Sunday marked the first of four meetings in August between the top two teams in the league – the Las Vegas Aces (24-3) and New York Liberty (22-6). While the Aces took the first meeting with the Liberty back in June, the Liberty made an emphatic statement with their 99-61 win at home on Sunday to even the season series at 1-1.

• June 29: Aces 98, Liberty 81
• August 6: Liberty 99, Aces 61
• August 15: Liberty at Aces, 9 p.m. ET, Prime Video (Commissioner’s Cup Championship)
• August 17: Liberty at Aces, 10 p.m. ET, Prime Video
• August 28: Aces at Liberty, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Not only did the Liberty hand the Aces only their third loss of the season, it was the most lopsided loss of the Las Vegas era (since 2018) and the second-biggest loss in franchise history (the San Antonio Silver Stars suffered a 40-point loss back in 2003).

The Aces will get a chance to respond in just over a week when the Liberty visit Las Vegas for the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game. Will the Aces prove that Sunday’s loss was an aberration of their otherwise dominant season, or can the Liberty make another statement by handing the Aces their first home loss of the season?

As expected, the Aces and Liberty once again top this week’s power rankings, with all stats through games played on Sunday, Aug. 6.

1. Las Vegas Aces (24-3)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week: W vs Dream 93-72, L at Liberty 99-61
• This Week: Tuesday at Wings, Friday vs. Mystics, Sunday vs. Dream
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 113.5 (1); DefRtg: 97.0 (1); NetRtg: 16.6 (1); eFG%: 56.4 (1); Pace/40 Min: 82.11 (3)

Sunday’s loss snapped an eight-game win streak for the Aces as the Liberty took command in the third quarter and never looked back, outscoring Las Vegas 50-17 in the second half.  While the loss does take away from the seemingly unbeatable aura that has surrounded the Aces for much of the season, it was not enough to knock them out of the top spot in the rankings.

2. New York Liberty (22-6)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: W at Sparks 76-69, W at Lynx 76-66, W vs. Aces 99-61
• This Week: Friday vs. Sky, Sunday at Fever
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 108.1 (2); DefRtg: 99.4 (4); NetRtg: 8.6 (2); eFG%: 53.2 (2); Pace/40 Min: 80.62 (6)

The Liberty have had a number of impressive wins this season, but Sunday’s rout of the Aces set the bar as they picked up their fourth straight win. The Liberty have had five separate four-game win streaks so far this season but have yet to win five in a row. The last time the Liberty won five in a row came during a 10-game win streak back in 2017. They’ll look for their fifth straight on Friday when the Chicago Sky come to Barclays Center, where the Liberty are 11-4 this season.

3. Connecticut Sun (20-7)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: W vs. Lynx 79-69, W at Fever 88-72
• This Week: Tuesday at Storm, Thursday at Mercury, Saturday at Wings
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.9 (4); DefRtg: 97.2 (2); NetRtg: 6.7 (3); eFG%: 49.8 (T-3); Pace/40 Min: 80.29 (8)

Not only has Alyssa Thomas racked up triple-doubles this season, but now she’s putting together stat lines never seen before in WNBA history. Thomas finished with 21 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists in the Sun’s win over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, marking the first 20-20-10 game in league history. What record will she challenge this week?

4. Dallas Wings (15-13)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week: W at Storm 76-65, L vs. Sky 104-89, L vs. Sky 104-96
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Aces, Saturday vs. Sun
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.1 (3); DefRtg: 101.6 (7); NetRtg: 3.5 (4); eFG%: 48.0 (T-9); Pace/40 Min: 82.14 (2)

Speaking of triple-doubles, Natasha Howard joined the club on Friday, finishing with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in a loss to the Sky. It was the first of two straight losses to the Sky to close the week as the Wings have gone just 2-4 since their five-game win streak. They’ve got a challenging week ahead as they look to get back on track with home games featuring the Aces and the Sun.

5. Atlanta Dream (15-13)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: L at Aces 93-72, L at Mercury 91-71, W vs. Fever 82-73
• This Week: Thursday at Storm, Saturday at Sparks, Sunday at Aces
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.3 (6); DefRtg: 101.4 (6); NetRtg: -1.1 (6); eFG%: 48.6 (6); Pace/40 Min: 83.11 (1)

After a pair of 20-plus point losses to open the week in Las Vegas and Phoenix, Atlanta picked up a much-needed home win over the Fever to close out the week. Overall, the Dream have gone just 3-5 since their seven-game win streak from the opening half of July. Can they build off that win over the Fever when they hit the road this week to face the Seattle Storm (Thursday), Los Angeles Sparks (Saturday), and Las Vegas Aces (Sunday)?

6. Chicago Sky (12-15)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week: W at Wings 104-89, W at Wings 104-96
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Lynx, Friday at Liberty, Sunday at Mystics
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.7 (5); DefRtg: 104.1 (9); NetRtg: -3.3 (7); eFG%: 49.7 (5); Pace/40 Min: 79.89 (9)

The Sky enter this week riding a three-game win streak as their up-and-down season continues. After opening the season 5-3, the Sky lost six in a row, followed by three straight wins, followed by six losses in seven games, and now this current three-game win streak. Can the Sky build on this streak and avoid another pitfall? They face the Lynx at home to open the week before beginning a three-game road trip with stops in New York and D.C. to close the week.

