RebKell's Junkie Boards

[NYSports56]

Hi, thought I'd join in and share my team rankings.

I think more important than the specific rankings, which I kept changing constantly, are the following tiers that teams seem to fall in for me. Within these tiers, I can't really decide where to rank them:

1 - In a Class By Themselves: Las Vegas Aces
2 - Legitimate Contenders: Seattle Storm, New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun
3 - Playoff Caliber: Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Phoenix Mercury, Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream
4 - Looks Like a Lottery Team: Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics


#1 LAS VEGAS ACES -- Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson, Kiah Stokes
The Aces have won two championships in a row, the entire starting lineup is back, and they added an offensive center in Megan Gustafson to compliment the defensive-only Kiah Stokes. Together, they make a great two-headed center for Becky Hammon to use as she sees fit. The best chess player in the WNBA has the best chess pieces. Nothing is a lock, but no team has a better chance to win the championship than the Aces.

#2 SEATTLE STORM -- Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Jordan Horston, Nneka Ogwumike, Ezi Magbegor
There were lots of teams who got a lot better with free agency and the draft. The Storm are the one I think are going to come together for immediate results. The big 3 of Diggins-Smith, Loyd, and Ogwumike is formidable, and Horston and Magbegore have upside that could elevate this starting 5 to the top of the league.

#3 NEW YORK LIBERTY -- Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones
The Liberty are last year's runner up, were good enough to beat the Aces in the Commissioner's Cup, and they return all five starters. The superteam has been together for a year, which is usually what needs to happen. There is no way Breanna Stewart, a multi-time champion and former Finals MVP will go into a shooting slump in the playoffs the way she did last year. So why aren't the Liberty #2 or even #1? There were so many teams that got better in the off-season, and the Liberty did almost nothing. Even the Aces added Megan Gustafson to address one of their weaknesses. The Liberty did make an extremely minor move and add Kennedy Burke (who was out of the league last year) in an attempt to address their perimeter defense problems, but they lost Stefanie Dolson.
In a dramatic off-season, nothing interesting happened with the Liberty at all, and as a fan, I'm just not feeling any buzz about the team at all. I tuned into the pre-season game against Chicago expecting that seeing all the players would get me primed for the season, I don't put any stock in pre-season, but the game was such a disaster and they looked so bad that I'm still not feeling it. The Liberty will be very good, but my gut tells me I shouldn't put them at #2. Besides, going with the odds-on favorites for the top 2 spots is boring.

#4 CONNECTICUT SUN -- Tiffany Mitchell, Dijonai Carrington, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones
The Sun redid their back court, but I'm not sure it's any better. Tiffany Mitchell isn't really a point guard. That said, last year, Alyssa Thomas dragged this team to the semi-finals by her labrums without Brionna Jones. With Jones back, Connecticut's a Final Four team.

#5 INDIANA FEVER -- Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Katie Lou Samuelsson, NaLyssa Smith, Aliyah Boston
The Fever have a potential Big 3 in Clark, Smith, and Boston, but they don't have enough of a supporting cast to make them a true contender this year. They're young and they need to grow.

#6 DALLAS WINGS -- Jacy Sheldon, Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard, Teiera McCowan
The backcourt pairing of Sheldon and Ogunbowale is intriguing: Jacy's defense and playmaking ability should compliment Arike's scoring prowess nicely. Natasha Howard is awesome except when she wears a Liberty jersey, and Tiera McCowan is a solid and imposing big. Add the best player of them all, Satou Sabally, into the mix...but you can't. She's hurt again and will be gone at least until the Olympics break. Also, while the pairing of Jacy and Arike looks good, it's always tough on a rookie point guard.

#7 PHOENIX MERCURY -- Natasha Cloud, Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, Rebecca Allen, Brittany Griner
The Mercury made some huge moves in the off season, adding Natasha Cloud (who I think is the second best point guard in the league), Kehleah Copper, and Rebecca Allen. Add Brittany Griner to the mix, and you've got another superteam, right? I guess. But at the post, they've got Griner and almost nothing else, and for the start of the season, they won't even have her. Who's going to start at the 4? In the lineup I posted above, I've got them going small and using Rebecca Allen there, but that's not always going to be ideal. Also, any time Griner's off the court, there's no one who appears adequate to take her place. Phoenix will be good, as I said above, superteams have growing pains in the first season after they've been put together, and because of the depth at post, I'm picking the Mercury to be one of those teams. I think they need their supporting cast to improve.

#8 MINNESOTA LYNX -- Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Diamond Miller, Napheesa Collier, Alanna Smith
The Lynx improved themselves at point guard with Williams, and added Smith from Chicago to bolster the front line. A good solid team through and through, but Napheesa Collier is the only player with true star power. The Lynx are middle of the pack.

#9 ATLANTA DREAM -- Jordin Canada, Alisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Tina Charles, Cheyenne Parker
I have no idea what to think about the Dream. They're all good players, but I think there is a wide range of outcomes for all of them. I mean, who knows how good Tina Charles is going to be? Or whether Rhyne Howard will elevate herself into the elite tier? I've given them this ranking just outside the playoffs, but their chances of making the playoffs are almost as good as several of the teams I've put above them.

#10 CHICAGO SKY -- Dana Evans, Marina Mabrey, Diamond DeShields, Angel Reese, Elizabeth Williams
The Sky are rebuilding but they've managed to come up with a halfway decent starting lineup to support the two new rookies (Reese and Kamilla Cardoso). But Cardoso is out to start the season, and I'm not sure Angel Reese projects to be the type of instant success to propel a team with so little star power into the playoffs.

#11 LA SPARKS -- Layshia Clarendon, Lexie Brown, Rikea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink
The only way the Sparks could be successful is if Jackson and Brink turn out to be the team's two best players. With their fate riding on two rookies, they're going to probably get another good one next year.

#12 WASHINGTON MYSTICS - Brittney Sykes, Karlie Samuelsson, Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, Stefanie Dolson
A woeful starting 5 thanks to the departure of Natasha Cloud and Elena Delle-Donne. The guards are below average and none of them can play point guard. It's a little better at forward: Shakira Austin seems to have star potential, and rookie Aaliyah Edwards should be another solid piece to build around. Like the Sparks, they should be getting a lottery pick next year to help with the rebuilding process.

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[NYSports56]

[readyAIMfire53]

[NYSports56]

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Hiedeman is a fair sight better than Jefferson. Don't be shocked if she winds up starting at PG for Minny once they realize Courtney Williams isn't one.

I usually wound up defending Tip against the detractors. She was obviously superior to Tiffany Mitchell in every way.

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[readyAIMfire53]

[J-Spoon]

not aimed at any one list just an observation of all lists I have seen including media

Atl too low

Indy too high

[NYSports56]

[Shades]

[hyperetic]

I think CHI has more potential than #10 even without Cardoso. Spoon and the players seem to get along well. You can't underestimate team chemistry when gaging how well a team will do. Looking at individual play is important. Team dynamics are important. Not saying CHI will win the c'hip just that they might surprise you with how far they get.

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https://www.facebook.com/tonyboydphotography

[NYSports56]

[wnbafan]

I hope Coach TSpoon is having Angel put in extra work on her shooting. I figure first game she is nervous but you got to make those bunnies.

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[WNBA 09]

[hyperetic]