Michael Voepel, ESPN Elder WriterSep 16, 2024, 09:00 AM ET
CloseMichael Voepel is an elderly author that covers the WNBA, females’s university basketball and various other university sporting activities. Voepel started covering females’s basketball in 1984, and has actually been with ESPN considering that 1996.
ESPN’s WNBA Power Rankings for the 2024 period have actually gotten to completion of the line. Following quit: the playoffs, which begin Sunday. Yet prior to that, a couple of points are still up for grabs in the last couple of days of the normal period.
That consists of the 8th and last playoff area (the Washington Mystics, Atlanta Desire and Chicago Skies are still attempting to arrange that out) and the No. 1 total seed (it will certainly be the New york city Freedom or Minnesota Lynx). Yet in our Power Positions, the last No. 1 is worked out: It’s Minnesota, which is 12-1 considering that the Olympic break finished and is coming off Sunday’s success over previous No. 1 New york city.
The Lynx undertook some vital lineup building and construction in the offseason, however it suggested they entered into 2024 with some enigma– at the very least from the exterior. They addressed those rapidly, however, going from No. 9 in the preseason to No. 4 in the initial regular-season Power Positions.
Minnesota has actually befalled of the leading 4 in the Power Positions just when the remainder of this period: at No. 6 prior to the Olympic break. That complied with a stretch the initial 2 weeks of July when the Lynx shed 4 of 6 video games. Lynx celebrity Napheesa Collier missed out on the last 2 of those losses with plantar fasciitis.
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She was back solid for the Olympics and the 2nd component of the WNBA period. Were it except Las Las vega Aces celebrity A’ja Wilson’s extraordinary period that basically currently has actually concluded MVP, Collier can have won the honor. As it is, she’s placing the Lynx for a lengthy playoff run.
Minnesota still has an opportunity to catch the front runner in the playoffs from New york city; the Freedom would certainly need to shed their last 2 video games and the Lynx requirement to win both of their own. If that occurred, the Lynx would certainly have the sudden death after winning the period collection versus the Freedom.
The No. 6 seed Indiana High temperature and No. 7 seed Phoenix metro Mercury currently have actually secured their seeds for the playoffs. The High temperature have not been to the playoffs considering that 2016, while the Mercury missed out on in 2014 however had actually made the postseason one decade straight prior to that.
Previous positions: Preseason|May 20|May 27|June 3|June 10|June 17|June 24|July 1|July 8|July 15|Aug. 19|Aug. 26|Sept. 2|Sept. 9
Bridget Carleton, left, Courtney Williams and the Lynx have actually won 6 straight video games, and 13 of their last 14 competitions. AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Previous ranking: 2
This week: @ CONN (Sept. 17), vs. LA (Sept. 19)
The Lynx went 3-0 recently, one of the most remarkable win coming Sunday in Brooklyn, 88-79 versus New york city. Collier has actually been excellent all period, however she additionally would certainly attribute the performance of her supporting actors. The win versus the Freedom was an example, as Bridget Carleton had 19 factors and Courtney Williams 15, while Collier had 18 factors and 13 rebounds. Including Myisha Hines-Allen in a profession Aug. 20 with Washington has actually allowed, also, as she has actually added important mins in her 11 video games with the Lynx.
Minnesota practically still can be the 1, 2 or 3 seed in the WNBA playoffs, however 2nd appears one of the most likely. If so, the Lynx would certainly encounter the Mercury in the preliminary of the playoffs; they went 3-1 vs. Phoenix metro this period.
Previous ranking: 1
This week: @ WAS (Sept. 17), vs. ATL (Sept. 19)
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The Freedom are surrounding the No. 1 seed, however they likely have some issue concerning shedding in the house to Minnesota on Sunday in spite of Breanna Stewart’s significant video game (38 factors, 18 rebounds). New york city is 10-3 considering that play returned to after the Olympics. Versus every group other than Minnesota, the Freedom still appear like the preferred. Yet a possible WNBA Finals coupling with the Lynx would certainly be difficult. New york city isn’t expecting that; the Freedom simply wish to win at the very least among their last 2 video games to assert No. 1.
Previous: 3
This week: @ SEA (Sept. 17), vs. DAL (Sept. 19)
Make indisputable: The Aces are still in the quest for their 3rd successive champion. They went 3-0 recently, defeating Indiana two times and Connecticut, with A’ja Wilson scoring her document 1,000 th factor of the period in the success over the Sunlight. A win at Seattle on Tuesday would certainly assure the Aces a top-four seed, which implies they would certainly hold the preliminary. While the Aces have actually been worried concerning their protection the majority of this period, it has actually worked in the previous 8 video games: Las Las vega has actually held challengers to 73.0 PPG and has actually gone 7-1.
