Before we get into this week’s rankings, we have to discuss the barrage of 40-point games we see in the WNBA this season. Echoing what we saw during the most recent NBA season when players set a record for most individual 40-point games in league history, the WNBA has already set a new mark in 2023 – and we haven’t even reached the All-Star break yet!

Entering the 2022 season, there had been a total of 27 40-point games in WNBA history – 22 in the regular season and another five in the playoffs – with 17 players having hit that mark. Prior to this season, a player hadn’t scored 40 in a regular season game since 2018.

This past week saw Kelsey Plum (40) and Breanna Stewart (43) hit the 40 mark to bring this season’s total of seven 40-point games by six different players (Stewie was the first to hit the mark in her first home game with the Liberty). Plum and Stewart are joined by Rhyne Howard (43), Jewell Loyd (41), Arike Ogunbowale (41), and DeWanna Bonner (41), who all posted career highs with the first 40-point games of their careers.

The previous record for most 40-point games in a season was three, set in 2006. Players have already doubled that mark this season, and there’s still more than half the season left to play. In fact, we’d have to add up the previous nine seasons combined (2014-2022) to match the number of 40-point games we’ve seen in less than two months of games in 2023.

Most 40-Point Games, Single Season

• 7 40-point games: 2023
• 3 40-point games: 2015, 2008, 2006
• 2 40-point games: 2018, 2014, 2010, 2001
• 1 40-point game: 2016, 2013, 2007, 1999, 1997

Now that the mark has already been shattered, the real question is how high this year’s players can set the mark for players to chase in the future. And, for those that are curious, the record for the most 40-point games by any player is four by Maya Moore (three in the regular season and one in the playoffs). She is followed by the trio of Stewart, Diana Taurasi, and Elena Delle Donne, with three apiece. No other active player has more than one 40-point game.

While six new players have joined the 40-point club so far this season, access to the 50-point club remains exclusive to players – Liz Cambage (53) and Riquna Williams (51) – at least for now.

Here are this week’s power rankings, with stats and rankings through games played on July 10.

1. Las Vegas Aces (17-2)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week: W vs. Wings 89-82; L at Wings 80-78; W at Lynx 113-89
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Mercury; Wednesday at Sparks
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 114.1 (1); DefRtg: 95.9 (1); NetRtg: 18.2 (1) eFG%: 57.2 (1); Pace/40 Min: 82.18 (3)

The Aces suffered only their second loss of the season this past week as they were knocked off by the Wings 80-78 on Friday. Both of Las Vegas’ losses this season have come when being held under 80 points. They responded by scoring a season-high 113 points in a win over Minnesota, led by Plum’s 40.

2. New York Liberty (13-4)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: W vs. Mercury 99-95; W vs. Storm 80-76
• This Week: Wednesday at Fever
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 107.3 (2); DefRtg: 99.6 (4); NetRtg: 7.7 (2) eFG%: 53.3 (2); Pace/40 Min: 80.73 (7)

While the Liberty went 2-0 this week, the wins against the bottom two teams in the standings were far from dominant, as New York won each by four points. But a win is a win, and the Liberty have seven of them in their past eight games, with the sole loss coming against the Aces.

3. Connecticut Sun (14-5)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: W vs. Storm 93-73; W vs. Mystics 92-84
• This Week: Wednesday at Sky
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 104.0 (3); DefRtg: 97.9 (3); NetRtg: 6.1 (3) eFG%: 50.0 (5); Pace/40 Min: 80.81 (T-5)

After going 0-2 against the top two teams in the league – Las Vegas and New York – last week, Connecticut bounced back nicely with home wins over Seattle and Washington to keep pace with the Aces and Liberty in the top tier of the league heading into the All-Star break.

4. Dallas Wings (10-9)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: L at Ace’s 89-82; W vs. Aces 80-78; W at Fever 77-76
• This Week: Wednesday at Lynx
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.2 (6); DefRtg: 100.0 (5); NetRtg: 1.2 (5) eFG%: 46.0 (T-11); Pace/40 Min: 82.66 (2)

Dallas enters this week having won four of its last five games, including Friday’s win over league-leading Las Vegas. Arike Ogunbowale led six Wings in double figures with 21 points. Natasha Howard finished with a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) and had the game-winning free throws with 0.4 seconds to play. Teaira McCowan also posted a double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) as the Wings are 6-3 in the nine games she’s played this season.

5. Atlanta Dream (10-8)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: W at Sparks 90-79; W at Sky 82-68; W at Sky 88-77
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.8 (5); DefRtg: 103.2 (8); NetRtg: -0.3 (6) eFG%: 49.2 (6); Pace/40 Min: 83.75 (1)

The Dream owns the longest active win streak in the league, having won five in a row. The last three games of that streak have come on the road, where the Dream is 7-3 on the season, compared to just 3-5 at home. If they want to keep the win streak alive entering the All-Star break, they’ll need a home win against Seattle on Wednesday.

