Post-draft, Mid-quarantine WNBA League Pass Rankings
With a touch of power rankings
The WNBA was supposed to kick off last Friday, but alas, here we are, wearing the same sweatpants we’ve worn for the past 26 days and bingeing Normal People to make us feel things. Let’s take a break from Connell and his gold chain to talk a little hoops, though.
Despite the season set-back, the W is arguably in one of the best spots it has been for a long time, with a wealth of talent, several super teams, and an increased (although not nearly done increasing) spotlight.
With that in mind, let’s take a combination look at both the best and most fun teams around the league once we do actually get basketball back on the court. I’ll note off the top that these rankings were borderline impossible, especially on the “fun” side of the rankings. I think there’s at least a semi-legitimate case for all 12 teams to be considered the most fun team to watch in the league, and as such, I’ll make that brief case for each team, even as we go down the line.
These rankings will be in order of most “watchable” as stolen directly from Zach Lowe’s annual League Pass Rankings over in the NBA. (Theft is the highest form of flattery?) Most fun players, most aesthetically pleasing jersey, best commentators/court, an opportunity for whacky shit, etc. are all packaged into one ranking. At the end of each team’s write-up I’ll add where I have them in my overall power rankings heading into the (hopefully sometime soon) incoming 2020 season.
WNBA League Pass Rankings
1) Phoenix Mercury
2019 Record: 15–19, eighth seed, lost in the first round to Chicago
The case for the top spot: Big Threes are the team-building dish de jour in the W, and arguably no city hosts a more intriguing triumvirate than Diana Turasi, Brittany Griner, and Skyler Diggins-Smith.
Turasi is, in my mind, the Greatest of All Time, but she probably has only a few more years to try to add to her legacy and make everyone come around to fully accepted G.O.A.T status. The UConn legend already has three WNBA rings (to go along with three NCAA titles and six Euroleague championships), winning a fourth would bring her up to the same tier as Maya Moore and Cynthia Cooper, while arguably possessing more individual plaudits than both. (Although Cooper remains severely underrated in the G.O.A.T discussion due to the timing of her career.)
Add into the mix a big in Griner who never quite seems to be able to please the masses by reaching that true highest level of dominance (tale as old as time in the basketball ranks), and a backcourt mate in Diggins-Smith who averaged 18 a game last time she was on the court, and the recipe is there for absolute fireworks in Phoenix this year.
Most appealing 2020 storyline: That being said, the team is fresh off their worst campaign since 2012, and Turasi is 37 and coming off a season in which she played only six games and looked like a shell of herself (4.3 points per game on 21.5 minutes).
Most fun player: Of course, as a Turasi apologist, I’m totally buying that she saw the writing on the wall of a lost season in 2019 and packed it in to save herself for a final go (or two) with a fresh shot in 2020. The G.O.A.T.s know when to hold em and when to fold em, and I think Turasi will be back to her glorious, shit-talking, big-shot-hitting, nasty self in 2020.
2020 Power Ranking: Sixth. I think the team will know that the postseason is what matters here, and they won’t strain themselves beyond getting a ticket to the dance. Once Turasi and co. are there, that’s when they’ll turn up and make a run.
2) Seattle Storm
2019 Record: 18–16, sixth seed, lost in the second round to Los Angeles
The case for the top spot: This team is going to be COMING for folks this year. After a season that their two mega-star players both missed in its entirety — and the team still managed to make the playoffs! — Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird will be back for a crown they most undoubtedly still view as their own.
Sports media tends to create narratives to keep fans engaged, but I promise you the full-on coronation of the Mystics in the increased spotlight of what was a bit of a breakout season for the W didn’t go under the radar of Breanna and Bird. I can almost picture Sue Bird taking the iPad, Michael Jordan style, watching Della Donne and co. celebrating — along with all the narratives that the next great dynasty was here — and ripping off one of these:
Most appealing 2020 storyline: It’s a new year, Washington, and there’s an old sheriff back in town.
Most fun player: The “sports phrase” I hate more than any other on the planet is: “People forget [blank].” It’s grating, typically gendered, and just ever so banal.
That being said… maybe people aren’t recalling (…) just how amazing Breanna Stewart is. Since 2013, Stewart has collected an absurd five rings across NCAA and the W. During that stretch, there’s only one year in which she played basketball and didn’t walk away with a title. I mean, c’mon. When last healthy, she was putting up 22 and 8 with 2.5 assists, and 2.8 stocks per game. Oh and she was shooting 53/42/82 from the field.
Basically, the only thing lacking from her trophy cabinet at home is an MVP award from the W (she’s already taken home four NCAA MOPs, a FIBA World Cup MVP, and a Euroleague MVP), and if I were a betting man (and I am), I’d wager some good money on her filling that spot sooner than later. Watching her gun for that prize this year is going to be incredibly fun.
