WNBA Power Rankings Week 5 by Her Hoop Stats
Top 3 holds tight despite back-to-back losses by the Storm
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What a week in the WNBA bubble! The regular season ends two weeks from this Saturday, and teams have eight or nine games left to fight for one of eight spots in the postseason.
Last week, we saw the end of some long-standing win and loss streaks, including the Seattle Storm, who ended the week with back-to-back losses after nine straight wins. Rookie Stella Johnson scored 25 points to help end an eight-game losing streak for the Washington Mystics and the Atlanta Dream secured a win after 10 straight losses.
With the Storm back down to earth, a double-bye in the playoffs is more attainable for at least four different teams. The Minnesota Lynx, who are currently ranked fifth in the standings, are only 1.5 games behind the Storm.
In our points-based power ranking system, each team gets 1,200 points for a first-place vote, 1,100 for second place, and so forth, and then we take the average for the overall ranking. This week’s poll covers games through Sunday, August 23.
1. Seattle Storm (11-3)
Points: 1,189
At this point last week, it was hard to see the Storm losing to anyone. But the Storm will start the week facing the two teams responsible for their current losing streak: Indiana, who is fighting to make its first postseason in four years, and Las Vegas, who is a serious contender for the overall No. 1 spot.
Next up: 8/25 vs. Indiana Fever (current ranking: 9), 8/27 vs. Las Vegas Aces (2), 8/29 vs. Chicago Sky (4)
2. Las Vegas Aces (10-3)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Points: 1,111
If it weren’t for the Sky, who have quickly become the Aces’ top rival, the Aces would be alone atop the WNBA standings. Instead, they’re a half-game behind Seattle, who they’ll face again for the final time in the regular season on Thursday.
Next up: 8/25 vs. Dallas Wings (8), 8/27 vs. Seattle Storm (1), 8/29 vs. New York Liberty (12)
3. Los Angeles Sparks (10-3)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Points: 956
The Sparks have the longest active win streak in the league with seven straight wins through Sunday, but they only faced two teams (Minnesota and Phoenix) who were at or above .500 during that stretch. In the Sparks’ final nine games of the regular season, they’ll compete against four teams in the top five, and play five games against teams with a losing record.
Next up: 8/26 vs. Minnesota Lynx (5), 8/28 vs. Connecticut Sun (6), 8/30 vs. Atlanta Dream (11)
4. Chicago Sky (10-4)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Points: 933
The Sky enter the week on a four-game win streak, five players averaging double digits in scoring, and the best point guard in the league. With eight games remaining and sitting only one game back from the top spot in the standings, Chicago only faces three teams with winning records for the remainder of the regular season: Seattle, Minnesota, and Los Angeles.
Next up: 8/25 vs. New York Liberty (12), 8/27 vs. Indiana Fever (9), 8/29 vs. Seattle Storm (1)
5. Minnesota Lynx (9-4)
Last week’s ranking: 4
Points: 811
The Lynx currently only trail the Aces as the league’s best rebounding team. Even with Sylvia Fowles sidelined indefinitely, they lead the league in offensive rebounds with 9.8 per game. Point guard Crystal Dangerfield continues to make her case for Rookie of the Year: Dangerfield has scored in double digits in every game in August and is currently averaging 14.8 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 3.2 assists per game.
Next up: 8/26 vs. Los Angeles Sparks (3), 8/28 vs. Atlanta Dream (11), 8/30 vs. Phoenix Mercury (7)
6. Connecticut Sun (6-8)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Points: 700
The Sun’s 0-5 start to the season appears to be behind them, as they have won six of their last 10 games. Forward Alyssa Thomas is quietly having one of the best seasons of her career, averaging 14.7 points per game and leading the team in rebounds (8.9) and assists (4.7) per game. She has the third-best rebounding average in the league behind Candace Parker and Sylvia Fowles, respectively, and is the best passing post player. Her assist average currently ranks seventh in the league.
