Last week was one where standings, rankings, and records didn’t matter much. There were upsets galore—Sparks over the Aces, Fever over the Liberty, and the Sky over the Storm. It was a perfect example of the top-to-bottom, high-level competition that runs through this league’s veins. 

Let’s get into my power rankings after Week 7 of regular-season play. 

Stats and analysis as of Sunday, July 7.

1. New York Liberty (17-4)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week: W vs. Lynx 76-67, L at Fever 78-83
• This Week: Wednesday at Sun, Thursday vs. Sky, Saturday at Sky
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 107.7 (2); DefRtg: 96.2 (4); NetRtg: 11.5 (1); eFG%: 52.8 (1)

The Liberty still hold onto the top spot despite being upset by the Fever on Saturday. Sabrina Ionescu had a team-high 22 points on 9-23 shooting, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added a 20-piece to keep it close. But the Fever’s Caitlin Clark kept slicing through New York’s defense, and the Liberty came up short in the final toe-to-toe of the regular season.

The week kicked off with Jonquel Jones’ revenge wrath against the Lynx. After scoring 4 and 3 points in their previous two meetings, the latter being the Commissioner’s Cup championship, Jones erupted for 21 points (61% from the field, including three long balls) and 12 rebounds in the redemption win.

2. Connecticut Sun (17-4)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: W at Mercury 83-72, W at Lynx 78-73, W vs. Dream 80-67
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Liberty, Sunday vs. Mercury
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.6 (3); DefRtg: 93.6 (2); NetRtg: 9.0 (3); eFG%: 48.2 (7)

Sometimes, you gotta pop out and… block a breakaway layup to seal the game. Just nasty, DiJonai Carrington! Connecticut is back to its winning ways with some extra motivation. Carrington, who many thought was snubbed from Team WNBA’s all-star team, showed up with 17 points and the W in Minnesota. 

DeWanna Bonner earned her sixth All-Star selection last week and balled out. She dropped 24 points on 10-16 shooting against the Lynx’s league-leading defense. Then turned around and had 23 points with seven (!) made 3-pointers on Sunday versus Atlanta. 

The Sun seemed to have heard me talk about slippage last week. They’ve kicked into high gear. This upcoming week, they battle the Liberty, the team that gave them their first loss of the season. But if Carrington and Bonner keep this up, Liberty will be in trouble.

3. Minnesota Lynx (15-6)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: L at Liberty 67-76, L vs. Sun 73-78, W vs. Mystics 74-67
• This Week: Tuesday at Sparks, Friday at Storm, Sunday vs. Fever
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.7 (5); DefRtg: 92.0 (1); NetRtg: 9.7 (2); eFG%: 51.8 (3)

Courtney Williams went off for 17 points and 7 assists in the Lynx’s lone win of the week. Kayla McBride added a 17-piece, and Bridget Carleton had 13 points and 6 rebounds in Sunday’s contest. For Minnesota, it was ‘win by committee’ with their MVP out. 

Napheesa Collier aggravated the plantar fasciitis in her left foot during the loss on July 4 to Connecticut. She is now sidelined indefinitely. With the Olympics on the horizon, I’d imagine the Lynx proceed with extreme caution with Collier, but it is the Lynx’s first match-up with the Fever this week. As a fan, I’d love to see Aliyah Boston and Collier battle for boards, but I also totally understand if she’d shelved until Paris.

4. Las Vegas Aces (13-7)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: W vs. Fever 88-69, W vs. Mystics 98-77, L at Sparks 93-98 OT, W vs. Wings 104-85
• This Week: Wednesday at Storm, Friday at Dream, Sunday at Mystics

Team Stats: OffRtg: 108.2 (1); DefRtg: 101.5 (6); NetRtg: 6.7 (5); eFG%: 52.5 (2)

A’ja Wilson continues to soar. After her 28-point, 10-rebound performances in the win over the Wings, Wilson became the all-time leading scorer in Starzz/Silver Stars/Aces franchise history. She also holds the franchise records for most rebounds (1,855) and free-throws made (1,101). 

“That means a lot. It really does,” Wilson said after setting the record and after a celebratory water bottle shower. “But then I have to always give it to the ones that laid the foundation down before me. The ones that grinded it out. The ones that had to do extra just to get seen a little bit. Now we’re playing on national television, taking charter flights and everything else.”

Coach Becky Hammon, who is third all-time in the franchise’s scoring, had this to say about her superstar: “(Wilson’s) just the greatest player to ever put on a Starzz or Aces uniform. It’s not just what she’s doing for our franchise. It’s how she moves the needle across the world. She’s a special person and a special player. So enjoy it because she’s a rarity. Players like her, people like her don’t come around very often.”

Wilson and Co. did drop an overtime battle in Los Angeles on Friday; it brought them down to earth after their six-game winning streak. But Sunday’s convincing win over the Wings had them right back in the winning column.

