RANKS: Mystics win twice, out of the basement

Former UConn teammates Aaliyah Edwards (l.) and Nika Muhl await a free throw attempt during a game on May 25, 2024 in Seattle.

PHOTO COURTESY: Seattle Storm

By W.G. RAMIREZ

The Commissioner's Cup race is over, as we know the finalists will be the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx. The two will meet in Belmont Park, N.Y. for the championship on June 25, as the Liberty will look to make it two straight years as Commissioner's Cup champions.

Nothing changes with the top three teams in this week's rankings, but teams 4-9 made it excruciating by going a combined 7-10 last week.

I still think Seattle is a top-four team, but even with a 2-1 mark last week, it lost in Phoenix on Sunday. I think Las Vegas should be better than what we're seeing but it lost to Atlanta two weeks ago and since both went 1-2 this week, it meant neither moved from their respective positions.

Of the nine teams that followed the top three, only three had a winning record, Seattle, Indiana and Washington. And while the Storm dipped due to their loss to Phoenix, the Fever and Mystics got a bump.

Washington finally got off the schneid with not only its first win of the season, but a second-straight victory that followed. Considering how the Wings continue to lose, they head to the basement.

Now, let's get to the updated rankings as we head into Week 6:

1. New York Liberty (12-2, previous 1) - Only game this week for last year's runner-up, but it was an impressive and dominating performance in Las Vegas on Saturday. The Liberty have four games on tap this week, which will serve as a solid tune-up for the Commissioner’s Cup championship.

2. Connecticut Sun (12-1, previous 2) - The Sun had three games, and swept them, but they were against No. 8 Indiana, No. 10 Chicago and No. 12 Dallas. This week the competition is tougher against No. 9 L.A., No. 7 Las Vegas and No. 5 Seattle.

3. Minnesota Lynx (10-3, previous 3) - A perfect 2-0 for the Lynx, as they threw a 100-spot on the two-time defending champion Aces in Las Vegas before returning home to knock off the Sparks. The Lynx have held nine of 13 opponents to 80 or fewer points.

4. Phoenix Mercury (7-7), previous 5) - Three of four wins since the return of Brittney Griner. That said, their losses have come by way of 13.7 points per setback, while their wins have been by 7.4 points per victory. The Mercury will be tested this week, with the Liberty and Lynx on deck.

5. Seattle Storm (9-5, previous 4) - Despite Sunday's loss, the Storm head into the week winners in eight of their last 10. During that run, since May 22, the Storm have both the No. 3 scoring offense (85.3) and scoring defense (76.8). For the season, they're limiting teams to 41.2% shooting.

6. Atlanta Dream (6-6, previous 6) - The Dream got a much-needed win on Sunday, with a solid effort against scrappy Los Angeles. The problem they've had is stringing wins together, as they've seen consecutive wins just once this season. They'll try for two straight when they visit Minnesota on Wednesday.

7. Las Vegas Aces (6-6, previous 7) - Coach Becky Hammon said her team isn't playing the type of hunger she saw during the two championship runs in previous seasons. It's go time with or without Chelsea Gray, especially with Seattle and Connecticut coming to town this week.

8. Indiana Fever (5-10, previous 9) - Two straight wins and victories in four of their last six, it appears the Fever may be figuring things out. The emergence of Aliyah Boston has been the biggest difference. Last year's Rookie of the Year averaged 10.3 points and 6.6 boards through the first 12 games. She's now averaging 20.0 points and 13 boards in her last three.

9. Los Angeles Sparks (4-10, previous 8) - Tough week for the Sparks, who lost all three of their games, but all of them away from L.A. The schedule makers haven't done them any favors, with their next four on the road, too, including Connecticut on Tuesday and New York on Thursday and Saturday.

10. Washington Mystics (2-12, previous 12) - There is life in D.C. The question is whether or not the competitiveness we've been seeing, and has fueled two straight wins, will follow to Indianapolis on Wednesday. From there, four straight at home, including two against Dallas, could find them with several more wins.

11. Chicago Sky (4-9, previous 10) - The Sky also dropped three games this week, and considering one of them was to previously winless Washington, which swept, they have to drop. Eight of their nine losses have been by single digits. Their next four games are in Chi-town, which should help.

12. Dallas Wings (3-9, previous 11) - From being a top-four team last season, when they lost to the Aces in the WNBA semifinals, to a three-win team that is struggling to find defensive consistency. Dallas is allowing a league second-highest 85.9 points per game this season, but since the start of June, that number jumps to 89.5, also second-worst, only to Vegas.