WNBA Power Rankings 2024: 25% of the Season

WNBA Power Rankings 2024: 25% of the Season

Welcome to the second WNBA Power Rankings for the 2024 season for Vendetta Sports Media. We’re about 10 games into the season which is about 25% of the season. Many teams have risen and fallen with only 10 games played. Let’s analyze these teams as we are getting closer to the 2024 Olympics. Without further ado, let’s get cracking on these WNBA Power Rankings.

12. Washington Mystics (Matt Hanifan 12, Chickster 12, Official 12, Previous: 11)

The Washington Mystics STINK, but that’s okay, they are supposed to. However, they are supposed to be depending on Brittney Sykes but she got injured very early on in the season. Thus, the Mystics are winless right now. Ariel Atkins is only averaging 13.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 3.2 APG in 32 minutes. Not necessarily ideal. This team isn’t good, so I don’t understand why Aaliyah Edwards isn’t playing more. She’s only playing 23 minutes a game, why not throw her into the fire and have her learn now? Let’s face it, this team is not making the playoffs, they should be focusing on developing their young players. The bright side of this is that they’re very much in play for Paige Bueckers to reunite Aaliyah Edwards. Mystics should be sought as the worst team in the W until further notice.

11. Indiana Fever (Matt Hanifan 11, Chickster 11, Official 11, Previous 9)

The Fever have added the most illustrious player in women’s basketball right now: Caitlin Clark. Although college basketball will be different than the WNBA, Clark’s impact will be felt almost immediately. Clark may walk in on the roster as the 4th best player on the team with Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith, and Aliyah Boston. However, depending on how Clark’s rookie season goes, she may end up higher than that. That’s 4 players on this Fever team that can work together to try to get a playoff berth. I think it will depend on Clark. -Chickster

^ That is what I wrote on the last WNBA Power Rankings and it’s about 90% true. Clark may be the best player on the Fever. I think she is the most polarizing. However, Clark’s main problem is turnovers. It’s partially her fault with some risky passes here and there and still adjusting to the speed of the defense in the WNBA. Some of it is her teammates not ready for the ball, dropping the ball, etc.

Caitlin Clark is having a rough welcome from the other WNBA teams in the league being face-guarded and facing the physicality of the league. She’s slowly but surely getting better, she’ll only get better with time. She has her flaws turning the ball over and taking ill-advised shots that she got away with in college. She needs to take more of an active role on defense as well. Even with all that, she still might be the best player on the team and that’s a problem in itself. This team has to be better before they can rise in this Power Rankings.

Caitlin Clark Left Off 2024 Team USA Olympic Team Roster

10, Los Angeles Sparks (Matt Hanifan 10, Chickster 10, Official 10, Previous 10)

The Los Angeles Sparks aren’t the worst team in the league and that’s a win. They’re getting solid minutes for their two top draft picks: Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. The biggest name on this team? Dearica Hamby. She’s averaging a double-double with 20 PPG and 11 RPG. With her, Brink, and Jackson, they have a solid trio in the frontcourt. This team is extremely limited by guard play though. Kia Nurse, Lexie Brown, and Layshia Clarendon are simply not doing enough for the Sparks to make a serious push. If they can figure it out, this team becomes a lot more respectable.

9. Chicago Sky (Matt Hanifan 8, Chickster 9, Official 8.5, Previous 12)

The Chicago Sky look like they’re getting better with every game. Chennedy Carter has come alive for the Sky coming off the bench and being the 2nd best guard for them. Kamila Cardoso has just started playing after returning from her injury and her impact on the boards cannot be denied. She should play more. Angel Reese has been struggling to finish in the paint, but once she figures that out, she should be solid. This team is on the outside looking in for a playoff berth but they haven’t been as bad as their record may reflect.

8. Phoenix Mercury (Matt Hanifan 9, Chickster 6, Official 7.5, Previous 6)

The loss of Brittney Griner is felt with this team and this team is still 6-6 at this point. Natasha Cloud, Kahleah Copper, and Diana Taurasi have been keeping this team afloat. It’s really more of DT and Copper. However, the problem with this team is that they’re not producing enough, it’s as simple as that. Natasha Cloud should be doing more with her minutes. Sophie Cunningham and Natasha Mack have not done enough. If they can just get some more from their role players this team could be much better. Of course, if they Griner back, that would help tremendously. Still, they’re in the mix.

