WNBA Power Rankings

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jul 23, 2009

WNBA Power Rankings

Indiana Fever

Indiana's league-leading win streak is dead -- it stopped at 11 with a 67-61 loss to Connecticut last Friday -- but there's nothing to fear for the talented Fever. By beating Washington 82-70 on the road Tuesday, the Fever, led by Tamika Catchings (pictured), proved themselves plenty resilient. Next three: 7/23 at San Antonio; 7/28 vs. Washington; 7/30 vs. Connecticut

Phoenix Mercury

Just as the Mercury said goodbye to Diana Taurasi for a two-game suspension stemming from DUI charges, it welcomed back Penny Taylor. In 2007, the 6-foot-1 Aussie combined with Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter (pictured) to form one of the league's most prolific scoring troikas and helped lead the Mercury to a WNBA title. That year, she posted career highs in points (17.8), rebounds (6.3) and averaged 2.9 assists. Next three: 7/18 vs. Detroit; 7/22 vs. Minnesota; 7/26 at New York

Seattle Storm

What's more impressive: the Storm defeating Sacramento (69-56) and Minnesota (72-62); the fact that it did so without Lauren Jackson (strained left Achilles tendon) or the career-high 18 points Camille Little scored vs. the Lynx and the four straight points Tanisha Wright (pictured) ticked off down the stretch to help Seattle leapfrog Minnesota for second place in the West? If you answered all of the above, give yourself a gold star. Next three: 7/22 vs. Los Angeles; 7/28 at San Antonio

Minnesota Lynx

Anyone who saw Nicky Anosike (pictured) in college at Tennessee knows what a tremendous all-around defender and overall leader she is. Anyone who has seen her in the pros knows just how far her offensive game has come along. And now, thanks to her averages of 13.9 points on 53.6 percent shooting, we'll get to see her make her first career All-Star appearance on Saturday. Next three: 7/22 at Phoenix; 7/28 vs. Los Angeles; 7/31 at Detroit

Connecticut Sun

The Sun is making its charge, and it's not being quiet about it. On Sunday, Lindsay Whalen (pictured) scored 15 points to help Connecticut beat Indiana at home (67-61), halting the Fever's league-leading win streak. That, along with wins against Los Angeles (82-71) and at San Antonio (72-64), moved the Sun into second place in the East, where it trails Indiana by three games. Next three: 7/22 vs. Sacramento; 7/28 vs. Phoenix; 7/30 at Indiana

Washington Mystics

After playing facilitator for most of the season, Lindsey Harding (pictured) let her scoring brilliance shine through Saturday against New York. The Lynx castoff scored 23 points, including two free throws with 8.2 seconds left, to make the difference in a 68-67 Mystics victory. She had another great night on Tuesday against the red-hot Fever, posting 17 points, five rebounds and six assists. But her seven turnovers kept the Mystics from dealing the Fever a second straight loss. Next three: 7/23 vs. Chicago; 7/26 vs. Sacramento; 7/28 at Indiana

Chicago Sky

What a difference Sylvia Fowles (pictured) makes. With her sidelined with a knee injury five of the past six games, the Sky went 2-4. Upon her return, the Sky defeated San Antonio (85-75). "We try to play without Syl," said coach Steve Key of Fowles, who had 11 points and nine rebounds in the win, "but she's a lot more than just points and rebounds." Next three: 7/23 at Washington; 7/29 vs. Los Angeles; 8/1 vs. Connecticut

Atlanta Dream

Last year, you'd have had to squint to find an All-Star-quality player on a Dream team that went 4-30. But this year, they've got three newly minted ones in Chamique Holdsclaw (pictured) -- who was voted a starter by the fans -- Erika de Souza and Sancho Lyttle. For Holdsclaw, the selection is yet another encouraging result after a long battle with depression. For de Souza and Lyttle, said GM and coach Marynell Meadors, it validates "their hard work and dedication." Next three: 7/30 vs. Phoenix; 8/1 vs. New York; 8/6 at San Antonio

San Antonio Silver Stars

After notching their first road victory of the season against Washington last Wednesday, the Silver Stars dropped consecutive games to Connecticut (72-64) and at Chicago (85-75). Part of the reason might be the absence of Ruth Riley (pictured). The veteran center sprained her left ankle in the second quarter of the Sun game. Later diagnosed with Achilles tendonitis, she's expected to miss Thursday's game against Indiana, if not more. Next three: 7/23 vs. Indiana; 7/28 vs. Seattle; 7/30 at Sacramento

Detroit Shock

Don't let the Shock's cellar-dweller status in the East fool you: this squad does not back down lightly. After coming up a few seconds short of stealing an overtime road win from the Taurasi-less Mercury last Saturday, Detroit finished strong the next night at Sacramento. Taj McWilliams (pictured) scored off a rebound, then sank a pair of free throws with seven seconds left to give the Shock its third win in four games. Next three: 7/31 vs. Minnesota; 8/2 vs. Connecticut; 8/4 vs. New York

New York Liberty

To hear the Liberty tell it, it has Eastern rivals right where it wants them. Last year, New York started 7-7 and wound up making the playoffs, where it came up minutes short of edging Detroit out of a trip to the finals. While the Liberty doesn't have a shot at reaching .500 before Saturday's All-Star game, wins in their next two could be enough to psyche them up for the tough games ahead against Phoenix and Washington (7/30). Next three: 7/23 vs. Sacramento; 7/26 vs. Phoenix; 7/30 vs. Washington

Los Angeles Sparks

Sparks guard and league legend Tina Thompson (pictured) was named to her eighth All-Star team this week, tying the record center Lisa Leslie set a week ago when she was named a starter for the West. Some combination of Leslie, Thompson or both has been in every All-Star Game in league history, with each player missing only one in their careers. To be sure, it is a heroic achievement -- but it also begs the question: considering all the All-Stars on L.A.'s roster, why isn't this team better? Next three: 7/22 at Seattle; 7/28 at Minnesota; 7/29 at Chicago

Sacramento Monarchs

Shortly after canning coach Jenny Boucek and replacing her himself, GM John Whisenant declared his beleaguered Monarchs would make the playoffs. Now that they've gone 0-2 since he assumed control, we wonder whether he meant this year or next. The only indication that he might be looking more toward the future than the present is that he's increased Courtney Paris' (pictured) playing time. The four-time All-America rookie out of Oklahoma made starts last week against Seattle (69-56) and Detroit (69-65), playing an average of 22.5 minutes. Next three: 7/22 at Connecticut; 7/23 at New York; 7/26 at Washington