WNBA Power Rankings – Seattle rises to the top, New York jumps to fourth

The opening weekend of the 2023 WNBA season gave us buzzer beaters, shining younger stars and predictable veterans.

The season is younger and the rust remains to be there for some, however first impressions have been made. Whether or not it was rookies making their WNBA debut, stars returning to the courtroom after lacking 2023 attributable to accidents over coronavirus considerations, or the rise of younger skills hoping to hold their group to new heights, we’re right here to interrupt down what went proper for every group, what appeared good (and even nice) and what we expect wants work.

One factor we are able to all agree on: We’re excited that the WNBA is again and never in a bubble, like final season.

Be aware: All through the common season, Kelly Cohen will rank all 12 groups from prime to backside, taking inventory of which groups are enjoying the perfect basketball and which groups are trying most like title contenders.

Earlier rankings: Preseason

1. Seattle Storm
2021: 1-1
Earlier rating: 2

The defending champs are again. Breanna Stewart, the reigning WNBA Finals MVP, is already producing at a prime stage two video games in. And with guards Jewell Loyd and Jordin Canada upping their defensive presence, the Storm appeared unstoppable of their season-opening win over the Aces.

However on Tuesday, Las Vegas uncovered Seattle’s weak point: protection. Las Vegas shot 53.6% from the sphere and outrebounded Seattle 39-34 (after the Storm had dominated the boards 44-33 on Saturday).

Sue Fowl and Candice Dupree will each must proceed to work to make up for the offseason losses of Natasha Howard and Alysha Clark.

This week: @MINN, @DAL

2. Chicago Sky
2021: 1-0
Earlier rating: 3

The addition of two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker appears to be like to already be placing the Sky within the race for a WNBA title. The franchise has superior previous the second spherical simply as soon as since 2016, and is on the lookout for its first WNBA Finals look since 2014.

With Parker’s lockdown protection — she additionally chipped in 17 factors, eight rebounds and 4 assists — main the best way, Chicago held the Washington Mystics to 56 factors in its season-opening win on Saturday. Diamond DeShields, in her first sport following an injury-riddled 2023 season, complemented Parker effectively.

As soon as extra chemistry is constructed between Parker and Courtney Vandersloot — the WNBA help chief and one of many league’s finest level guards — the Sky is likely to be the group to beat. That’s assuming DeShields continues to remain wholesome, and Chicago will get again Azurá Stevens, who was restricted to 13 video games in 2023 attributable to damage and has but to play this season (foot).

This week: @ATL, NY

3. Connecticut Solar
2021: 2-0
Earlier rating: 8

It feels dangerous rating Connecticut so excessive with out Alyssa Thomas (ruptured Achilles) this season. However the Solar had maybe probably the most spectacular begin of any group because of the play of Jonquel Jones and DeWanna Bonner, they usually get Jasmine Thomas (COVID-19 protocols) again for his or her Wednesday sport towards the winless Indiana Fever.

Jones, making her return to the WNBA after forgoing the 2023 season attributable to coronavirus considerations, dropped 26 factors and eight rebounds in Friday’s season opener and adopted it up with a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double on Sunday. Bonner was equally spectacular with back-to-back video games of at the least 20 factors. Each Jones and Bonner are additionally rebounding the ball effectively.

Although they have been the one two gamers to attain in double-digits on Friday, Natisha Hiedeman (17 factors, 3-for-5 on 3-pointers) and Briann January (15 factors, 4-for-7 from the sphere) stepped as much as assist the group in Sunday’s gritty win towards the Phoenix Mercury.

This week: IND, @PHO, @LV

4. New York Liberty
2021: 3-0
Earlier rating: 11

The Liberty are undefeated and have already received extra video games this season (three) than in all of 2023 (two). Restricted to a few video games as a rookie, Sabrina Ionescu has had a direct influence, hitting a buzzer-beating deep 3 to assist New York win its season opener towards the Indiana Fever. On Tuesday, she reminded everybody she’s the NCAA profession chief in triple-doubles, tallying 26 factors, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to change into the youngest and quickest participant in league historical past to report a triple-double.

We like to see the eagerness for a group that appears able to erase what occurred in 2023, and issues ought to solely get higher. Natasha Howard has but to affix the group from abroad. And Betnijah Laney, the WNBA’s 2023 most improved participant, is choosing up from final season, dropping 30 factors within the season opener and averaging a team-high 23.3 PPG.

The Liberty rank fourth proper now with 83.0 PPG, and might be on the verge of turning into an offensive energy.

This week: @WAS, @CHI

5. Las Vegas Aces
2021: 1-1
Earlier rating: 1

A tough 14-point loss Saturday towards Seattle in a WNBA Finals rematch precipitated Las Vegas to tumble from its earlier perch atop the preseason Energy Rankings. However after that disappointing season-opening stumble, you may inform the Aces had a chat earlier than assembly the Storm twice in 4 days.

Las Vegas rolled in Tuesday’s 16-point win, with a whole top-to-bottom 96-80 victory. From Chelsea Grey’s dazzling assists to reigning MVP A’ja Wilson’s 18 factors and 11 rebounds, the Aces introduced vitality of their second sport and appeared like a group that might make it again to the WNBA Finals.

This week: LAS, CON

6. Phoenix Mercury
2021: 2-1
Earlier rating: 5

No shock: The Huge Three of Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith have saved the Mercury within the prime half.

