I’m still buzzing from Sunday’s electric Wings-Fever game. Almost every game has playoff-seeding implications as we near the end of the regular season. There’s much more at stake, and you can feel the players’ eagerness through the screen. I love it here. 

Let’s keep the season tradition going: Here’s one word to describe each team as we head into September. 

Stats and analysis as of Sunday, September 1.

1. New York Liberty (27-6)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week: W at Wings 84-70, L at Sparks 88-94, W at Storm 98-85
• This Week: Thursday vs. Storm, Sunday vs. Aces
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 107.1 (1); DefRtg: 94.9  (1); NetRtg: 12.2  (1); eFG%: 52.5 (1)

Versatile. That was the word Liberty fan, Stan, had for his team, and I agree. What’s been making New York so special is the variety of ways they can hurt opponents. Prominent MVP-level players in the paint with Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones; snipers from beyond the arc in Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, and Kayla Thorton; slashers like Betnijah Laney-Hamilton; and dishers like Courtney Vandersloot makes for a solid number one seed. (As a team, they are leading in nearly every advanced statistical category.) Then, when you mix all those pieces with a sheer hunger to return to the WNBA Finals? Frightening. 

After a recent steamroll of the Los Angeles Sparks by 35 points, the Sparks handed the Liberty an L by double digits, only New York’s second loss since early July. Stewart’s 32 points (11-19 FGs, 50% from 3) weren’t enough over a Sparks squad with little to lose. 

Also, you want to talk about versatility; this basket by Ionescu (while on her knees!) indeed shows how she’s a shot-making wizard:

SABRINA FROM THE FLOOR WTF?!?! pic.twitter.com/4HuaXCTWRj

— Janaé Sims (@auntienae95) August 31, 2024

2. Connecticut Sun (24-8)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: L at Fever 80-84, W at Mystics 96-85, W vs. Storm 93-86 
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Storm, Friday vs. Aces, Sunday at Sparks
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.8  (5); DefRtg: 94.9 (2); NetRtg: 7.8 (3); eFG%: 48.4  (8)

Complete. The Sun storylines last season were focused on how they still needed a few pieces. With Bri Jones injured only a quarter into the season, plus not having that knockdown shooter from the outside, Connecticut came up short of a championship yet again. Now, they feel more like a complete threat. Their defense has consistently hovered a league-best, but now their offense is catching up. 

They did drop a game to Indiana to start, but in a back-to-back late last week, the Sun posted season-highs from outside the arc and inside the paint. Saturday’s win over the Mystics, they shot the lights out (14-23 for 60.9%) from 3. New addition “Money” Marina Mabrey scored 21 points, drilling five long balls—only one away from a career-high.

Then, in Sunday’s win against the Storm, the Sun scored a season-high 56 points in the paint. Brionna Jones is healthy this season and a big reason why the roster feels complete. In the victory, Jones scored a season-high 26 points, six rebounds, one assist, and two steals, the most she’d scored since June 15, 2023. 

Something to watch: Alyssa Thomas went down with an apparent shin injury early in Saturday’s game. She returned and played Sunday but went down holding it again. Thomas finished the game, so hopefully, it’s nothing serious.

3. Minnesota Lynx (24-9)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: W at Mercury 89-76, L at Wings 76-94, W vs. Sky 79-74
• This Week: Wednesday at Mercury, Friday at Wings, Sunday vs. Sky
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.0 (4); DefRtg: 95.0 (3); NetRtg: 8.1 (2); eFG%: 52.0 (3)

Dangerous. “I don’t want to see them in the playoffs ’cause they’re surging… You never want to play who’s peaking,” WNBA legend Sue Bird said about the Lynx in her podcast A Touch More. “Courtney Williams, that was her day, but you’re going to look back on box scores and say, ‘Oh, that was Kayla McBride’s day. Oh, that was Alanna Smith’s day.’ Everybody at some point is going to have their day, and that’s what makes them dangerous.”

