WNBA.com Power Rankings: August 18, 2009
After last week's Wednesday appearance, the WNBA.com Power Rankings are back to the regularly scheduled time of Tuesday afternoon.
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 August 17.
| 2009 WNBA.com POWER RANKINGS: August 18 | |||
| TEAM (last ranking) | W / L | NOTES | |
| 1 |  Indiana (1) |
19-5 | The Fever remain atop the power rankings for the eighth consecutive week. We're running out of superlatives for this squad. They have the best record at 19-5, hold a six game lead in the East, the top defensive team (giving up an average of 72.25 ppg) and the leader in point differential (+5.71).
Looking back: 8/13 @ MIN (W 91-81), 8/15 vs DET (W 82-59) Looking ahead: 8/20 @ SAC, 8/22 @ SEA |
| 2 |  Phoenix (2) |
17-8 | The Mercury split a home-and-home series with San Antonio and maintains a 3.5-game lead over Seattle in the West with nine games to play. That comfortable lead has the Mercury in great shape to earn home-court advantage throughout the West playoffs. They currently hold a 10-3 mark at US Airways Center.
Looking back: 8/13 vs SAN (W 95-83), 8/15 @ SAN (L 106-89) Looking ahead: 8/18 @ CHI, 8/21 vs WAS |
| 3 |  Atlanta (4) |
13-11 | The Dream has taken the lead in the East's race for second place behind Indiana. Atlanta has won six of its last seven games as the Dream look to make the playoffs in just their second year in existence. Atlanta has three straight home games before closing the season with six of their last seven on the road.
Looking back: 8/13 vs DET (W 80-75), 8/15 vs SEA (W 88-79) Looking ahead: 8/20 vs SAN, 8/23 vs LA |
| 4 |  Seattle (3) |
13-11 | The Storm's grasp on the No. 2 spot in the West is getting looser and looser by the day. Seattle has lost four of its last five games and five of seven since the All-Star break. However, they still hold a two-game lead over San Antonio and Minnesota for home-court advantage with 10 games to play.
Looking back: 8/13 @ CON (L 64-53), 8/15 @ ATL (L 88-79) Looking ahead: 8/18 @ DET, 8/22 vs IND |
| 5 |  Connecticut (5) |
12-11 | As soon as it looked like Mike Thibault was going to have a complete squad to work with the Sun were hit with another injury and this one could be big as Asjha Jones will miss the next two weeks in order to rest a sore Achilles' tendon. The Sun play seven games during that stretch, which will likely make or break their playoff hopes.
Looking back: 8/13 vs SEA (W 64-53), 8/14 @ WAS (L 91-89) Looking ahead: 8/19 vs NY, 8/21 @ NY, 8/22 vs MIN |
| 6 |  Chicago (11) |
13-12 | The question of the week for the Sky is will they be able to carry over their homecourt advantage to their new home at Allstate Arena next year? The Sky are 9-2 at UIC Pavilion this year and close the season with six of their last nine games at home. Will winning their home games be enough for the Sky to hold onto the No. 4 spot and earn their first-ever playoff berth?
Looking back: 8/14 @ NY (W 88-77), 8/15 vs MIN (W 79-76) Looking ahead: 8/18 vs PHX, 8/22 vs DET |
| 7 |  Washington (6) |
12-12 | After picking up an important conference win over the Sun in double overtime, the Mystics turned around and lost to last-place Liberty on Sunday to finish the week 1-1. Up next for Washington is a four-game West Coast trip. The Mystics have one of the toughest schedules down the stretch and losses like the one they suffered on Sunday could come back to bite them.
Looking back: 8/14 vs CON (W 91-89), 8/16 vs NY (L 60-59) Looking ahead: 8/18 @ LA, 8/21 @ PHX, 8/22 @ SAC |
| 8 |  San Antonio (7) |
11-13 | The Silver Stars have been playing at a frenetic pace in the second half with nine games from July 28-Aug. 15, compiling a 4-5 record in that stretch. San Antonio has been off since Saturday's home win over Phoenix and does not play until Thursday when they face the Dream in Atlanta. The time off could give Dan Hughes and the Stars some time to rest and practice.
Looking back: 8/13 @ PHX (L 95-83), 8/15 vs PHX (W 106-89) Looking ahead: 8/20 @ ATL, 8/21 vs LA, 8/23 @ DET |
| 9 |  Los Angeles (10) |
9-13 | The common thought surrounding the Sparks is that with all of their talent it is only a matter of time before it all comes together. Well, with only three-and-a-half weeks remaining in the season, the Sparks are running out of time. However, over that stretch, LA will play 12 games (the most in the league along with Detroit) and the Sparks currently sit just one game back of the No. 4 spot in the West.
Looking back: 8/14 vs SAC (L 85-79), 8/15 @ SAC (W 78-61) Looking ahead: 8/18 vs WAS, 8/19 vs MIN, 8/21 @ SAN, 8/23 @ ATL |
| 10 |  Detroit (9) |
9-13 | After winning three out of four games to creep back into the playoff picture the Shock suffered a pair of road losses last week to push them 2.5 games behind fourth-place Chicago. Speaking of Chicago, the Shock face the Sky three times down the stretch and currently hold a 1-0 series lead. The defending champs do not have much margin for error, but with the way the schedule plays out, they do have an opportunity.
Looking back: 8/13 @ ATL (L 80-75), 8/15 @ IND (L 82-59) Looking ahead: 8/18 vs SEA, 8/22 @ CHI, 8/23 vs SAN |
| 11 |  Minnesota (8) |
11-13 | Last season the Lynx got off to a fast start before stumbling in the second half of the season and missing the playoffs. Having lost six of their seven games since the All-Star break, Minnesota appears to be mimicking last year's fall. On Wednesday, the Lynx face the Sparks for the first of two remaining meetings with the season series currently tied at a game apiece. If the Lynx hope to hold off the Sparks and qualify for the postseason, these games are critical.
Looking back: 8/13 vs IND (L 91-81), 8/15 @ CHI (L 79-76) Looking ahead: 8/19 @ LA, 8/22 @ CON, 8/23 @ NY |
| 12 |  New York (12) |
9-15 | The Liberty get the first crack at the Asjha Jones-less Connecticut squad with a pair of games this week. If New York has any hope of climbing back into the playoff picture, games against conference rivals are crucial to pick up as the Liberty face Connecticut three times, Chicago twice, Washington, Detroit and Indiana down the stretch.
Looking back: 8/14 vs CHI (L 88-77), 8/16 @ WAS (W 60-59) Looking ahead: 8/19 @ CON, 8/21 vs CON, 8/23 vs MIN |
| 13 |  Sacramento (13) |
7-18 | The Monarchs are 4.5 games out with only nine to play. While they are not mathematically eliminated, more than likely they are playing for pride and possibly playing the role of spoiler for the rest of the season. Sacramento closes the season with six games against Eastern Conference teams, a pair of games with the Lynx and a matchup with the Silver Stars.
Looking back: 8/14 @ LA (W 85-79), 8/15 vs LA (L 78-61) Looking ahead: 8/20 vs IND, 8/22 vs WAS |