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A’ja Wilson’s historical video game raises Aces past Sun
A’ ja Wilson comes to be the WNBA’s initial gamer with 1,000 factors in a period and documents her 33rd 20-point video game of the period in the Aces’ sway the Sunlight.
Previous ranking: 4
This week: vs. minutes (Sept. 17), vs. CHI (Sept. 19)
The Sunlight went 2-1 out West recently, with success over Los Angeles and Phoenix metro prior to a loss Sunday to Las Las Vega. Currently Connecticut is back home for its last 2 video games. The Sunlight still have an opportunity at the No. 2 seed, however they additionally can be up to No. 4. If they remain in 3rd location, they will certainly encounter the High temperature in the preliminary of the playoffs. Connecticut went 3-1 versus Indiana this period.
Previous ranking: 6
This week: vs. LV (Sept. 17), @ PHO (Sept. 19)
The Tornado remained in the quest for a top-four seed and possibility to hold the preliminary by going 3-0 recently, with 2 victories versus Los Angeles and one versus Dallas. Unquestionably, those aren’t playoff groups, however the Tornado were still able to stay clear of troubles, and they have actually won 5 of their previous 6 total. Fifth-place Seattle is 1-2 this period versus fourth-place Las Las vega entering into their competition Tuesday.
Previous ranking: 5
This week: @ WAS (Sept. 19)
The High temperature weren’t able to break the code versus the Aces this period. They shed all 4 video games versus the safeguarding champs, consisting of 2 recently in Indianapolis. Yet the High temperature completed their regular-season home slate on a favorable note, defeating Dallas 110-109 Sunday, connecting for the most factors racked up in franchise business background. Caitlin Clark had a season-high 35 factors versus the Wings. She has actually established the WNBA newbie period racking up document, and Clark and Kelsey Mitchell remain to be among one of the most offensively effective backcourts in the organization.
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Caitlin Clark’s career-high 35 factors leads High temperature over Wings
Caitlin Clark tallies a career-high 35 factors in the High temperature’s 110-109 sway the Wings.
Previous ranking: 7
This week: @ LA (Sept. 17), vs. SEA (Sept. 19)
The Mercury went 1-1 recently, being up to Connecticut and defeating Chicago. Today, they are contending for playoff energy, as opposed to a seed, as they are secured at No. 7. It has actually not been an excellent post-Olympic go for Phoenix metro, which is 5-8 considering that play returned to after the Paris Gamings. Still, Phoenix metro remains in the postseason, and we’ll wait to see whether 20-season expert Diana Taurasi reveals whether this will certainly be her last journey to the playoffs.
Previous ranking: 9
This week: vs. NY (Sept. 17), vs. IND (Sept. 19)
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The group that began this period 0-12 currently decreases to the cable looking for a playoff area. Today, the Mystics need to encounter 2 groups currently in the postseason. At the same time, Washington remains in a connection with Atlanta and Chicago record-wise to attempt to obtain the last area. The Mystics defeated both groups recently however additionally shed to the Desire in overtime. Washington is 7-3 over its previous 10 video games, which is just how the Mystics joined this race for 8th.
Previous ranking: 10
This week: vs. CHI (Sept. 17), @ NY (Sept. 19)
The Desire got on the edge of playoff removal Sunday however rallied to defeat Washington 76-73 in overtime behind Tina Charles’ 20 factors and 10 rebounds. It was the 2nd OT video game Atlanta has actually won in September. Charles, 35, wants to go back to play once more in the WNBA following year whether the Desire make the 2024 playoffs. She has actually been a crucial variable all period for Atlanta.
Previous ranking: 8
This week: @ ATL (Sept. 17), @ CONN (Sept. 19)
Of the 3 groups still grappling for the last playoff area, the Skies are having a hard time one of the most. They shed Angel Reese for the period Sept. 7. After that Sunday, in a loss to Phoenix metro, fellow newbie Kamilla Cardoso was restricted to 9 mins because of bear discomfort. Chicago is 3-11 considering that WNBA play returned to after the Olympic break. If the Skies obtain a playoff area, they will certainly need to do it by hand: with 2 roadway wins today.
Previous ranking: 11
This week: @ LV (Sept. 19)
After making the WNBA semifinals in 2023, this simply had not been the Wings’ year. It seemed they may climb up right into playoff opinion with 3 victories to complete August. Yet Dallas has actually shed all 8 of its video games in September. Sunday was completion of an 0-4 week and the excellent instance of just how irritating a period it has actually been for the Wings: They racked up 109 factors versus Indiana and still shed.
Previous ranking: 12
This week: vs. PHO (Sept. 17), @ MINUTES (Sept. 19)
The excellent information for the Triggers is that newbie Rickea Jackson remains to play well, which they will certainly remain in the draft lotto game once more following year. Yet this period is sputtering to a close. Los Angeles went 0-3 recently and has actually won simply when considering that the Olympic break finished.
