the emergence of Dana Evans, who leads the staff in scoring with 14.7 factors per sport, and the strong contributions of 31-year-old rookie Rebekah Gardner (12.0 PPG).

The Sky’s pair of victories got here towards groups with a mixed 1-7 document, although; this week’s slate of matchups at Seattle and Washington will probably be a a lot better litmus take a look at.

This week: at Seattle (Wednesday), at Washington (Sunday)

5. Phoenix Mercury
Report: 2-1
Earlier rating: 9

The Mercury dropped their opener to the Aces as Brianna Turner and Diamond DeShields had been nonetheless making their approach again from Italy, however with a extra full roster since (albeit sans Kia Nurse, who stays out rehabbing her ACL harm, and Brittney Griner, who stays detained in Russia), Phoenix went 2-0. Each wins got here towards a depleted Seattle Storm with out their beginning frontcourt, so take from that what you’ll.

Within the collection, the Mercury demonstrated a capability to win in several methods. Tina Charles went off in Sport 1 with 22 factors and 11 rebounds, and when the Storm zeroed in on containing Charles in Sport 2 (limiting her to 5 factors), Diana Taurasi led the best way with 24 factors on 6-for-12 taking pictures from 3. All alongside, Skylar Diggins-Smith (team-best 19.3 PPG via three video games) has remained regular following final yr’s First Group All-WNBA bid.

All eyes will probably be on how the Mercury, nearer to full energy however nonetheless brief two key defensive items, fare towards the Aces in a pair of street matchups this week. It is nonetheless unclear how a lot dependable depth they will lean on down the stretch; the mixing of DeShields (11.5 PPG) will probably be a key space to observe in that regard.

This week: at Las Vegas (Tuesday), vs. Dallas (Thursday), at Las Vegas (Saturday)

6. Atlanta Dream
Report: 3-1
Earlier rating: 6

Arguably the shock of the season thus far, the Atlanta Dream are one in all three groups with a .750 document and one in all six above .500, beginning robust regardless of lacking the playoffs the earlier three years and present process a top-down franchise overhaul. Main the best way has been 2022 No. 1 general draft decide Rhyne Howard, whose 83 factors so far make her simply the sixth WNBA rookie to hit the 80-point threshold in her first 4 video games, becoming a member of the likes of Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi and Seimone Augustus. Thirty-three of her factors got here in Sunday’s 85-79 win over the Fever, and had been essentially the most for any WNBA participant in a sport this season. Including Tiffany Hayes again into the rotation will take a few of the scoring burden off Howard, because the Dream might use extra go-to choices past Howard.

Atlanta hasn’t had the strongest schedule so far, and when the Dream did face one of many harder groups within the league final week, they bought trounced fairly badly (96-73 versus the Aces). They could have their palms full Friday at Washington.

This week: at Indiana (Tuesday), vs. Washington (Friday)

7. Los Angeles Sparks
Report: 2-2
Earlier rating: 2

The Sparks’ begin, which featured 4 street video games earlier than their upcoming dwelling opener Tuesday, was a little bit of a blended bag: After storming out of the gate 2-0 (together with a win over the defending champs in Chicago), they dropped each video games this week to the Dream and to the Solar. At their finest, the Sparks’ Jordin Canada seemed like a budding star able to take the reins of her personal staff, whereas Nneka Ogwumike returned to her pre-injury dominance. At their worst, towards the Solar particularly, they seemed discombobulated on offense and ineffective each defensively and on the glass, the place they allowed two Solar gamers (Alyssa Thomas and Jonquel Jones) to collectively out-rebound them.

For the Sparks to achieve their ceiling, they will want extra from Liz Cambage, their blockbuster free-agency acquisition, who’s taking pictures 47.6% from the sector and managing simply 5.3 rebounds per sport, which might be amongst her career-worst marks. Extra from that blended bag: Katie Lou Samuelson ought to be capable to return to the staff quickly, although it’s going to be some time earlier than Kristi Toliver, who’s on the Dallas Mavericks’ teaching employees, makes it to L.A.

This week: vs. Minnesota (Tuesday), at Seattle (Friday)

8. Dallas Wings
Report: 2-1
Earlier rating: 11

The Wings are again within the win column twice over after upsetting the beforehand undefeated Mystics and taking down the Liberty on the street. They managed to capitalize off their adversaries’ miscues in each video games, scoring at the very least 23 factors off opponent turnovers. After a quiet opener, Arike Ogunbowale had an Arike-esque outing (27 factors together with 6 for 12 taking pictures from 3) to catapult the Wings over short-handed Washington.

Dallas could have a number of fascinating rotation inquiries to kind via, particularly as soon as Satou Sabally makes her approach again from Europe following the conclusion of her abroad season. Teaira McCowan, whom the Wings traded for this offseason, is 2 video games into her profession with the Wings, however hasn’t performed greater than 10 minutes in both contest. Additionally of word: Final yr’s No. 1 general draft decide Charli Collier has performed solely 5 minutes in two appearances this yr.

The Wings are the one staff above .500 which are within the bottom-half of those rankings; wins in a difficult stretch this upcoming week (do not underestimate Minnesota on Saturday, both) would assist show that they honestly belong within the higher tier of the league and might be a harmful staff this summer season.

