WNBA Power Rankings Week 6 by Her Hoop Stats
A short week leads to little movement in the poll, but the WNBA had the biggest impact off the court
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There was not much movement in this week’s power rankings poll, partly because each team only played twice after Wednesday and Thursday’s slate of games was postponed as players protested police violence against Black Americans.
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 30.
The Chicago Sky shockingly lost to the New York Liberty on Tuesday and then announced on Saturday that Azura Stevens and Diamond DeShields left the bubble. Stevens will not return because of injury, and the Chicago Tribune reported that DeShields is expected to miss the remainder of the season for personal reasons. Chicago dropped two games last week, but is in contention to secure the No. 4 seed and a first-round playoff bye.
The league’s top three teams, Seattle Storm, Las Vegas Aces, and Los Angeles Sparks, all clinched a playoff berth and will most likely receive at least a first-round bye in the playoffs, but seeding is still up for grabs. The Storm and Aces, which both received multiple No. 1 overall votes in this week’s poll, were set to meet for the final time in the regular season last week, but that game is now rescheduled for September 13. As part of the rescheduling, Chicago played Indiana and Minnesota played Los Angeles on August 31, Connecticut will face Phoenix on September 7, and the WNBA added a final day to the schedule, September 13, to make up Dallas vs. New York, Washington vs. Atlanta, and Las Vegas vs. Seattle.
While the power rankings are still based entirely on basketball, this week’s article features social justice and community initiatives for each team in order to continue the conversations the WNBA has started.
The WNBA has always been bigger than basketball. The league dedicated the 2020 season to Breonna Taylor and the SayHerName campaign, and WNBA players have always been at the forefront for social justice issues. Players decided not to play on August 26 and August 27 in light of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, earlier that week. The season resumed on Friday, but there is no doubt the vital conversations and dedication to reform will continue off the court.
1. Seattle Storm (13-3)
Points: 1,175
The Seattle Storm’s players, coaches, and front office have united to support voter registration and amplify Black leaders and nonprofits serving Black communities this season. The Storm have already assisted businesses and organizations named “Community Champions” that serve Black communities and others disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by sharing their stories and presenting $2,000 checks in partnership with Swedish Bank.
The Storm are also currently raising money for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund through the Force4Change Auction, “Kicks For Equality.” The team partnered with LCKR Room in Atlanta to design custom shoes that the players wore in the August 25 game against Indiana. Bidding for Kicks For Equality will end at 9:30 p.m. PDT on Friday, September 4.
Next up: 9/2 vs. Washington Mystics (current ranking:10) , 9/4 vs. Los Angeles Sparks (3), 9/6 vs. Minnesota Lynx (4)
2. Las Vegas Aces (12-3)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Points: 1,125
The Aces have teamed up with eight other WNBA teams in a “Unite the Vote” campaign. The teams are competing to get as many fans as possible to register to vote between August 18 and September 18, 2020. The campaign is in partnership with When We All Vote, a nonpartisan nonprofit, and the winning team will receive 200 care packages for housing and food-insecure families in the team’s community. To participate, fans can visit UniteTheVoteChallenge.com and register through the team’s personalized portal.
Next up: 9/1 vs. Phoenix Mercury (6), 9/3 vs. Connecticut Sun (7), 9/5 vs. Atlanta Dream (11)
3. Los Angeles Sparks (12-3)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Points: 1,000
Last week, Sparks guard Chelsea Gray launched the Chelsea Gray Assist For Equality program through a partnership with the Sparks, Equality California, and Rock the Vote. Gray will donate $50 for each assist recorded this season (she is averaging 4.9 per game and has 73 and counting through Sunday), to benefit Equality California, the largest statewide LGBTQ organization in the U.S., and Rock The Vote. The Sparks will match Gray’s total donation at the end of the season.
