While the epicenter of the women’s basketball ecosystem will be Phoenix, Arizona for a few days, our 12 WNBA teams are probably looking at the All-Star/Olympic break through varying lenses.
There are some teams that probably wish there was no break and others who are looking at the extended period of time off breathing a massive sigh of relief.
We have called all 12 teams into our palatial Beyond The W offices to issue midseason grades. Some will be very happy with what the report card says, others – not so much. Without further ado, here are our midseason grades for the 2024 season.
New York Liberty – A+
We begin with the team currently atop the W standings in the league’s flagship team.
Even though the Liberty probably want that Commissioner’s Cup final with the Minnesota Lynx back, 21-4 is still 21-4. As of today, the Lib are the only team that has crossed the 20-win threshold for the season.
That Game 4 from last season’s WNBA Finals left a bad taste in the mouths of Sandy Brondello’s team – and they are playing like it. Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart are doing what they typically do plus Kayla Thornton, Leonie Fiebich and Ivana Dojkic have given the Liberty much-needed depth.
A big reason why New York is fortunate for the break is it gives Betnijah Laney-Hamilton addition time to heal from knee surgery.
Connecticut Sun – A
The Connecticut Sun are doing Connecticut Sun things once again – and as is the case with the Liberty, this is a team that once again can be a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the floor.
Brionna Jones was sorely missing from last season’s Sun rendition and this season has proved exactly why. DeWanna Bonner is once again displaying why she – in addition to Jones – were both named to the All-Star Game as part of Team WNBA and Alyssa Thomas is once again showcasing why she earned a berth on this year’s Olympic team.
Also – the defensive force that is DiJonai Carrington is making a wail of a case for Most Improved Player.
The big blemish that may be following Connecticut is if this team can beat the Liberty. So far, Stephanie White’s bunch has had three get-togethers with New York – all have seen the Sun in the loss column.
Minnesota Lynx – A-
At this point, we may need to almost assume that Cheryl Reeve could assemble a team of rec leaguers off the streets and turn them into championship contenders.
Ok – maybe that is exaggerating a bit. The point is this was a team that was struggling mightily for much of the previous season. One thing that helps is having a healthy Napheesa Collier. Another thing that helps is having a healthy Napheesa Collier who was putting herself squarely in the MVP conversation.
Add in a Kayla McBride who recently was announced as part of the WNBA’s 3-Point Contest on Friday and we have ourselves an extremely scary bunch in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Throw in an Alanna Smith that is averaging 11.5 points and 5.4 rebounds a contest plus 3.3 assists and 1.8 blocks?
There is a reason why this team won the Commissioner’s Cup and a reason why this team belongs on the court with any foe in the W.
Seattle Storm – B+
It took a bit, but the Seattle Storm are finally starting to resemble the Seattle Storm we had hints that they’d be at the beginning of the season following the additions of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike.
Noelle Quinn has herself a championship contender in Seattle and a huge reason for that is because of how big a home court advantage Climate Pledge Arena has been in 2024. The Storm Crazies packed the Greenhouse even for last year when the Storm appeared to be in a rebuild, so we knew this season would be fine.
As for that home court advantage – Seattle is 11-3 at home on the season. Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor also had a lot to do with that as did Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike.
Las Vegas Aces – B+
This is the part where we tell the doubters that we hate to say we told you so.
Whether they are wearing silver and black or red and gold, the Las Vegas Aces are still the Las Vegas Aces. Becky Hammon’s team was treading water for the early part of the season as they were sans Chelsea Gray for a good portion of the first half. Then she returned and the Aces began resembling the two-time defending champions that they are.
Jackie Young still looks like Jackie Young. Kelsey Plum still looks like Kelsey Plum. And there is no way we can do an Aces quick hit without mentioning A’ja Wilson looking like a woman on a mission.
The rest of the W needs to write angry letters to whomever the fourth place MVP voter from last year was because if Wilson was already wearing a big red S, she definitely is now.
Phoenix Mercury – B
To the team that happens to be host of this season’s All-Star festivities.
