RANKS: Defending champs open season atop WNBA
WNBA Finals MVP A’ja Wilson has her eyes set on third-straight championship with the Las Vegas Aces.
PHOTO: Travis Bell/NBA Photos
By W.G. RAMIREZ
The WNBA season tips off Tuesday night, and with that comes my first attempt at trying to keep up with the big peeps, in releasing my own power rankings.
Quick disclaimer, I did take a poll of five respected websites, each with their team of writers contributing, and assigned points to each team depending on where they were ranked. For instance, every first-place vote got 12 points, every second-place vote got 11, all the way down to a 12th-place vote getting just one point.
I wanted to get an idea of where my head was, just to compare the consensus of those polls with mine. And the only baffling vote I saw on one of the polls was a site ranking the Phoenix Mercury 11th out of 12 teams. Uhm, what?
The Las Vegas Aces, understandably, were ranked No. 1 across the board, with the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun ranked either second or third in those rankings.
I'm certainly intrigued by an exciting rookie class, led by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. But it's more than the long-range gunner that has me intrigued. I think Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink has an excellent chance at winning Rookie of the Year. I also want to see what Kamilla Cardoso does in Chicago when she's healthy and rejoins Angel Reese. I believe Alissa Pili can have an immediate impact in Minnesota, just as I do Jacy Sheldon could do big things in Dallas.
With that, let's jump into my WNBA power rankings for Week 1, as I include odds to win the title and win totals, courtesy of Westgate Superbook:
1. Las Vegas Aces (-110 to win the title, 32.5 wins) - There's no question which team is No. 1 coming into the season. With much of last year's team back from a championship season that it led the league in both offensive and defensive rating, and includes a never-been better and motivated A'ja Wilson who still wants to know who had her fourth in their MVP voting, this is the best team in the league.
2. New York Liberty (+225, 29.5) - Last year's runner-up might be better this season, simply because the new components who joined Sabrina Ionescu have a year under their belt with coach Sandy Brondello. Reigning MVP Breanna Stewart, former MVP Jonquel Jones, and second all-time assists leader Courtney Vandersloot are all back and come into this season with a much better knowledge of one another.
3. Connecticut Sun (+1400, 24.5) - I struggled here, as I could've very easily put the Seattle Storm in third considering their offseason acquisitions. But the Sun not only bring back MVP runner-up Alyssa Thomas and five-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner, but that dynamic duo welcomes back two-time All-Star Brionna Jones, who suffered an Achilles injury last season. If Moriah Jefferson, who starred for the Connecticut Huskies and now returns to the state after bouncing around the league during her first eight years in the league, this team can be a threat.
4. Seattle Storm (+1200, 24.5) - Excitement is flowing in the Pacific Northwest, as the Storm have rebuilt a bit of a powerhouse, bringing in Nneka Ogwumike from Los Angeles and Skylar Diggins-Smith from Phoenix, to join Jewell Loyd. Add in Nika Mühl, not to mention returnees Ezi Magbegor and Mercedes Russell, and I think coach Noelle Quinn has a real shot at making a run in the Western Conference.
5. Dallas Wings (+2500, 20.5) - This, I think, was the forgotten power team from 2023. The Wings finished fourth in the league, producing their first winning season since 2015. The bad thing for the Wings is they'll be without Satou Sabally until likely after the Olympics. Nevertheless, I can't wait to see what Sheldon does in the backcourt with Arike Ogunbowale. The Wings also boast Natasha Howard and Kalani Brown, who spent her offseason at Athletes Unlimited. Sleeper role player for this team: Maddy Siegrist, who can fire from long range.
6. Atlanta Dream (+5000, 18.5) - If there is a team with a win-total steal, I think it's the Dream. Coach Tanisha Wright has Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus back, but also brought in Jordin Canada, Tina Charles and Aerial Powers. This team has been built for progressive improvement, and could certainly cause problems for the top-tier teams when they visit Atlanta. The biggest problem last season was closing out games they led, and Wright recently said she's not thinking about last year as this team has a different mindset.
7. Phoenix Mercury (+3000, 18.5) - Welcome to town, Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Cooper. Let's start with Cloud, one of my biggest off-season acquisitions, as she arrives after spending the first eight years of her career in Washington with the Mystics. We're talking about one of the league's best defensive players and a point guard who isn't intimidated by anyone. Joining Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi is huge. Copper is someone who can ignite at anytime and can single-handedly take over a game. Excited to see this team, which I'm guessing could quickly climb in my poll.
8. Indiana Fever (+2500, 19.5) - Bet the "Don't!" The Fever are not about to win the WNBA title just because Clark is in the lineup. Will they be better? Sure. But I'm on Taurasi's side of the conversation in that veterans across the league are not about to make things easy on the Rookie of the Year candidate. This team has incredible talent with the likes of Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith, Erica Wheeler and Kelsey Mitchell, yes. But with so much focus on this team, and the other 11 squads hungry to beat this team as much as they'd like to beat the Aces, I have a feeling this could be a rough start to the season.
9. Minnesota Lynx (+6000, 17.5) - I'm going to force coach Cheryl Reeve's group to prove me wrong, much like it did last season, in proving everybody wrong after that dismal start. The Lynx opened the campaign 1-7, but then won eight of 10 to get to .500. They took their lumps here and there, and didn't necessarily do well against the premier teams. It's what it'll need to do to get over the hump this season. Napheesa Collier could find herself in the MVP conversation by the end of the season, while Natisha Hiedeman, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams will all play pivotal roles.
10. Los Angeles Sparks (+10000, 10.5) - If there is one undervalued team you should play Over its win total, it's the Sparks. I honestly believe the Sparks come into the season with the capability of beating teams five through nine in my Week 1 poll. Don't sleep on the Sparks, as they have veteran talent with Dearica Hamby, Lexie Brown, Layshia Clarendon and Kia Nurse. Add in Brink and Rickea Jackson, toss in Aari McDonald, Rae Burrell and of course all led by coach Curt Miller, and I think this team could be the second-tier surprise team.
11. Washington Mystics (+10000, 12.5) - I say this with the utmost respect for Shakira Austin, Ariel Atkins, Brittney Skyes and Karlie Samuelson, not to mention their supporting cast, but this is going to be a tough season for coach Eric Thibault. It's a new era without Cloud and Elena Delle Donne sitting out this season. I will be curious to see how quickly Aaliyah Edwards can adapt to the pro ranks and hope they can find some success along the way. Just don't know if it's in their cards.
12. Chicago Sky (+5000, 12.5) - If there is one team I want to be wrong about, it's the Sky. Unfortunately, the proverbial closet is bare. And that's not slighting Reese and Cardoso by any means, but aside from them, I want to know who's going to the rim. Coach Teresa Witherspoon is a WNBA legend, and she'll have a stellar support staff, but I want to see what this team does the first month with two of their top three scorers from last season now playing in other cities.
