5 weeks into the WNBA season, the Phoenix Mercury are blowing away a variety of predictions.
Questions on their roster turnover, lack of established chemistry and guard play landed them at No. 7 in our preseason rankings with a 49.8% likelihood to make the playoffs. Now, the Mercury are already greater than midway to the BPI’s projected 19.4 victories with 11 via their first 15 video games, successful 5 straight to supplant the defending champion New York Liberty at No. 2 within the newest version of our Energy Rankings.
There was ample cause to anticipate a difficult begin for the new-look Mercury. They stated goodbye to 2 No. 1 draft picks who had grow to be faces of the franchise — Diana Taurasi (retired) and Brittney Griner (free company) — and returned solely two gamers from final season in Kahleah Copper and Natasha Mack, who had been each sidelined with accidents to begin this marketing campaign.
However after buying and selling for Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas within the offseason, that hasn’t occurred. Sabally leads the crew in scoring (19.3 factors per sport) and rebounding (8.1). Thomas has introduced her stat-stuffing methods from 11 seasons in Connecticut to Phoenix with averages of 14.4 factors, 8.9 assists and seven.2 rebounds in 10 video games after lacking 5 with a calf damage. And regardless of taking part in solely three video games to this point, Copper has been a powerful management presence.
Thomas performed in simply one in all Phoenix’s 4 losses — twice to every of the Minnesota Lynx and the Seattle Storm — whereas Copper did not play in any. That is not to remove from the Lynx, who stay our No. 1 crew, and the Storm, who’re again within the prime 5. However contemplating how effectively Phoenix has accomplished regardless of not having the large three of Copper, Sabally and Thomas on court docket collectively a lot, look out for simply how excessive the Mercury can peak.
Earlier rating: 1
Subsequent seven days: @ WAS (June 24), @ ATL (June 27), vs. CON (June 29)
Napheesa Collier left within the third quarter of the June 17 sport in opposition to Las Vegas with a again damage and didn’t play in opposition to Los Angeles on Saturday. The Lynx nonetheless received each, with Courtney Williams’ 20 factors main the best way in opposition to the Aces and Kayla McBride’s 29 factors pushing Minnesota previous the Sparks. The victory over Las Vegas clinched Minnesota’s spot within the Commissioner’s Cup remaining as host in opposition to Indiana on July 1. We’ll watch to see how the Lynx handle Collier’s damage state of affairs with a jam-packed July schedule looming.
Earlier rating: 4
Subsequent seven days: vs. NY (June 27), vs. LV (June 29)
Phoenix prolonged its five-win streak this previous week with victories over Connecticut, New York and Chicago, placing up a season-high 107 factors in opposition to the Sky. Of the Mercury’s six WNBA rookies, solely Megan McConnell did not play professionally abroad. The 24-year-old Monique Akoa Makani and the 29-year-old Kathryn Westbeld are amongst their starters, with one other 29-year-old rookie — Kitija Laksa — main Phoenix in 3-pointers with 29.
Earlier rating: 2
Subsequent seven days: @ GS (June 25), @ PHO (June 27), @ ATL (June 29)
The Liberty introduced Saturday that heart Jonquel Jones, final 12 months’s Finals MVP, will miss 4 to 6 weeks with a proper ankle sprain. She sustained the damage June 5 and missed two video games, together with New York’s first lack of the season (June 14 at Indiana), earlier than returning with a double-double within the June 17 win over Atlanta then reinjuring it in Thursday’s loss to Phoenix. The Liberty began a four-game journey on Sunday with a loss to Seattle that Sabrina Ionescu (neck) additionally missed. Additionally they are with out Leonie Fiebich, who’s taking part in for Germany because it enters the quarterfinals at EuroBasket. So, the following few weeks may proceed to be a problem for the defending champions.
Earlier rating: 3
Subsequent seven days: @ DAL (June 24), vs. MIN (June 27), vs. NY (June 29)
The Dream had an opportunity to advance to the Commissioner’s Cup remaining however bumped into the Liberty in the one sport of New York’s previous 5 that Jonquel Jones was not injured. She performed 25 minutes and had 10 factors and 10 rebounds in New York’s 86-81 victory on June 17. However Atlanta did not appear to brood on that, happening to defeat Washington and Chicago. We preserve highlighting the dramatic distinction within the Dream’s offense. And here is one other instance: They’ve hit the 90-point mark 5 occasions in 14 video games after reaching it simply thrice all of final season.
Earlier rating: 6
Subsequent seven days: vs. IND (June 24), vs. CON (June 27), @ GS (June 29)
Nneka Ogwumike will flip 35 subsequent week, however she’s nonetheless taking the children to high school. She totaled 77 factors on 71.4% capturing and 24 rebounds in Seattle’s victories over Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York final week. It was her most statistically spectacular three-game stretch since becoming a member of the Storm final season, when she was chosen All-WNBA for the seventh time. Seattle has received six of its previous seven video games.