2020 Power Ranking: First. I do typically abide by the law that the reigning champs have to take the top spot in the first power rankings of the next season, but guess what, the Storm kind of are the reigning champs, now that they’ll return their core from the 2018 title-winning squad.
3) Atlanta Dream
2019 Record: 8–26, 12th place
The case for the top spot: Welcome to every WNBA fan’s second-favorite team. That’s what happens you trade for Courtney Williams, draft Chennedy Carter, and bring back Tiffany Hayes. Williams is the singular most attention-demanding player both on and off the court, and if there’s going to be a player in the next five years that’s a threat to pass her, it’ll be Carter. Remember when the Lakers had the Meme Team a few years back? This Dream team has the potential to be that, but actually, you know, good.
Most appealing 2020 storyline: Speaking of which, this is a team that has seen their win total yo-yo around quite a bit in recent years. Over the last three years, they’ve gone from 12 wins in 2017 all the way up to 23 the next season, before crashing back down to earth with only eight in 2019. I don’t see 23 wins again just yet, but it’s also hard to imagine them in single digits again.
Most fun player(s): If Williams, Carter, and Hayes are all on the court at the same time and you’re not watching, you are most definitely the police.
2020 Power Ranking: Ninth. In the end, I think the Dream will finish jussssst outside the playoffs, but that’s only because there’s a different trendy sleeper we’ll get to in a little bit instead. It’s not at all hard to imagine this team in the postseason whenever that actually comes around.
4) Washington Mystics
2019 Record: 26–8, WNBA Champions
The case for the top spot: Well, how about the chatter that this squad could potentially be one of the top five teams to ever play in the W?
Most appealing 2020 storyline: Mike Thibault and the Mystics almost seemed to break basketball with their offensive juggernaut last season, and with Elena Delle Donne sure to be back and ready to defend her crown, there’s lots of reason to expect more of the same.
That being said, there are a few interesting question marks surrounding the squad. First and foremost was the decision to basically swap out Kristi Tolliver for Leilani Mitchell. Tolliver has been an absolute rock for the Mystics the last three seasons, and the local kid gone good played a huge role in the maturation of what became a championship team. However, I’m potentially even more excited to bring Mitchell into this lineup. Leilani has always been one of the more underrated players in the league, and she should thrive in Thibault’s system. In case you missed it, she had her breakout season last year in her 12th season in the league, averaging a career-high 12.8 points on a blistering 43% from three. If she shoots even close to that in 2020, the Mystics will be even scarier than the squad that posted the 30–4 Pythagorean record last year — insanity.
UNLESS… the Coronavirus has other things to say about that, and European players don’t make it over to the States for this season. That’s been a topic of conversations in WNBA circles, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a team more distraught to miss their European piece than the Mystics without their Sixth Person Supreme, Emma Meesseman.
Most fun player: Sorry, we got a bit away from the heart and soul of this exercise, which is not to actually preview the season, but to talk about all the goofy stuff you’ll want to watch. So with that in mind, sit back, grab a Pacifico, and just watch Delle Donne do her thing: 51.5/43.0/97.4 with the size to play center— that’s truly once in a lifetime stuff, make sure you truly, truly appreciate that.
2020 Power Ranking: Second. I’m really excited to appear as the bullseye of the dartboard Delle Donne keeps in her Doubters Den.
5) Chicago Sky
2019 Record: 20–14, lost in the second round (in heart-breaking fashion) to Las Vegas
The case for the top spot: We live in uncertain times. When sports finally return, do you want a flighty team who could just as easily win a title as they could miss the playoffs (I’m looking at you, Vegas)? No, you’ll want the paradigm of consistency that is the Chicago Sky.
Most appealing 2020 storyline: I’m not exaggerating. In a league that went absolutely bat-shit bonkers over the winter, with the craziest offseason the league has ever seen, the Sky are banking on internal growth and familiarity to be worth just as much as all the splashy Big Threes forming around the league.
The killer backcourt couple (literally) of Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley (who showed the world what bosses they were on ESPN’s H-O-R-S-E competition) will both be back, as well as the team’s fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-leading scorers in Jantel Lavender, Stefanie Dolson, and Cheyenne Parker.
Most fun player: But if the Sky are going to make the leap into the tier of true contenders, it’s going to be on the back of their leading scorer from last season: Diamond DeShields. Currently my favorite non-Liberty player in the league, DeShields is already coming off a breakout season, but like many greats before her, there are signs that another leap could be imminent.
If you want a good deep dive into Diamond’s potential, check out Katie Barnes’ piece for ESPN from last year, or read Matt Ellentuck’s excellent article from just last week.
