WNBA Energy Rankings 2024: Liberty take over No. 1, Aces tumble

Chelsea Grey remains to be rehabbing an damage and hasn’t performed this season. Fellow guard Jackie Younger was unwell and never with the workforce in Sunday’s loss. Coach Becky Hammon was ejected late within the sport after two technical fouls.

And the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces are getting each opponent’s greatest shot.

It provides as much as a 5-4 document and Las Vegas dropping to No. 7 in ESPN’s WNBA Energy Rankings.

The Aces went 1-2 this previous week, and it is the character of the Energy Rankings that groups can transfer up and down dramatically week to week. The Aces may rocket again up quickly, particularly in the event that they proper the ship this week. They face the Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury and final season’s WNBA Finals opponent, the New York Liberty (3 p.m. ET Saturday, ABC). The Liberty, winners of seven in a row, change the Connecticut Solar at No. 1.

Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson — who’s the MVP front-runner — mentioned after Sunday’s 96-92 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks that there are advantages to early adversity.

“Yeah, we’re in a lull proper now, it does not really feel nice,” Wilson mentioned after the Aces received out to a 14-0 lead Sunday however nonetheless misplaced. “However we’ve got to proceed to stay collectively. If our locker room goes in shambles, than we’ve got an even bigger downside than simply stat sheets and scoreboards.

“These occasions are heard, however I assure you they won’t final without end. It makes you respect the sport. Typically if you get these shiny lights on a regular basis and also you’re profitable, it form of covers up and masks plenty of various things. However when that adversity hits, that is if you actually can inform who’s purchased in vs. who’s not. Who’s actual, who’s phony.”

Wilson’s stats are MVP actual: She is the league’s greatest in scoring (28.3), rebounding (11.8) and blocked photographs (3.0). Sunday, she had 31 factors and handed the 4,000-point mark in her profession, the third-fastest participant within the league to succeed in the milestone (198 video games).

She’s doing all she will be able to, however the Aces miss Grey and Younger, who struggled with illness by way of a house loss to the Seattle Storm on Friday after which did not journey to Los Angeles for Sunday’s sport. Rookie Kate Martin received her first begin rather than Younger, and completed with 13 factors, a shiny spot for the Aces.

“I significantly love for Kate to be in these conditions,” Wilson mentioned. “So when [the playoffs] roll round, it is not a punch within the face. It is acquainted. You’ve got been within the trenches.”

Earlier rankings: Preseason | Could 20 | Could 27 | June 3

Earlier rating: 3

This week: @ LV (June 15)

The Liberty are coming off an enormous week: They gained 4 video games, three on the highway, and handed Connecticut its first loss. They clinched home-court benefit within the Commissioner’s Cup remaining (June 25), the place they may defend their title. They did all this regardless of level guard Courtney Vandersloot lacking the previous three video games for private causes.

Breanna Stewart scored a season-high 33 factors at Chicago. Jonquel Jones received her season excessive with 29 factors towards Washington. Sabrina Ionescu led the best way with 24 factors at Connecticut. Now the Liberty have all week to organize for Las Vegas.

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Earlier rating: 1

This week: vs. IND (June 10), @ CHI (June 12), @ DAL (June 15)

After beginning the season 9-0 with a win over Washington, the Solar misplaced their first sport of 2024 on Saturday, 82-75 to New York. Connecticut had six gamers rating in double figures vs. the Liberty, however the Solar’s protection allow them to down. Connecticut allowed New York to shoot 51.7% and was outscored 25-15 within the fourth quarter. However coach Stephanie White mentioned the Solar have the veteran expertise to not overreact to only one loss.

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Earlier rating: 2

This week: @ LV (June 11), vs. LA (June 14)

The Lynx have been very near being 10-1. On Could 23, Minnesota fell 83-82 in additional time at Connecticut. Final Friday, the Lynx misplaced 81-80 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at Phoenix. Minnesota’s solely decisive loss this season was by 14 to Las Vegas on Could 29.

Together with the heartbreaker at Phoenix final week, Minnesota received two wins: at Los Angeles and over Seattle. Lynx guard Kayla McBride is scorching the nets: She scored 70 factors and made 16 3-pointers in Minnesota’s three video games.

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Earlier rating: 4

This week: vs. LA (June 11), @ DAL (June 13), @ PHO (June 16)

After wins over Phoenix and Las Vegas final week, the Storm misplaced just a bit steam Sunday, falling at Minnesota to finish a six-game profitable streak. However total the Storm’s chemistry has improved after they began the season shedding three of their first 4. Jewell Loyd had 65 factors and 23 rebounds within the three video games.

