2019 WNBA.com Power Rankings: Week 5

Brian Martin

Note: WNBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Tuesday during the season, are the opinion of this writer and do not reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

There are 14 games across the W this week, including a pair of marquee matchups that should not be missed.

Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces
Tuesday, June 25
10:00 ET Twitter

Tuesday on Twitter, we get a chance to see last year’s champion – the Seattle Storm – take on this year’s preseason title favorites – the Las Vegas Aces. Despite being without reigning MVP Breanna Stewart and point guard extraordinaire Sue Bird, the Storm have opened the season at 7-4 behind the stellar play of last year’s Most Improved Player, Natasha Howard.

On Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first Most Improved Player winner in NBA history to win Most Valuable Player. The WNBA could match that feat with early MVP candidates Howard (2018 MIP) and Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones (2017 MIP) being in the mix.

The Aces enter Tuesday’s game having won three of their last four games, improving to 5-4 on the season. They have shown flashes of the potential everyone saw when this roster came together. Seattle should provide Las Vegas with a great test as they look to improve to 4-2 on their home court at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Connecticut Sun at Washington Mystics
Saturday, June 29
2:00 ET, ESPN

The Sun and Mystics enter this week as the top two teams in the WNBA standings, as well as this week’s Power Rankings. Whether they’ll both still be there by the time they match up on Saturday is unknown, but through the first month of the season, both teams have played some of the best ball in the league.

As mentioned above, Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones has established herself as an MVP candidate this season. Washington’s Elena Delle Donne is also in that mix and already has one MVP award on her resume. Much like Jones could become the first WNBA player to complete the MIP-MVP double, Delle Donne could become the first WNBA player to win MVP with two separate teams. All five players with multiple MVPs earned them on the same team: Cynthia Cooper (two with Houston), Sheryl Swoopes (three with Houston), Lisa Leslie (three with Los Angeles), Candace Parker (two with Los Angeles) and Lauren Jackson (three with Seattle).

Biggest Rise

Washington and Chicago each rise two spots in the rankings to sit at 2 and 3, respectively, behind Connecticut. With Connecticut’s seven-game win streak being snapped by Chicago on Sunday, the Mystics now own the longest active win streak in the WNBA at three in a row.

Biggest Fall

After making the biggest jump last week, the Sparks take the biggest fall this week as their losing streak extended to four games with three straight defeats over the past week – most of which came in blowout fashion (-29 vs. Washington; -22 at Seattle and -10 at Phoenix). L.A. averaged just 62 points over the past three games, compared to 88.7 in the previous three games.

This Week’s Rankings

1. Connecticut Sun (9-2)

    • Previous Rank: 1
    • Last Week: (1-1) W vs. ATL 86-76; L at CHI 93-75
    • This Week: Wed. 6/26 at DAL; Sat. 6/29 at WAS
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.6 (3); DefRtg: 93.5 (2); NetRtg: 7.0 (3); eFG%: 46.7 (7); Pace: 96.16 (5)

2. Washington Mystics (7-3)

    • Previous Rank: 4
    • Last Week: (3-0) W at LAS 81-52; W at LVA 95-72; W at ATL 89-73
    • This Week: Wed. 6/26 at CHI; Sat. 6/29 vs. CON
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 108.7 (1); DefRtg: 94.3 (4); NetRtg: 14.4 (1); eFG%: 51.6 (1); Pace: 94.80 (7)

3. Chicago Sky (6-3)

    • Previous Rank: 5
    • Last Week: (2-1) W at NYL 91-83; L vs. IND 76-69; W vs. CON 93-75
    • This Week: Wed. 6/26 vs WAS; Fri. 6/28 at SEA; Sun. 6/30 at LAS
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.2 (5); DefRtg: 97.3 (7); NetRtg: 1.0 (6); eFG%: 49.8 (2); Pace: 98.00 (4)

4. Las Vegas Aces (5-4)

    • Previous Rank: 3
    • Last Week: (1-1) L vs. WAS 95-72; W vs. DAL 86-68
    • This Week: Tue. 6/25 vs. SEA; Thur. 6/27 at LAS; Sat. 6/29 vs. IND
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.3 (4); DefRtg: 91.2 (1); NetRtg: 7.1 (2); eFG%: 48.2 (4); Pace: 101.67 (1)

5. Seattle Storm (7-4)

    • Previous Rank: 6
    • Last Week: (2-0) WW vs. LAS 84-62; W vs. IND 65-61
    • This Week: Tue. 6/25 at LVA; Fri. 6/28 vs. CHI; Sun 6/30 vs. PHX
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.1 (6); DefRtg: 94.1 (3); NetRtg: 2.9 (4); eFG%: 47.1 (5); Pace: 92.95 (9)

6. Indiana Fever (5-6)

    • Previous Rank: 7
    • Last Week: (1-2) L at ATL 88-78; W at CHI 76-69; L at SEA 65-61
    • This Week: Tue. 6/25 vs. MIN; Fri. 6/28 at PHX; Sat. 6/29 at LVA
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.3 (2); DefRtg: 100.8 (10); NetRtg: 0.5 (7); eFG%: 47.0 (6); Pace: 91.96 (10)

7. Minnesota Lynx (5-5)

    • Previous Rank: 8
    • Last Week: (1-0) W vs. NYL 92-83
    • This Week: Tue. 6/25 at IND; Sun. 6/30 at DAL
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.8 (7); DefRtg: 95.1 (5); NetRtg: 1.8 (5); eFG%: 49.2 (3); Pace: 94.98 (6)

8. Los Angeles Sparks (4-6)

    • Previous Rank: 2
    • Last Week: (0-3) L vs. WAS 81-52; L at SEA 84-62; L at PHX 82-72
    • This Week: Thur. 6/27 vs. LVA; Sun. 6/30 vs. CHI
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 92.1 (10); DefRtg: 99.4 (8); NetRtg: -7.3 (11); eFG%: 44.8 (10); Pace: 98.22 (3)

9. Phoenix Mercury (3-5)

    • Previous Rank: 9
    • Last Week: (1-1) L at DAL 69-54; W vs. LAS 82-72
    • This Week: Fri. 6/28 vs. IND; Sun. 6/30 at SEA
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.9 (9); DefRtg: 100.7 (9); NetRtg: -4.8 (8); eFG%: 46.0 (8); Pace: 91.35 (11)

10. New York Liberty (3-7)

    • Previous Rank: 10
    • Last Week: (0-2) L vs. CHI 91-83; L at MIN 92-83
    • This Week: Fri. 6/28 vs. DAL; Sun. 6/0 at ATL
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.5 (8); DefRtg: 103.8 (12); NetRtg: -7.3 (10); eFG%: 45.8 (9); Pace: 100.26 (2)

11. Dallas Wings (2-6)

    • Previous Rank: 12
    • Last Week: (1-1) W vs. PHX 69-54; L at LVA 86-68
    • This Week: Wed. 6/26 vs. CON; Fri 6/28 at NYL; Sun. 6/30 vs. MIN
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 89.5 (12); DefRtg: 96.7 (6); NetRtg: -7.2 (9); eFG%: 40.1 (12); Pace: 91.28 (12)

12. Atlanta Dream (2-7)

    • Previous Rank: 11
    • Last Week: (1-2) W vs. IND 88-78; L at CON 86-76; L vs. WAS 89-73
    • This Week: Sun. 6/30 vs. NYL
    • Team Stats: OffRtg: 91.2 (11); DefRtg: 103.4 (11); NetRtg: -12.2 (12); eFG%: 42.7 (11); Pace: 94.13 (8)

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