Welcome to Bet For The Win’s WNBA Power Rankings. Each week, we update our list of teams based not solely on wins and losses but also take into account the reasons for the results. Tune in every week for a look at where your favorite team ranks.
We are just about two weeks away from the start of the playoffs and things are growing increasingly more interesting. At the top, are the Las Vegas Aces actually better than the defending champion Chicago Sky? Are the Seattle Storm in danger? Meanwhile, who the heck is going to grab the final three playoff spots?
Let’s see if these rankings provide us with some answers.
All odds via Tipico Sportsbook.
1
Chicago Sky (23-7)
(Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
Previous Ranking: 1
Record Since Last Ranking: 2-0
Championship Odds: +200
The Sky just narrowly edged out wins over the Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty. But they did so without the services of Candace Parker, who was sidelined with a non-COVID illness. So, impressive stuff from Chicago last week without its MVP candidate.
2
Las Vegas (22-8)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Previous Ranking: 2
Record Since Last Ranking: 2-0
Championship Odds: +180
Vegas could very well be at the top of our rankings this week, but ultimately, Chicago’s two wins without Candace Parker felt more significant than the Aces’ two over the Indiana Fever. However, with Washington and Seattle on the schedule this week, Vegas could be the new No.1 if it handles business.
3
Connecticut Sun (20-10)
(Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports)
Previous Ranking: 3
Record Since Last Ranking: 1-1
Championship Odds: +550
An overtime loss away from five wins in a row? Jonquel Jones back? Alyssa Thomas looking like the best version of herself? Nothing to worry about in Connecticut.
4
Washington Mystics (19-12)
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Previous Ranking: 5
Record Since Last Ranking: 2-1
Championship Odds: +1000
Moving on up in the rankings! Washington looks really good and Elena Delle Donne is starting to ramp things up in time for the playoffs. After their upcoming games against Las Vegas and Chicago, the Mystics close with a vanilla schedule of Los Angeles once and Indiana twice. They’re potentially going to have some serious momentum going into the first round of the playoffs.
5
Seattle Storm (19-12)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Previous Ranking: 4
Record Since Last Ranking: 1-2
Championship Odds: +450
Everything said about Washington could be flipped completely when talking about the Seattle Storm. Losers of four out of the last six games, the Storm look like they’re still trying to figure things out. And with Vegas and Chicago making up three of their final five games, it could be an odd limp into the postseason.
6
Dallas Wings (13-16)
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Previous Ranking: 6
Record Since Last Ranking: 1-1
Championship Odds: +8000
The Wings could really benefit from a win this week vs. either Chicago or Las Vegas. They currently have the sixth spot in the standings but a lot could happen over their final seven games.
7
Minnesota Lynx (12-19)
(AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Previous Ranking: 8
Record Since Last Ranking: 2-0
Championship Odds: +9000
The Lynx saved their playoffs hopes with wins at Atlanta and Los Angeles last week. They have a pretty tough final five games if their hopes are the playing beyond the regular season. Minnesota has to take care of business one game at a time and that starts with the Seattle Storm on Wednesday.
8
Phoenix Mercury (13-17)
(Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)
Previous Ranking: 9
Record Since Last Ranking: 1-1
Championship Odds: +9000
Back-to-back games at Connecticut followed by a rematch vs. New York, which the Mercury just lost to by 20 points. This is going to be a big week for Phoenix.
9
Atlanta Dream (12-18)
(Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
Previous Ranking: 7
Record Since Last Ranking: 0-2
Championship Odds: +10000
After having lost four in a row and seven of their last nine, the Dream find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture. However, Atlanta finishes the season with five of six games vs. below-.500 teams, with four against teams not currently in the playoffs.
10
New York Liberty (11-18)
(Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
Previous Ranking: 11
Record Since Last Ranking: 1-2
Championship Odds: +10000
New York has a steep hill to climb if it wants to make it to the postseason, but that hill is no one’s fault but its own. First on the hill is the Liz Cambage-less Los Angeles Sparks who have lost three straight. If the Liberty can’t start off this final push with a couple of wins, it may be curtains for them.
11
Los Angeles Sparks (12-17)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Previous Ranking: 10
Record Since Last Ranking: 0-1
Championship Odds: +10000
Things have only gone from bad to worse for the Sparks, who somehow still are clinging onto the final playoff spot. Do they have anything left in the tank to salvage the season? Or will this be the third professional basketball team in Los Angeles to miss out on the postseason in 2022?
12
Indiana Fever (5-27)
(Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports)
Previous Ranking: 12
Record Since Last Ranking: 0-2
Championship Odds: N/A
Indiana is 5-27, and Kelsey Mitchell is injured and out for the season. Let’s just have the rookies be the priority the rest of the way — more NaLyssa Smith, Destanni Henderson, Lexie Hull and Emily Engstler, please.