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Earlier rating: 8

This week: vs. LV (June 13), vs. SEA (June 16)

The Mercury went 2-1 final week, and middle Brittney Griner made her regular-season debut after a toe damage. Phoenix fell at Seattle, received a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win at house vs. Minnesota with Griner again on courtroom and prevailed in double additional time at Dallas.

Kahleah Copper, who made the profitable shot towards the Lynx, led the Mercury in scoring in all three video games, totaling 82 factors. And whereas it hasn’t been formally confirmed by USA Basketball, Copper will be part of Mercury teammates Griner and Diana Taurasi on the U.S. Olympic workforce.

Griner had 11 factors and 4 rebounds towards Minnesota after which performed 39 minutes with 24 factors and 9 rebounds towards Dallas.

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Earlier rating: 6

This week: vs. WAS (June 11), @ IND (June 13), vs. LA (June 16)

The Dream keep put within the Energy Rankings after a 1-1 week. They misplaced at New York however then bounced again with a victory at Chicago. Tina Charles had a season-high 22 factors towards the Sky. She did all she may to frustrate Sky rookie put up Angel Reese within the sport, however then supplied her some pleasant encouragement afterward, which Reese mentioned she appreciated. Charles is averaging 12.9 factors and 9.1 rebounds and has been massive addition for Atlanta this season.

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Earlier: 5

This week: vs. MIN (June 11), @ PHO (June 13), vs. NY (June 15)

The Aces gained their WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023 with a workforce that stayed fairly wholesome. That’s, till the WNBA Finals final season, once they needed to overcome the absence of Grey (foot damage) to win the decisive Sport 4. Grey remains to be working her method again and hasn’t performed but this season.

An unwell Younger battled by way of 28 minutes in final Friday’s loss to Seattle, going 1 of 12 from the sphere, then did not make the journey to Los Angeles for Sunday’s loss. And as nice as Wilson has been (96 factors, 31 rebounds in three video games final week), the Aces will profit loads by getting again to full energy on the guard spot.

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Earlier rating: 10

This week: @ SEA (June 11), @ MIN (June 14), @ ATL (June 16)

Issues did not look good for the Sparks after their 86-62 loss to Minnesota at house final Wednesday: At that time they have been 2-7 and struggling on offense. However Los Angeles rallied to complete the week with two spectacular victories: towards Dallas and Las Vegas.

It is arduous to think about the place the Sparks could be this season with out Dearica Hamby, who’s averaging 20.6 factors and 11.6 rebounds. Now comes a serious take a look at: seven consecutive video games on the highway. The Sparks will not play once more in Los Angeles till July 2.

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Earlier rating: 9

This week: vs. CON (June 12), @ WAS (June 14), @ IND (June 16)

The Sky went 1-2 final week and misplaced beginning middle Elizabeth Williams to a knee damage. That put Kamilla Cardoso into the beginning lineup, the place she joined fellow rookie Angel Reese. That duo must be a giant a part of Chicago’s future; Reese already has proved her rebounding prowess interprets to the WNBA (9.6 RPG).

Guard Chennedy Carter got here off the bench for her season excessive in factors (25) within the Sky’s victory over Washington.

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Earlier rating: 11

This week: @ CON (June 10), vs. ATL (June 13), vs. CHI (June 16)

The Fever lastly received an opportunity to spend just a few days training and resting after opening the season with 11 video games in 20 days. They’d only one sport final week, they usually performed it in a sold-out (20,033) Capital One Heart at Washington — the largest crowd within the league since Sport 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals. Caitlin Clark scored 30 factors and tied the rookie document for 3-pointers in a sport with seven.

That night time, information leaked that she had not been chosen for the Olympic workforce, beginning a vigorous debate. On Sunday, Clark mentioned she shall be rooting for Staff USA within the Paris Video games and that her foremost focus is enhancing with the Fever.

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Earlier rating: 7

This week: vs. SEA (June 13), vs. CON (June 16)

The Wings have had a tough final two weeks. They’ve misplaced 5 in a row and plummeted within the Energy Rankings. Sunday’s double-overtime loss at house to Phoenix was particularly arduous to take. The positives? Guard Arike Ogunbowale, who has led Dallas in scoring in each sport, is second within the WNBA at 26.6 PPG. And Maddy Siegrist, in her second season, has began to blossom as a scorer and is averaging 14.3 PPG. However the Wings have to determine the best way to begin profitable video games once more.

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Earlier rating: 12

This week: @ ATL (June 11), vs. CHI (June 14)

The Mystics are one other workforce that has to determine the best way to win, however they have been fairly shut. Of their 4 losses final week, three have been by single digits. That included pushing our No. 1 workforce, New York, to the buzzer in a 93-88 loss Sunday. The largest shiny spot up to now: rookie Aaliyah Edwards, who had the most effective week of her younger profession. She averaged 14.0 factors and 10.3 rebounds within the 4 video games.