2024 WNBA Power Rankings: At The Olympic Break

2024 WNBA Power Rankings: At The Olympic Break

We are at the Olympic Break point in the WNBA season so it is a perfect time for a WNBA Power Rankings for the 2024 season at Vendetta Sports Media. Each team has at least played 24 games so we have some good sample size on how the season is looking and how it might end. Let’s analyze these teams as we are watch some of these players at the 2024 Olympics before they get back to the WNBA season. Without further ado, let’s get cracking on these WNBA Power Rankings.

12. Los Angeles Sparks (Matt Hanifan 11, Chickster 12, Official 11.5, Previous 10)

Since Cameron Brink has been out with a torn ACL , the Los Angeles Sparks have only won two games. It didn’t get much better when the Sparks also lost Lexie Brown indefinitely to Crohn’s disease . Dearica Hamby has been the lone bright spot for this Sparks team. She’s averaging 19.4 points on 52 percent shooting and averaging a double-double with 10 rebounds. As far as rookies go, Rickea Jackson is playing decent ball so far this season. She has been better with Brink out and she’s getting more opportunities. Being the worst team in the league has its perks though because last year was the Caitlin Clark sweepstakes, this year it’s the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes and the Sparks are in the running for her. Pairing her up with Hamby, and promising rookies in Brink and Jackson could be a nasty core for years to come. It’s hard for this team to get better without Lexie Brown but I am sure they are not complaining.

11. Dallas Wings (Matt Hanifan 12, Chickster 10, Official 11, Previous 7)

The biggest slide in the WNBA Power Rankings goes to the Dallas Wings. Hanifan even went as far as to put them last, which there is a case for. The team is tied for last in the WNBA standings at the Olympic Break. My biggest concern with this team was just having productive depth, which seems to be the case right now. The Wings do have five players that average double figures, but it is much more bleak after that. At first glance, it looks like Arike Ogunbowale is having a good season averaging 22.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists, however, she has not been efficient at all. She’s shooting 34 percent from 3-point range and 37 percent from 2s–for a total of 35.7% from the field. It’s ugly. She’s also averaging three TOs to just five assists which isn’t the best ratio you would like to have. I believe brighter days are ahead with Odyssey Sims and Natasha Howard .

On May 26th, this team was 3-2 and then went on a ghastly losing streak of 11 to be 3-13. However, since then, they won three of the last nine games they played (not great I know). I couldn’t put them last because I think brighter days are ahead but the Wings are on the outside looking in to get into the playoffs, but if they get healthy and figure it out, they could make a solid push for the last 15 games of the season.

10 . Washington Mystics (Matt Hanifan 10, Chickster 11, Official 10.5, Previous: 12)

I was wondering if the Mystics were ever going to win a game much less 5 of them, but they have been playing way better than the start of the season. While they are still tied for last in the WNBA standings, we were sure if they were going to tie with anyone. They started the season 0-12, and have won six of the last 13 games, which is almost .500. This team is starting to figure it out. They have been playing better on the offensive and defensive side. Ariel Atkins has stepped up big time during this stretch along with Shatori Walker-Kimbrough . The Mystics could be getting Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin back too after the Olympic break. I’m not saying they are a serious team to try to push for the playoffs, but if they go on a run, anything is possible.

9. Atlanta Dream (Matt Hanifan 9, Chickster 9, Official 9, Previous 6)

If it wasn’t for the Dallas Wings having a monumental collapse, we would be talking about this team like we are the Dallas Wings. This Atlanta Dream team has lost the last 8 games and has lost 11 of the last 12 games. There was a time when this team was 6-6, but like the Wings, this team is not deep enough in talent to where your leading scorer is only getting an average of 15 PPG a night. Then you only have four players that average double figures. It’s not a recipe for success. As good Allisha Gray , Rhyne Howard and Tina Charles are, they are not going to take over a game when need to and score 25-30 points. They are great 2nd, 3rd and 4th options for a team, but this team is desperately lacking a 1st option and it’s showing as the season goes on. They have the Olympic Break to figure it out, but there is a chance that this team will lose more games and drop in the rankings. In fact, I would say that is more likely than them rising in the rankings.

