NFL
By: Stephen PridGeon-Garner
Week 12 is providing plenty more clarity to the WNBA’s ranks.
Coming out of the all-star break, it has been the “top five tier” that have continued trekking forward, creating more distance from the middle of the pack while jockeying for position in their tier.
The middle tier is separated by .5 games, indicating how fluid of a situation the standings amongst those teams remain. The Mercury and their new approach and attack are beginning to snowball some successes that have them looking more like a legit playoff contender than they’d shown in weeks past.
Then, below that, are the teams I deemed would punch up in the second half, in New York and especially Minnesota. They’re both sitting at 10 wins at the moment, needing a surge up sooner than soon.
Lastly, there’s the Fever who have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.
With this all in mind, let’s dive into week 12’s power rankings.
(Last week’s rankings are in parentheses).
1.) Chicago Sky: 21-7 (1)
The Sky have gone 2-1 since last Wednesday’s ranks (excluding the Commissioners Cup, not officially counting towards their record). They’re still figuring *some* things out as they round into their next form as the season progresses. Even still, they’re league tops since the break at 5-1.
There’s certainly at least one more notch this team can turn up ahead of the playoffs. Whether that’s pertaining to the defensive end where they’re already at the top of the league, or offensively, where they are also amongst the best and do so in a unique manner. They have the most balanced roster, and the best coach in the W in my estimation as well.
They remain a machine, more reliable than any other in executing (12-7 in the clutch, most wins in the clutch, and best +/- at +2.9) in a method of unpredictability due to the compilation of weapons that can run 10-deep in any given game that Coach Wade deploys them, and they’re all bought into his system in place.
2.) Las Vegas Aces: 20-8 (3)
The Aces are right there coming out of the break, with 5 wins of their own, and have shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, they’re turning it up especially on the defensive end, much to the liking of head coach Becky Hammon.
They’re averaging a league-best 92.7 PPG since the break, as well as a league-best +10.5 in this stretch. Defensively, opponents are being held to rough patches where they allow themselves to play off of that (rather than inversely) and with the ever-present activity and versatility of A’ja Wilson anchoring, they’re showing a more sustained level of success on the end coach Hammon is most focused on.
A wild road trip ahead of them will continue to provide opportunities to better gauge just how much this team is gelling.
3.) Seattle Storm: 18-10 (2)
They’ve lost two of their last three, and though they have ever-so-slightly dipped, and are seemingly testing out dynamics within their rotation, I still estimate they have as good of a chance at the championship as any of the top five teams.
The emotional loss against the Mercury was a whirlwind so it’s valued differently in my eyes, nonetheless, this is also a team built specifically for the postseason setting, and it’ll be fun to see what Noelle Quinn and company come away with from the inner-searchings they’re valuing.
4.) Connecticut Sun: 19-9 (4)
Somewhat quietly, the Sun are continuing to remain as relevant as can be while Jonquel Jones was out in health and safety protocols for three games, going 2-1 before she returned on Sunday.
I’m very curious as to if their plan of attack shifts to playing more through Jones as the playoffs loom. There have been a handful of games, again, where she’s lacked the deemed necessary touches for them to generate both flow and advantages off of her presence. Watch them closely, as their defense continues to be sharp.
5.) Washington Mystics: 17-11 (5)
The Mystics simply just remain and continue to look as a postseason threat in a series setting with Elena Delle Donne at the helm.
Their defense is downright ridiculous, sharp, and thorough. Opponents are shooting 40.7% from the field against them since the break, and average just 71.8 PPG (1st).
Off the strength of that defense (shout-out Shakira Austin) plus the added value of Delle Donne, they’re a problem.
