Introduction
The WNBA has been gathering historical viewership and has more eyeballs on the league. Mainly because of one of two players but still. With talks of the WNBA expansion and league enlarging their pockets, let us see while the twelve current squads are at.
Atlanta Dream
The Dream has been in a state of flux this season. They defense is decent, and they are in the playoff hunt. Unfortunately, the thing holding them back is their offense.
The team is dead last in offense, they cannot shoot if their lives depend on it, and star player Rhyne Howard is still shooting under forty percent. Signees like Crystal Dangerfield and Destanni Henderson are doing nothing to move the needle. Maya Caldwell has potential, but is she enough to move the Dream past the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky? Unless Nyadiew Pouch turns into the Australian version of Aliyah Boston I doubt it.
Chicago Sky
Welcome to year 1 of the Angel Reese experience in Chicago. Here you will see double-doubles, drama, and drama as far as the eye can see.
Look at who the Chicago Sky has. Kamilla Cardoso (Injured Shoulder), Chennedy Carter (Dirty play on Caitlin Clark), Marina Mabrey (traded for two depth players on the Sun), and the best rookie in the draft Angel Reese (padded double-double streak and complaining in the media).
Seriously, the team is more of a circus than Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. They are really the WNBA version of the New York Mets.
Connecticut Sun
One team that is not a circus is Connecticut Sun. This team is on a mission to win the WNBA championship and not even Satan himself can hold this team back.
Alyssa Thomas still in MVP form, DeWanna Bonner defying father time himself, Taysha Harris becoming a key piece, DiJonai Carrington a defensive anchor, and Brionna Jones a perennial all-star. Plus, they have a reinforcement coming in from Chicago, Marina Mabrey. Adding a three point sniper to add to an already loaded roster.
A team fueled by strength in numbers, top three rating on both sides of the ball, and a slow methodical playstyle. This team has one goal this season, WNBA Championship. Anything less is considered a failure.
Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings have been cursed this season. They went from top four team to crashing into the ocean like Icarus.
This is more than Satou Sabally missing most of the season, this is total team collapse. The offense fell apart, the defense is nonexistent, and Arike Ogunbowole is carrying this team on her back.
Adding Odyssey Sims helps but adding her is like putting a band-aid on a broken femur. As for the other hardship signees in Monique Billings and Morgan Bertsch, they are just as useful as NPCs in an escort mission. Even if Sabally comes back, the machine is broken repair.
Maybe there is a Kiki Irafen in Stanford to help.
Indiana Fever
The beginning of the Caitlin Clark era has been promising to say the least. They had a slow start but have shown signs of hope sense.
Aliyah Boston showing glimpses of being a MVP caliber player, NaLayssa Smith a potential all-star, and Kelsey Mitchell a solid veteran presence.
However, the main piece Caitlin Clark is quickly evolving into the franchise leading talent she is hyped up to be. Not only leading the league in assists and posting double-doubles on the regular basis, but also being the first rookie to grab a triple-double in a WNBA game.
While they are not a championship level team yet, the potential is there. Give them two or three more years to get there.
Las Vegas Aces
The Aces have not been the dominant force they have been last year, but they still have that aura of a championship team.
Aja Wilson is a goddess on the basketball court. The fact that she is averaging 27 points and 12 rebounds, achieved the first 20-20 game in WNBA history, and shooting close to 50-40-90 splits tells you everything you need to know. The fact that Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young are all-stars has made this team deadlier. As for Chelsea Gray, her numbers fell off a cliff this year despite All-Star status.
The biggest concern about this team, their defense. Last year, they had the best defense in the league to pair with the best offense. This year, the defense is mid. This might be a big deal, until you realize teams like Sun, Liberty, and Lynx are better defensive teams, but all hunting for their crown.
Good Luck Aces, you will need it.
Los Angeles Sparks
Let’s just rip off the band-aid right now. The Los Angeles Sparks are terrible this year and it is on both sides.
On the offensive side, the shooting is among the worst in the league, the rebounding is not any better. The defense is not much better, and they are even worse keeping the ball out of their own net.
At least Cameron Brink is showing promise, until she took an arrow to the knee.
At least Rickea Jackson is healthy and showing potential.
Minnesota Lynx
Show of hands, how many people thought the Lynx were going to be on the top teams in the league? Dead serious, this team was heading for a rebuild since the pandemic and tanking for Paige Buckers.
However, something changed about this team. The defense drastically improved, not because of a coaching change or a change in personnel, they just became the best defensive team out of the blue.
Having All-Defensive second team player Naphessa Collier makes sense, but with Kayla McBride, Bridget Carleton, Alenna Smith, and journeywoman Courtney Williams? Four players with two all-star appearances within the past half decade and no all-defensive teams between them?
Either Head Coach Cheryl Reeve became an alchemist overnight or the Lynx summoned the spirit of Athena to help them defend. Either way, they are not just getting results, but they got hardware in terms of winning Commissioner’s Cup.
I would not sleep on this team come the playoffs.
New York Liberty
The Liberty are on a mission this year, win the WNBA title at all costs. Anything less is considered a failure.
The offense is the best in the league. Second best shoot team, most three points made, a two-headed monster in Brianna Stewart (also an elite defender) and Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney and Jonquel Jones as insurance, Countney Vandersloot as a veteran leader, and an army of depth players ready to step up when needed.
Defensively, they are solid as well. Much like on offense, Brianna Stewart, Betnijah Lanet, and Jonquel also have a strong defensive pedigree. The numbers might not show them being elite, but the talent is there.
Time to nut up or shut up, Liberty.
Phoenix Mercury
The difference between last years Mercury and this years Mercury is night and day.
Last year’s squad was a disaster with a terrible record and changes in both coaching and executive branches. Out goes Jim Pitman, in comes Nate Tibbetts.
Another change is bringing players like Nastha Cloud and Kaelah Cooper, both who helped elevate the team from bottom feeders to playoff team. Also, Britney Griner regaining her form since leaving Russia and Diana Taurasi being an ageless wonder helps.
The defense is still mediocre but still an improvement over the previous year. They could be a problem in playoffs, but I do not expect much especially considering the talent at the top.
Seattle Storm
Last year is looking like a fluke for Storm. They are looking more like the team who have been competing for the championship in years past.
They made not have the record but their strength in numbers in Seattle. Jewel Loyd averaging twenty a night, Ezi Macbregor a defensive stud, Skyler Diggins-Smith still productive despite pregnancy approaching her mid-thirties, plus adding Nneka Ogwumike as a veteran presence only adds to their firepower and defensive.
This team has 2011 Mavericks written all over them. Solid two way team with experienced players leading the charge.
The Storm is coming, hope the league is ready.
Washington Mystics
The seven notes, the tragic hearts, the Mystics are absolutely screwed. They are at the bottom of the of the WNBA. Some Mystic and Divine. She (Nastha Cloud) ran away, she (Elena Delle Donne) won’t be back, and Mystics the bottom beyond screwed. In this current season they are beyond screwed. The Mystics are done.
Dead serious, the Mystics are in desperate need of rebuild right now. Ariel Atkins is your best player; Britney Sykes and your young center Shakira Austin missed a huge chunk of the season, and your second best scorer is an aging Stefanie Dolson who was a depth player on the Liberty.
Hopefully you get Paige Buckers in the upcoming draft.
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