7. Minnesota Lynx (13-15)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: L at Sun 79-69, L vs. Liberty 76-66
• This Week: Tuesday at Sky, Thursday at Fever, Friday at Storm, Sunday vs. Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.2 (9); DefRtg: 105.7 (11); NetRtg: -6.5 (10); eFG%: 48.0 (T-9); Pace/40 Min: 79.88 (10)

After winning three straight to get back to .500, the Lynx suffered losses to the top two teams in the East – the Sun and the Liberty – this past week, with both games decided by 10 points. The Lynx are the busiest team in the league this week with four games on the schedule, all coming against teams under .500: at Chicago (12-15), at Indiana (7-21), and a home-and-home set with Seattle (7-20).

8. Washington Mystics (13-14)

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week: W vs. Sparks 79-77, L vs. Sparks 91-83
• This Week: Tuesday at Mercury; Friday at Aces, Sunday vs. Sky
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.4 (8); DefRtg: 99.2 (3); NetRtg: 0.2 (5); eFG%: 48.1 (8); Pace/40 Min: 80.90 (5)

The Mystics split a two-game homestand against the Sparks and continue to hover around a .500 record as key members of the squad continue to work their way back from injury. The good news is that Kristi Toliver, Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, and Elena Delle Donne are all reportedly set to travel on their upcoming two-game road trip in Phoenix (Tuesday) and Las Vegas (Friday). While there is no guarantee that any of them will suit up, it is a good sign that they are close to a return.

9. Los Angeles Sparks (10-18)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week: L vs. Liberty 76-69, L at Mystics 79-77, W at Mystics 91-83
• This Week: Tuesday at Fever; Saturday vs. Dream
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.1 (11); DefRtg: 100.7 (5); NetRtg: -3.7 (8); eFG%: 46.9 (12); Pace/40 Min: 80.60 (7)

The Sparks opened the week with losses to the Liberty and the Mystics before snapping a three-game losing streak with a win over the Mystics in the second game of a two-game set in D.C. The Sparks open the week 2.5 games back of Chicago for the eighth spot in the playoffs. With 12 games to play, there is still plenty of time for the Sparks to make a run. Can they make up some ground this week against the Fever (a team they beat twice in a two-game set in late July) and the Dream (a team they lost to twice in a two-game set in early July)?

10. Seattle Storm (7-20)

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week: L vs. Wings 76-65, W at Mercury 97-91
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Sun, Thursday vs. Dream, Sunday vs. Mercury
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.7 (12); DefRtg: 103.7 (8); NetRtg: -7.0 (11); eFG%: 47.2 (11); Pace/40 Min: 81.23 (4)

The Storm have rebounded from their franchise-record 10-game losing streak by winning three of their past four games. During this four-game stretch, Jewell Loyd has averaged 26 points per game (as she continues to lead the league in scoring at 24.9 ppg), while Ezi Magbegor (14 ppg, 7 rpg), Gabby Williams (13 ppg, 4.8 apg) and Sami Whitcomb (10.5 ppg, 2.8 3pg) have led the way. Can the Storm keep this momentum going with a three-game homestand that includes matchups with the Sun, Dream, and Mercury?

11. Phoenix Mercury (7-20)

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week: L at Fever 72-71, W vs. Dream 91-71, L vs. Storm 97-91
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Washington, Thursday vs. Sun, Sunday at Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.4 (10); DefRtg: 105.5 (10); NetRtg: -8.1 (12); eFG%: 49.8 (T-3); Pace/40 Min: 78.99 (12)

Diana Taurasi not only became the first player to reach 10,000 career points during the Mercury’s win over the Dream on Thursday, but she also dropped a season-high 42 points in the process. It was Taurasi’s fourth career 40-point game and her fist since scoring 44 points against Seattle back in July 2010. Over the past four games, Taurasi has averaged 30.8 points per game while posting 54.3% FG, 47.6% 3P, and 93.1% FT shooting splits. The Mercury have not been able to translate that production into wins as they are just 1-3 over the past four games. After missing three games to focus on her mental health, Brittney Griner returned on Sunday and posted 22 points in the Mercury’s 97-91 loss to Seattle. With Griner back and Taurasi on a hot streak, can the Mercury string some wins together?

12. Indiana Fever (7-21)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week: W vs. Mercury 72-71, L vs. Sun 88-72, L at Dream 82-73
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Sparks, Thursday vs, Lynx, Sunday vs. Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.1 (7); DefRtg: 106.3 (12); NetRtg: -6.2 (9); eFG%: 48.3 (7); Pace/40 Min: 79.12 (11)

The Fever opened last week with a one-point win over the Mercury but were unable to build on it as they fell to the Sun and the Dream to close the week. After opening the season 5-7, the Fever have gone 2-14 since as they open the week at the bottom of the standings. Indiana opens a four-game homestand on Tuesday when they host the Sparks, followed by games against the Lynx and Liberty to close the week.

Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.