5. Seattle Storm (14-7)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week: W vs. Wings 95-71, L vs. Sky 88-84, W vs. Sky 84-71
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Aces, Friday vs. Lynx, Sunday vs. Dream

Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.0 (4); DefRtg: 94.3 (3); NetRtg: 7.7 (4); eFG%: 47.8 (10)

Count ‘em! Ezi Magbegor threw a personal Block Party for the 4th of July, and the Sky had VIP access. She finished Friday’s contest with a career-high 8 blocks. Magbegor registered 16 blocks in three games this week! With her league-leading total blocks (54) and second-best blocks per game (2.6), Magbegor’s emphatic swats are an automatic highlight. She has taken on the role of rim protector in Seattle with a vengeance, working tirelessly as the last line of defense. The 24-year-old is just getting started; I see a game with double-digit blocks in her near future.

As for the Storm as a whole, their bounce-back win over Chicago on Sunday had to feel good. Magbegor poured in 13 points and 13 rebounds, Jewell Loyd had a 20-piece, and Skylar Diggins-Smith added 15 points and 8 assists. But Nneka Ogwumike’s 24 points and 13 boards put the Storm over the edge. She was aggressive, and the sheer desire to win was written all over her face from the opening jump. Also, I’m just going to throw this out there: Give me a first-round playoff match-up between the Storm and Sky. Ogwumike battling Angel Reese in the paint; Jewell’s athleticism vs. Chennedy’s; Magbegor and Kamilla Cardoso having a block-off — yes, please.

6. Phoenix Mercury (11-10)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: L vs. Sun 72-83, W at Wings 104-96, W at Sparks 84-78
• This Week: Wednesday vs.Dallas, Friday at Fever, Sunday at Sun
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.8 (6); DefRtg: 103.8 (9); NetRtg: -3.0 (7); eFG%: 49.8 (6)

No Diana Taurasi, no Bec Allen, no problem for Phoenix in Los Angeles on Sunday. Natasha Cloud erupted for a career-high 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists to snatch the win for the Mercury. Cloud went four for six from 3, too. Historically, Cloud loves shooting beyond the arc against the Sparks. Coming into this matchup, she made a whopping 41% from deep against LA—her best against any other team in the league.

But Cloud didn’t do it alone. Her fellow Philly counterpart, Kahleah Copper, scored 25 points to secure the win in Downtown LA, putting the Mercury over .500 wins on the season. There are so many positives to take away from a two-win week, but the next looms large, with heavy hitters awaiting as Phoenix hits the road for a three-game road trip. I’m eager to see if the Mercury keep their Even-Steven act heading into the All-Star/Olympic break or if they can secure their winning record before the pause.

7. Indiana Fever (9-13)

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week: L at Aces 69-88, W vs. Liberty 83-78
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Mystics, Friday vs. Mercury, Sunday at Lynx
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.9 (7); DefRtg: 108.4 (11); NetRtg: -8.5 (11); eFG%: 50.3 (4)

Saturday’s win over the Liberty proved it’s tough to beat a team four consecutive times. Indiana is not the same team that New York faced early in the season. Their ball movement is more crisp, their shot selection more methodical, and their line-up rotations are more efficient. Plus, Caitlin Clark has been humming. After flirting with one recently, Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to notch a triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds in the win over NY. 

“Honestly, I’m just happy we won,” Clark said after the victory. “I take a lot of pride in being able to do a lot of different things for this team. I think we’re really good when I can get the ball off the glass and just go in transition and find my teammates and set them up. Obviously, 13 assists, that means my teammates made 13 shots off my passes so that goes to them.”

Clark is used to breaking records. (Do I need to remind you?) But continuing to break records in the WNBA, the highest level of hoops, is ridiculously impressive. 

8. Chicago Sky (8-12)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week: W at Dream 85-77, W at Storm 88-84, L at Storm 71-84
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Dream, Thursday at Liberty, Saturday vs. Liberty

Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.0 (10); DefRtg: 100.2 (5); NetRtg: -2.3 (6); eFG%: 45.2 (12)

What a Friday night for Barbie and Chenn. Angel Reese had a career-high 27 points (two 3-pointers!) and 10 rebounds, while Chennedy Carter erupted for a season-high 33 points (15-24 from the field!), 4 rebounds, and 3 assists to upset the Storm. 

“As soon as I see what the defense is giving me, I just like to take the opportunity. I take what they give me,” Carter said after the win on Friday night. “I’m very unpredictable, and I think that’s what helps me out.” 

Seattle got their get-back on Sunday as the Sky looked like they were low on gas. Still, Carter finished with 21 points (7-22 shooting) and Reese with a 17-point, 14-rebound performance. A big character-defining week is coming up for the Sky with winnable games against the Dream and the Liberty. 

