NFL
By: Stephen Garner
Players are returning from their seasons overseas and injuries the same, supplementing their respective WNBA teams with a semblance of what they’re expecting to put forth in pursuit of the title for the 2022 season.
As more players make their return, let’s dive into week three’s power ranks.
(Last weeks rankings found in parentheses.)
1.) Las Vegas Aces: 7-1 (2)
Defense, defense, & (you guessed it..) defense. The Las Vegas Aces have unlocked a new style of play in this new and slightly modified iteration under Becky Hammon. Eyes naturally go to their 5-out offense due to the ample pyrotechnics they’re capable of displaying (evident by them raising Saturdays 38-point third quarter vs the Mercury with a 39-point first quarter vs the Sparks on Monday). However, if you zoom in, you see what they unlock in ultimate versatility defensively, with the Wilson-Hamby frontcourt duo. Those two can bang with the bigger bodies and hold their on while also being just as equipped to hold their own in show, trap, or switching schemes out on the perimeter against guards. Add to that the impacts Jackie Young contributes, and you see the picture. They’re loaded on both ends, and when they find that blend to where both ends are playing off of each other, oftentimes it’s curtains.
2.) Chicago Sky: 4-2 (1)
The reigning champions lost a game in Seattle this past week that surely should’ve been one they took, therefore docking them a spot in the ranks this week. However, how they’ve faired since the return of F-MVP, Kahleah Copper, has been impressive. She’s the engine that makes this team go, providing them with both ever-present punch in rim pressure coupled by juice in energy, on both ends of the floor, that shapes this teams identity. As she finds her legs and settles in, this team will display tea leaves hinting at exactly how high this groups ceiling is. Quick shout-out to Azura Stevens:
Azurá Stevens has reverted to a reserve role since Kah's return, but she's been a SUPER-sub
Not sure if this'll be matchup-dependent given the versatility of this roster, or if it's full-time, but she's off to an excellent start + the buy-in is there
Unlocks plenty… #skytown pic.twitter.com/up8wAJLiho
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) May 25, 2022
3.) Washington Mystics: 6-2 (3)
The ongoing balancing act for the Mystics that will be life and how they fair without one of Delle Donne or Clark, or both, will be a season-long bout for this team. As it stands, they’re still out the gates to a stsrt that, if you told them they’d have the second best record thus far, they’d quickly take. Impressive play of late from Shakira Austin, and Elizabeth Williams (who recently returned) will be at the forefront in their renditions sans their two best players.
4.) Connecticut Sun: 4-2 (4)
Last week the Sun saw the talents of Courtney Williams and DeWanna Bonner return to the floor, two of the key pieces to upholding the uptempo pace of play they now want to deploy.
Last season the Connecticut Sun were 11th in FBPS with 5.8 per
In 2020, they were 6th at 6.8 per
Presently, they're (by far) 1st, at 21.3.
The up'd pace & tempo is doing them well early
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) May 21, 2022
It’s safe to say they’re firmly establishing the sentiments of coach Miller at their foundation. They did lose Jasmine Thomas to an ACL tear. Her loss will have implications defensively, especially with Briann January having left in free agency for Seattle.
5.) Dallas Wings: 5-2 (N/A)
The Wings saw some lackluster play in a loss vs the Mystics last week, but have promptly followed it up by running off three consecutive wins, against viable opponents @ Phoenix, vs Minnesota, and @ Connecticut.
In this stretch, Ogunbowale (9) and Mabrey (8) have been scorching the nets from deep in tandem, and are displaying a lot of the synergy this team will need to take the next step in their evolution. They saw Satou Sabally return to the lineup last week to give more of a semblance of their intended roster moving forward. Add to that Gray and McCowan, and the Wings show that they can pack a punch. Watch for their ascension as the seasons treks on.
