WNBA Power Rankings
WNBA Power Rankings
Minnesota
What a week it was for Seimone Augustus (pictured). On June 7 she finished her 100th career game with 2,127 career points -- which is second only to Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (2,187) for points scored in that span. Eight days later she was named the Western Conference's Player of the Week after averaging 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals while shooting 54.1 percent (33-61) from the field and 60.0 percent (6-10) from beyond the arc. <br><br>Next three: 6/17 at Phoenix; 6/19 at Seattle; 6/23 vs. New York
Phoenix
The Mercury's home-and-home split against Sacramento is a testament to their ability to make adjustments. After seeing top scorers Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter (pictured) held in check in a 90-71 defeat in Sacramento last Saturday, Phoenix made a point of moving the ball around and getting everyone involved the next day at home. The result was a 115-104 overtime victory in which all five starters scored in double figures. Taurasi, Pondexter and Le'Coe Willingham combined for 79 points.<br><br>Next three: 6/17 vs. Minnesota; 6/19 vs. Los Angeles; 6/21 vs. Seattle
Washington
Though still unbeaten, the Mystics did suffer a bad loss over the weekend. That's when rookie forward Marissa Coleman (pictured) stepped on someone's foot during a team scrimmage and rolled her ankle. The injury, which was later diagnosed as a high sprain, is expected to keep Coleman -- who was averaging 12.7 points in 23.3 minutes off the bench -- sidelined for the next four to six weeks.<br><br>Next three: 6/19 at Atlanta; 6/20 vs. Chicago; 6/25 vs. Phoenix
Chicago
The Sky is soaring thanks to the hot hands of Jia Perkins (pictured) and Candice Dupree. Perkins averaged 21.7 points on 51.3 percent field-goal shooting in wins over the Dream, Storm and Sun, and Dupree averaged a team-high 19.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting during the W's first week en route to conference Player of the Week honors. <br><br>Next three: 6/19 at Connecticut; 6/20 at Washington; 6/23 at Atlanta
Seattle
Turnovers and a dearth of energy down the stretch were the Storm's undoing in losses against Indiana and Chicago. Sue Bird's admission after the Chicago loss last Sunday that she and her Seattle teammates are "having a bit of an identity crisis right now" seems like a refrain we could be hearing quite a bit of over the next couple days if the Storm stumble against two of the league's strongest teams in Minneapolis and Phoenix. <br><br>Next three: 6/19 vs. Minnesota; 6/21 at Phoenix; 6/26 vs. Los Angeles
Atlanta
If there's a reason for the Dream's success this season, it's their defense. They've held opponents to the league's second-lowest field goal percentage (38.3 percent), boast the second-best rebounding differential (plus-6.00) and are averaging 9.25 steals per game.<br><br>Next three: 6/19 vs. Washington; 6/21 vs. New York; 6/23 vs. Chicago
Indiana
The hits keep on coming for the Fever, which lost splash free-agent signee Yolanda Griffith (pictured) to a torn left Achilles tendon two minutes into their 73-66 victory over Seattle on June 9. Worse, the injury could be career-ending given that before the season, the seven-time All-Star and Olympic Gold medal winner said this would be her last year in the league. <br><br>Next three: 6/19 at Detroit; 6/21 vs. Detroit; 6/26 at New York
San Antonio
Becky Hammon's (pictured) Faustian pact with the Russian club team CSKA Moscow has finally come back to haunt her. While the deal allowed her to make some nice money (four years, for an estimated $2 million) and realize her dream of playing in the Olympics (she won a bronze medal with the Russian national team), she now finds herself in the untenable position of having to take a leave to play for Russia in the European women's basketball championships. The 32-year-old Hammon, who is averaging 18.0 points and 6.0 assists, is expected to rejoin the Silver Stars on June 23 against Phoenix.<br><br>Next three: 6/19 at New York; 6/21 at Connecticut; 6/23 vs. Phoenix
Los Angeles Sparks
Double-digit road losses by the Sparks to Detroit, Minnesota and Indiana have L.A.'s fans asking the same question: So, when does Candace Parker get back? Word was late June, but earlier this month Parker told the Los Angeles Times she's "not rushing it." With three tough Western Conference foes looming on the schedule, and Phoenix and Minnesota off to such hot starts, who knows how much longer the Sparks can afford to wait for their MVP?<br><br>Next three: 6/19 at Phoenix; 6/21 vs. Sacramento; 6/26 at Seattle
Detroit
Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for the Shock, Bill Laimbeer (pictured) suddenly resigned as head coach and general manager (three games into the season) after seven years on the job. While some will question the timing of his departure and the chops of the assistants who will split his duties -- Rick Mahorn will do the coaching, while Cheryl Reeve will handle the personnel decisions -- there's no doubt about the towering legacy Laimbeer leaves behind. His 137 wins are good for fifth all-time, and his three WNBA championships are second only to the four straight Van Chancellor won in Houston. <br><br>Next three: 6/19 vs. Indiana; 6/21 at Indiana; 6/26 at Atlanta
Connecticut
The Sun had a chance to get back to .500 against the Sky on Tuesday, but were doomed by a late 17-6 run and a scoreless streak that lasted more than three minutes. The 1-3 start is the worst in Mike Thibault's nine years as coach. <br><br>Next three: 6/19 vs. Chicago; 6/21 vs. San Antonio; 6/27 vs. Atlanta
Sacramento
Between California's budget woes and the Monarchs' poor start to the season, there seems little in the way of relief on the horizon in Sacramento. In the case of the Monarchs, their problems seem the direct result of a deficit of defense. Case in point: last Saturday, they gave up a league-record 115 points in an overtime loss to Phoenix, despite outrebounding the Mercury 47-30. <br><br>Next three: 6/21 at Los Angeles; 6/26 at San Antonio; 6/28 at Detroit
New York Liberty
The Liberty continue to dig themselves into a huge hole. Their 66.8 ppg are second only to the Sparks for league-worst, while their 37.2 percent field-goal shooting is second-worst behind the Sun's. With road games against two defensive bulwarks in Atlanta and Minnesota, things only figure to get worse for New York -- that is, if their offense doesn't pick up soon.<br><br>Next three: 6/19 vs. San Antonio; 6/21 at Atlanta; 6/23 at Minnesota