7. Dallas Wings (Matt Hanifan 6, Chickster 8, Official 7, Previous 5)

I still have a feeling I was right about this team. I was lower on this team and so far it shows. Currently, the Wings are 3-7 and it’s looking bleak for them. Arike Ogunbowale has been disgusting for them averaging 26.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 5 APG. I was concerned with how top-heavy this team was and I had a right to be. With Natasha Howard and Satou Sabally out, this team is hurting. When those two come back, I will be more hopeful for this team. However, for the time being, it is hopeful that Maddy Siegrist, Monique Billings, and Teaira McCowan have been producing effectively, even if their record sucks. They would be doing better if Sevgi Uzun was producing more with her minutes. This team might continue to struggle to win with their injuries, but if they get Howard and Sabally back, this team is cooking with peanut oil.

Could Aaliyah Edwards Steal The ROY Award From Caitlin Clark?

6. Atlanta Dream (Matt Hanifan 7, Chickster 7, Official 7, Previous 8)

The Dream is correctly rated in this WNBA Power Rankings in my honest opinion. They have a solid squad and are the middle-of-the-road team. You won’t expect them to win the championship but they are safely making the playoffs this year at this point in time. As I mentioned last time, the Dream has no depth. They’re still waiting for Jordin Canada to return back from injury. However, without Canada, they’re still in the running. They could make a solid push once Canada comes back, but until that happens we won’t know what the ceiling is for this team. It will definitely help with their depth though.

5. Las Vegas Aces (Matt Hanifan 4, Chickster 5, Official 4.5, Previous 1)

The Aces have taken a step back to start the season. It’s not the worst thing in the world though. They don’t have one of their key players in Chelsea Gray still while she recovers from a foot injury. There is hope for her to play soon as she is named to Team USA omitting Caitlin Clark in the process. She has to be returning soon. When she does the Aces should be back to top form and should rise in the Power Rankings. However, she has to return from injury before that happens. A’Ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young are all doing the heavy lifting, especially A’Ja Wilson, the undisputed best player in the W right now. As long as those 3 are performing like this, they’ll be fine with or without Gray, but much better with her.

4. Seattle Storm (Matt Hanifan 5, Chickster 4, Official 4.5, Previous 4)

The Storm stay put as a top 4 team in the WNBA Power Rankings. Their top 4 on the team is nasty, Jewell Lloyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith is a nasty back-court. Ezi Magbegor has progressed nicely as expected and with Nneka Ogwumike, this team has some quality talent to make a solid push as the season goes on and in the playoffs. I do worry about their lack of depth. They’ve ran a consistent 8-player rotation and the other 4 do not average more than 5 PPG, and more than 4 RPG individually. That can be a cause for concern. The top 4 also play 32 minutes consistently, as long as they’re healthy it shouldn’t be a problem but God forbid one of them gets injured, it might be bad news bears.

3. Minnesota Lynx (Matt Hanifan 3, Chickster 3, Official 3, Previous 7)

I was lower on this team at the start of the WNBA Power Rankings and it shows emphatically I have been wrong about them so far. Napheesa Collier is doing what she is expected but Kayla McBride has stepped up big time for the Lynx. Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith are doing well for 3rd and 4th options on this team, Natisha Hiedeman and Diamond Miller have been underwhelming for this team. In fact, they have way less than an impact that I thought they would have. Bridget Carleton gets solid minutes averaging about 27 minutes. However, she needs to make more of an impact with her minutes as she only averages 6.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 2 APG. In 27 minutes, that’s not ideal. If she can make more of an impact with her minutes, this team could be dangerous.

2. New York Liberty (Matt Hanifan 2, Chickster 2, Official 2, Previous 2)

The other team in the WNBA Finals last year doesn’t move away from the 2nd spot. Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu will carry this team. But, guard play may hold this team back outside of Sabrina. Courtney Vandersloot has to be better scoring with her minutes, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has been great for the Liberty. This team is well-made for another run, the start of the season has proved that.

1. Connecticut Sun (Matt Hanifan 1, Chickster 1, Official 1 Previous 3)

The Sun has been the best team in the league according to the WNBA power rankings. The Liberty have a solid case to be here but Hanifan and I have chosen the Sun here. This team is well-balanced and anyone of their best 5 can have their night against you. Their versatility is nasty. DeWanna Bonner is still playing great ball despite her rising age. Brionna James, Alyssa Thomas, and Tyasha Harris have been solid for them. DiJonai Carrington has been a great two-way player for the Sun. Their bench helps when they can but those 5 averaging double figures, they can pick and choose which player on their team has their night. Alyssa Thomas is damn near averaging a triple-double for them, she does it all for this team. Can they stay at the top for the rest of the season?

Pervert Alert! Colin Cowherd Defends Gregg Doyel For Being Creepy Towards Caitlin Clark

This concludes our WNBA Power Rankings a quarterway into the season, please continue to check in with more WNBA content as the season goes on. Thank you to Matt Hanifan for his input on these picks as well!

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