It’s a universal sentiment that Minnesota is not the team you want to see in the post-season. They are capable of a deep playoff run this season, and one of those reasons is their depth. Kayla McBride scored 19 points on the team in Wednesday’s win over Phoenix. Then, in Friday’s loss to Dallas—which snapped their seven-game winning streak—Napheesa Collier led with 17 points and ten rebounds. Finally, Courtney Williams’ 22 points edged them to victory in Sunday’s match-up with Chicago. They have the luxury of spreading the love; not many teams can say that.

4. Las Vegas Aces (20-12)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: L at Wings 90-93, W vs Dream 83-72, W at Mercury 97-79
• This Week: Tuesday vs Sky, Friday at Sun, Sunday at Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 106.2 (2); DefRtg: 101.0 (6); NetRtg: 5.2 (5); eFG%: 52.2 (2)

Wrinkled. It’s not only because of A’ja Wilson’s wrinkled, bottom-of-the-drawer white T-shirts she’s been wearing for her pre-game fits. The Aces are 5-5 in their last ten games, losing to beatable teams like Chicago and Dallas. They’ve hit a wrinkle. Teams are giving the reigning back-to-back champs their absolute best every night, but they aren’t looking as cohesive as they were when they hoisted up the trophy. 

One thing is for sure: Wilson continues to show everyone why her third MVP award should be unanimous. After her 41-point explosion on Sunday versus the Mercury—her second 40+ performance in a week—the league’s leading scorer is on a mission. Still, with all the effort she’s putting in night after night, it’s becoming evident that she can’t do it alone. 

“Everything that I’ve ever asked her to do, she just goes and does it and makes it look so easy. It is not easy,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said. “And that’s when you know you have a special player, Steph Curry, shooting 3s. He makes it look easy. That stuff is difficult that he’s doing. And I think (Wilson) is a similar, just special, generational talent.”

5. Seattle Storm (19-13)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week: L vs. Mystics 72-74, W vs. Dream 85-81, L vs. Liberty 85-98, L vs. Sun 86-93
• This Week: Tuesday at Sun, Thursday at Liberty, Saturday vs Mercury
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.6 (8); DefRtg: 96.3 (4); NetRtg: 5.4  (4); eFG%: 47.2 (10)

Potential. I haven’t decided yet if “potential” is good or bad this late in the season. Seattle has already clinched a playoff spot, which was out of the question during last season’s 11-29 sputter. So, that’s a positive! Unfortunately, other teams are just playing better right now. It’s only new-signee Gabby Williams’ first week on the job, so once she’s re-acclimated to Noelle Quinn’s system and learns how to flow with Jewell Loyd, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Nneka Ogwumike, that’s where I see the potential. But can it turn around with only eight games remaining in the regular season? They match up twice in the final stretch with the Sun, Liberty, Aces, and Mercury. They need to win most of those battles to have positive momentum heading into the postseason. 

After last Monday’s two-point loss to the Mystics, Diggins-Smith was heated. “In this league, if you aren’t ready to play, you’ll get beat every f—ing night. [The Mystics] were ready to play and we weren’t, on both sides of the basketball. They deserved to win it if we were going to play like that. We need to be hitting our stride right now [and] we’re not there,” Diggins-Smith told reporters. “It’s unacceptable how we’re playing on both sides of the basketball.”

We’ll wait and see if those words fire this Storm team up for this last push of the regular season.

6. Indiana Fever (17-16)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: W vs Sun 84-80, W at Wings 100-93
• This Week: Wednesday vs Sparks, Friday vs Lynx, Sunday vs Dream
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.2 (3); DefRtg: 106.8 (11); NetRtg: -3.6 (7); eFG%: 51.8 (4)

Peaking. And at the right time. I can’t stress enough how different this Fever team is from the start of the season to now. They were 1-8 to start. Since then, they’ve gone 16-8 over their last 24 games and are now sitting third in offensive rating. 

