WNBA Power Rankings

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 7, 2009

WNBA Power Rankings

Indiana Fever

The Fever could have gone into the tank after center Tammy Sutton-Brown suffered a stress reaction in her right big toe against Connecticut. (It kept her from finishing that game and out of matchups at Washington and against Chicago.) Instead, they went to the bench, plugging in backup pivot Jessica Moore (pictured) into Sutton-Brown's spot and didn't miss a beat. The fifth-year veteran averaged 9.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in wins over the Sun (94-85), the Mystics (87-79) and Sky (76-67) that helped extend the Fever's commanding Eastern conference lead over the second-place Sun to five games. Next three: 8/8 at Phoenix; 8/10 at Los Angeles; 8/13 at Minnesota

Phoenix Mercury

We don't agree with coach Corey Baines' decision to play Penny Taylor (pictured) so much so soon after undergoing reconstructive surgery on her left ankle this spring, but it's tough to argue with the results it produced on Tuesday at Seattle. In 19 minutes, Taylor scored 18 points -- including the last five in overtime -- to lift the Mercury to a 101-90 win. The victory halted a four-game losing streak at Key Arena and capped a five-game road swing in which Phoenix would go an impressive 4-1. Another win in their next game, and we could be looking at our first new power rankings leader in six weeks. Next three: 8/8 vs. Indiana; 8/13 vs. San Antonio; 8/15 at San Antonio

Seattle Storm

All-Star forward Lauren Jackson (pictured with Sue Bird) looks like herself for the first time since straining her Achilles tendon last month. In her last two games, she's averaged 20.5 points and 12.0 rebounds -- but the Storm are still treading water. After barely holding on for an 85-82 overtime victory against San Antonio, they lost to Phoenix 101-90 in overtime three days later, letting slip a golden opportunity to cut into the Mercury's three-game lead in the West. Worse, on Wednesday came news that guard Katie Gearlds will miss the next four to six weeks after tearing a ligament in her left knee on Tuesday against Phoenix. Next three: 8/6 at Los Angeles; 8/8 vs. New York; 8/13 at Connecticut

Connecticut Sun

After a mostly quiet first-half of the season, Lindsay Whalen (pictured) is making noise once again. On Sunday, she burned the Shock for 22 points, six rebounds and four assists in an 83-65 win. More efforts like that, and the Sun will be able to put a little distance between itself and Washington -- which is tied with them for second place in the East. Next three: 8/7 at Minnesota; 8/9 vs. Washington; 8/13 vs. Seattle

Atlanta Dream

With victories against Detroit (98-95), Phoenix (106-76) and New York (89-83), the Dream notched their first ever three-game win streak. What's more, Angel McCoughtry (pictured) earned the franchise's their first rookie-of-the-month award. The top pick in this year's draft, a 6-foot-1 product of Louisville led all rookies last month in steals with 2.0 per game and ranked third in points with 10.2 per contest. Next three: 8/6 at San Antonio; 8/8 vs. Chicago; 8/13 vs. Detroit

San Antonio Silver Stars

Like the Storm, the Silver Stars feature a dominant All-Star in Becky Hammon (pictured) and yet are laboring to break even in the win-loss column. But unlike the Storm, the Silver Stars' woes could soon be over now with the third member of their Big Three is back in the mix. After sitting out the first half of the season to recoup from a hectic overseas playing schedule, veteran center Ann Wauters re-signed with the team last Friday. The 6-foot-4 Belgian averaged 14.7 points and 7.5 rebounds last year in San Antonio's WNBA finals run last year. Next three: 8/6 vs. Atlanta; 8/9 at Minnesota; 8/11 vs. Sacramento

Washington Mystics

There's no shame in the effort the Mystics put up last week. Yeah, they went 1-2, but both losses came against league-pacesetter Indiana. Moreover, the average margin of defeat (just three points) wasn't that bad. Even better was the 78-75 victory that Washington notched at New York last Thursday. It put the Mystics in position to tie Connecticut for second place in the East and set the stage for a pivotal showdown between the two teams on Sunday. Next three: 8/7 vs. Detroit; 8/9 at Connecticut; 8/11 vs.

Minnesota Lynx

Remember when the Lynx were 9-6 and challenging the Mercury for the top spot in the West? Well, since they've gone 1-4, most recently suffering an 87-74 to Phoenix at the Target Center. Rookie center Quanitra Hollingsworth (pictured) had a season-high 17 points in that game, but she was only one of two Lynx players to reach double figures. If she doesn't get help soon, Minnesota could find itself outside of the playoff picture yet again. Next three: 8/7 vs. Connecticut; 8/9 vs. San Antonio; 8/13 vs. Indiana

Detroit Shock

Deanna Nolan (pictured) already carried a reputation as one of the league's more prolific scorers and playmakers. Now, she's adding rebounding to her repertoire. The 5-foot-9 slasher grabbed 14 rebounds (along with 26 points and four assists) in an 83-65 thrashing of New York. Apparently, an 83-65 defeat against Connecticut at home two days earlier really lit a fire under her. ''We had to pick things up defensively [after that],'' she said. ''I was just going to go after every long rebound, and I got a lot of them.'' Next three: 8/7 at Washington; 8/9 vs. Chicago; 8/11 at Washington

Los Angeles Shock

Having declared this season to be the last of her 12 in the WNBA, Lisa Leslie (pictured) resumed her farewell tour on Tuesday against San Antonio, returning to the Sparks lineup seven weeks after suffering a sprained right knee and bruised right hip against Phoenix. Though she notched 13 points, four rebounds and two blocks in a 63-59 loss, she's optimistic about her chances of going out with her team on top because the Sparks haven't played their best basketball yet. ''I'm anxious for us to just put it all together,'' Leslie said. Next three: 8/6 vs. Seattle; 8/10 vs. Indiana; 8/11 vs. New York

Chicago Sky

Of the league's many middling teams, the Sky are easily the shakiest. Only two of their 10 wins have come by a double-digit margin, while seven of their 10 losses have come by double-digits -- including three by at least 20 points. It's not that Chicago lacks defense; the Sky have the conference's best defensive center in Sylvia Fowles (pictured) and the stingiest opposing field goal percentage (45.5 percent). What appears to be missing is effort, on a night-in, night-out basis. Next three: 8/8 at Atlanta; 8/9 at Detroit; 8/14 at New York

New York Liberty

After a 6-11 start to the season, the Liberty showed coach Pat Coyle (pictured) the door last Friday. Coyle, who led New York to an 81-90 record and two Eastern conference finals appearances, was replaced by highly decorated assistant Anne Donovan. She joined the Liberty staff this season after leading the US women's team to a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics. Prior to that, she was 138-128 as a WNBA head coach with Indiana, Charlotte and Seattle, where she won a title in 2004. Still, she remains winless since taking over the Liberty, losing to Atlanta (89-83) and Detroit (76-64). Next three: 8/7 at Sacramento; 8/8 at Seattle; 8/11 at Los Angeles

Sacramento Monarchs

The Monarchs split the week again, notching an impressive 101-93 overtime victory over San Antonio before losing to Los Angeles 59-56 two days later. But if they want to elbow their way into the playoff conversation, they can't afford to keep splitting the difference. Victories in rematches against the Silver Stars and the Sparks would put Kara Lawson (pictured) and the Monarchs in the hunt for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. Next three: 8/7 vs. New York; 8/11 at San Antonio; 8/14 at Los Angeles