Nathan’s WNBA Power Rankings Going into Week Two

By: Nathan Snell

Two weeks into WNBA basketball, we have seen some exciting games so far. As a disclaimer, the idea that a team is expected to perform at its best from Week One is false. It is far too early to judge, call for heads, or even throw in the towel. With Week Two of the WNBA underway, how do the thirteen teams look as of May 17th?

Only One Can Win the Championship Team.

1. New York Liberty (3-0)– The Liberty should have no excuses to repeat this upcoming season. This past Saturday was a challenge as they faced the Indiana Fever, which, thanks to Natasha Cloud locking down Caitlin Clark, won by two. Breanna Stewart is looking good after her offseason surgery. So far, the Liberty have found valuable minutes for Kennedy Burke with Kayla Thornton (Expansion Draft) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (out for the season). The schedule does have their work cut out for them within the next seven days: Valkyries twice, Mystics twice, and then the Sun.
2. Minnesota Lynx (4-0) – I’m prepared to face criticism from Lynx fans, and that’s fine. But I have a serious question: is this a solid 4-0? The Lynx have defeated teams that lack veteran leadership in critical moments to finish games. Kayla McBride has not been with the team but is expected to return. Still, Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams are leading the charge, supported by key contributions from Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, who are both scoring in double figures.
3. Seattle Storm (3-1)- Seattle looks good so far. It wasn’t easy to rank Phoenix at three or four, but that’s debatable. The schedule influenced the decision, even though the offensive rating was seventh coming into this week. The Storm had three wins in a row following a tough loss against the Mercury.
4. Phoenix Mercury (3-1)- Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas are silencing the doubters early. Kahleah Copper is out for a while as she recovers from an injury. While Storm and Mercury were tied for the best record coming into this week, and yes, Phoenix does have the better defensive rating, the schedule still matters. They did beat Los Angeles and Washington. Sorry, Mercury fans.
5. Atlanta Dream (3-2)- The Dream is adjusting well for the most part. However, Jordin Canada has been out due to injury since the game against the Dallas Wings. Since then, Te-Hina Paopao has taken over the point guard duties and has also been missing Brittney Griner in a back-to-back matchup. Given the number of lineup adjustments they’ve made in these first two weeks, the five spots for Atlanta look strong now.
6. Indiana Fever (2-2)- The Fever is a team that is still building chemistry with one another, and they will need some convincing wins against quality opponents. Caitlin Clark is out for two weeks, and it will be interesting to see how the Fever performs. The offense should run through Aliyah Boston, with Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Howard, and Dewanna Bonner supporting her. The Fever will be fine. The schedule is favorable hand.
7. Las Vegas Aces (2-2)- Many people are panicking after four games with the Aces. Their defense will improve, and the offense will come together along with the bench. However, head coach Becky Hammon needs to make adjustments now, as this is not the same team as two years ago, and they have not shown any signs of progress or improvement.
8. Washington Mystics (2-3) – Please send the tweets where I was wrong about the Mystics, as I wasn’t familiar with them. What an impressive start to the season! In the last three games, Washington’s inexperience showed in the closing moments. The Mystics have missed Shakira Austin and Aaliyah Edwards, and Brittney Sykes was also out due to an injury. The Mystics have tremendous potential, and Sonia Citron, along with Kiki Iriafen, have been adjusting to the WNBA quite well. The Mystics are a team that should not be underestimated.
9. Los Angeles Sparks (2-3)- The Sparks, since their opening night win against Golden State, have been playing inconsistently. Rae Burrell, as of May 16th, suffered a right leg injury six to eight weeks ago. Rickea Jackson was sidelined for three games due to concussion protocol. Kelsey Plum is adjusting, but can she maintain consistent scoring throughout the season? Azura Stevens has been playing excellent basketball. The same question remains. Their offense is currently stalling and needs improvement.
10. Connecticut Sun (0-4)- I have Connecticut ranked above Golden State simply because this is a team that will need time to adjust. A friendly reminder: this is essentially a brand-new team. Plus, the first four games for the Sun were rough. In two of those four games, the team lost by 25 and 24 points, respectively. The statistics show that this team is struggling to score from beyond the three-point line. Besides Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles, they are also learning a new system under Rachid Meziane. There is good news: Saniya Rivers and Aneesah Morrow made their WNBA debuts. The Sun has a good opportunity to get into the win column.
11. Golden State Valkyries (2-1)- While the Valkyries have two wins, don’t let those victories deceive you. Look at who they played: the Mystics and Sparks. In contrast, Golden State has five players currently averaging double figures. Their real test starts this week as they face New York (twice) and Minnesota. The fifth-best record is impressive, but it’s essential to note that a favorable schedule means it’s still too early to conclude the team.
12. Dallas Wings (0-4) – Dallas… it’s not a soap opera, but they are essentially facing an identity crisis. It’s a new team and a new coach, but so many questions remain. While the Wings practically have a new team surrounding Arike Ogunbowale and Teaira McCowan, Dallas has a chance this week to secure a couple of wins as they play the Sky twice and Sun.
13. Chicago Sky (0-3) – I’m trying to be nice, but I’m honestly tired… after four games. It’s not the team; it’s the fans. This Sky team is clearly in rebuilding mode, yet fans maintain a delusional belief that this team will win a championship. The Sky’s ratings on both sides are the worst in the league, and poor free-throw shooting isn’t helping. The only team performing worse is Golden State. So far, no player has reached double figures in scoring, and the only silver lining is that Angel Reese is currently leading the league in rebounding.

Check back next week for Week Three of the WNBA rankings.