WNBA Power Rankings

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 24, 2009

WNBA Power Rankings

Indiana Fever

Fever point guard Tully Bevilaqua (pictured) might not light up the box score with averages of 7.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists, but the understated Aussie has been a bright spot on two of the four teams on which she's played. Last Saturday the 11th-year vet was named to the Fever's All-Decade Team. Earlier this year she was similarly honored by the Storm, whom she helped lead to a championship in 2004. Next three: 8/22 at Seattle; 8/27 vs. San Antonio; 8/29 vs. Sacramento

Phoenix Mercury

With averages of 26.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the Mercury's last three games, guard Diana Taurasi (pictured) continues to play like one of the country's top players. So it's no surprise that the Western Conference Player of the Week was also among the first eight picked to play on Team USA. The nod reunites the UConn product with her college coach Geno Auriemma and backcourt teammate Sue Bird. The trio, who won the first of three consecutive national titles together in 2002, will try to help the U.S. capture an unprecedented fourth straight Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games. Next three: 8/21 vs. Washington; 8/27 at Los Angeles; 8/29 vs. Connecticut

Seattle Storm

It was a week of distinguished and dubious record setting for the Storm. Last Thursday at Atlanta, Lauren Jackson (pictured) became the youngest player to score 5,000 career points, and Swin Cash scored her 3,000th point. Though they lost 88-79 loss to the Dream, dropping their record against the East to 1-6, the Storm rebounded three nights later with a 79-75 victory at Detroit. Still, with looming home stands against four of the East's five best teams, the Storm isn't out of the woods yet. Next three: 8/22 vs. Indiana; 8/25 vs. Washington; 8/27 vs. Connecticut

Atlanta Dream

Wins over Detroit (80-75) and Seattle (88-79) vaulted the Dream into second place in the East. It also gave Atlanta more than three times as many victories as it had last season. Part of the reason for the resurgence has been the play of All-Star forward Sancho Lyttle. The fourth-year pro, who averaged 15.0 points on 46.2 percent shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals in the victories, was named the East's Player of the Week on Monday. Next three: 8/23 vs. Los Angeles; 8/25 vs. Sacramento; 8/27 at Detroit

Los Angeles Sparks

The Sparks are peaking at just the right time. Their 78-63 victory over the Lynx on Wednesday gave them their first three-game win streak of the season and vaulted them into a tie with San Antonio for third place in the West. What's behind the Sparks' surge? Tenacious shot blocking, for one. In the last three games they've swatted back a combined 21 attempts; a whopping 11 by Candace Parker. Next three: 8/21 at San Antonio; 8/23 at Atlanta; 8/25 vs. Chicago

San Antonio Silver Stars

There's something to be said for showing up. That guard Vickie Johnson (pictured) has for the past 400 games says a lot. The total is more than any other player in league history, but the WNBA's version of Cal Ripken said last month that this would be her final season. Whether she'll be able to punctuate it with a repeat appearance in the WNBA finals will require more efforts like the one the Silver Stars put up last Saturday against the Mercury, when they set a franchise record for points scored in a 106-89 win. Next three: 8/21 vs. Los Angeles; 8/23 at Detroit; 8/27 at Indiana

Chicago Sky

Inconsistent though they may be, the Sky -- like the Dream -- have been one of the league's big surprises. In beating Minnesota 79-76 on Saturday, Tamara Young (pictured) and the Sky moved within one win of tying their franchise record of 14 wins. Of course they lost three nights later to the Mercury 106-99, but it wasn't for lack of trying. They were leading with 4:05 to go, before the Mercury hit three straight threes to pull away down the stretch. Next three: 8/22 vs. Detroit; 8/25 at Los Angeles; 8/28 vs. New York

Connecticut Sun

Just when it seemed like the Sun had all its pieces back in place, it now has to deal with the loss of Asjha Jones. On Tuesday the team announced that Jones would miss the next two weeks because of soreness in her left Achilles tendon. That leaves the Sun without its leading scorer and only All-Star for at least six of its last 10 games. That the team barely slipped past the lowly Liberty on Wednesday in its first game without her shows just how integral she is to the team. "Replacing someone like Asjha is very difficult," guard Erin Phillips (pictured) said. "It's going to take little bits here and there." Next three: 8/21 at New York; 8/22 vs. Minnesota; 8/25 vs. Detroit

Washington Mystics

Back-to-back losses to New York (60-59) and Los Angeles (72-69) dropped Washington out of the East playoff picture. And with road games still to play against the West's two best teams, the Mystics' prospects of clawing back into contention in the East are fading as fast as their concentration late in games. "I continue to say we have to grow, we have to grow, but at this point, it's too late in the season to continue to say that," said a frustrated Alana Beard after the New York loss. "We all have to come in with a more focused attitude." Next three: 8/21 at Phoenix; 8/22 at Sacramento; 8/25 at Seattle

Minnesota Lynx

Nicky Anosike (pictured) remains a big bright spot for the Lynx. Last Thursday against Indiana , the second-year post had 14 points and 16 rebounds, which gave her club records in rebounding in a game and double-doubles in a season (six). Unfortunately, the Lynx have struggled to parlay her production into wins. They lost that game and the one two days later at Chicago -- and Wednesday in Los Angeles. That loss dropped them to 2-9 in their last 10 games and out of fourth place in the West. Next three: 8/22 at Connecticut; 8/23 at Connecticut; 8/28 at Sacramento

Detroit Shock

Two weeks ago it looked like the Alexis Hornbuckle (pictured) and the Shock might make a push for the final playoff spot in the East. But after a three-game skid, it's looking more like they might not get a chance to defend their WNBA title. Consecutive losses at Atlanta (80-75), at Indiana (82-59) and against Seattle (79-75) undid a lot of positive momentum. And with three games in four days against likely playoff contenders -- including two on the road -- the Shock are going to have to work hard to get it back. Next three: 8/22 at Chicago; 8/23 vs. San Antonio; 8/25 at Connecticut

New York Liberty

The Liberty's see-saw season continues under interim coach Anne Donovan. After setting a franchise record for points allowed at half (56) in an 88-77 loss to Chicago last Friday, Leilani Mitchell (pictured) and New York bounced back with a 60-59 victory at Washington two days later. The Liberty had a chance at making it two in a row on Wednesday against the Sun. But after leading by 17 points at intermission, New York fell apart in the second half and wound up losing 74-69. Next three: 8/21 vs. Connecticut; 8/23 vs. Minnesota; 8/28 at Chicago

Sacramento Monarchs

After spending much of the past month trumpeting his woebegone team as a playoff contender, interim coach John Whisenant is finally waving the white flag. The Monarch's 78-61 loss to the Sparks last Saturday not only denied Sacramento its first three-game winning streak of the season, but also guaranteed the squad its first losing season since 2002. Whereas before Whisenant was looking forward to a potential first-round matchup against Phoenix, now he can't wait for the draft. "We'll see what the greatest need is for us," he said. "If we get in the lottery, hopefully we'll get the No. 1 pick." Next three: 8/22 vs. Washington; 8/25 at Atlanta; 8/28 at Minnesota