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WNBA Power Rankings: Minnesota Lynx rise, New York Liberty fall

@minnesotalynx

Coming off arguably the best game of the season between the Storm and Aces, we have a fresh batch of equally enthralling power rankings.

Where does every team stand two weeks before the All-Star game and Olympic break? Find out below.

12. Indiana Fever (1-15) —

In their one win this season, the Fever scored a season-high 89 points on 51.6 percent shooting from the field and 46.7 percent from 3-point range. They haven’t surpassed 80 points since then and are averaging a WNBA-worst 26.7 percent from 3. They also waived their 2020 No. 3 draft pick, Lauren Cox, this week. Times are tough in Indiana.

11. Atlanta Dream (5-9) -1

Chennedy Carter is back, but Atlanta’s defense from earlier in the season isn’t. The Dream are giving up a league-high 88.3 points per game, made worse by the Liberty putting up 101 points against them on Saturday. They’re forcing steals and turnovers with their speed, but they’re letting opponents shoot nearly 47 percent against them per game.

10. Los Angeles Sparks (6-8) +1

The Sparks are currently the worst rebounding team in the league, collecting just 29 per game to their opponents’ 40.1. When you combine that with a low-scoring offense, the Sparks need to shoot lights out — like they did in a win over the Mystics last week — to make up for the lack of possessions.

9. New York Liberty (8-8) -3

From watching the Liberty closely last week, it’s pretty obvious that Sabrina Ionescu is their X-factor. When she’s in the game, she spreads out defenses with her vision and passing ability. The problem is she’s still working her way back from ankle tendinitis and she hasn’t been hitting enough of her own shots to draw defenders toward her and away from her teammates.

8. Phoenix Mercury (7-7) -1

It’s taking the Mercury more time than most to heat up offensively during games. They’re averaging the second-fewest points in the first quarter (18.7) and the third-fewest in the first half (39.1). That’s forced them to play catch-up in many games decided by last-minute possessions. Diana Taurasi’s return has come at a good time.

7. Washington Mystics (7-8) —

In their seven wins this season, the Mystics are attempting nearly 30 3-pointers a game, the most in the WNBA. It’s clear that where 3-point shooting and Tina Charles go, Washington goes. The question continues to be how long they can hover around .500 with Elena Delle Donne’s return not looking any closer.

6. Minnesota Lynx (7-7) +3

The Lynx are relying heavily on Sylvia Fowles and Napheesa Collier down low, averaging 36.1 points in the paint per game. What’s held them back this season is their backcourt. Crystal Dangerfield has regressed since winning Rookie of the Year, Aerial Powers is hurt and Kayla McBride has been inconsistent. If Layshia Clarendon can prove to be a steady starting point guard, Minnesota should only improve.

5. Dallas Wings (8-8) -1

When you have Allisha Gray, Tyasha Harris, Isabelle Harrison and All-Star candidate Marina Mabrey coming off the bench, your team is in pretty good shape. Dallas’ bench continues to lead the league with 30.4 points per game. When they can wear down opponents with their youth and depth, the Wings are hard to stop.

4. Chicago Sky (9-8) +1

Rachel Galligan explored how the Sky have been able to turn around their season so dramatically in a piece for Just Women’s Sports last week. The Sky’s offense went cold in their loss to the Sun on Sunday, which brought their seven-game winning streak to an end, but their outlook is still bright.

3. Connecticut Sun (10-5) —

The Sun went 2-3 while their best player was dominating at Eurobasket. Jonquel Jones returns Tuesday night after clearing COVID-19 protocols and should give the Sun’s offense an immediate boost.

2. Seattle Storm (12-4) —

The Storm committed 16 turnovers and shot 30.8 percent from 3 against the Aces on Sunday, numbers that are considered bad for them, and they still almost pulled out the win. As long as Mercedes Russell can continue to hold her own down low, the Storm’s backcourt will get it done.

1. Las Vegas Aces (11-4) —

We boldly moved the Aces into the top spot in last week’s power rankings, and they proved us right with their overtime win over the Storm on Sunday. The Aces now hold the season series, 2-1, and don’t show any signs of slowing down. How much longer until the playoffs?

Alex Morgan “week-to-week” with ankle injury

Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images

USWNT stalwart Alex Morgan will miss at least one week of NWSL action after suffering a left ankle knock in her last club appearance, Wave manager Casey Stoney said on Thursday.

Morgan was helped off the field after rolling her ankle in the later stages of the Wave’s 1-0 loss to the Orlando Pride last weekend, despite the San Diego side being out of available substitutes.

“She's got an ankle injury and she's out for this weekend, and then it'll be week by week from there,” Stoney said, confirming that Morgan’s been ruled out for Saturday’s showdown with NWSL newcomer Bay FC.

Depending on its severity, Morgan’s ankle issue might have larger ramifications than missing a few weeks of NSWL play. Morgan was added to the team's Gold Cup roster after an ACL injury sidelined young striker Mia Fishel, and she's since made a number of USWNT starts in the team's Gold Cup and SheBelieves wins. A long-term injury could potentially derail the center forward’s Olympic plans.

With her return timeline uncertain, it's possible the injury could also impact Morgan's ability to participate in new head coach Emma Hayes' first U.S. friendlies in June and July.