Next up: 8/26 vs. Phoenix Mercury (7), 8/28 vs. Los Angeles Sparks (3), 8/30 vs. Washington Mystics (10)
7. Phoenix Mercury (7-7)
Last week’s ranking: 6
Points: 567
The Mercury snapped a three-game losing streak with a one-point win against Washington on Sunday. At this point, a first-round playoff bye seems almost unattainable for Phoenix, who has gone 5-5 in its last ten games. Star center Brittney Griner missed Friday’s game for personal reasons, and the team announced on Saturday that she had left the bubble. Phoenix sophomores Brianna Turner and Alanna Smith stepped up by controlling the boards and protecting the paint during Sunday’s game. Turner ended the night with a career-high 17 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Smith led the team with a career-high four blocks. Diana Taurasi had a Taurasi-esque night with 34 points and seven three-pointers on a night when she honored Kobe Bryant by wearing his No. 8 jersey.
Next up: 8/26 vs. Connecticut Sun (6), 8/28 vs. Washington Mystics (10), 8/30 vs. Minnesota Lynx (5)
8. Dallas Wings (5-9)
Last week’s ranking: 10
Points: 444
The Wings are only half a game behind the Fever for the No. 8 seed in the league standings, but the young squad has already exceeded expectations. Despite losing seven of the last 10, Dallas is only losing by an average of 3.4 points a game, including a close loss to the Sparks on Sunday after leading by seven points going into the fourth quarter. The Wings will have a tough road to the playoffs, though, as they’re set to face Las Vegas, Indiana, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Seattle, and Chicago in their remaining eight games.
Next up: 8/25 vs. Las Vegas Aces (2), 8/27 vs. New York Liberty (12), 8/29 vs. Indiana Fever (9)
9. Indiana Fever (5-8)
Last week’s ranking: 9
Points: 433
The Fever made noise this week after snapping Seattle’s nine-game win streak with only eight players available. They’ll begin this week with their final meeting against Seattle, who they dominated on the boards (46 to 30 rebounds) last week and held to 23.3 percent shooting from three. The team officially announced last week that Erica Wheeler will not be joining the team this season, but the Fever could still have a shot to make the playoffs. The remainder of their schedule includes games against six teams outside the top four spots in the standings.
Next up: 8/25 vs. Seattle Storm (1), 8/27 vs. Chicago Sky, 8/29 (4) vs. Dallas Wings (8)
10. Washington Mystics (4-9)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Points: 356
The Mystics broke a brutal eight-game losing streak thanks to a third-round draft pick who had only joined the team six days prior. Stella Johnson made the most of her first career start and revitalized a depleted Mystics team. Johnson posted 25 points in 31 minutes, including six three-pointers on nine attempts. Myisha Hines-Allen had one of the most impressive stat lines of the week with 35 points and 12 rebounds against Dallas, and she followed it up with a near triple-double against Phoenix on Sunday with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
Next up: 8/26 vs. Atlanta Dream (11), 8/28 vs. Phoenix Mercury (7), 8/30 vs. Connecticut Sun (6)
11. Atlanta Dream (3-11)
Last week’s ranking: 11
Points: 200
A win against Minnesota on Sunday snapped the Dream’s 10-game losing streak. Monique Billings led the team with 16 points and 13 rebounds against the Lynx, and Betnijah Laney added to her Most Improved Player campaign with a near-triple double performance of 16 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists. The addition of Courtney Williams has been a bright spot for Atlanta; she’s the best rebounding guard in the league right now and is averaging 13.4 points and 6.3 rebounds on the year.
Next up: 8/26 vs. Washington Mystics (10), 8/28 vs. Minnesota Lynx (5), 8/30 vs. Los Angeles Sparks (3)
12. New York Liberty (1-12)
Last week’s ranking: 12
Points: 100
The Liberty are enduring a tough stretch right now; their last four games ended with a deficit of at least 15 points. But there have been some silver linings for Walt Hopkins’ team. Kia Nurse has had some of her best shooting games of the season in the last three games and seems to be breaking out of a slump, and the team announced that No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu will not need surgery after suffering a Grade 3 ankle sprain last month. They’ll need at least one more win to avoid ending the season with the worst win percentage in league history.
Next up: 8/25 vs. Chicago Sky (4), 8/27 vs. Dallas Wings (8), 8/29 vs. Las Vegas Aces (2)
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
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