WNBA Power Rankings

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jul 9, 2009

WNBA Power Rankings

Indiana Fever

Is it just us, or has Tammy Sutton-Brown (pictured) seriously raised her game since Yolanda Griffith went down two games into the season with a torn left Achilles tendon? Sutton-Brown, who averaged 18.0 points (on 52.0 percent shooting), 11.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in Fever wins over Connecticut (67-53) and Atlanta (78-74) last week, was named the Eastern Conference's Player of the Week on Monday. In addition to leading the league in rebounding, the ninth-year center was one of two players to average a double-double during that span. (Minnesota's Nicky Anosike was the other.) Next three: 7/10 at Chicago; 7/15 vs. Chicago; 7/17 vs. Atlanta

Minnesota Lynx

It was only a matter of time before rookie Renee Montgomery (pictured) proved why the Lynx made her the fourth overall pick in April's draft. After spending most of the season finding her bearings -- while pitching in a few timely contributions here and there -- the crafty point guard scored a season-high 22 points to help Minnesota rally to a 96-94 overtime victory over Washington on Tuesday. Even more impressive is that she scored 16 of those points in the last two minutes of regulation and overtime, showing that same ability to thoroughly dominate the late stages of a game that defined her senior season at Connecticut. Next three: 7/10 vs. San Antonio; 7/12 at San Antonio; 7/15 vs. Atlanta

Seattle Storm

And speaking of former Huskies, what's gotten into Swin Cash (pictured)? The former All-America and second overall pick in 2002 seems like she's back to her old self after having surgery to repair a herniated disc during the offseason. On Tuesday she led Seattle with 18 points and 12 rebounds in a 66-53 over San Antonio. Her resurgence can only make life easier for Lauren Jackson, who continues to struggle as more teams dedicate more personnel to stopping her.

Phoenix Mercury

The league-leading 32,921 votes Diana Taurasi (pictured) received in All-Star balloting speaks to just how popular and respected she is. That's why the DUI she was cited for early last Thursday, hours after scoring 22 points in a 93-81 home victory over Seattle, is cause for concern. The league says it will yield to precedent and refrain from imposing discipline unless Taurasi pleads or is found guilty, while the Mercury won't discuss the matter any further "until all the facts are known." Taurasi addressed the incident in a news conference last Friday, calling it "embarrassing and unfortunate." Next three: 7/8 vs. Chicago; 7/11 at Sacramento; 7/15 vs. Sacramento

Connecticut Sun

Seems like every time the Sun adds another player, they pick up another win. Last week Erin Phillips (pictured) & Co. were aided by Sandrine Gruda, a French forward-center who had been away from the squad while representing her country in the European championships. Coach Mike Thibault, who drafted Gruda 13th overall in '07, was willing to wait a month until she finished her overseas commitment, and boy was she worth the wait. Last Sunday, she scored 23 points to help Connecticut to a 95-92 overtime victory over Detroit. Next three: 7/11 vs. Detroit; 7/14 vs. Los Angeles; 7/14 at San Antonio

San Antonio Silver Stars

When talk turns to the league's best players, Sophia Young (pictured) is often lucky to get a mention. Not that she doesn't deserve it. The Malone to Becky Hammon's Stockton, Young is the league's ninth-best scorer (16.7 ppg), its fourth-best rebounder (7.4 rpg) and a big part of why the Silver Stars are still in the mix in the West. Still, she'll have to bring a bit more than the nine points and two turnovers she had in Tuesday's 66-53 loss at Seattle. Clearly Hammon, who wasn't much better with 13 points and four turnovers, can't get it done alone. Next three: 7/10 at Minnesota; 7/12 vs. Minnesota; 7/15 at Washington

Atlanta Dream

What's the difference between this year's Dream outfit and last year's? Coach Marynell Meadors says it's their ability to finish games. That they won two of their last three games shows they've matured. On Tuesday against Connecticut, they stiffened on defense late to preserve a 72-67 victory. Chamique Holdsclaw (pictured) led the Dream with 19 points, while Erika Desouza pitched in with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Next three: 7/11 at New York; 7/15 at Minnesota; 7/17 at Indiana

Washington Mystics

To anyone who doubts that Marissa Coleman is the league's rookie of the year through the first half of the season, consider this: the Mystics have gone 2-5 since the Maryland product was sidelined with a high ankle sprain in mid-June. In Coleman's first game back, on Tuesday against the Lynx, the Mystics were more aggressive, especially on the boards. If Lindsey Harding doesn't miss that last free throw with 1.1 seconds left in OT, the Mystics might have had escaped with a road win. Next three: 7/11 vs. Los Angeles; 7/15 vs. San Antonio; 7/18 vs. New York

Chicago Sky

Like her teammate Sylvia Fowles, Sky center Chen Nan (pictured) is 6-foot-6, rangy and nimble. But unlike Fowles, she's not nearly as relentless a rebounder, as effective a shot blocker or as imaginative a scorer. When Fowles went down with a sore right knee at the beginning of a three-game road swing, the Sky saw just how mightily Chen struggled to fill her big shoes. She averaged a pedestrian 3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and no blocks in losses to San Antonio (85-72) and Sacramento (83-73). Next three: 7/8 at Phoenix; 7/10 vs. Indiana; 7/12 at Seattle

Sacramento Monarchs

Could it be that there are signs of life in Sacramento? Outside of the Fever and the Mercury, the Monarchs were the only team to go 2-0 last week and the wins they picked up weren't shabby. After upsetting a resurgent Minnesota team on the road (74-68) last Thursday, they came back and beat Chicago at home on Tuesday (83-73). A renewed emphasis on rebounding seems to have made all the difference. In those two games, they out-rebounded their opponents 75-40. Next three: 7/9 at Seattle; 7/11 vs. Phoenix; 7/15 at Phoenix

New York Liberty

Every dog has its day, and last Thursday, the day belonged to the Liberty. They posted season highs in three-pointers (12), steals (12) and feasted on the Shock's season-high-tying 22 turnovers. New York brought the hammer down in the second quarter, building a 15-point lead while holding Detroit scoreless for more than seven minutes. In short, "we got after it," said Shameka Christon (pictured), whose 25 points led four Liberty players in double figures. We'll see if they keep the pressure on in winnable home stands against Los Angeles and Atlanta. Next three: 7/9 vs. Los Angeles; 7/11 vs. Atlanta; 7/18 at Washington

Los Angeles Sparks

After a wait of more than a month, Candace Parker (pictured) made her season debut on Tuesday against Phoenix. The league's MVP and top rookie last year, she scored six points and four rebounds in a little over 18 minutes. Not bad for a woman who gave birth to her first child, daughter Lailaa, on May 13. Next three: 7/9 at New York; 7/11 at Washington; 7/14 at Connecticut

Detroit Shock

Say this for the Shock: they may be losing, but at least they're fighting. After getting thrashed 80-64 on the road against New York last Thursday, Detroit returned home to face Connecticut and gave the Sun everything they could handle. Rookie Shavonte Zellous had 20 points while Katie Smith added a season-high 28. But the Shock's scoring binge wasn't enough to turn back the Sun, who prevailed 95-92 in OT. And if that wasn't deflating enough, the Shock lost Deana Nolan to a pulled right hamstring in the third quarter. She's listed as day-to-day. Next three: 7/11 at Connecticut; 7/15 at Seattle; 7/18 at Phoenix