(As an added bonus fun player, I have to say I was super bummed Ruthy Hebard didn’t make it to the Liberty with their second pick of the first round, but the idea of watching the chemistry between her and Vandersloot grow is mouth-watering. If you held a gun to my head and said whose career will play out as the third most valuable this year’s draft, behind Sabrina and Satou, I’d say Ruthy. [Not that I was in the bag for that Oregon squad or anything…])
2020 Power Ranking: Seventh. Despite getting myself all jazzed up over this team, I do ultimately believe that talent wins over everything else in basketball, and when there are a half dozen teams with legitimate Big Threes, there’s just only so much room at the top.
6) Dallas Wings
2019 Record: 10–24, 11th place
The case for the top spot: Remember when Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden were on the same team? That could be Satou Sabally, Arike Ogubowale, and Bella Alarie. The future is here, and she needs a big ole pair of sunglasses.
Most appealing 2020 storyline: The Wings are beginning to look like The Process, Texas Edition. After Liz Cambage wanted out of town during last offseason, this offseason was all about hitting the full reset button. As such, the team is going to be young and fun. There’s the distinct possibility that this team will be running out a starting lineup with a combined fewer than 10 professional seasons by the end of the year, and if all breaks right, they could still be competing for a playoff spot while doing so.
Most fun player: I mean…
2020 Power Ranking: 12th. Despite all the good things I said about them earlier, I think they’re a season away from a playoff spot and two seasons away from contention. When everything clicks, it’ll come fast, but while potential is fun to watch (hence the spot in the top half of these rankings), it still means “not very good” in French, so don’t be surprised to see them stocking up with another high draft pick next spring.
7) Indiana Fever
2019 Record: 13–21, ninth place
The case for the top spot: This is my sleeper pick for 2020. Both in terms of where they will finish in the standings (hold that thought), as well as where they will be in terms of entertainment. Let’s spell out the reasons for both.
Most appealing 2020 storyline: The Fever finished two games out of the playoffs in 2019, but the writing was on the wall towards the end of the season — if that expression can ever be used in a positive manner. The team won four of its last six and went 7–6 from July 31 on. While that may seem like the tiniest of sample sizes, there’s reason to believe it was a bit more signal than noise. The 2019 season alone was a seven-win improvement from 2018, when the team won a paltry six games to finish bottom of the barrel.
But there’s plenty of reason to think more improvements could be ahead, led mostly by this person…
Most fun player: Teaira McCowan has been one of my favorite players to watch since her freshman season at Mississippi St., and I’m pegging her as a lock to win Most Improved Player in 2020. As a rookie, she averaged 10.0 points and 9.0 rebounds a game in just 22.1 minutes, only coming on as a starter in stretches during the season. In the 16 games she started, McCowan averaged 13.3 points and 11.3 rebounds a game, including a bonkers 17.0 and 12.3 over the final seven games of the season — those 12.3 rebounds per game, if maintained, would’ve been an all-time record in the W. Even as is, McCowan ranked in the top 10 in PER and win shares per 48.
And here’s the thing: Lauren Cox is only going to help improve those numbers. At first, I was a little confused about bringing in another big when the future is so clearly McCowan. But it’s actually brilliant and part of why I have Indiana so high in these rankings. Cox is basically the perfect partner for McCowan, as she can stretch the court and is an elite passer. Plus, good freakin’ luck getting a shot off against a frontcourt pairing of McCowan and Cox. I’m sitting here at my computer giggling at the thought of watching these two together. I honestly should have them even higher.
2020 Power Ranking: Fifth. Yup, I’m putting them ahead of several teams pegged by most as legitimate contenders. But I’m a believer. Add Erica Wheeler — who might be McCowan’s stiffest competition for Most Improved in 2020 — a consistent vet in Candice Dupree, and an electric sparkplug in Kelsey Mitchell to the McCowan/Cox frontcourt, and that’s a team bound for the playoffs. My only concern is ditching Pokey Chatman right as the team seemed to be building to something under her tutelage. But I’m still buying high on the Fever in 2020.
8) New York Liberty
2019 Record: 10–24, 11th place
The case for the top spot: Two words and they rhyme with Labrina Buyanescu.
Most appealing 2020 storyline: Two words and they rhyme with Trabina Myanescu.
Most fun player: Jocelyn Willoughby… just kidding, it’s Sabrina Ionescu.
2020 Power Ranking: 11th place.
(Ok, all in seriousness, as a Liberty fan, I’m amped for this season, and I’ll have a full preview out sooner than later which is why we’re skimping on their section in this piece.)
