Almost a month into the WNBA season, it is easy to determine the plot. Two groups have soared and simply want to keep up their momentum. One staff appears to don’t have any momentum in any respect. And the remaining are nonetheless attempting to determine it out.
Whereas the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty stay ensconced within the penthouse with the Dallas Wings within the cellar, the opposite 10 groups are shifting up and down ESPN’s WNBA Energy Rankings.
Accidents, as at all times, are taking a toll. That features a season-ending proper ACL tear for Chicago Sky veteran level guard Courtney Vandersloot. She was harm halfway via the primary quarter of Saturday’s loss to the Indiana Fever, casting a pall over a historic night; it was the Sky’s first recreation at United Middle, in entrance of the most important house crowd in franchise historical past. Chicago’s offense was already tepid with Vandersloot, who’s No. 2 on the league’s all-time assists record, and it seemed even worse with out her.
In contrast, Indiana performed properly for the second recreation in a row with out level guard Caitlin Clark (quadriceps) after dropping its two earlier video games together with her sidelined. The Fever climbed again to .500, and they’re hopeful Clark will return quickly.
We’re heading into the ultimate stretch of Commissioner’s Cup video games, with the Lynx and Liberty closing in on their second consecutive matchup within the in-season event ultimate whereas different groups attempt to construct consistency into their play.
Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent seven days: @ SEA (June 11), vs. LA (June 14)
Napheesa Collier was the unanimous choose for MVP within the first version of our season awards tracker due to the quantity of accountability she carries in the case of Minnesota’s success, however the Lynx nonetheless get what they want from the remainder of the roster. In victories over Phoenix and Dallas final week, guard Natisha Hiedeman was significantly efficient off the bench, combining for 27 factors on 61.1% taking pictures.
Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent seven days: vs. CHI (June 10), @ IND (June 14)
It was a quiet week for the Liberty, who received their solely contest, an 86-78 choice at Washington that includes Breanna Stewart’s first double-double of the season (26 factors, 11 rebounds). Just like the Lynx, the Liberty get raise from their bench. Kennedy Burke, ESPN’s early front-runner for Sixth Participant of the Yr, had 12 factors on 80% taking pictures towards the Mystics. The UCLA grad is placing up the very best stats of her profession in her sixth WNBA season.
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent seven days: vs. MIN (June 11), @ GS (June 14)
The Storm have been yo-yoing in our Energy Rankings, falling to seventh final week then rising again as much as third after beating Dallas and Phoenix. Gabby Williams led the best way versus the Wings with 18 factors at house, whereas Skylar Diggins had a season-high 26 factors to go together with seven assists on the highway towards the Mercury.
The Storm get one other shot on the Lynx this week after falling by 5 factors within the earlier assembly, on Might 27.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent 7 days: vs. DAL (June 11), @ LV (June 15)
Phoenix misplaced to Minnesota and Seattle however beat Golden State final week. For the primary time this season, guard Lexi Held led the Mercury in scoring, doing so in back-to-back video games with 16 factors towards the Lynx then 24 towards the Valkyries. Undrafted out of DePaul, Held signed a coaching camp contract with Chicago in 2022 however was lower earlier than that marketing campaign started. Now 25, she is getting her probability within the WNBA.
Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent 7 days: vs. IND (June 10), vs. CHI (June 13), @ WAS (June 15)
Final week was a letdown for Atlanta, which caught Connecticut on the incorrect time. The Solar had 5 days to stew on a 48-point clobbering by the Liberty earlier than defeating the Dream 84-76 on Friday. There was some excellent news for Atlanta: Guard Jordin Canada, who had been out with a proper knee harm, made her season debut towards Connecticut. She did not rating however tallied three assists.
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent 7 days: @ ATL (June 10), vs. NY (June 14)
The Fever picked up Aari McDonald through emergency hardship with guards Clark and Sophie Cunningham (ankle) out. McDonald had 7 factors, 5 assists and three steals in a victory over Washington and 12, 2 and three in a win over Chicago. Guard Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana in scoring in each video games with a mixed 41 factors. The Fever wanted to get again some confidence with out Clark, and so they did simply that.
Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent 7 days: vs. LA (June 11), vs. DAL (June 13), vs. PHO (June 15)
It is uncommon that the two-time WNBA champion Aces do not mentally present up, however that is what appeared to occur of their 95-68 loss at Golden State on Saturday. Coach Becky Hammon ripped the staff for lack of effort in its solely recreation of the week. Guards Jackie Younger and Jewell Loyd had been a mixed 2-of-14 from the sector and 5-of-7 from the foul line for 9 factors. In her first season with Las Vegas, Loyd is taking pictures simply 29.4% from the sector.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent 7 days: vs. SEA (June 14)
For the second time this season, the Valkyries have received two video games in a row. After falling 86-77 on Thursday at Phoenix, they blew out Las Vegas 95-68 (Saturday) and beat Los Angeles 89-81 in time beyond regulation (Monday). Golden State grabbed 17 offensive rebounds towards the Sparks. Rookie ahead Janelle Salaun had a season-high 21 factors plus eight rebounds.
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent 7 days: vs. ATL (June 15)
After dropping to Indiana and New York, Washington had its highest factors whole of the season in Saturday’s 104-67 win towards Connecticut. Veteran guard Brittney Sykes put up 28 factors, her seventh recreation of the marketing campaign with 20 or extra factors. Ahead Kiki Iriafen — ESPN’s early-season choose for Rookie of the Yr — leads Washington in rebounding (9.4 per recreation) and is second to Sykes in scoring (14.6 factors per recreation).
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent 7 days: @ LV (June 11), @ MIN (June 14)
The Sparks beat Dallas on Friday and had an opportunity to safe back-to-back wins for the primary time this season once they confronted Golden State on Monday. However Los Angeles missed a shot on the finish of regulation and the Valkyries took over in time beyond regulation for the 89-81 victory. The Sparks are eleventh in rebounding (32.4), which harm them loads towards Golden State.
Earlier rating: 13
Subsequent 7 days: vs. CHI (June 15)
The Solar’s sample over the previous 5 video games has been to permit 100-plus factors in a loss then come again with a victory. After snapping Atlanta’s four-game successful streak on Marina Mabrey’s season-high 34 factors on Friday, Connecticut misplaced 104-67 to Washington on Sunday. We’ll see if this tendencies holds for the Solar’s solely recreation over this subsequent week, towards the ailing Sky.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent 7 days: @ NY (June 10), @ ATL (June 13), @ CON (June 15)
These aren’t straightforward instances for the Sky, who misplaced their solely recreation of the week to the Fever. Vandersloot — Chicago’s finest playmaker and most skilled veteran — is out the remainder of the season. The Sky are averaging 77.4 PPG, which is strictly the place they completed final season, however are permitting a league-worst 90.1 PPG, up from 82.5 final 12 months. Until they’ll enhance on each ends, will probably be powerful to compete.
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent 7 days: @ PHO (June 11), @ LV (June 13)
The absence of No. 1 draft choose Paige Bueckers — who was within the concussion protocol for 3 video games then missed one other with an sickness — has harm the Wings over their previous 4 video games, all losses (to Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and Minnesota). Dallas is also with out guard Tyasha Harris (knee) and middle Teaira McCowan, and the Wings will quickly lose middle Luisa Geiselsöder. McCowan (Turkey) and Geiselsöder (Germany) will compete within the EuroBasket event later this month earlier than returning to the WNBA in July.