Whereas they appeared like they nonetheless had some chemistry to work by way of of their first two video games, they turned it on Tuesday, getting nice vitality up and down the roster as Phoenix scored 91 factors towards the struggling Washington Mystics.

When the Mercury are in sync, they’re onerous to cease. On Tuesday, all 5 starters scored in double digits, which included double-doubles from Griner and Brianna Turner, who appears to be like to be attempting to offer Phoenix a “Huge 4.” Phoenix additionally clamped down on protection, holding the Mystics to 30.7% capturing.

This week: CON

7. Los Angeles Sparks
2021: 0-1
Earlier rating: 7

It feels bizarre to have the Sparks exterior of the highest 5, however being ranked sixth isn’t unhealthy for a winless group.

Nneka Ogwumike (18 factors) and Chiney Ogwumike (12 factors) had spectacular 2023 debuts in a 94-71 loss to the Dallas Wings, however there weren’t many different positives from a group that noticed a handful of key offseason departures in Candace Parker, Chelsea Grey and Riquna Williams.

Te’a Cooper shot 1-for-10 and Erica Wheeler had simply 4 factors in 19 minutes in her Sparks debut. Jasmine Walker, this yr’s No. 7 total draft choose, missed all 4 of her pictures and went scoreless in additional than 17 minutes of motion.

However the Sparks’ protection was maybe probably the most disappointing. The Wings — who received eight video games and averaged 83.4 PPG in 2023 — shot 34-of-64 from the ground (53.1%).

Does this rating really feel too excessive? Perhaps. Nevertheless it’s unlikely Cooper, Wheeler and Walker will proceed to wrestle on offense, and the Sparks might be getting veteran Amanda Zahui B again quickly, too, to make her Los Angeles debut. Tighten up on protection and Los Angeles will earn this sixth spot.

This week: @LVA

8. Minnesota Lynx
2021: 0-2
Earlier rating: 6

The Lynx are winless regardless of good offensive showings; it’s the protection that wants work, in addition to having the ability to maintain onto leads. Minnesota led New York by two factors at halftime Tuesday earlier than being outscored 19-10 within the third quarter and falling 86-75.

Some shiny spots for the Lynx embody Sylvia Fowles recording a double-double and exhibiting her versatility on each ends of the ground, and Kayla McBride appears to be getting again into stride.

However with Napheesa Collier (abroad) but to affix the Lynx, we’re undecided they need to be any larger but.

This week: SEA

9. Washington Mystics
2021: 0-2
Earlier rating: 4

The season opener was an offensive catastrophe because the Mystics shot 25% from the sphere, 13.3% from 3-point vary and scored simply 56 factors in a loss towards Chicago. Tina Charles, making her debut with Washington after sitting out 2023, was the lone shiny spot as the one participant in double digits (14 factors).

Charles added a double-double (22 factors, 12 rebounds) and Natasha Cloud scored 18 factors on 7-of-12 capturing in Tuesday’s loss to Phoenix, however the offense continued to slip, capturing 30.7% from the sphere and making simply 5-of-28 3-point makes an attempt.

Charles can’t carry the group perpetually, and the group wants higher protection in addition to a extra balanced offensive assault. Rebounds and assists are missing, and Elena Delle Donne, who hasn’t performed but after an offseason again damage, is sorely missed.

This week: NYL, @IND

10. Dallas Wings
2021: 1-0
Earlier rating: 9

How are you going to not just like the Wings beginning their season beneath new coach Vickie Johnson with a win towards the Sparks? 5 gamers scored in double digits as Dallas scored the second-most factors within the league (behind Seattle’s 97) through the season’s first two days.

Charli Collier — the primary total choose of the 2023 WNBA draft — had a robust debut, and Awak Kuier, who was drafted proper after her, has but to take the ground.

Satou Sabally, final yr’s No. 2 total choose, is ending up abroad commitments however is anticipated to make an enormous leap in 2023 after a profitable 2023 season (13.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.5 APG) wherein she earned all-rookie honors.

So whereas we like a enjoyable, younger group, we’re hesitant to place them too excessive till we constantly see this stage of efficiency.

This week: SEA

11. Atlanta Dream
2021: 0-1
Earlier rating: 10

Nicki Collen left to take over the Baylor ladies’s faculty basketball group proper earlier than the season began, and dropping your head coach that near tip-off is usually a recipe for a bit of little bit of chaos.

The Dream’s season-opening loss to Connecticut wasn’t all unhealthy; 4 gamers scored in double-digits, and that was with rookie Aari McDonald going 0-for-4 from the sphere off the bench in her WNBA debut. Plus, Atlanta remains to be with out Cheyenne Parker (COVID-19 protocols) and Tiffany Hays (abroad).

Veteran Elizabeth Williams is main the best way and needs to be instrumental because the Dream work to enhance their chemistry. Sure, it’s only one sport, however Atlanta scored simply 67 factors. The protection must step up.

This week: CHI, @IND

12. Indiana Fever
2021: 0-2
Earlier rating: 12

Whenever you begin the season 0-2, you keep on the backside of the rankings.

Each losses have been by single digits, however the Fever dedicated 33 turnovers and 45 fouls. They’re additionally capturing 37.6% from the ground and 15.4% from past the arc. Indiana additionally has totaled 29 assists throughout two video games.

However Teaira McCowan is a shiny spot, averaging 14.0 factors and 13.0 rebounds. And whereas she has performed solely 23 minutes, Kysre Gondrezick — the fourth total choose within the 2023 WNBA draft — is anticipated to get going and make an influence.

This week: @CON, ATL, WAS