RANKS: Liberty still No. 1, but Mystics tied atop WNBA in another area
While Sabrina Ionescu (20) and Breanna Stewart (30) have helped lead the New York Liberty to the top of the WNBA standings, Aaliyah Edwards (center) and Karlie Samuelson (44) have kept the Washington Mystics competitive during their 8-22 season. Washington is tied atop the ATS (against the spread) standings with the Minnesota Lynx, as both are 19-10-1 at the betting window.
PHOTO: Brandon Todd/New York Liberty
By W.G. RAMIREZ
As the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx hold on to the top two spots in this week's power rankings, the betting numbers in the WNBA tell an awfully different story after Monday's games.
Washington, which is just 8-22 straight up (SU) this season, moved into a first-place tie with the Lynx, as both are 19-10-1 against the spread (ATS).
Even further, with the Mystics' 74-72 outright win at the Seattle Storm on Monday, double-digit underdogs improved to 33-13 ATS this season.
Amazingly, only one team has a .500 or better record when laying double digits, albeit the Phoenix Mercury also only played one game when laying more than -9 points.
In alphabetical order, here are the ATS records for teams that have laid double digits this season:
Aces 5-10
Liberty 2-12
Lynx 0-2
Mercury 1-0
Storm 3-4
Sun 2-5
As for the overall ATS standings, the Mercury are 17-13-1, while the Indiana Fever are 17-13.
Bunched up at or near .500 at the window are: New York (16-15), Seattle (15-14), Atlanta (14-13-2) and Los Angeles (14-15-1).
Teams to be wary of at the books are: Chicago (13-16), Connecticut (12-17), Las Vegas (10-19) and Dallas (9-20).
The two last-place ATS teams meet Tuesday in Dallas, and the two-time defending champion Aces are laying -8 1/2 points at the Superbook.
When it comes to totals, the Fever are 19-11-0 to the over, with Dallas just behind at 18-10-1, both of which have the worst scoring defenses in the league. Dallas is allowing a league-worst 90.9 points per game, and the Fever are giving up 86.7.
Again, bunched near .500 with over/unders are: Chicago (15-14), Washington (15-15) and Las Vegas (14-15).
New York trends to the under with a 14-17 O/U mark, followed by Connecticut (13-16), Phoenix (13-17-1) and Los Angeles (13-17).
Teams you should generally consider playing under are Atlanta (12-16-1), Minnesota (11-17-2) and Seattle (11-17-1).
Now, let's get to the updated rankings as we approach the final few weeks of the season:
1. New York Liberty (26-5, previous 1) - A loss in Phoenix in Monday would have dropped the Liberty to No. 2, but it was a convincing enough road win that improved them to 3-1 since last week's rankings, with the lone loss coming at home to No. 4 Connecticut. The road trip continues with winnable games in Los Angeles (Wednesday) and Seattle (Friday).
2. Minnesota Lynx (22-8, previous 2) - The Lynx continue to impress, staying undefeated out of the Olympic break after a 3-0 showing since last week. They've now won six straight since prior to the break, including back-to-back wins over the Aces. Seven of their last 10 games are on the road, including back-to-back games in New York and Connecticut in mid-September. It'll be interesting to see how the extensive travel affects them.
3. Connecticut Sun (22-7, previous 4) - The Sun, who are 3-0 since last week, move up a spot, supplanting the struggling Aces. Connecticut has two more on the road this week, before finishing the week Sunday at home against Seattle. First things first, though, as the Sun visit the very dangerous Fever in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
4. Las Vegas Aces (18-11, previous 3) - Since July 16, their final game before the break, the Aces are 2-4. That could very well be a 1-5 mark if not for A'ja Wilson's last-second bucket in Chicago for the walk-off win. Las Vegas is allowing the league's sixth-most points (82.9 points per game), and during their six-game slump, hare allowing 83.8 ppg. - fourth-most in the league. The schedule doesn't favor the Aces, who finish with seven of 11 away from Sin City.
5. Seattle Storm (18-11, previous 5) - Skylar Diggins-Smith said it best after the Storm's loss to Washington on Monday, that the team didn't match energy. Coach Noelle Quinn followed by saying, "Every game matters, every moment matters. And we're not playing like that." Well, they better start, with upcoming games against the Liberty before two in Connecticut.
6. Indiana Fever (14-16, previous 6) - Seven of the Fever's last 10 games are in Indianapolis, three of which are against the Sun (Aug. 28), Lynx (Sept. 6), and the Aces (Sept. 11 and 13). With the right momentum, and the consistency with which team leader Kelsey Mitchell plays with, a late run could catapult this team into a top-four standing.
7. Phoenix Mercury (16-15), previous 7) - The Mercury are sneaky dangerous. Once Rebecca Allen is back and this team is complete, it can be dangerous with six of its last nine games in the desert. The Mercury are in the midst of hosting a three-game gauntlet of the Liberty, Lynx and Aces. The loss to New York on Monday could fuel Phoenix to bounce back and avenge things Wednesday against Minnesota. It won't be easy, but the home team is 3-0 in this series this season.
8. Atlanta Dream (10-19, previous 8) - This might be the most frustrating team in the league, as the talent is astounding, but the record is underwhelming. As of now, the Dream are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race. But they're conceivably better than No. 9 Chicago. A tough road trip is on the horizon, with stops in Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix forthcoming.
9. Chicago Sky (11-18, previous 9) - The Sky went 0-2 since last week, and that last-second loss to Vegas could have done irreparable damage to their confidence. They host Washington on Wednesday and can't afford to look past the Mystics and on to what's quickly become an arch-rival in Indiana, which visits Friday night. Follow up games in Minnesota and Las Vegas could put a dagger in the Sky's season if they don't perform in these next two in Chi-town.
10. Washington Mystics (8-22, previous 11) - The Mystics took two of three since last week and sit 3 1/2 games out of the playoff picture after Monday's upset win in Seattle. Before returning home for Connecticut on Saturday, a quick victory in Chicago would inch the Mystics closer in the standings. Six of the remaining 10 games are very winnable, maybe seven. It would be the comeback story of the season if they made the playoffs, considering they started 0-12.
11. Dallas Wings (7-22, previous 10) - Dallas might have gained an incredible amount of confidence after Sunday's 113-110 come-from-behind win over the Sparks. It couldn't have come at a better time, as they'll next host Las Vegas, Minnesota and Indiana. And in this league, right now, as we saw in Seattle on Monday, nobody is safe at this point.
12. Los Angeles Sparks (6-24, previous 12) - The pursuit for Paige Bueckers is looking more and more like a reality, as the Sparks lost all three of their games, and appear headed to the best chance at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