Caitlin Clark’s outstanding rookie play is vital to that success; she’s been mesmerizing. Last week, she added the “Most 3-pointers Made By a Rookie” record to her resume. She posted 31 points and 12 assists and 28 points and 12 assists in their two games, respectively.

rook's got range 🏹

Caitlin Clark's 86 three-pointers is a new @WNBA rookie record. pic.twitter.com/aPB1WeH5mT

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 28, 2024

But Kelsey Mitchell has been sensational, averaging the most points per game since the break. She exploded for 38 points in Sunday’s showdown with Dallas. Mitchell’s on one of those runs where you’re more surprised by a miss than a make; she’s a bonafide bucket-getter, and now she’s en route to playing in the postseason for the first time in her career. 

Lexie Hull being inserted into the starting lineup has also made an enormous difference. She’s known for her defense, but lately, she’s been able to knock down open looks from 3, which spreads the floor for the Fever. Especially since Clark, Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston garner so much attention. 

Indiana is coming up on a six-game homestand to finish the season. They are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. A few more wins to solidify seeding will have Christie Sides high-stepping on the sidelines.

7. Phoenix Mercury (16-17)

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week: L vs. Liberty 70-84, L vs. Lynx 76-89, L vs. Aces 79-97
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Dream, Thursday vs. Mystics, Saturday at Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.9  (6); DefRtg: 104.9 (9); NetRtg: -3.0 (6); eFG%: 50.8  (5)

Frustrating. According to Mercury fan Crys on X, her team’s three straight losses have left her disgruntled. And I don’t think she’s the only one. The Mercury team picked up at least five technicals last week alone, with Diana Taurasi and Natasha Cloud each reaching their 7th of the season. Taurasi’s seventh technical foul was rescinded, so Cloud will be suspended in Phoenix’s next game against the Dream, and, as the WNBA rules state, she will be suspended one game for every other tech they receive from here on out (9th, 11th, 13th, etc.). It’s not ideal as they fight for a playoff spot. Phoenix’s 33 total techs set a new single-season WNBA record as a team. 

“It’s going to take a lot of determination by us if we want to improve on things,” Taurasi said after their 21-point loss to Las Vegas. “It takes a village. Honestly, we can do it. In the last two games, I think we haven’t done those little things that make our offense work. In this sport, you think, ‘Oh, we’re playing well,’ but there are certain things to make it work. Basketball is a two-way street. Defensively, we haven’t been good, and we’ve been blocking up the ball a lot. It’s a two-way street, and we haven’t been put together on either side.”

8. Atlanta Dream (11-21)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week: L vs. Fever 79-84, L at Storm 81-85, L at Aces 72-83, W at Sparks 80-62
• This Week: Tuesday at Mercury, Friday vs. Wings, Sunday at Fever
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.6  (12); DefRtg: 100.6 (5); NetRtg: -5.0 (9); eFG%: 45.4 (11)

Dreaming. If you have motion sickness, look away from Atlanta’s win/loss column. It’s up and down and makes a few sharp turns. After their eight-game winless July, many could have counted the Dream out. But, post-Olympic break, a healthier, more determined team emerged, and they won three games in a row for the first time this season. Then, recently, a four-game losing skid again. Still, the positivity remains high. 

“…At the end of the day, I don’t care about the score in the loss; I just care about the character shown throughout the game,” Tina Charles said after the Dream’s loss to the Fever. “The resilience we showed. Nia Coffey coming in, the way she played … Rhyne [Howard] not giving up on herself on the offensive end. … All things we can take with us as we keep playing through the remainder of the season. … Proud of our resilience and not folding.”

Atlanta got back in the winning column after a decisive win in LA on Sunday. They’re still dreaming of that 8th seed over Chicago; it’s in reach. They’ll need to keep stacking wins down the stretch. 

9. Chicago Sky (11-18)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week: L vs. Mystics 70-74, L vs. Fever 81-100, L at Lynx 74-79
• This Week: Tuesday at Aces, Friday vs. Sparks, Sunday vs. Wings
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.5  (9); DefRtg: 101.8 (7); NetRtg: -4.3 (8); eFG%: 45.4 (12)

Clinging. With six straight losses, the Sky are holding onto the 8th seed for dear life. It’s felt like a rollercoaster. On the one hand, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso—who finished Sunday’s loss to Minnesota with 17 points, 19 rebounds, and 22 points, nine rebounds, respectively—are exceeding their rookie expectations. Conversely, a team sickness has spread through the locker room—Chennedy Carter missed every game last week due to illness.