Next up: 9/2 vs. Dallas Wings (8), 9/4 vs. Seattle Storm (1), 9/6 vs. Chicago Sky (5)
4. Minnesota Lynx (10-5)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Points: 875
The Lynx are using the power of content to make a difference this season. In late July, the Lynx and the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA partnered with the Star Tribune and Augsburg University’s Minnesota Urban Debate League to sponsor a youth essay contest for Minnesota students aged 10 to 18. The contest encourages students to create an original essay, video, or audio file that describes specific changes the Minneapolis community, Minnesota, or the United States should make to reduce inequities and injustices in the criminal justice system, according to a press release. The final panel of judges, which includes current assistant coach and former Lynx star Rebekkah Brunson, will choose a winner in two age divisions, and the winning essay will be published in the Star Tribune and presented to state leaders.
The Lynx and Timberwolves also created “Voices,” a social justice content series that will feature players and personnel from both teams. Conversation topics will include racial injustice, voting rights, and gender equality.
Next up: 9/2 vs. Chicago Sky (5), 9/4 vs. Dallas Wings (8), 9/6 vs. Seattle Storm (1)
5. Chicago Sky (10-6)
Last week’s ranking: 4
Points: 800
Chicago’s social justice initiative, #SkyTakesAction, launched at the beginning of the season and includes donations from Chicago Sky players to benefit five Black-led organizations in Chicago dedicated to community empowerment. Sky players are donating $10 for every point the team scores, $100 for every win, and $50 for every loss throughout the 2020 season. Magellan Corporation CEO Bob Arthur and his wife Susan Anderson and the Chicago Sky majority and minority team owners announced in mid-August that they would match all player donations as part of the initiative.
On top of their personal donations for #SkyTakesAction, guards Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley will take advantage of their individual playing skills to contribute more money. Vandersloot is donating $10 for each assist this season to benefit DonorsChoose, a crowdfunding platform to support teachers’ classroom and educational needs, and Quigley is donating $20 for each 3-pointer she makes this year to the Salvation Army’s STOP-IT Initiative Against Human Trafficking and other youth programs. Vandersloot leads the league in assists with 8.8 per game and currently has 140 total as of Sunday. (She added 18 assists and the new WNBA single game assist record to her resume on Monday. Even though that game is technically not included in this week’s article, it’s hard to overlook in this case.) Quigley has hit 36 buckets from behind the arc so far this season.
Next up: 9/2 vs. Minnesota Lynx (5), 9/4 vs. Washington Mystics (10), 9/6 vs. Los Angeles Sparks (3)
6. Phoenix Mercury (9-7)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Points: 688
The Mercury are honoring women who make a difference in its season-long Believe In Women campaign, which is dedicated to sharing virtual stories of impactful women in sports, philanthropy, business, and public service. The latest two Believe in Women honorees include ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson and youth activist and leader Tatem Beach.
Next up: 9/1 vs. Las Vegas Aces (2), 9/3 vs. Indiana Fever (9), 9/5 vs. New York Liberty (12)
7. Connecticut Sun (7-9)
Last week’s ranking: 6
Points: 638
Connecticut Sun players are raising money for multiple initiatives as part of the team’s Change Can’t Wait social reform platform. The Connecticut Sun Foundation is donating $5 for every free throw made in the regular season and postseason and doubling donations for free throws made in the fourth quarter. In addition, the team is currently selling Change Can’t Wait t-shirts, and player items will be auctioned off at the end of the season. Sun players will provide input on which organizations will receive the funds.
The Sun also just wrapped a virtual 5K supporting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Led by guard Jasmine Thomas, the Sun exceeded their fundraising goal and raised $10,400.
Next up: 9/1 vs. New York Liberty (12), 9/3 vs. Las Vegas Aces (2), 9/5 vs. Indiana Fever (9)
8. Dallas Wings (6-10)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Points: 488
Wings forward Isabelle Harrison launched the #IAm campaign earlier this summer to keep the conversation going about the social and racial injustices that people across the country are facing. Harrison created shirts for the team and staff with the #IAm___ design, which encouraged everyone to share their own personal experience through social media. Fans can purchase the shirt online and all proceeds are being donated to Black Lives Matter.
