With the FIBA World Cup kicking off, the WNBA is on hold for the next few weeks. While all eight playoff spots are claimed, there’s still plenty to play for. When the league returns, it will be a mad dash for placement before the postseason.
A few teams are running out of time to secure a favorable playoff seed, while a couple just have to finish out the season strong. Here are a couple of teams we’ve seen climb the rankings and two that still have work to do. Plus, some surprising developments from the past couple of weeks.
Teams on the Rise
Atlanta Dream
The Dream have jumped from seventh to fourth in our rankings. Over the last two weeks, Atlanta has secured two big wins over top contenders — the Las Vegas Aces and the Minnesota Lynx. They are the only team to have beaten the Lynx twice this year. They only have two more matchups against playoff opponents before the season closes — both against the New York Liberty. Atlanta is looking to secure one of the top-four seeds across the league and ensure home court advantage in the playoffs.
All of their pieces are seemingly thriving at the right time. Against Minnesota, Allisha Gray became the first player in franchise history to record a 20+ point, 10+ rebound and 5+ threes made in a single game. Angel Reese just set a new league record for most double-doubles in a single season. Finally, Rhyne Howard is averaging 21.2 points per game over Atlanta’s last five outings.
Golden State Valkyries
The Valkyries are back at second in our rankings after falling to third in our last volume. Last week, Golden State was at risk of getting swept by the Lynx and essentially losing any chance at the No. 1 playoff seed. The Valkyries were able to pull out their first-ever victory over Minnesota. When their starters and bench are both contributing, they’re unstoppable. As we head into the playoffs, expect Golden State to use their bench as their greatest advantage. Janelle Salaün and Tiffany Hayes have been providing an unmatched spark lately.
Don’t get me wrong, the path to the No. 1 seed is still tough, but it’s not impossible. With their win over Minnesota, the Valkyries are now just two games back from the Lynx in the standings. Strength of schedule is a huge factor in Golden State’s ability to rise when play resumes after the break. The Valkyries don’t play another playoff team in the regular season; the Lynx have two dates with the Indiana Fever and one with the New York Liberty. It’s safe to say Golden State will be hoping for Minnesota to lose each of those games.
Teams on the Decline
Indiana Fever
The Fever have fallen from fourth to fifth in our rankings. This is primarily due to last week’s back-to-back losses against two playoff opponents — the Dallas Wings and the New York Liberty. Much like the Atlanta Dream, Indiana is eyeing that No. 4 seed to secure home court advantage. But when they return from break, they will close the regular season with back-to-back matchups against the Minnesota Lynx. The path isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely still there.
Indiana’s dynamic duo of Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark seems to be getting more electric by the day. There’s no doubt this team will breathe through them in the playoffs — not a bad position to be in, as they’ve combined for an average of 60.4 points per game over the Fever’s last three outings and are showing no signs of slowing down.
Washington Mystics
Two weeks ago, the Mystics were riding the high of a seven-game winning streak. A streak that included victories over five top contenders. Now, they’ve fallen to seventh in our rankings after three losses to a couple of those same contending teams. Luckily for Washington, they’ve already secured a playoff spot that was once anyone’s to claim, thanks to that lengthy winning streak.
We would still consider the Mystics a team no one wants to face in the playoffs. This is a pesky, young team with a lot of fight. Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin have still been a nightmare for their opponents in the paint. Sonia Citron has been shooting above her average from the field over the last few games, and Georgia Amoore is seemingly finding her groove. This decline is likely not much to worry about for Mystics fans.
Surprising Takeaways
Midseason Trades Went Awry
This year’s midseason trade deadline was fairly quiet. Kelsey Plum was the biggest name to make the news, as she was traded to the Phoenix Mercury from the Los Angeles Sparks. Aneesah Morrow was the second newsworthy move, going from the Connecticut Sun to the Toronto Tempo. These moves were likely last-ditch efforts for both Phoenix and Toronto to make a playoff push.
Flash forward to now, both Morrow and Plum are out for the season. Morrow played only six full games with the Tempo before suffering a knee injury. Plum played five games with the Mercury, but will sit out the rest of the season to continue recovering from a lingering injury.
It’s safe to say this probably isn’t how Toronto or Phoenix expected these midseason trades to pan out. But it sure does make this upcoming offseason interesting, especially when it comes to where Plum will decide to go.
DeWanna Bonner is Chasing a Ring
Perhaps the most surprising news to hit the WNBA over the last couple of weeks pertains to 17-year veteran and six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner. Last week, the news dropped that Bonner and the Mercury agreed to a contract buyout, essentially making her available to finish out the season with whichever team she wanted.
Bonner ultimately signed with the Atlanta Dream. It’s safe to assume that this could very well be the two-time WNBA champion’s final season, and she’s looking for that third ring. She suited up in Dream red for the first time on Sunday, recording seven points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 17 minutes off the bench. She not only brings the Dream more depth and a spark off the bench, but also a wealth of knowledge that she’s willing to share as Atlanta chases its first championship title. She will undoubtedly be a player to keep your eyes on through the postseason.