Power Rankings: Storm up, Aces down and no time to panic for New York

The New York Liberty were 9-0 and appeared to beryllium soaring arsenic the WNBA's defending champions. But backmost connected June 10, issues were bubbling.

Forward Leonie Fiebich had conscionable played her past Liberty crippled for a mates of weeks arsenic she headed to the EuroBasket tourney with Germany. Five days earlier, halfway Jonquel Jones had suffered an ankle wounded that aboriginal would beryllium further aggravated, costing her 9 games truthful acold this season.

Now, astir a period later, the Liberty are 12-6 and person struggled to play consistently, for evident reasons. With Jones -- the 2024 WNBA Finals MVP -- retired and Fiebich conscionable getting backmost into the plaything of things with New York, this squad is not the aforesaid 1 that started the play truthful hot.

As the Liberty hole to big the Las Vegas Aces -- a squad that has been much up and down this play than New York -- connected Tuesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), Jones is retired again and guardant Isabelle Harrison (knee) is questionable. After Sunday's 79-70 location nonaccomplishment to the Seattle Storm, New York manager Sandy Brondello said the Liberty are struggling without Jones' wrong beingness to combat opponents switching truthful efficaciously against them.

"We've been switched connected a batch this year," Brondello said. "As agelong arsenic we person bully spacing and past confidence, [we're OK]. I deliberation our assurance went away."

But New York is keeping things successful perspective. Counting Tuesday's contest, the Liberty person 3 games near earlier the All-Star Game, for which guardant Breanna Stewart and defender Sabrina Ionescu were voted arsenic starters. The Liberty aren't adjacent halfway done their docket and anticipation Jones tin instrumentality aft the All-Star break.

"I deliberation the squad morale is great," Ionescu said. "I wouldn't accidental that a triumph oregon a nonaccomplishment has truly divided the locker country oregon adjacent truly enactment immoderate benignant of bump successful the roadworthy betwixt us. We recognize the pieces we've had missing. We recognize the games we've mislaid and however we've mislaid them.

"It's not astir pointing fingers, radical [being] retired oregon in, lineups we haven't seen, defenses we haven't seen. It's conscionable astir knowing we've got to find a mode to get a win."

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Napheesa Collier scores 22 points vs. the Valkyries

Minnesota Lynx guardant Napheesa Collier leads the Lynx to a triumph with 22 points vs. the Valkyries.

1. Minnesota Lynx (17-2)

Previous ranking: 1

Next 7 days: @ PHO (July 9), @ LA (July 10), @ CHI (July 12), @ CHI (July 14)

The Lynx's discourtesy abruptly went into the heavy frost during their 74-59 nonaccomplishment to Indiana successful the Commissioner's Cup last connected July 1. But that crippled doesn't number successful the standings, and Minnesota bounced backmost well. The Lynx finished retired the week astatine location with victories implicit Washington, Golden State and Chicago.

2. Phoenix Mercury (13-6)

Previous ranking: 2

Next 7 days: vs. MIN (July 9), @ GS (July 14)

Phoenix had back-to-back losses, including 98-89 connected Thursday successful Dallas. But the Mercury looked similar themselves again Monday, beating the Wings 102-72 down 36 points from Sami Whitcomb and a triple-double by Alyssa Thomas (15 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds). Phoenix won easy adjacent though Satou Sabally (ankle) and Kahleah Copper (hamstring) were retired injured. That shows the Mercury's depth, which is improving. Longtime Mercury subordinate DeWanna Bonner, who was waived past period by Indiana, is astir to sign with Phoenix, sources told ESPN connected Monday.

3. Atlanta Dream (12-7)

Previous ranking: 3

Next 7 days: @ IND (July 11), @ NY (July 13)

The Dream mislaid 80-79 successful the closing seconds to Seattle connected Thursday, and it appeared they mightiness beryllium headed to different location nonaccomplishment connected Monday. But a 15-2 fourth-quarter tally gave them a 90-81 triumph implicit Golden State. Allisha Gray, who volition beryllium an All-Star on with Rhyne Howard, had 24 points against the Valkyries, and Naz Hillmon enactment up 16.

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What a play by Brionna Jones!

What a play by Brionna Jones!, 07/03/2025

4. New York Liberty (12-6)

Previous ranking: 4

Next 7 days: vs. LV (July 8), vs. ATL (July 13)

Brondello said the Liberty are being pragmatic astir the frustrating times they person faced, particularly with Jones sidelined. "We're not panicking," she said. "We've conscionable got to get JJ backmost and physique immoderate continuity and chemistry from there." It should assistance that New York is continuing a agelong homestand, with the adjacent six games successful Brooklyn.

5. Seattle Storm (12-7)

Previous ranking: 9

Next 7 days: @ CON (July 9), vs. CON (July 11), vs. WAS (July 13)

Maybe we've been bouncing the Storm astir successful the Power Rankings a small excessively much. But we respond to their results. Seattle is connected the emergence again aft roadworthy victories past week versus Atlanta (with Skylar Diggins getting the winning layup) and New York. Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams are each headed to the All-Star Game.

