WNBA Weekly Power Rankings
Week of June 24, 2019
We’re now officially one month into the 2019 WNBA season and each week still brings no shortage of surprises. Top of mind this week is the Los Angeles Sparks. With the return of Candace Parker, most expected the Sparks to be on an upward trajectory. Instead, they’ve lost four in a row as they try to figure out how to balance so much star power (Parker + the Ogwumike sisters) in the frontcourt.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the season so far, however, is the Atlanta Dream. The Dream reached the 2018 WNBA semifinals but are last in the current power rankings for the second straight week. They are struggling on both ends of the floor — begging the question, what is going on in Atlanta?
Here are this week’s rankings (movements, either up or down, from last week’s rankings are noted in parentheses):
1. Connecticut Sun
Record: 9–2, Offensive Rating: 102.2, Defensive Rating: 95.1, Net Rating: 7.1
Connecticut‘s win streak ended on Sunday at the hands of the Chicago Sky. The Sun lost by 18 in the first game of an extended road trip, but still hold the top spot in the league standings by 1.5 games. The Sun rank third overall in offensive rating and second in defensive rating, which keeps them at the top spot this week. With two road games this week, including one at Washington, we’ll see if they are able to hold on to the top spot any longer.
2. Washington Mystics (↑1)
Record: 7–3, Offensive Rating: 111.9, Defensive Rating: 97.1, Net Rating: 14.8
Washington still has the best offensive rating in the league and, at 14.8, their net rating is also the best in the league by over 7 points. After winning all three of their games last week (all of which were played on the road), the Mystics have moved back up into the #2 spot in our rankings. If they can pull off the win at home over Connecticut on Saturday, they may move into the top spot.
3. Las Vegas Aces (↓1)
Record: 5–4, Offensive Rating: 101.2, Defensive Rating: 94.0, Net Rating: 7.2
Though their record doesn’t fully show it, the Aces are one of the best teams at both ends of the floor. They rank first overall in defensive rating, allowing just 94 points per 100 possessions, and fourth in offensive rating. After averaging 23 points per game last season, Liz Cambage is averaging just 14.4 so far this season. If the Aces can integrate her into their offense better, they’ll likely increase their offensive rating.
4. Chicago Sky (↑2)
Record: 6–3, Offensive Rating: 100.0, Defensive Rating: 99.1, Net Rating: 0.9
5. Seattle Storm
Record: 7–4, Offensive Rating: 99.4, Defensive Rating: 96.2, Net Rating: 3.2
6. Minnesota Lynx (↑2)
Record: 5–5, Offensive Rating: 99.5, Defensive Rating: 97.3, Net Rating: 2.2
7. Indiana Fever
Record: 5–6, Offensive Rating: 103.8, Defensive Rating: 103.5, Net Rating: 0.3
8. Los Angeles Sparks (↓4)
Record: 4–6, Offensive Rating: 94.3, Defensive Rating: 101.7, Net Rating: -7.4
9. Phoenix Mercury
Record: 3–5, Offensive Rating: 96.9, Defensive Rating: 102.1, Net Rating: -5.2
10. New York Liberty
Record: 3–7, Offensive Rating: 98.8, Defensive Rating: 106.2, Net Rating: -7.4
11. Dallas Wings
Record: 2–6, Offensive Rating: 92.4, Defensive Rating: 99.7, Net Rating: -7.3
12. Atlanta Dream
Record: 2–7, Offensive Rating: 92.8, Defensive Rating: 105.5, Net Rating: -12.7
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