The 2023 WNBA season has passed its quarter mark, meaning all 12 teams have played at least the first 10 games of their expanded 40-game schedules, the longest in the league’s 27-year history.
The Sparks are currently 5-6 with wins against the Phoenix Mercury (twice), Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings and losses to the Las Vegas Aces (twice), Minnesota Lynx (twice), Connecticut Sun and Seattle.
As we get closer to the All-Star Game on Saturday, July 15 in Las Vegas, every team still has a realistic shot at a coveted playoff appearance, which requires a top-eight finish in the standings.
The rankings (through games of Sunday, June 18):
1. Las Vegas Aces (10-1): The defending WNBA champions are led by two-time MVP forward A’ja Wilson. Wilson is averaging 18.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, which is on par with the career averages for the 2018 WNBA Rookie of the Year. However, it is All-Star guard Jackie Young who is averaging a team-high 20.8 points per game on 59.9% shooting from the field and 46.8% from 3-point range. Along with Kelsey Plum and former Sparks Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas has five former All-Stars in a superb starting lineup. In fact, on Sunday, Parker became the only player in WNBA history with at least 6,500 points, 3,000 rebounds, 1,500 assists, 600 blocked shots, and 500 steals.
2. Connecticut Sun (9-3): Alyssa Thomas should be considered an early season MVP candidate, as the point power forward is averaging 15 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. Thomas is a legitimate triple-double threat every time she takes the court for Connecticut.
3. New York Liberty (7-3): The Liberty are led by two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart, who is averaging 23.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Stewart, second in the league in scoring and rebounding, joins Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot, Jonquel Jones and Betnijah to make the Liberty the other team featuring a starting lineup comprised of former…
Read the full article here