Reese grabbed her 13th consecutive double-double on Sunday, which sealed her officially in a league of her own. This streak now passes Candace Parker for the most consecutive double-doubles over multiple seasons.

9. Atlanta Dream (7-13)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week: L vs. Sky 77-85, L at Wings 82-85, L at Sun 67-80
• This Week: Wednesday at Sky, Friday vs. Aces, Sunday at Storm

Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.3 (12); DefRtg: 101.7 (7); NetRtg: -6.3 (9); eFG%: 45.5 (11)

The biggest highlight from ATL’s week was Tina Charles being Tina Charles. After being away from the WNBA for a season, not many fans knew what to expect from the 12-year vet when she signed with the Dream in free agency in February. Will she dominate? Will she mesh well with her teammates? Will the “teammates” to “player-coach” dynamic work with Tanisha Wright? So far, Charles is nearly averaging a double-double at 14.1 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Her smooth, interior footwork is muscle memory. Her mid-range jumper is like butter. With her 13 points in the loss to Connecticut last week, Charles became the third all-time scorer in WNBA history, passing Tamika Catchings for the crown. Charles continues showing her mastery by still getting buckets and in-game teaching young post-player pups like Kamilla Cardoso. After she blocked her, of course. The legend of Tina Charles lives on.

10. Dallas Wings (5-17)

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week: L at Storm 71-95, L vs. Mercury 96-104, W vs. Dream 85-82, L at Aces 85-104
• This Week: Wednesday at Mercury, Saturday vs Sparks

Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.6 (8); DefRtg: 108.6 (12); NetRtg: -10.0 (12); eFG%: 48.1 (9)

Jacy Sheldon is HER, as this post reads. And if you didn’t already know, you better ask somebody. The rookie let it fly Friday against the Dream, drilling five 3-pointers—the most made by a rook in franchise history since (her now teammate) Odyssey Sims did it in 2014 with the Tulsa Shock. Sheldon’s 17 points catapulted the Wings’ offense. You can see her confidence growing daily, and the Wings need every ounce of it. 

Dallas came into Sunday’s game versus Las Vegas third in paint scoring, and it’s not just because of their two 6-foot-7-inch bigs. Their guards’ driving inside the key and finishing at the rim has been a major part of their scheme, especially with Sims back on the roster. She racked up a career-high 5 steals in the victory over Atlanta and, two days later, dropped 25 points and 5 assists on Vegas.

But they’re dead last in DefRtg with 108.6—opponents have been scoring too easily. Coach Latricia Trammell is a defensive-minded coach, and after a stacked four-game week, she will need to re-focus on that side of the ball if the Wings want to get back to the WINgs consistently.

11. Los Angeles Sparks (5-16)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week: L vs. Mystics 80-82, W vs. Aces 98-93 OT, L vs. Mercury 78-84
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Lynx, Saturday at Wings 

Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.0 (9); DefRtg: 105.7 (10); NetRtg: -7.7 (10); eFG%: 48.2 (8)

Sparks snapped the Aces’ six-game winning streak and their own franchise-tying eight-game losing streak with a thrilling OT win on Friday. The last time LA won a game? June 9 against Las Vegas. Dearica Hamby takes each match-up with her former team personally; she averages 25 points against the Aces this season, and this game was no different. Hamby finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds. As a team, they finished with only three turnovers.

But Stephanie Talbot came in clutch! Talbot’s career-high 9 assists were key in the Sparks’ upset win over Las Vegas. The Sparks had to wait a year for her due to an ACL injury, and it’s been worth it. 

More good news: Aari McDonald has risen to the challenge of the Sparks needing a consistent point guard presence; she had a career-high 23 points. Rickea Jackson had a career-high 22 points on Sunday in the loss to the Mercury, and Azurá Stevens is back!

12. Washington Mystics (5-17)

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week: W at Sparks 82-80, L at Aces 77-98, L at Lynx 67-74
• This Week: Wednesday at Fever, Sunday vs. Aces

Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.2 (11); DefRtg: 102.7 (8); NetRtg: -5.5 (8); eFG%: 50.2 (5)

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough was the player of the game in the Mystics’ 14-point comeback win over the Sparks in Los Angeles. She earned the game’s hard hat for stuffing the stat sheet with a 17-point, 4-assist performance in Washington’s sole victory of the week. Five players were in double figures, including Myisha Hines-Allen, with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. 

Despite the early-week win, the Mystics sputtered the rest of it. It was a close call yet again in Minnesota on Saturday—the Lynx, this time, without Napheesa Collier—but the Mystics’ 18 turnovers (8 in the first quarter) made it an uphill battle. They sure are missing Brittany Sykes’ defense and Karlie Samuelson’s sharp shooting. Washington is merely trying to stay afloat until a much-needed season break gets their star players healthy.