WNBA.com Power Rankings: July 7, 2009
Like every Tuesday during the season, it's time for the latest edition of the WNBA.com Power Rankings.
Take a look at our full list below, then let us know what you think in our Fan Voice. Post your own Power Rankings and discuss them with your fellow fans.
Note: These rankings reflect games played through July 6.
| 2009 WNBA.com POWER RANKINGS: July 7 | |||
| TEAM (last ranking) | W / L | NOTES | |
| 1 |  Indiana (4) |
8-2 | No team has been able to beat the Fever on the court and no team can knock them off of the top spot in the Power Rankings. Indiana has stretched its win streak to eight games and counting. The only thing that seems to be able to slow the Fever down at this point is their schedule, as they play just one game over the next week. When a team is this hot, too much time off can be a bad thing.
Looking back: 7/2 vs. CON (W 67-53), 7/5 vs. ATL (W 78-74) Looking ahead: 7/10 @ CHI |
| 2 |  Phoenix (6) |
8-4 |
After dropping three out of four games, the Mercury bounced back with a pair of wins over the past week against Seattle and Los Angeles thanks in large part to the stellar play of Western Conference Player of the Week Cappie Pondexter, who averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in the Mercury's two wins.
Looking back: 7/1 vs. SEA (W 93-81), 7/5 @ LA (W 104-89) Looking ahead: 7/8 vs. CHI, 7/11 @ SAC |
| 3 |  Minnesota (3) |
7-4 | This week proved how small the margin of error is for Minneosta with Seimone Augustus out for the season and how important the play of Candice Wiggins is for the Lynx in her absence. Wiggins posted 23 points in Minnesota's win in Atlanta to open the week, but she scored just 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting in a home loss to the lowly Monarchs.
Looking back: 6/30 @ ATL (W 91-85), 7/2 vs. SAC (L 74-68) Looking ahead: 7/7 vs. WAS, 7/10 vs. SA, 7/12 @ SA |
| 4 |  Seattle (2) |
6-4 | The Storm had only one game this week and fell to the Mercury in Phoenix on Wednesday. Lauren Jackson continues to lead the league in scoring, but after opening the season with eight straight 20-plus point performances, she scored a total of 26 points in Seattle's last two games. The Storm are undefeated at home (3-0) and open a four-game homestand Tuesday against San Antonio.
Looking back: 7/1 @ Phoenix (L 93-81) Looking ahead: 7/7 vs. SA, 7/9 vs. SAC, 7/12 vs. CHI |
| 5 |  Washington (7) |
5-4 | The Mystics split their two games over the past week and wrap up a four-game road trip Tuesday in Minnesota before they begin a season-long, six-game homestand on Saturday. The Mystics will welcome the home cooking and also welcome back rookie Marissa Coleman, who returns after missing the last six games with an ankle injury.
Looking back: 6/30 @ SA (W 84-82), 7/3 @ ATL (L 72-65) Looking ahead: 7/7 @ MIN, 7/11 vs. LA |
| 6 |  Connecticut (4) |
5-4 | The Sun roster underwent a bit of a makeover over the past 10 days as Anete Jekabsone-Zogota and Sandrine Gruda came over from Europe to bolster Mike Thibault's squad. Gruda's return saw immediate results as she poured in 23 points in Connecticut's overtime win over Detroit in her first game with the team this season.
Looking back: 7/2 @ IND (L 67-53), 7/5 @ DET (W 95-92) Looking ahead: 7/7 @ ATL, 7/11 vs. DET |
| 7 |  Chicago (5) |
6-4 | The Sky currently sit second in the Eastern Conference standings, but there is some cause for concern in the Windy City. First, center Sylvia Fowles sat out of Friday's loss in San Antonio with a sore right knee. Fowles missed half of her rookie season last year with a left knee injury. Second, the schedule is about to get hectic as the Sky play four games in the next six days including matchups with the top teams in each conference - Phoenix and Indiana.
Looking back: 6/30 vs. SAC (W 74-72), 7/3 @ SA (L 85-72) Looking ahead: 7/7 @ SAC, 7/8 @ PHX, 7/10 vs. IND, 7/12@ SEA |
| 8 |  San Antonio (8) |
4-4 | The Silver Stars finished their recent four-game homestand with a 3-1 mark to improve their season record in San Antonio to 4-1. They now head out for a pair of road games against Western Conference foes Seattle and Minnesota in search of their first road win. San Antonio remains without the services of Shanna Crossley (torn meniscus) and Ann Wauters (will not join team until end of July).
Looking back: 6/30 vs. WAS (L 84-82), 7/3 vs. CHI (W 85-72) Looking ahead: 7/7 @ SEA, 7/10 @ MIN, 7/12 vs. MIN |
| 9 |  Los Angeles (10) |
3-6 | In case you haven't heard yet, Candace Parker is back for the Sparks. The reigning MVP made her season debut on Sunday against Phoenix and put up six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. While it will obviously take her some time to get back into playing shape, her presence on the court - even at less than 100 percent - makes a big impact for the Sparks, who are likely without Lisa Leslie until July 22. The Sparks kick off a season-long, seven-game road trip that spans the month of July on Thursday night in New York.
Looking back: 7/5 vs. PHX (L 104-89) Looking ahead: 7/9 @ NY, 7/11 @ WAS |
| 10 |  New York (12) |
3-6 | The Liberty snapped their three-game skid with a home win over the Shock on Thursday and look to finish up their three-game homestand strong with Los Angeles and Atlanta coming to The Garden this week. Shameka Christon is averaging a career-best 18.4 points per game, but will need more help from her teammates on offense as the Liberty remain the lowest scoring team in the league.
Looking back: 7/2 vs. DET (W 80-64) Looking ahead: 7/9 vs. LA, 7/11 vs. ATL |
| 11 |  Atlanta (8) |
5-7 | The Dream surpassed last season's win total (4) with their win over the Mystics on Friday. However, that was the only win for Atlanta in the past 10 days as the Dream dropped close contests to Minnesota and Indiana. After Tuesday's game against Connecticut, the Dream embark on a five-game road trip, where they look to improve on their 1-4 mark away from Atlanta.
Looking back: 6/30 vs. MIN (L 91-85), 7/3 vs. WAS (W 72-65), 7/5 @ IND (L 78-74) Looking ahead: 7/7 vs. CON, 7/11 @ NY |
| 12 |  Detroit (11) |
2-7 | The Shock continue to struggle and are in danger of digging themselves too deep of a hole to climb out of. After dropping an overtime contest to Connecticut on Sunday, Detroit now heads out on a four-game road trip, where they have yet to win a game this season. On a positive note, the Shock do not play again until Saturday, which should give Mahorn and the Shock time to practice.
Looking back: 7/2 @ NY (L 80-64), 7/5 vs. CON (L 95-92) Looking ahead: 7/11 @ CON |
| 13 |  Sacramento (13) |
2-8 | The Monarchs finished the month of June with a 1-8 record, but started off the month of July with an impressive win in Minnesota over the then-West leading Lynx. After opening the season with seven of their first 10 games on the road, the Monarchs play four out of their next six at Arco Arena as they look to climb closer to .500.
Looking back: 6/30 @ CHI (L 74-72), 7/2 @ MIN (W 74-68) Looking ahead: 7/7 vs. CHI, 7/9 @ SEA, 7/11 vs. PHX |