WNBA.com Power Rankings: June 21, 2005
In something of a quiet week around the WNBA, several teams stayed put in the Power Rankings while others continued to rise and fall. At least a few teams played only one game and got a much-needed break heading into the upcoming week. But strap on the seat belt, because some of the best teams so far this season square off, including the top two teams, Sacramento and Connecticut at ARCO on Friday night.
| 2005 WNBA.com POWER RANKINGS: Week Four | |||||
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| 1 |
| 8-1 | If
there was any doubt that this is the top team in the Rankings once again, a 20-point
dismantling of the Sparks in Los Angeles on Monday night should be all the convincing
you need. As long as the Sun keep winning, they have nothing to worry about. That
makes eight in a row. They only one game last week prior to the sparks game, yet
another solid win at home over the Detroit Shock to avenge their only loss of
the season. Now they stay out west for a real test. Upcoming: at Seattle, at Sacramento | ||
| 2 |
| 8-2 | The
monarchs kept pace with the Sun, winning their eighth game at home over the Lynx
on Friday. Yolanda Griffith moved closer to a personal milestone, now just three
points shy of becoming the eighth player in WNBA history to score 3,000 career
points after netting 12 in the victory. Sacramento jumped out early behind hot
shooting and led by 20 in the first half. Nicole Powell led four Monarchs in double
figures with 18 points and DeMya Walker added 14. Upcoming: vs. Connecticut, at Washington | ||
| 3 |
| 7-4 | The
Fever continue their rise as well, moving up again this week. Tamika Catchings
was the WNBA Player of the Week after putting up one of the most dominant performances
so far this season against the Shock on Wednesday, tallying 20 points, 16 rebounds,
eight assists and six steals. The Fever beat the Stinf the next night. Catchings
then hit a 3-pointer to force overtime and Deanna Jackson sank a soft jumper to
force a second extra period in Saturday's game in Washington, but the Fever couldn't
keep up with the host Mystics in the game's final five minutes, falling 88-78. Upcoming: vs. Minnesota | ||
| 4 |
| 6-4 | After
losing at home to the Lynx in their only game of the week, the Storm have been
off since, allowing Sue Bird to recover and get used to playing with the face
mask that she will be forced to wear for the rest of the season. Upcoming: vs. Connecticut, at Los Angeles | ||
| 5 |
| 6-5 | After
a disappointing start, teams should have knew better than to count out the Sparks.
And they were right. Beginning their slow ascent from the middle of the pack back
near the top, the Sparks still have their work cut out for them with a short bench,
but Chamique Holdsclaw put together a nice string of games in a row and is playing
like an MVP once again. Of course, then they go and put forth a game like they
did against the Sun at home on Monday and you have no idea what to make of this
team. Upcoming: vs. Houston, vs. Minnesota | ||
| 6 |
| 5-4 | From
1 to 3 to 6 in the past few weeks, the Shock are falling steadily like Roberty
Horry playoff three-pointers. The Shock have now lost three in a row and are beginning
to look like the inconsistent team of a season ago. Without Swin Cash in the lineup,
the Detroit has lacked a consistent third scorer in any game. At least they are
staying competitive... Detroit trimmed a 17-point deficit to five in the final
minute, but couldn't catch Connecticut in Saturday's 73-63 road loss. Upcoming: vs. Washington, vs. Los Angeles | ||
| 7 |
| 4-4 | In
their only game of the week, the Liberty won their third straight at home and
kept a pesky Phoenix team in check with stifling defense on Diana Taurasi and
Anna DeForge. Vickie Johnson ecliped the 3,000-point mark in her career and Ann
Wauters had another big game, notching her second straight double-double with
19 points and 10 rebounds. Upcoming: vs. San Antonio, at Charlotte | ||
| 8 |
| 5-5 |
The Comets lost to the Sparks on Wednesday to fall below .500 for the first time
all season, but rebounded in their next game to draw even once again. A week off
in between the bookends of an unconventional home-and-home, the Comets defeated
the Silver Stars in San Antonio on Saturday, and face the same team again at home...
on Saturday. Upcoming: vs. San Antonio | ||
| 9 |
| 5-5 | The
Lynx have been up and down this season, and have pretty much gone as Katie Smith
has gone. When her shots are falling, the team wins. When she struggles, the team
has a hard time finding another player to lead the way offensively. Minnesota
went 1-2 in the week that was, winning at Seattle, but losing in Sacramento and
Los Angeles. Upcoming: vs. Phoenix, at Indiana | ||
| 10 |
| 4-6 | The
Mystics won another big game last week against the Indiana Fever at home, but
remain two games below .500 for the season. Charlotte Smith-Taylor only scored
11 points, but eight of them came in the second overtime period as she pulled
away on Saturday. Washington shot 49 percent from the field and had four other
players score in double figures. Temeka Johnson led the way with 21 points on
9-of-11 shooting and also handed out a team-high seven assists. Upcoming: vs. Phoenix, at Detroit | ||
| 11 |
| 3-7 | The
Mercury recorded a split last week, but it was not enough to get them out of a
double-digit ranking. On Wednesday, Pehonix got on track with a 76-62 win at home
against San Antonio. In the subsequent game, Kamila Vodichkova, Diana Taurasi
and Penny Taylor all scored more than 10 points, but it wasn't enough to propel
the Mercury past the host Liberty in the Dads and Daughters Day game on ABC on
Saturday. The road trip continues with back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Upcoming: at Washington, at Minnesota | ||
| 12 |
| 2-9 | Forget
about the two losses last week. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse
for the Silver Stars, the teams leading scorer and rebounder, forward LaToya Thomas,
injured her shoulder and is out for the remainder of the season. The Silver Stars
have a chance to bond and come together on their upcoming four-game road trip. Upcoming: at New York, at Charlotte | ||
| 13 |
| 1-8 | The
Sting did not have much of a chance to climb out of the cellar this past week,
with only one game on the schedule. But in losing to the Fever at home on Thursday,
the Stign remain the team with the fewest number of wins to date this season.
A visit by the Silver Stars could be just what the doctor ordered, though San
Antonio did notch their first win of the season against the Sting a few weeks
back. Upcoming: vs. San Antonio, vs. New York | ||