6. Washington Mystics (10-8)

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week: W vs. Fever 96-88; L at Sun 92-84
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.7 (8); DefRtg: 96.9 (2); NetRtg: 2.8 (4) eFG%: 47.9 (8); Pace/40 Min: 80.25 (8)

The All-Star break can’t come fast enough for the Mystics, who have been hit by injuries that coincide with dropping four of their last six games and falling two spots in the power rankings. After missing two games with a sprained ankle, Elena Delle Donne returned against Connecticut on Sunday and appeared to re-aggravate the injury and left after being held scoreless in 13 minutes. Washington has also had to deal with injuries to Shakira Austin (hip), Natasha Cloud (ankle), and Kristi Toliver (foot).

7. Minnesota Lynx (9-10)

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week: W vs. Fever 90-83; W vs. Mercury 75-64; L vs. Aces 113-89
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Wings
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 99.9 (7); DefRtg: 105.0 (9); NetRtg: -5.0 (10) eFG%: 47.7 (9); Pace/40 Min: 79.87 (9)

Minnesota’s 0-6 start to the season seems like a distant memory as the team continues to play great ball (9-4) after that rocky start. Unfortunately for the Lynx, they were on the wrong side of a Vegas team looking to bounce back from just their second loss of the season. The result was an Aces blowout that saw Minnesota’s five-game win streak snapped. With just one game before the All-Star break, the Lynx can look to get back on track at home against Dallas.

8. Chicago Sky (8-11)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week: L vs. Dream 82-68; L vs. Dream 88-77
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Sun
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.2 (9); DefRtg: 102.0 (7); NetRtg: -4.8 (9) eFG%: 48.8 (7); Pace/40 Min: 79.66 (10)

After the Sky managed to win three in a row while also undergoing a change in leadership with head coach and general manager James Wade accepting an NBA job, the Sky were unable to keep the streak alive as they dropped a pair of home games to a hot Dream squad this past week. The Sky will host the Sun on Wednesday in their final game before the All-Star break.

9. Los Angeles Sparks (7-12)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week: L vs. Dream 90-79; L at Mercury 78-72
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Aces
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.4 (11); DefRtg: 100.1 (6); NetRtg: -3.7 (7) eFG%: 46.5 (10); Pace/40 Min: 80.81 (T-5)

For the Sparks, both the losses (five in a row) and players on the injury report (five and counting) continue to rack up as the team nears a much-needed All-Star break. While starter Nneka Ogwumike will be in Las Vegas, the rest of the Sparks can use the break to get healthy and come back ready to get the season back on track.

10. Phoenix Mercury (4-14)

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week: L at Liberty 99-95; L at Lynx 75-64; W vs. Sparks 78-72
• This Week: Tuesday at Aces
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.9 (10); DefRtg: 106.5 (11); NetRtg: -9.6 (12) eFG%: 50.2 (4); Pace/40 Min: 79.14 (11)

The Mercury got a much-needed win on Sunday against Los Angeles – a game that saw the first Brittney Griner dunk of the season – but now face the league-leading Aces on Tuesday in their final game before the All-Star break. Tuesday’s game against Las Vegas gives Phoenix another shot at picking up their first win against a winning team this season, as so far, all four of the Mercury wins have come against teams with losing records (Sparks, Lynx, and Fever twice).

11. Indiana Fever (5-14)

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week: L at Lynx 90-83; L at Mystics 96-88; L vs. Wings 77-76
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.9 (4); DefRtg: 107.3 (12); NetRtg: -4.4 (8) eFG%: 53.0 (3); Pace/40 Min: 79.11 (12)

The Fever hold the longest active losing streak in the league with seven straight losses and a game against 13-4 New York on the horizon before the All-Star break. A key for the Fever moving forward will be improving their play in clutch situations. Of their 14 losses, only three have come by double digits, while six have come by five points or less. The Fever are a league-worst 3-11 in clutch games – score within five points in the final five minutes – as they have been outscored by 32 points in 54 clutch minutes so far this season.

12. Seattle Storm (4-14)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week: L at Sun 93-73; L at Liberty 80-76
• This Week: Tuesday at Mystics; Wednesday at Dream
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.3 (12); DefRtg: 105.1 (10); NetRtg: -8.8 (11) eFG%: 46.0 (T-11); Pace/40 Min: 81.30 (4)

The Storm enter this week having lost five straight games against tough competition: New York (13-4) twice, Connecticut (14-5), and Minnesota (9-10, but 9-4 since an 0-6 start) twice. The Storm face two more winning teams this week before All-Star as they visit an injury-weakened Washington (10-8) and red-hot Atlanta (10-9, five straight wins). While Jewell Loyd continues to lead the WNBA in scoring (24.9 ppg), the Storm has only one other player averaging double figures in points in Ezi Magbegor (14.3). Every other WNBA team has at least three players scoring 10+ points per game.

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.