9) Connecticut Sun
2019 Record: 23–11, lost in the finals in five games to Washington.
The case for the top spot: Honestly, they should be wayyyyy higher, but I’m being petty because they traded Courtney Williams. (And yes, I know, she was the one who wanted to end the relationship, but I’m still dinging them.)
Most appealing 2020 storyline: Is it possible to both have come a game from winning last year’s title while also coming into this season as massively overlooked once again?
Most fun player: The ghost of Courtney Williams… Ok, I’ll give it up.
There are actually tons of fun players with plenty of fresh faces in the mix for the Sun. But before the new faces, let’s focus on the perpetually underrated Jonquel Jones, who ranked second in the league in total win shares behind only Delle Donne in 2019. Jones is far from flashy, but boy oh boy is she efficient. The 6–6 forward averaged 14.6 points and a league-leading 9.7 rebounds over 28.8 minutes last year, with basically matching stats to back them in 2017. (Jones actually averaged more rebounds and shot even better in 2017.) She’s a proven mega-star at this point, and it’s time we start treating her as such.
Then there’s Alyssa Thomas who averaged 11.6 and 7.8 last year in her second All-Star season. Again, not as flashy, but efficient as hell. Add veterans DeWanna Bonner and Briann January who will be in town hungry for a title, and it’s a fun squad… but again with not nearly the flash Courtney Williams brought. Sorry, I just can’t do it. This team will be outstanding, but the whole time I’ll just be thinking about content like this:
2020 Power Ranking: Third. And honestly, I think it’s a Big Three in Seattle, Washington, and Connecticut, with all three a clear tier above the rest of the league but without much separating each other.
10) Minnesota Lynx
2019 Record: 18–16, lost in the first round to Seattle.
The case for the top spot: The fact that Cheryl Reeve and company are borderline magicians and are guaranteed to make me look realllllly stupid having them this low in both the League Pass and Power Rankings. Also, Jim Peterson, Dave Benz, and Marney Gellner. Also, also: one of the most loyal and enthusiastic fanbases.
Most appealing 2020 storyline: Will the magic continue? The Lynx lost Maya Moore (keep fighting the good fight), Lindsay Whalen, and Rebekkah Brunson after 2018, yet they still made the postseason. In fact, they matched their record from 2018. Now they lose Seimone Augustus and potentially Odyssey Sims (who gave birth in April) but will try to run it back once more.
Most fun player: It’s gonna be the Fowles and Collier show in Minnesota, with Collier being a personal fav. Last year, Collier showed she is fast-tracked to be your favorite stat-heads favorite player sooner than later. The rookie finished fifth in the entire league in win shares, while leading the league in minutes played and finishing second in defensive win shares. Her hands are quicker than Louisiana lightning, and she was ungodly smart on that end for any player, let alone a rookie.
I’m also a weirdly big Lexie Brown fan/believer, and I think Crystal Dangerfield was an absolute steal in this draft, and I agree wholeheartedly with Lyndsey D’Arcangelo of The Athletic who pointed out that she should thrive when reunited with Collier in a backcourt that is going to give opposing guards absolute nightmares.
2020 Power Ranking: 10th. This is going to make me look so dumb in six months.
t-11) Los Angeles Sparks/Las Vegas Aces
2019 Sparks Record: 22–12, swept by Connecticut in the semifinals.
2019 Aces Record: 21–13, lost in the semifinals in four games to Washington.
The case for the top spot: Personally, I find these two teams to be the hardest case, but even with that said, the case isn’t that hard: These are two of the three top contenders, per Vegas, with the Aces actually tied for the role of Vegas co-favorites with Washington. In Liz Cambage, Aja Wilson, Nneka Ogwumike, and Candace Parker, if elite big play is your thing, these two teams offer more than their fair share.
Most appealing 2020 storyline: Not to troll too heavily, but I actually think the most appealing storyline for both of these teams will be whether they completely collapse or not.
The Sparks would seem to be the leader in the clubhouse for said meltdown, with the cracks in the wall spreading like a spiderweb during the 2019 postseason. Derek Fisher sitting Parker during the fourth quarter of their season-ending loss doesn’t seem like it’s about to fade away any time soon.
That being said, I actually think it’s the Aces who will be the biggest disappointment in the league in 2020. I’m not a big Cambage fan; I think the pressure will be high in one of the bigger and more intense markets in the W; and Lambier seems like the perfect coach to reside over a total implosion.
Most fun player(s): Despite all the hate here so far, newcomers in the form of reigning champion Kristi Tolliver now of the Aces, and long-time Dream-er Angel McCoughtry now of Los Angeles are two of the more dynamic wings in the game and should be great to watch in their new environments.
2020 Power Ranking: Ok, I have to put my money where my mouth is and bomb one of these teams: 4th for the Sparks; 8th for the Aces.
