WNBA Power Rankings: Highlights and Lowlights for Each Team Before Olympic Break

As the WNBA heads into its Olympic break, it’s time to evaluate the season so far. While some players prepare for the Paris Olympics, others will enjoy a break until the league resumes on August 15. Here’s a detailed look at the good and bad for each team during the first half of the season.

1. New York Liberty

• The Good: Dominating the Standings
  With a 21-4 record, the Liberty lead the league, marking the best start in franchise history.
• The Bad: Injury Woes
  Recent injuries to Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Breanna Stewart raise concerns. Laney-Hamilton will be out for 4-6 weeks following knee surgery, and Stewart heads to Paris with a sore hamstring.

2. Connecticut Sun

• The Good: Stifling Defense
  The Sun’s defense is formidable, leading the league in opponent turnover percentage (21.3%) and ranking second in defensive rating (93.8).
• The Bad: Struggling from Deep
  Connecticut’s three-point shooting has been a weak spot, sitting 10th in both attempts per game (17.7) and percentage (31.4). They traded for Marina Mabrey to address this issue.

3. Las Vegas Aces

• The Good: A’ja Wilson’s Stellar Play
  A’ja Wilson is on track for her third MVP, averaging 27.2 points, 12 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game.
• The Bad: Slow Start
  Early injuries to Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray saw the Aces drop as many games in the first month (six) as they did all of last season.

4. Seattle Storm

• The Good: Impactful Additions
  Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith have transformed the Storm, contributing to a plus-13.2 net rating when on the floor with Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor.
• The Bad: Top-Team Struggles
  Despite being 17-8, the Storm are 3-6 against fellow top-five teams, posing a concern for playoff prospects.

5. Minnesota Lynx

• The Good: Surprising Start
  The Lynx have impressed with a 17-8 record, buoyed by the league’s best defense, even with Napheesa Collier out due to plantar fasciitis.
• The Bad: Interior Scoring
  Minnesota ranks last in points in the paint (28.4 per game) and 11th in free throw attempts (15.4), highlighting a need for better inside play.

6. Indiana Fever

• The Good: Caitlin Clark’s Playmaking
  Clark set a WNBA single-game assist record with 19 and leads the league with 8.2 assists per game, making her a favorite for Rookie of the Year.
• The Bad: Grueling Schedule
  The Fever’s early-season schedule, including 11 games in the first 20 days, contributed to a tough 2-9 start.

7. Phoenix Mercury

• The Good: Kahleah Copper’s Scoring
  Copper has excelled in Phoenix’s system, leading the league with eight 30-point games.
• The Bad: Weak Bench
  Phoenix’s bench scores only 12.5 points per game, the lowest in the league.

8. Chicago Sky

• The Good: Angel Reese’s Dominance
  Reese, a surprise impact player, averages a double-double and set a record for consecutive double-doubles with 15.
• The Bad: Poor Spacing
  Chicago’s offense suffers from poor spacing, with only one player besides Marina Mabrey attempting more than two three-pointers per game.

9. Los Angeles Sparks

• The Good: Rickea Jackson’s Efficiency
  Jackson has been a steady scorer, averaging 11.4 points per game on 45% shooting.
• The Bad: Cameron Brink’s Injury
  The promising rookie’s ACL tear in her 15th game ended her season prematurely.

10. Dallas Wings

• The Good: Maddy Siegrist’s Rise
  Siegrist was a standout before a finger injury, averaging 14.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
• The Bad: Injury Plague
  Key players like Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard, and rookie Jaelyn Brown have missed significant time due to injuries.

11. Washington Mystics

• The Good: Impressive Rookies
  Aaliyah Edwards and Julie Vanloo have been standout rookies, with Edwards shooting 49% from the field.
• The Bad: Injury Woes
  Significant injuries to Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin have hurt the Mystics, who also lost Elena Delle Donne and Natasha Cloud in the offseason.

12. Atlanta Dream

• The Good: Allisha Gray’s Skills Show
  Gray shone at All-Star Weekend, winning both the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest.
• The Bad: Offensive Struggles
  Atlanta has the lowest offensive rating in the league (94.1 points per 100 possessions) and ranks 11th in true shooting percentage (50.1)