Earlier rating: 7
Subsequent seven days: vs. NY (June 25), vs. CHI (June 27), vs. SEA (June 29)
Which is the one crew to beat the surging Storm over the previous three weeks? The Valkyries, who did so June 14. Golden State adopted that up with a disappointing loss at Dallas on June 17. But it surely rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Indiana on Thursday then dominated Connecticut by 24 factors on Sunday. Kayla Thornton is taking part in like an All-Star for Golden State, which has received 5 of its earlier six.
Earlier rating: 8
Subsequent seven days: vs. CON (June 25), vs. WAS (June 26), @ PHO (June 29)
Our workers analyzed what’s been plaguing the Aces, who’re 3-5 in June. A few of their woes had been abated with the return of three-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who missed three video games in concussion protocol. She had 20 factors and 14 rebounds in a 90-83 loss to Seattle on Friday then 24 and 7 in an 89-81 victory in opposition to Indiana on Saturday. The protection that served Las Vegas so effectively in recent times was buzzing the best way it used to, particularly within the second half in opposition to the Fever, because the Aces prevented what would have been their first four-game shedding streak below coach Becky Hammon.
Earlier rating: 5
Subsequent seven days: @ SEA (June 24), vs. LA (June 26), @ DAL (June 27)
Sunday was bleak for Indiana basketball followers: The Fever misplaced their sixteenth consecutive sport to the Aces then the Pacers misplaced Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals whereas Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn proper Achilles tendon.
Within the fourth quarters of final week’s defeats to Las Vegas and Golden State, Indiana was outscored by a mixed 26 factors. Caitlin Clark had 51 factors and 25 assists mixed within the Fever’s three video games over the previous seven days, however she was simply 1-of-17 from 3-point vary within the two most up-to-date contests. The Fever have been with out DeWanna Bonner the previous 4 video games for private causes, and her absence hurts their protection and depth.
Sophie Cunningham’s takedown of Jacy Sheldon close to the top of the June 17 win over the Solar despatched a message to groups that select to get additional bodily with Clark, whereas Aliyah Boston’s mixed 52 factors and 31 rebounds throughout the earlier three outings was a vivid spot.
Earlier rating: 10
Subsequent seven days: vs. MIN (June 24), @ LV (June 26), @ DAL (June 28)
It was a great week for the Mystics, who practically edged forward of the Fever in these rankings. Washington beat Chicago and Dallas (in extra time), however arguably much more spectacular was taking Atlanta to the wire on the street earlier than falling 92-91 on Friday. Brittney Sykes scored a season-high 32 factors in opposition to the Sky, Shakira Austin put up a career-high 28 versus the Dream and rookie Sonia Citron had a season-high 27 in opposition to Dallas. Citron additionally made the game-winning 3-pointer versus the Wings.
Earlier rating: 13
Subsequent seven days: vs. ATL (June 24), vs. IND (June 27), vs. WAS (June 28)
After beginning the marketing campaign 1-11, Dallas had its greatest week but with wins over Golden State and Connecticut in addition to an extra time loss at Washington. That the Wings had a great likelihood at a 3-0 week is saying one thing after how a lot they’ve struggled. Paige Bueckers — who registered a mixed 61 factors, 15 rebounds and 16 assists over the three contests — is reestablishing herself within the Rookie of the 12 months race after lacking time with concussion protocol and sickness.
Earlier rating: 9
Subsequent seven days: @ CHI (June 24), @ IND (June 26), vs. CHI (June 29)
The Sparks did not have Kelsey Plum (leg) in opposition to the Storm on Tuesday, however she returned with 15 factors versus the Lynx on Saturday. Each outings resulted in losses. Los Angeles hasn’t been that unhealthy of an offensive crew, nevertheless it wants to enhance on protection. The Sparks’ internet score of minus-7.1 is third worst within the league, forward of solely the Sky and the Solar.
Earlier rating: 11
Subsequent seven days: vs. LA (June 24), @ GS (June 27), @ LA (June 29)
Chicago misplaced to Washington, Phoenix and Atlanta however stayed out of the Energy Rankings cellar as a result of Connecticut had a worse week. Plus, the Sky beat the Solar on June 15. A silver lining for Chicago: Kamilla Cardoso has scored in double figures over 4 of the previous 5 video games. Cardoso shot 69.2% from the sphere final week, however she nonetheless is not getting sufficient touches.
Earlier rating: 12
Subsequent seven days: @ LV (June 25), @ SEA (June 27), @ MIN (June 29)
Connecticut has misplaced six in a row following an 0-4 week in opposition to Indiana, Phoenix, Dallas and Golden State that dropped the Solar to the underside of the Energy Rankings. The Solar nonetheless made headlines after the grabbing, pushing and eye poking of their contentious loss to the Fever on June 17, when Marina Mabrey shoved Caitlin Clark to the ground from the blindside however did not get ejected. Having the league’s lowest-scoring offense (71.8 PPG) continues to make issues robust for Connecticut.