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Nneka Ogwumike moves to No. 7 connected WNBA's all-time scoring list

Nneka Ogwumike passes Sue Bird and Cappie Pondexter connected the WNBA's all-time scoring database with these buckets.

6. Golden State Valkyries (9-9)

Previous ranking: 5

Next 7 days: @ IND (July 9), @ LV (July 12), vs. PHO (July 14)

After having won 4 of its erstwhile five, Golden State dropped backmost to a .500 grounds with losses astatine Minnesota and Atlanta. But considering the inconsistency of truthful galore different WNBA teams, the Valkyries inactive person to consciousness beauteous bully astir however they're playing -- and astir Kayla Thornton's enactment arsenic an All-Star reserve.

7. Indiana Fever (9-9)

Previous ranking: 8

Next 7 days: vs. GS (July 9), vs. ATL (July 11), vs. DAL (July 13)

The Fever support grabbing momentum earlier letting it gaffe distant again. Caitlin Clark (groin injury) is inactive out. But the Fever won the Commissioner's Cup last astatine Minnesota past throttled Las Vegas successful Indianapolis, holding some opponents beneath 60 points. However, they past mislaid astatine location to Los Angeles for the 2nd time. So, Indiana is inactive trying to found it is amended than a .500 team.

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Fever drawback 16-game losing streak against Aces with large win

Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston pb the Fever to a 27-point triumph implicit the Aces.

8. Las Vegas Aces (9-9)

Previous ranking: 6

Next 7 days: @ NY (July 8), @ WAS (July 10), vs. GS (July 12)

The Aces person been successful a akin concern arsenic that of the Fever, but much extreme. Las Vegas seems to spell from truly bully wins to truly atrocious losses. After the Aces' 81-54 decision astatine Indiana connected Thursday, manager Becky Hammon called retired their "lack of professionalism" successful specified a mediocre performance. But the Aces were on the close track again Sunday, winning 86-68 astatine Connecticut. We'll spot if they tin support that going.

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Becky Hammon slams Aces aft 27-point loss

Aces manager Becky Hammon criticizes her team's effort aft its 27-point nonaccomplishment to the Fever.

9. Washington Mystics (8-10)

Previous ranking: 7

Next 7 days: vs. CHI (July 8), vs. LV (July 10), @ SEA (July 13)

The Mystics dropped their lone crippled past week, having the misfortune of playing Minnesota 2 days aft the Lynx had mislaid successful the Commissioner's Cup final. There was nary stopping the Lynx successful that outing. Now, Washington -- which volition nonstop rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron to the All-Star Game -- looks to get backmost connected track.

10. Dallas Wings (6-14)

Previous ranking: 10

Next 7 days: @ CHI (July 9), @ IND (July 13)

The Wings divided with Phoenix, winning 98-89 astatine location connected Thursday earlier falling 102-72 successful Phoenix connected Monday. Arike Ogunbowale (thumb) and DiJonai Carrington (rib) were retired Monday, but rookie guards Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly combined for 44 points. That's a perimeter trio to watch.

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Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James harvester for 51 successful win

Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James harvester for 51 points arsenic the Wings instrumentality down the Mercury.

11. Chicago Sky (5-12)

Previous ranking: 11

Next 7 days: @ WAS (July 8), vs. DAL (July 9), vs. MIN (July 12), vs. MIN (July 14)

In their lone crippled past week, the Sky mislaid 80-75 astatine Minnesota, a squad Chicago volition look 2 much times successful the adjacent week. The Sky's Angel Reese had 17 rebounds against the Lynx, her 5th consecutive crippled with astatine slightest 16 boards. She volition beryllium an All-Star for the 2nd consecutive season.

12. Los Angeles Sparks (6-13)

Previous ranking: 12

Next 7 days: vs. MIN (July 10), vs. CON (July 13)

For immoderate reason, the Sparks look to person the Fever's number. Los Angeles' lone victories successful its past 8 games person been astatine Indiana, including 89-87 connected Saturday aft losing earlier successful the week astatine New York. Forward Azura Stevens' career-best play continues; she had 21 points and 12 rebounds against the Fever.

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Plum drops 20 successful Sparks' triumph to amended to 21-1 successful vocation vs. Fever

Kelsey Plum pours successful 20 points to powerfulness the Sparks to triumph implicit the Fever.

13. Connecticut Sun (2-16)

Previous ranking: 13

Next 7 days: vs. SEA (July 9), @ SEA (July 11), @ LA (July 13)

The Sun would similar not to beryllium the squad that others bounce backmost against aft losing. But the information is, Connecticut is the foe everyone other is looking guardant to playing, arsenic the Sun person dropped 10 successful a row.