2023 WNBA Power Rankings: Week 5

Brian Martin

The All-Star starters were announced on Sunday, with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces well represented with three selections: captain A’ja Wilson in the frontcourt and Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray in the backcourt. At 13-1 on the season, the Aces sit atop the standings and the power rankings for the fifth straight week.

While the Aces getting three All-Star starters was not shocking, the Connecticut Sun getting none was; Alyssa Thomas has played like an MVP candidate, let alone an All-Star starter. A few hours after being snubbed, Thomas made WNBA history by recording her fourth career regular-season triple-double, breaking a tie with Candace Parker and Sabrina Ionescu for the most all-time.

Thomas may have to keep racking up triple-doubles for Connecticut to help make up for the loss of Brionna Jones, who suffered a torn Achilles last Tuesday against Seattle. The Sun have won their two games since losing Jones, but her absence will test the depth of the Connecticut frontline with a lot of season left to play.  Injuries are an unfortunate but inevitable part of the game as most teams are dealing with missing players just a month into the season.

Rankings and stats through games played on Monday, June 26

 

  1. Las Vegas Aces (12-1)
  • Previous Ranking: 1
  • Last Week: (2-0) W at Mercury 99-79, W vs. Fever 101-88,
  • This Week: W vs. Fever (88-80) Thursday vs. Liberty, Sunday vs. Sun
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 113.0 (1); DefRtg: 93.8 (2); NetRtg: 19.2 (1); eFG%: 56.2 (1); Pace/40 Min: 82.36 (3)

The Aces continue to roll along as they picked up two wins last week – a road win over Phoenix followed by a win over Indiana at home. Saturday’s win over the Fever was the first of a four-game homestand for the defending champs, who are now a perfect 7-0 on their home floor following their Week 6 win over the Fever on Monday night. That record will be tested this week with matchups against two other top-three-ranked teams in the league: New York on Thursday and Connecticut on Sunday. The Sun are the only team to beat the Aces so far this season.

Oh, before we move on in the rankings, we have to showcase this behind-the-back, no-look dime from Gray to Wilson again.

 

  1. New York Liberty (9-3)
  • Previous Ranking: 3
  • Last Week: (2-0) W at Dream 110-80, W vs. Mystics 89-88 (OT)
  • This Week: Tuesday at Sun, Thursday at Aces, Sunday at Storm
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 107.3 (2); DefRtg: 97.6 (5); NetRtg: 9.8 (2); eFG%: 53.0 (2); Pace/40 Min: 81.07 (5)

Is it a coincidence that on the same day Sabrina Ionescu saw she was ranked 19th at her position by her fellow WNBA players that she went out and dropped 31 points, seven 3-pointers, six assists, three steals, and three rebounds in New York’s overtime win over Washington on Sunday?

In that same game, Jonquel Jones was held scoreless for the first time since July 2018. Jones will look to bounce back in a familiar spot as she returns to Mohegan Sun Arena for her first game back in Connecticut since being traded to New York in the offseason.

 

  1. Connecticut Sun (12-3)
  • Previous Ranking: 2
  • Last Week: (3-0) W at Storm 85-79, W at Lynx 89-68, W vs. Sky 96-72
  • This Week: Tuesday vs. Liberty, Saturday at Aces
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.1 (4); DefRtg: 95.5 (3); NetRtg: 7.6 (3); eFG%: 49.1 (4); Pace/40 Min: 80.66 (6)

After losing Brionna Jones in Tuesday’s win over Seattle, the Sun picked up wins over Minnesota and Chicago – two teams with a combined record of 9-18 on the season – to extend their win streak to four games. The Sun will be tested this week as they host New York on Tuesday before heading to Las Vegas on Saturday – two teams with a combined 22-4 record on the season. The Sun are the only team to knock off the Aces this season, but can they do it again while being shorthanded on the frontline?

 

  1. Washington Mystics (8-5)
  • Previous Ranking: 4
  • Last Week: (1-1) W at Sky 80-59, L at Liberty 89-88 (OT)
  • This Week: Wednesday vs. Dream, Friday at Dream, Sunday at Wings
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.6 (11); DefRtg: 91.6 (1); NetRtg: 4.0 (4); eFG%: 46.2 (9); Pace/40 Min: 79.81 (10)

The Sun aren’t the only team dealing with an injury to a member of their starting frontcourt. On Sunday, the Mystics not only lost a heartbreaker to New York in overtime – after leading in the game by as many as 17 points – Washington also lost sophomore forward Shakira Austin to a hip injury early in the fourth quarter. The extent of the injury and a timetable for her return is unknown at this time, but the Mystics may be without their second-leading scorer and top rebounder as they open the week against Atlanta.

 

  1. Los Angeles Sparks (7-7)
  • Previous Ranking: 6
  • Last Week: (2-1) L vs Lynx 67-61, W vs. Wings 76-74, W vs. Wings 93-83
  • This Week: Wednesday at Sky, Friday at Sky, Sunday at Dream
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.0 (7); DefRtg: 96.7 (4); NetRtg: 1.2 (5); eFG%: 47.5 (8); Pace/40 Min: 80.57 (7)

Over their past seven games, the Sparks have beaten Dallas three times (accounting for three of the Wings’ eight losses this season), lost to Minnesota three times (the Lynx have just one win that’s not against L.A.), and lost one game to Connecticut. Unfortunately for the Sparks, they don’t play the Wings again for nearly a month (July 22 is their final meeting of the season). After winning the final two games of a five-game homestand, the Sparks hit the road for three games this week, beginning with a two-game set in Chicago. All-Star starter Nneka Ogwumike had 19 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and two steals in L.A.’s win over Chicago on June 9 in L.A.