Next up: 9/2 vs. Los Angeles Sparks (3), 9/4 vs. Minnesota Lynx (4), 9/6 vs. Washington Mystics (10)
9. Indiana Fever (5-11)
Last week’s ranking: 9
Points: 400
Indiana Fever players are supporting local nonprofits that support social justice efforts through the #Fever4Change campaign. The campaign has two components: Rebounds4Change and a sneaker auction called Auction for Action. Fans can make a financial pledge for each team rebound this season and/or bid on players’ custom sneakers worn this season. Bidding for Auction for Action ends on October 15.
Next up: 9/1 vs. Atlanta Dream, 9/3 vs. Phoenix Mercury, 9/5 vs. Connecticut Sun
10. Washington Mystics (4-11)
Last week’s ranking: 10
Points: 275
The Mystics organized the “Unite the Vote” challenge in which eight other WNBA teams are participating (Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Las Vegas Aces, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm). Jenn Hatfield reported for The Next that the Mystics are coordinating with their opponents to take 24-second shot clock violations at the start of each quarter, which began with Friday’s game against Connecticut, and will continue for the rest of Washington’s season. As part of the team’s effort to continue important conversations, the shot-clock violations are meant to push broadcasters to discuss social justice, and head coach Mike Thibault pledged to comment on the team’s social justice goals before taking questions at his media availability for the rest of the season.
The team also made a powerful and memorable statement on Wednesday when players and coaches arrived at the arena with shirts that spelled out Jacob Blake and had seven bullet holes painted on the back to represent the seven times Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 23. The Mystics were the first team to decide not to play on Wednesday and quickly unified with other teams on the decision to not play that evening. After four WNBA teams took the court on Wednesday and locked arms in unity, Mystics guard Ariel Atkins shared why it was important that games were postponed and why this moment is bigger than basketball. If you haven’t seen it, please watch.
Next up: 9/2 vs. Seattle Storm, 9/4 vs. Chicago Sky, 9/6 vs. Dallas Wings
11. Atlanta Dream (3-13)
Last week’s ranking: 11
Points: 238
The Atlanta Dream have been outspoken on issues of social justice. The team has done work supporting Black Lives Matter, voting rights, and LGBTQ initiatives.
Dream center Elizabeth Williams, who is also secretary of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, represented all league players on Wednesday and read a statement announcing that games wouldn’t be played that night, which should also be required viewing.
Next up: 9/1 vs. Indiana Fever, 9/3 vs. New York Liberty, 9/5 vs. Las Vegas Aces
12. New York Liberty (2-13)
Last week’s ranking: 12
Points: 100
The Liberty’s fourth annual UNITY Day game was scheduled for Thursday but will be rescheduled in light of last week’s protest. This year’s game is dedicated to Breonna Taylor’s story and the #SayHerName campaign. The team released a statement that began with the number of days since Jacob Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery had been shot or killed and ended with a call to action to register to vote.
Liberty center Amanda Zahui B eschewed questions about basketball after the team’s game on Saturday and opened up about her mental health in light of recent events.
“I’m going through it. I am tired of white people murdering black people, and walking away. And there’s no justice. I’m tired of people waking up and seeing another Black and Brown body is shot at. I’m tired of white people having so much power and then just being evil and cruel with it. This whole game I’ve played it for my uncle (who’s) being deported from Stockholm back to the Ivory Coast just because the white man wants it. I’m honestly tired.”
“That’s it. Have a great rest of the day,” Zahui B concluded. “Pray for justice and peace in this world, y’all, cause it sucks.
Next up: 9/1 vs. Connecticut Sun, 9/3 vs. Atlanta Dream, 9/5 vs. Phoenix Mercury
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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