8. Chicago Sky (Matt Hanifan 8, Chickster 8, Official 8, Previous 9)

This team has been consistent all year, they won’t be streaky and go on a win streak or a losing streak, they win some and lose some. Angel Reese has been great on the rebounding end. While there are some criticisms that she is not efficient at the rim and grabs her own rebound (it’s me, I have those criticisms), she is still active on the boards on the defensive end and even when it’s not her shot, she’s grabbing offensive rebounds for her team. As mentioned, she would be much better if she could be more efficient at the rim. She shoots 75 percent of her shots within 5 feet at a 46.7 percent clip. Basketball players have to finish their layups from there or shots within 5 feet, if not, pass it out and reset the offense. Once Reese figures out that part of the game (she will, she has the work ethic), she will be much more dangerous as a WNBA player.

Reese has been getting deserved ROY conversation talk as she is the 2nd best rookie in the league. However, I am not sure the thinking was trading Marina Mabrey to the Sun. Why isn’t Kamila Cardoso playing more as well? She is a great rebounder as well. Chennedy Carter has been awesome for the Chicago Sky, which might be the reason why the Sky was okay with trading Mabrey. Carter has been the leading scorer in seven of the last eight games, and in six of the last eight, she had more than 20 points with two games having scored 33 and 34 points. She has turned it on as of late. I do worry about the Sky’s ability to score without Mabrey but as long as they can stay ahead of the Mystics, Dream and Wings, they should be okay.

7. Indiana Fever (Matt Hanifan 6, Chickster 7, Official 6.5, Previous 11)

While we have had considerable slides in the Wings and the Dream, we have a considerable jump from the Fever here. They move up four spots in the WNBA Power Rankings. If you were worried about Caitlin Clark not figuring it out, it looks like that talk is all past her now. We can admit that there was a bit of a learning curve from Clark for the WNBA’s speed as well as a learning curve from her teammates to learn how to play with her. It looked bleak for this team when they were 1-8. They have gone 10-7 since then and haven’t looked back. You would think that Clark is doing a lot of the heavy lifting during this stretch but no. I think we have all figured out what Clark will do, she will try to find ways to score or set up teammates up with outlet passes and good feeds in the paint. She still leads the league in turnovers by…a lot. She leads the league in assists per game but she will still need to clean up her turnovers.

However, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell have played better with time during this stretch, Boston has been great in the class and Kelsey Mitchell has been great off-ball as a scorer for the Fever. Nalyssa Smith has also been good on the glass for Indiana. Christie Sides is finally figuring out that Clark needs the ball in her hands for this offense to be at its best. Eventually, Clark will have to learn how to play better without the ball in her hands, but at this point in time, that is the best way to make this offense score. These four have been leading the way for this team, but I don’t think they’ll get much help from the rest of the team. That will unfortunately be their downfall if they make the playoffs or if they miss it, but the future is bright in Indiana.

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6. Phoenix Mercury (Matt Hanifan 7, Chickster 6, Official 6.5, Previous 8)

The Mercury almost have this place made for them in the WNBA Power Rankings. They are a step above the 7-12 teams on this list and are above .500, but they are also a few steps below the top 5 on this list. This team is never too high and never too low, they aren’t streaky and don’t seem like they will be going on any win streaks or losing streaks. However, if I had to put money on one or the other, I would say it’s most likely they go on a winning streak. Kahleah Copper is nice and is the best player on the team. Britney Griner is coming back into form and Diane Taurasi is winning her fight against Mother Time (Father Time? I don’t know if it works for women too). Natasha Cloud has been the facilitator for this team with 7.2 assists. Cloud is happily able to feed DT, Griner, and Copper while getting a few buckets herself.

The problem with this team is depth after those four, there’s not a lot of production for this team. It doesn’t help that DT is 42 and the eventual decline is coming. While the other three are still in their prime-ish, they will need more to be a serious contender for a championship. I don’t think they can touch the top 5 but they might give them a run for their money. How will they win a playoff matchup and what is the plan after DT is this team’s biggest question right now.