 

  1. Indiana Fever (5-8)
  • Previous Ranking: 7
  • Last Week: (1-1) W at Storm 80-68, L at Aces 101-88
  • This Week: L at Aces (88-80), Thursday at Mercury; Sunday vs. Sky
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.5 (3); DefRtg: 105.8 (11); NetRtg: -2.3 (7); eFG%: 48.7 (5); Pace/40 Min: 79.36 (12)

The Fever needed only 12 games to match last season’s win total as they earned their fifth win of the 2023 season on Thursday night in Seattle to improve to 5-6 on the season. That win was followed up by a road loss in Las Vegas on Saturday and another road loss in Vegas to start Week 6 on Monday. While the Fever are 0-3 against the defending champs, Indiana has the third-best point differential against Las Vegas this season (-8.7) as only one loss came in double figures. Aliyah Boston will be the sixth rookie to start in the All-Star Game and the first since 2014 (Chamique Holdsclaw, 1999; Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings, 2002; Maya Moore, 2011; and Shoni Schimmel, 2014).

 

  1. Atlanta Dream (5-7)
  • Previous Ranking: 5
  • Last Week: (0-2) L at Wings 85-73, L vs. Liberty 110-80
  • This Week: Wednesday at Mystics; Friday vs. Mystics; Sunday vs. Sparks
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.1 (6); DefRtg: 104.3 (10); NetRtg: -5.2 (8); eFG%: 47.6 (7); Pace/40 Min: 83.88 (1)

After winning three in a row to climb the power rankings a week ago, the Dream suffered back-to-back losses to Dallas (-12) and New York (-30) to drop two games below .500 and two spots down in this week’s rankings. While Atlanta’s offense has been average, they have not been able to simply outscore their opponents, as the Dream defense ranks 10th overall and allows the second-most points per game (88.3 ppg).

 

  1. Dallas Wings (6-8)
  • Previous Ranking: 8
  • Last Week: (1-2) W vs. Dream 85-73, L at Sparks 76-74, L at Sparks 93-83
  • This Week: Tuesday at Mercury; Sunday vs. Mystics
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.2 (5); DefRtg: 102.0 (6); NetRtg: -0.8 (6); eFG%: 45.6 (11); Pace/40 Min: 83.61 (2)

Dallas joins Las Vegas as the only two teams with multiple All-Star starters as the Wings duo of Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally join the Aces trio of Wilson, Young, and Gray. Ogunbowale and Sabally rank third and ninth, respectively, in scoring this season. After opening the season at 5-3, the Wings have lost five of their past six games, including three to the Los Angeles Sparks. Can the Wings turn things back around this week with matchups in Phoenix and home against Washington?

 

  1. Seattle Storm (4-9)
  • Previous Ranking: 10
  • Last Week: (1-2) L vs. Sun 85-79, L vs. Fever 80-68, W vs. Mercury 97-74
  • This Week: Tuesday at Lynx, Thursday vs. Lynx, Sunday vs. Liberty
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.8 (9); DefRtg: 103.2 (8); NetRtg: -7.5 (10); eFG%: 45.8 (10); Pace/40 Min: 81.42 (4)

The Storm avoided a five-game home losing streak with a much-needed win over Phoenix on Saturday. Jewell Loyd led the charge with 24 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Loyd not only continues to lead the WNBA in scoring (25.4 ppg), but she also earned a starting nod at this year’s All-Star Game.

 

  1. Minnesota Lynx (4-9)
  • Previous Ranking: 11
  • Last Week: (1-1) W at Sparks 67-61; L vs. Sun 89-68
  • This Week: Tuesday vs. Storm, Thursday at Storm, Saturday at Mercury
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 94.6 (12); DefRtg: 104.0 (9); NetRtg: -9.3 (11); eFG%: 45.1 (12); Pace/40 Min: 79.85 (9)

The Lynx went 1-1 this past week, and have gone 4-3 since their disastrous 0-6 start to the season, with three of their four wins this season coming against the Sparks. Minnesota will look to string some wins together this week with a home-and-home two-game set against the Storm (4-9) and a road game against the Mercury (2-10) in Phoenix – two teams with a combined 6-19 record.

 

  1. Chicago Sky (5-9)
  • Previous Ranking: 9
  • Last Week: (0-2) L vs. Mystics 80-59, L at Sun 96-72
  • This Week: Wednesday vs. Sparks, Friday vs. Sparks, Sunday at Fever
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.7 (10); DefRtg: 102.4 (7); NetRtg: -6.7 (9); eFG%: 47.7 (6); Pace/40 Min: 79.93 (8)

Chicago’s losing streak has now stretched to six in a row after losses to Washington and Connecticut this past week. It is tied for the longest losing streak in the WNBA this season (Minnesota May 19-June 1) and the sixth-longest in Sky history. The Sky look to get back on track with two home games against the Sparks to open the week, before heading to Indiana to face the Fever.

 

  1. Phoenix Mercury (2-10)
  • Previous Ranking: 12
  • Last Week: (0-2) L vs. Aces 99-79, L at Storm 97-74
  • This Week: Tuesday vs. Wings; Thursday vs. Fever; Saturday vs. Lynx
  • Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.5 (8); DefRtg: 109.5 (12); NetRtg: -13.0 (12); eFG%: 49.5 (3); Pace/40 Min: 79.55 (11)

The WNBA saw its first coaching change of the season as Vanessa Nygaard is out in Phoenix after one full season in 2022 and four weeks in 2023 and a cumulative 17-31 record. Nikki Blue has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season and will look for her first win (while simultaneously snapping Phoenix’s current five-game losing streak, this week with matchups against Dallas, Indiana, and Minnesota. On a more positive note to close this week’s rankings, Brittney Griner was named an All-Star starter on Sunday after being an honorary All-Star and captain a year ago.

Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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