Morgan's injury concerns aren't uncommon in the U.S. player pool, but add a sense of urgency as Hayes eyes the NWSL for top-performing players in the upcoming weeks. Gotham's Tierna Davidson and Rose Lavelle have also been dealing with injuries: Lavelle has yet to appear for Gotham, while Davidson exited last weekend's match early with a hamstring injury.

Gotham has yet to issue an update concerning Davidson's status.

Brazil legend Marta to retire from international play after Olympics

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 16: Marta of Brazil during the 2023 SheBelieves Cup match between Japan and Brazil at Exploria Stadium on February 16, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)

This week, legendary Brazilian superstar Marta announced that she’ll retire from the national team at the end of 2024.

In an interview with CNN Esportes published Thursday, the iconic footballer confirmed that she would be hanging up her boots regardless of whether or not she ends up making Brazil's 18-player roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

“If I go to the Olympics, I will enjoy every moment, because regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team,” she said. “There is no longer Marta in the national team as an athlete from 2025 onwards.”

Marta will retire as a giant of the women's game, having appeared in five Olympics and multiple World Cups. When discussing her retirement, she stressed confidence in the rising generation of Brazilian players, noting that she was, “very calm about this, because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes." 

The statement echoes back to a plea she made during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup after Brazil lost to France 2-1 in the Round of 16. “It's wanting more. It's training more. It's taking care of yourself more. It's being ready to play 90 plus 30 minutes. This is what I ask of the girls,” she said then, addressing the young players following in her footsteps. 

In 2023, she signaled a farewell to World Cup competition with the same sentiment, telling media, “We ask the new generation to continue where we left off.”

If selected for the 2024 Olympic team, Marta has a shot at extending her own consecutive-scoring record with the ability to score in an unbelievable sixth-straight Olympic Games. She currently stands as Brazil’s top goalscorer, racking up 116 career goals in 175 matches, as well as the leading goalscorer in any World Cup, women’s or men’s, with 17 to her name. 

Marta will continue to play for the NWSL’s Orlando Pride through at least the end of 2024. The longtime forward and club captain has already contributed to multiple goals this season.

USWNT to face Costa Rica in final Olympic send-off

uswnt sophia smith and tierna davidson celebrate at shebeilves cup 2024
The USWNT will play their final pre-Olympic friendly against Costa Rica on July 16th. (Photo by Greg Bartram/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday that the USWNT will play their last home game on July 16th in the lead-up to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

The 2024 Send-Off Match against Costa Rica will take place at Washington, DC’s Audi Field — home to both the Washington Spirit and DC United — at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 16th. The friendly rounds out a four-game Olympic run-up campaign under incoming head coach Emma Hayes’ side, with the last two set to feature the finalized 2024 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team roster.

Hayes will appear on the USWNT sideline for the first time this June, helming the team as they embark on a two-game series against Korea Republic hosted by Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on June 1st followed by Allianz Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 4th. 

The team is then scheduled to meet a talented Mexico squad on July 13th at Gotham FC’s Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, where the Olympic-bound lineup will attempt to rewrite February’s shocking 2-0 loss to El Tri Femenil in the group stages of this year’s Concacaf W Gold Cup. And while clear roster favorites have emerged from both of this year’s Gold Cup and SheBelives Cup rosters, a spate of recent and recurring injuries means making it to the Olympics is still largely anyone’s game.

Broadcast and streaming channels for the USWNT's final July 16th friendly at Audi Field include TNT, truTV, Universo, Max, and Peacock.

Caitlin Clark’s WNBA start to serve as 2024 Olympic tryout

Clark of the Indiana Fever poses for a photo with Lin Dunn and Christie Sides during her introductory press conference on April 17, 2024
The talented Fever rookie is still in the running for a ticket to this summer's Paris Olympics. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

The USA Basketball Women's National Team is still considering Caitlin Clark for a spot on the Paris Olympics squad, says selection committee chair Jennifer Rizzotti. 

On Monday, Rizzotti told the AP that the committee will be evaluating the college phenom’s Olympic prospects by keeping a close eye on her first few weeks of WNBA play with Indiana.

The move is somewhat unconventional. While Clark was invited to participate in the 14-player national team training camp held earlier this month — the last camp before Team USA’s roster drops — she was unable to attend due to it coinciding with Iowa’s trip to the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Judging by the immense talent spread throughout the league in what might be their most hyped season to date, competition for a piece of the Olympic pie could be fiercer than ever before.

"You always want to introduce new players into the pool whether it's for now or the future," said Rizzotti. "We stick to our principles of talent, obviously, positional fit, loyalty and experience. It's got to be a combination of an entire body of work. It's still not going to be fair to some people."

Of course, Clark isn’t the first rookie the committee has made exceptions for. Coming off an exceptional college season that saw her averaging 19.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game for UConn, Breanna Stewart was tapped to represent the U.S. at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil less than two weeks after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Seattle Storm. Eight years prior, fellow No. 1 pick Candace Parker punched her ticket to the 2008 Games in Beijing just two weeks after making her first appearance for the L.A. Sparks.

In the lead-up to Paris’ Opening Ceremony on July 26th, USA Basketball Women’s National Team is scheduled to play a pair of exhibition games. They'll first go up against the WNBA's finest at the July 20th WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix before facing Germany in London on July 23rd.

While an official roster announcement date hasn’t yet been issued, players won’t find out if they’ve made this year’s Olympic cut until at least June 1st.

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