Unfortunately, their schedule isn’t letting up. Some teams (hey, Wings and Dream!) are gunning for the Sky’s current spot in the standings, and they’re playing much better.

Positive: The Sky has a new mascot! Her name is, well, Skye, and she’s rocking blue braids! I need to see her and Ellie have a fit-off immediately. 

So, about those hints…
We have a new mascot:

Skye the Lioness!

📰https://t.co/zIbN4uMaBO pic.twitter.com/EsQ3gfRkrn

— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) August 26, 2024

10. Dallas Wings (9-23)

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week: W vs. Aces 93-90, W vs. Lynx 94-76, L vs. Fever 93-100
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Mystics, Friday at Dream, Sunday at Sky
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.7  (7); DefRtg: 110.2 (12); NetRtg: -8.5 (12); eFG%: 49.1 (7)

Rising. In a must-win game against the Fever on Sunday, Arike Ogunbowale went all the way off. She made five 3’s in the first quarter, which tied a WNBA single-quarter record. Ogunbowale, the league’s second-leading scorer, finished with 34, and her nine total 3-pointers tied a WNBA single-game record, but her Wings still came up short. Satou Sabally added 25 points, and Natasha Howard ended with 18 points and nine assists.  

The positive: Dallas is right there. They started the week with two notable wins over Las Vegas and Minnesota. Even just last month that would’ve been a shocking sentence. At only two games away from that coveted 8th seed, the Wings continue to rise in the standings, especially with teams like Chicago and Phoenix falling fast.

11. Washington Mystics (9-23)

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week: W at Storm 74-72, W at Sky 74-70, L vs Sun 85-96
• This Week: Tuesday at Wings, Thursday at Mercury, Sunday vs Lynx
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.2 (11); DefRtg: 102.9 (8); NetRtg: -5.7 (10); eFG%: 50.2 (6)

Glimpses. We’ve seen glimpses of a fully healthy, solid Washington squad recently, and boy, are they fun to watch. With two wins last week, the Mystics were able to string three wins together for the first time this season—both clutch games within four points. 

Brittney Sykes erupted for 20 points (including two game-winning free throws), six rebounds, and two steals in the win in Seattle. It’s easy to see the Mystics are a much different team when Sykes is this team’s motor. But the injury bug hasn’t been kind; she’s only played 10 games this season. In Saturday’s matchup with the Sun, fans held their breath again as Sykes was helped off the floor with another apparent leg injury. She did return, finishing with nine points in the loss. 

What will the remaining eight games look like for Sykes and Shakira Austin (who has only played 11 games this season)? Do they keep playing despite their playoff hopes dwindling by the day? Or do they rest to ensure no more injuries sprout?

12. Los Angeles Sparks (7-25)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week: W vs. Liberty 94-88, L vs. Dream 62-80 
• This Week: Wednesday at Fever, Friday at Sky, Sunday vs. Sun
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.2 (10); DefRtg: 106.0 (10); NetRtg: -8.8 (12); eFG%: 48.0 (9)

Flickering. At this point in the Sparks season, they should be seeking and holding close any positives. Dearica Hamby’s All-Star season is one of those things. With still eight games remaining, Hamby has shattered her previous totals in points, steals, assists, and rebounds. Her usage rating is the highest it’s ever been, and she could receive a few votes for Most Improved Player of the Year. The Sparks’ front office’s first off-season bullet point must be finding more help for her. 

Wins like LA’s topping the top-seeded New York Liberty last Wednesday and finally breaking a dismal seven-game losing streak are monumental for a struggling team’s confidence. They allow something to point to and say, “Look what we are capable of doing!” 

Two days before that Liberty win, Coach Curt Miller posted this on X: “As a coach, if you own 13-conference titles in 13-years, 2-WNBA Coy, the best record in the W over a 6-season stretch, & 2-final appearances.. you better own when you are having a poor year. I own it, need to be better for our young team.” 

I respect it; the only thing these Sparks can aim to do is finish the season strong.