5. Minnesota Lynx (Matt Hanifan 5, Chickster 5, Official 5, Previous 3)

Despite being tied for 3rd with the best record in the WNBA, the Lynx clock in at 5 for me and Hanifan in the WNBA Power Rankings. I think Hanifan and I were thinking the same thing, the Lynx’s slight drop doesn’t have to do with them, but more with how the other teams have played since the last power rankings. Napheesa Collier has been great for this team and is averaging a smooth double-double with 20-10. This team is fairly dependent on her and Kayla McBride , and it’s been working. One just has to wonder how long it will work? Will it suffice in the playoffs? This team did start at 13-3 for the season but in the last nine games, they were 4-5. Is this team getting figured out? Can they adjust after the Olympic break? That’s the question for the Lynx as they come back from the break.

4. Seattle Storm (Matt Hanifan 4, Chickster 4, Official 4, Previous 4)

The Storm stay put as a top 4 team in the WNBA Power Rankings. Their top 4 is nasty, Jewell Lloyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith a nasty back-court. Ezi Magbegor has progressed nicely as expected and with Nneka Ogwumike. This team at 4 seems almost disrespectful but I think it’s just a testament of how good the top 3 teams are as well. Don’t get it twisted this Storm team can play and beat any of the top 3 teams as well. This team goes on win streaks consistently and is dangerous. When they do lose, they just get back on another win streak. This team is resilient and will leave it on the court. The most underrated part of this team is how well they work well together, when these 4 are on the court, they can play with anyone. I wouldn’t be surprised if this team could be in the WNBA Finals and win it, but as mentioned, they’re 4th because of the top 3.

3. Las Vegas Aces (Matt Hanifan 3, Chickster 3, Official 3, Previous 5)

The Las Vegas Aces took a dip and then rose back up in the WNBA Power Rankings. They started out at No. 1, went to No. 5 and sit comfortably at No. 3. There were some concerns for this team as this team was 6-6 at one point of the season. Then they won 10 of the last 12 games. If A’ja Wilson hasn’t convinced you that she is the best player in the WNBA right now, I fear you will never be convinced. She is head and shoulders above everyone else right now. She leads the league in PPG with 27.2 and leads the league narrowly (in front of Angel Reese) in RPG with 12. What makes me confident about the Aces is along with A’ja, the Aces have Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young , near-20 PPG scorers and take their turns having their nights behind Wilson. With just those three, they score nearly 65 points a game and let the rest of their team fill out the rest of the score sheet. To beat the Aces you have to try to stop or at least limit those 3 and that’s already a tall task. You have to force anyone other than those 3 to beat you. Did I mention they also have Becky Hammon too? The odds are against you with this team.

2. Connecticut Sun (Matt Hanifan 2, Chickster 2, Official 1, Previous 1)

This Sun team is all-in. This team has 5 players in double figures AND they just traded for Marina Mabrey. While they are giving up a 2025 first-rounder and a 2026 pick swap, they seem determined to make this the year they win their first championship. They will soon have 6 players in double figures to be the most versatile and well-rounded team in the WNBA. Once Mabrey gels with this team, this could be a WNBA favorite to win the championship after the Olympic break.

1. New York Liberty (Matt Hanifan 1, Chickster 1, Official 1, Previous 2)

The New York Liberty is finally atop the WNBA Power Rankings and for good reason. No other team has won 16 of their last 18 games. Sabrina Ionescu , Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are a formidable trio not to be messed with. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has stepped up in a big way for Liberty but she had a minor surgery entering the Olympic break. She is out 4-6 weeks, so she might miss a few games when the WNBA resumes. How the Liberty are affected by her absence will determine how they do when they come back. It will be a race to the finish for the top 4 teams when the WNBA season resumes with about 15 games left to go.

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This concludes our WNBA Power Rankings at the Olympic break in the 2024 WNBA season, please continue to check in with more WNBA content as the season goes on. Thank you to Matt Hanifan for his input on these picks as well!

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