WNBA Power Rankings: June 1, 2021

Brian Martin

We’re just over two weeks into the 2021 WNBA season, giving us a solid first impression of this year’s field.

We’ve seen the debut of new-look teams, fast starts, slow starts, frustrating injuries, coaching changes and the calendar just hit June. Here’s a look at how the teams stack up at the moment.

Note: All records and statistics are through games played on Sunday, May 31

1. Seattle Storm (5-1)

The defending champions hold the top spot in the rankings with their league-best 5-1 record. The team has replaced two starters from last year’s title team, just had a coaching change with Dan Hughes retiring and Noelle Quinn taking over, but the core of Breanna Stewart (22.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg), Jewell Loyd (19.7 ppg, 4.8 apg) and Sue Bird (11.7 ppg, 5.5 apg) has not changed and neither has the team’s success.

2. Las Vegas Aces (5-2)

The only team to beat the Storm this year is the preseason title favorites from Las Vegas. The Aces have won three straight games and own the league’s top offensive (109.8) and net (15.1) efficiency rankings thanks to a pair of blowout wins over Indiana over the past four days. Led by reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson (18.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg), the star-studded roster is balanced with six players that average in double figures and have played in all seven games – and another in Kelsey Plum, who has missed time with Team USA 3×3 commitments, but should be back with the team soon.

3. Connecticut Sun (6-2)

The Sun got off to a 5-0 start before dropping two of their last three games in overtime, including Sunday’s loss to the previous winless Lynx. Still, at 6-2, the Sun have the second-best record in the league and an early MVP candidate in Jonquel Jones, who ranks sixth in scoring (20.3 ppg), first in rebounding (10.5 rpg) and seventh in field goal percentage (54.0%) and sixth in 3-point percentage (48.7%). The Sun are the only WNBA team to reach six wins so far this season; in 2020, it took the Sun 14 games to earn their sixth win; in 2021, it took half that time (seven games).

4. Atlanta Dream (4-2)

The Dream also endured a coaching change this year as Nicki Collen left the team during training camp to take the head coaching position at Baylor. After the coaching shake up and two losses to open the season, the Dream have bounced back with four straight wins – all coming by seven points or less. Courtney Williams is tied with New York’s Sabrina Ionescu for the lead in clutch scoring with 20 points. Williams is shooting 4-5 from 3-point range in clutch moments, including the game-winner with 1.6 seconds left in overtime to beat Ionsecu and the Liberty on Saturday.

5. New York Liberty (5-2)

Between the 5-2 start from the Liberty and the Knicks and Nets both in the NBA playoffs, it’s a good time for New York hoops at the moment. The Liberty have owned the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award this season with Sabrina Ionescu taking the honor in Week 1 and Betnijah Laney getting the nod for Week 2. While most of the Liberty news has been positive, they will be without Natasha Howard for about another month as she was diagnosed with an MCL sprain last week that is expected to keep her sidelined for 4-6 weeks.

6. Phoenix Mercury (3-3)

First, can we talk about Diana Taurasi playing two games and averaging 15 points per game with a fractured sternum? After suffering the injury on May 16 against the Sun, Taurasi played the next two games before having a CT scan that revealed the small fracture, which will keep her out for the next 3-4 weeks. In each of her past two games, Brittney Griner has scored 27 points on 12-16 shooting and grabbed at least 11 rebounds, helping her earn Western Conference Player of the Week honors. With Taurasi out, the Mercury’s other two All-Stars – Griner (17.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg) and Skylar Diggins-Smith (17.2 ppg, 5.8 apg) – will be called upon to carry even more of the load in Phoenix.

7. Los Angeles Sparks (2-2)

The Sparks struggled to start the season – losing their first two games by a combined 51 points – but a break in the schedule worked out in their favor. After a full week between games, the Sparks have bounced back with a pair of wins over the Sky in Chicago last week to even their record at 2-2. Of course, the highly anticipated matchup with former face of the franchise Candace Parker will have to wait as she has been out for the Sky since the season opener. Nneka Ogwumike leads the Sparks at 18.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, while newcomers like Amanda Zahui B, Nia Coffey and Erica Wheeler have made their mark; Wheeler came through with some clutch buckets in L.A.’s overtime win on Sunday.

8. Chicago Sky (2-4)

Since appearing in Chicago’s season-opening win over Washington, the trio of Candace Parker (ankle), Allie Quigley (hamstring) and Stefanie Dolson (Olympic commitment) has not played since. After opening the season 2-0, the Sky have dropped four straight games – all at home against New York, Atlanta and twice to Los Angeles. It’s hard to drop the Sky too far in the rankings because their roster is loaded with talent when healthy, but they need to get Parker and Quigley back on the court soon to avoid falling any further. One bright spot to highlight for the Sky, through their first six games, the Sky lead the league in defensive efficiency (92.9), nearly a 10 points per 100 possessions improvement over last year’s eighth ranked defense (102.7).

9. Washington Mystics (2-4)

Earlier we talked about Jonquel Jones playing like an MVP candidate; well another player to add to that list is Tina Charles, who leads the WNBA in scoring (26.7 ppg, a 3.3 ppg lead over No. 2) and ranks ninth in rebounding (8.3 rpg). However, Charles has not seen the team success as the Mystics are just 2-4 to start the season as they remain without two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne as she continues to recover from offseason back surgery. While we do not have a timetable for EDD’s return, the Mystics to have some time off to practice as they are in the middle of a full week off from their last game on Friday and their next game not until Saturday against Las Vegas.

10. Minnesota Lynx (1-4)

The Lynx picked up their first win of the season on Sunday with a 78-74 win over Connecticut. It was only the second game of the season for Napheesa Collier, who was a late arrival due to overseas commitments. Collier is one of the league’s most versatile players and impacts the Lynx on both ends of the court. In addition to getting their All-WNBA forward back, the Lynx also signed veteran guard Layshia Clarendon, who had 12 points and three assists in their Lynx debut on Sunday.

11. Dallas Wings (1-4)

The Wings opened the season with an impressive win over the Sparks, but have dropped four straight since. They spent those four games without Allisha Gray, who was part of the U.S. 3×3 team that just qualified for the Olympics. Getting Gray back (she had 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in that win over L.A.) will give the Wings a boost. Arike Ogunbowale continues to drive the offense at 23.4 ppg, but Marina Mabrey has emerged as a strong compliment for Arike; in her third WNBA season, Mabrey has doubled her scoring average from a season ago (10.6 in 2020, 21.2 in 2021). A big focus for the Wings this season will also be the development of their top two draft picks – Charli Collier and Awak Kuier; both have played limited minutes so far this season.

12. Indiana Fever (1-7)

The Fever’s lone win of the season – an 89-77 win over Washington on May 23 – has been sandwiched between a four-game losing streak to open the season and a three-game losing streak that they will try to snap on Tuesday against the defending champion Storm in Seattle. If the Fever hope to turn their season around, they must start on the defensive side of the court as they allow a league-high 109.4 points per 100 possessions and a league-high 54.8% effective field goal percentage. If their offense was spectacular, it may be able to make up for such poor defense, but the Fever rank ninth in offense.

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