WNBA Power Rankings: Who’s liquidating the routine season strong?

We’ve struck the last stretch of the WNBA season and the space in between the haves and have-nots is broader than ever. Of the 7 groups that have actually been gotten rid of from the playoffs, 6 are coming off losses, and 5 have losing streaks of a minimum of 4 video games. Just one playoff group isn’t presently on a win streak. 19459155 How do all of the league’s groups compare at this moment? Let’s have a look at the last regular-season power rankings.

19459155 WNBA Power Rankings 19659002 Position 19659004 Group

19659006 Tape 19659007 19659008 Previous Ranking 19459164 1 19659010 19459164 Golden State Valkyries 19659011 31-11 19459164 1 19659013 2 19659014 19459164 Minnesota Lynx 19659015 19459164 32-10 2 19659017 19459164 3 19459164 Las Vegas Aces 19459164 29-13 19659020 3 19659021 4 19659022 Atlanta Dream 19659023 28-14 19659024 5 5 19659026 New York City Liberty 19659027 19459164 26-16 19459164 6 6 Indiana Fever 19659031 19459164 27-15 19659032 4 19459164 7 Dallas Wings 19659035 19459164 26-16 19459164 7 19659037 19459164 8 Washington Mystics 26-16 19659040 8 19659041 19459164 9 19459164 Los Angeles Sparks 19659043 16-26 10 19659045 19459164 10 Phoenix Mercury 15-27 19659048 12 19659049 11 19659050 Portland Fire 19459164 16-27 19459164 9 19659053 12 19659054 19459164 Chicago Sky 15-27 19459164 11 19459164 13 19659058 Connecticut Sun 19459164 10-32 19659060 13 19659061 14 Toronto Tempo 19659063 19459164 11-31 14 19459164 15 19659066 Seattle Storm 19659067 19459164 8-35 15 The Liberty appear like competitors once again

New york city Liberty forward Breanna Stewart|IMAGN IMAGES through Reuters Connect 19659070 It’s been an up-and-down season for the New York Liberty, as injuries and shooting problems have actually caused a great deal of disparity. It looks like New York may be striking its stride at simply the ideal time, as the group had a relatively persuading 93-81 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Friday, then blew the doors off the Tempo on Sunday. 19459155

The existing beginning system– Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Leonie Fiebich, Pauline Astier and Sabrina Ionescu– does an excellent task negating a few of the earlier spacing issues, and with the majority of the essential gamers healthy (sans Satou Sabally, who is out for the rest of the season due to a concussion), the group has the ability to lean on its finest gamers. All 5 beginners dipped into least 27 minutes versus the Lynx. 19459155 Are there still issues here? Sure! Stewart’s 3-point shooting has actually been a concern, and Astier is going to be playing in her very first WNBA postseason. You have a lineup with 2 previous MVPs in the frontcourt, and that’s a huge benefit in a playoff series. Dallas keeps winning, however … Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers|IMAGN IMAGES by means of Reuters Connect 19659071

The Dallas Wings have actually now extended their winning streak to 6 video games. Sure, a few of that has to do with who the group has actually played, as just one win because period protested a playoff group, however 6 wins in a

row is stlll outstanding, specifically when you consider this group still has many concerns 19459155 One of those concerns is whether the group will have Alanna Smith back in time for the playoffs. Without her the group is depending on Maddy Siegrist and Alyssa Clark more, which has actually operated in little dosages however looks like it may not be sustainable throughout a playoff series. Versus the Mercury, for instance, Clark played 19 minutes and went 0-for-5 from the flooring. The basic absence of shooting with Azzi Fudd sidelined is another issue that, for the minute, hasn’t truly raised its head much, however it’s one the group will need to compete with. Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale are your only gamers who can actually score off the dribble, and there’s likewise not a reputable catch-and-shoot risk on the lineup either. In the meantime, the Wings keep winning, however there’s factor to question that continuing in the playoffs. 19459155 The World Cup break eliminated the non-playoff groups

Toronto Tempo forward Laura Juskaite|IMAGN IMAGES by means of Reuters Connect

We took roughly 3 weeks off for the FIBA World Cup and upon going back to the court, something was extremely clear: the groups with absolutely nothing to bet really

much understood they had absolutely nothing to bet. 19459155 Non-playoff groups have actually been getting damaged because the league returned. Saturday’s 87-82 win by the Wings over the Mercury is the only video game in between a playoff group and non-playoff group that’s been chosen by single-digit points. Every other contest hasn’t been close. 19459155 This should not come as a surprise. Part of winning in sports has to do with concentration, and if you have no playoff shot and need to go take 3 weeks off, you’re not going to be focused on winning video games when you return. It’s like working throughout the week in between Christmas and New Year’s Day. 19459155 19459164 Include us as a favored source on Google 19459220 Follow