This week: vs. Washington (Tuesday), at Phoenix (Thursday), vs. Minnesota (Saturday)

9. Seattle Storm
Report: 1-3
Earlier rating: 4

The Storm are 1-3 after back-to-back losses to Phoenix, the primary time since Breanna Stewart’s rookie season in 2016 they’ve opened by shedding three of 4. That circumstance would have appeared unthinkable weeks in the past, earlier than the absences of Stewart, Mercedes Russell and Epiphanny Prince had been on anybody’s radar. There have been points on each ends of the ground, and whereas there was enchancment game-to-game defensively within the Mercury collection, the Storm have shot higher than 38% from the ground simply as soon as this season.

The excellent news is Stewart and Prince would possibly be capable to return for the Storm’s matchup towards the defending WNBA champs Tuesday. Even with these two key items again, Seattle might use extra assistance on the offensive finish from the likes of Sue Hen, Gabby Williams and Briann January, who’re every taking pictures worse than 30% from the sector on the season. Wins this week over Chicago and L.A., each dwelling video games, would get the champion-minded Storm again on observe.

Will the Storm end the season within the backside quartile of the rankings? Extremely unlikely, barring a rash of accidents. However no matter their robust schedule and slew of absences, a 1-3 begin is a 1-3 begin.

This week: vs. Chicago (Wednesday), vs. Los Angeles (Friday)

10. Indiana Fever
Report: 2-3
Earlier rating: 12

How about this youth infusion? NaLyssa Smith has seemed as pro-ready as anticipated, compiling two double-doubles together with a career-high 18 factors Sunday towards the Dream previous to being sidelined within the fourth quarter with an ankle harm. Elsewhere, Destanni Henderson has been regular, Emily Engstler impactful and Queen Egbo higher than most outsiders anticipated when she was drafted tenth general final month. The Fever have improved most dramatically on the defensive finish in comparison with final season, and Kelsey Mitchell’s enchancment from deep (her 43.8% clip is considerably higher than her profession better of 38.9%) has helped the Fever set up themselves as one of many higher 3-point taking pictures groups thus far.

Sunday’s loss to the Dream was a microcosm of the Fever’s season so far: Indiana would possibly nonetheless lose extra typically than it wins, however boy, are the Fever far more enjoyable to observe this yr. In addition, the Fever are already one-third of the best way to matching their 2021 win complete 10 days into the season. They usually’ll profit from including one other offensive weapon as soon as Bria Hartley will get again from taking part in abroad in Turkey.

This week: vs. Atlanta (Tuesday), at Connecticut (Friday), vs. Connecticut (Sunday)

11. New York Liberty
Report: 1-3
Earlier rating: 5

New York’s emphatic season-opening win over Connecticut looks like a lifetime in the past, because the Liberty completed the week shedding their final three video games to the Sky (a 33-point blowout), Fever (an additional time heartbreaker) and Wings (the place they trailed a lot of the sport at dwelling). They’re the one staff within the backside two within the league in each offensive and defensive ranking, in addition to rebound share.

Lacking Bec Allen and DiDi Richards hasn’t helped, however the issues do not stem simply from that: Betnijah Laney and Natasha Howard have been principally inconsistent, whereas prized free-agent acquisition Stefanie Dolson is clearly nonetheless looking for her footing in a brand new system. One vivid spot from Sunday’s loss, although, was the reemergence of Han Xu, who completed with 10 factors off the bench.

If Connecticut performs the best way it did Saturday towards the Sparks, the Liberty may be in serious trouble, although they will have per week off afterward to attempt to hit the reset button. Faring higher on the glass could be an ideal place to begin.

This week: vs. Connecticut (Tuesday)

12. Minnesota Lynx
Report: 0-4
Earlier rating: 10

It has been a bleak begin for Minnesota, which seemed all out of kinds earlier than common supervisor/head coach Cheryl Reeve went scorched-earth earlier this week, parting methods with veterans Angel McCoughtry and Odyssey Sims. In an effort to reverse course, Reeve introduced in a pair of former UConn guards, Moriah Jefferson and Evina Westbrook, in hopes of creating stability on the level guard spot.

Although the Lynx dropped Saturday’s matchup versus Chicago, the four-point choice was clearly a step in the correct path. Minnesota produced its finest offensive outing of the season, notching highs in offensive ranking (104.0), help share (79.3%) and efficient discipline objective share (54.2%). Jefferson and Westbrook, the latter in her WNBA debut, mixed for 10 assists and simply two turnovers, whereas hardship signee Nikolina Milic impressed with a game-high 18 factors. The Lynx could also be beginning the season 0-4 for the second straight yr, however hope is alive in Minnesota, particularly with Kayla McBride returning to the States imminently and Jessica Shepard holding down the fort within the meantime.

As the one staff but to document a win this season, the Lynx are available final place on this week’s energy rankings, however do not be shocked in the event that they leap up in iterations to return.

This week: at Los Angeles (Tuesday), at Las Vegas (Thursday), at Dallas (Saturday)