WNBA.com Power Rankings: July 5, 2005
The next ten days or so will bring about the halfway point for all 13 WNBA teams, including the unofficial halfway marker, the 2005 WNBA All-Star break. The Connecticut Sun have run away with the first half of the season, losing only twice in 14 games thus far. Teams still have one or two games left in the three days of action to go before the break, a time when competing hostilities and rivalries are temporarily suspended in the name of camaraderie and conference pride. Of course, there will be more games in the second half of the season than the first, and virtually every team is still alive in the playoff hunt. Did you really expect anything other than an all-out seven-week sprint to the finish line?
| 2005 WNBA.com POWER RANKINGS: Week Six | |||||
| |
TEAM (last) |
REC. |
NOTES | ||
| 1 |
| 12-2 | The
Sun keep winning, and last week's foes were nothing to make light of, either.
On Tuesday night, the Sun bested the leaders of the West at home, the Sacramento
Monarchs, for the second time in less than a week. The Sun remained undefeated
at home with a 71-56 win over the Lynx on Thursday. The victory lifted Connecticut�s
record to 6-0 on their home court and a league-best 12-2 overall. They may not
have been rewarded with a starter in the All-Star Game, but this is a team full
of stars that would rather have the accolades after the season rather than during
it. Upcoming: at New York | ||
| 2 |
| 11-5 | After
a tough, tough road swing through the Eastern Conference and then back west, the
Monarchs earned a well-deserved rest until the All-Star Game, which will have
good Monarchs representation. After dropping the game in Connecticut, the Monarchs
pulled off back-to-back wins in New York and Detroit on Thursday and Friday, but
ran out of gas in Seattle on Sunday. Upcoming: All-Star break | ||
| 3 |
| 8-5 |
Look out, Western Conference, because the Comets are packing heat. After another
four wins in a row, Sheryl Swoopes and co. are standing tall at second place.
Swoopes is playing like an MVP and Tina Thompson is back practicing with the team.
Without another load on his back to worry about this season (the Olympics), Van
Chancellor is working magic in Texas. Upcoming: at Detroit, at Indiana | ||
| 4 |
| 9-6 | Here
the Sparks come once again. All season long, they were criticizxed, questioned
and tossed around topics of disappointment conversations among fans, experts,
players and league personnel alike. But they are now tied for second in the Western
Conference. L.A. has won two in a row since the bad loss to Detroit and is just
two games behind the conference-leading Monarchs in the win column. Look out for
the Sparks in the second half - seriously - because the team has too much talent
not to challenge any and all comers. Upcoming: vs. New York | ||
| 5 |
| 8-5 | The
Fever only played one game last week, but lost that game and drop two spots this
week. Further proof that you have to make the most of your opportunities in this
league, the Fever lost at home to the Sparks as Kelly Miller had 12 points and
Tully Bevilaqua chipped in 11 for Indiana, which forced 21 turnovers and held
the Sparks to 41 percent (22-of-56) shooting. However, star Tamika Catchings,
who shot just 1-of-9 in a 57-55 triumph over the Minnesota Lynx in the previous
game, shot 4-of-17 in this one. Indiana is still in second place in the east,
but Washington is not too far off. | ||
| 6 |
| 8-7 | Speaking
of Washington, the Mystics' two wins in a row last week moves them up four spots
- that's how close things are. The Mystics swept the Charlotte Sting in a real
home-and-home last week. With the backcourt of the future (and present), Temeka
Johnson and Alana Beard, running the show and doing everything but passing legislation
and giving White House tours in D.C., there is no reason to think that this team
can't make the playoffs and do some damage. Upcoming: vs. Detroit | ||
| 7 |
| 8-7 | The
Lynx beat up on the visiting Silver Stars last Tuesday, but then ran into the
immoveable force that is the Connecticut Sun on Thursday. The visiting Lynx trailed
by only one with six minutes remaining in the first half Thursday, but they could
not overtake the Sun in a 71-56 defeat. After a sluggish start, Minnesota went
on a 16-7 run to come within 21-20 before Connecticut took over. Katie Smith led
the Lynx with 11 points and Svetlana Abrosimova netted 10. Upcoming: at Charlotte | ||
| 8 |
| 6-6 | The
Shock have been unable to find the early-season form that immediately vaulted
them to the top of the Rankings. This up-and-down team lost their only game of
the week last week, a visit from the Monarchs. The Monarchs were in the midst
of a long road trip, playing for the second straight night, but the Shock could
not deliver the knockout punch. In other news, Swin Cash is finally practicing
and should be back sometime after the All-Star break. Upcoming: vs. Houston, at Washington | ||
| 9 |
| 8-8 | The
defending champs had lost four games in a row on a brutal road trip before coming
home and winning against the conference-leading Monarchs on Sunday. Lauren Jackson
went off for 31 points in the win, but the Storm's total inconsistency so far
this season reminds us of last year's defending champs, the Shock, who were capable
of blowing out or getting blown out by any opponent until they turned it on down
the stretch to make the playoffs. Anne Donovan hopes that they don't wait that
long. Upcoming: at Phoenix | ||
| 10 |
| 5-7 | The
fireworks in New York were not over the East River for the 4th of July this weekend.
No, that was Liberty coach Pat Coyle going off about her team's recent lack of
success. The Liberty have now lost three games in a row, including a home loss
to the Monarchs and a road loss in San Antonio. If the Liberty are going to compete
in the second half, they need to have more than just one player score in double
figures per game. Upcoming: at Los Angeles, vs. Connecticut | ||
| 11 |
| 5-12 | A
little life in the Silver Stars after all, San Antonio is on a two-game winning
streak and could close out the first half of the season. Well, it would technically
be the start of the second half of their season. The Silver Stars, led by Marie
Ferdinand, have played more games than anyone else, which is already half of their
games. And twelve losses. Who knows how they will turn out in the second half
of the season, but they are making considerable strides despite the injuries and
bad luck. Upcoming: vs. Phoenix | ||
| 12 |
| 2-12 | The
Charlotte Sting may still be stuck on two wins at this point, and lost all three
games last week, but Janel McCarville is back in the lineup, Dawn Staley is an
All-Star and Tangela Smith and Sheri Sam have played well for the Sting. But Charlotte
still lacks a dependable perimeter game and traded away a budding, young star
in Nicole Powell. It really was a toss-up between the Sting and Mercury for the
final two spots. Upcoming: vs. Minnesota | ||
| 13 |
| 3-11 | Now
that Maria Stepanova is back, the Mercury have a formidible frontline that can
compete with any team in the league. Unfortunately they have lost five games in
a row and 11 overall, which will make every game in the second half a do-or-die
contest if the Mercury want to have any chance at making the playoffs. The lights
may have already faded out for this season, but the nucleus is in place for next
season once this team learns how to play together. Upcoming: at San Antonio | ||