Following the dreadful season the Mercury had in 2023 not to mention a first-year head coach in Nate Tibbets, Phoenix was arguably the biggest question mark heading into 2024. On paper, this looks like a team that should contend. The reality was what the reality was last year.
The trade for Kahleah Copper that Nick U’ren engineered with the Chicago Sky has actually paid massive dividends for the Mercury. We knew that Brittney Griner would resemble Brittney Griner and that Diana Taurasi would resemble Diana Taurasi even in what could be her final season.
One does not get three on the Olympic team without having plenty of talent. The question for Phoenix is if the talent is aged or experienced.
Indiana Fever – C+
If the first part of the season was any indication, it looked as if the Fever would be in failing grade territory.
Again – Indiana (Caitlin Clark or no Caitlin Clark) was expected to resemble a rebuilding team. Then Christie Sides’ team started winning because she realized trying to turn the Fever into the professional version of the Iowa Hawkeyes was not a winning formula. Sides realized that when a team has the reigning Rookie of the Year in Aliyah Boston, one probably needs to ensure she gets her touches. The same for NaLyssa Smith.
Fans may be disappointed that Clark did not take part in the 3-Point Contest, but given all of the basketball she has played since last Fall, she probably wants to spend some time away from the court and away from the media. So far, their signature win is against the Liberty. If the Fever get in the playoffs, that is wonders for Clark’s Rookie of the Year candidacy.
If our next team makes the postseason along with Indiana, then it gets interesting…
Chicago Sky – C
Recent news about a massive hike in season ticket prices at Wintrust Arena probably would earn the Sky’s front office a much lower grade than a C not to mention the ongoing questions about a practice facility.
We will focus on the team for now and hold the feet of ownership to the fire in the near future. We sometimes forget that the Sky actually did qualify for the postseason in 2023 even though the Aces made short work of Chicago en route to a championship.
Angel Reese set a record (in her rookie season) of 15 consecutive games with a double-double before that streak ran into an immovable seafoam object courtesy of Atlantic & Flatbush. If anyone has a case for biggest All-Star snub, it is Chennedy Carter who is having an impressive comeback season.
Add in Diamond DeShields and a still developing Kamilla Cardoso and the Sky have all the building blocks necessary to be a future contender. Marina Mabrey being traded to the Sun for Moriah Jefferson and Rachel Banham is an extremely curious development. Chicago may be a team that probably does not want the break to arrive given the big win they scored over the Aces on the Aces’ home floor.
If only ownership was not trying to price certain residents of Skytown out of Skytown. Also – about those facilities…
Atlanta Dream – D
We were this close to downgrading the Dream’s grade to a D-.
The goal for Tanisha Wright’s team was to improve on last season’s showing where Atlanta finished 2023 as a fifth seed. If the playoffs were to start today, the Dream would be on the outside looking in.
That was not part of the plan as Atlanta is probably the happiest team that the All-Star/Olympic break has finally arrived. The Dream are going into said break with an eight-game losing streak and the team is – for all intents and purposes – spoiling a comeback season for Tina Charles.
Allisha Gray was named to All-Star as part of Team WNBA but it, so far, has been a far distance from 2023 where Gray, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Rhyne Howard (2022 Rookie of the Year) all were named. Many Dream fans are going as far as to put Coach Wright on the hot seat. That seat could get hotter if Atlanta does not turn things around down the stretch.
Los Angeles Sparks – D
Curt Miller’s Sparks team is a squad one cannot grade too harshly. After all, it was expected that the Sparks (another team, by the way, that has facility questions to answer) would resemble a rebuilding team after losing Ogwumike in free agency.
While Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark may be the leaders in the clubhouse in terms of Rookie of the Year, one must not overlook the season Rickea Jackson is having wearing purple, gold and teal. She is averaging 11.4 points per game and has started on 19 occasions.
Dearica Hamby is also displaying why she is the lone Spark to earn All-Star love. Hamby is currently the leading Los Angeles scorer, having averaged a double-double of 19.2 points and 10 rebounds a contest.
It is a shame that Cameron Brink tore her ACL midway through the first half of the season as she was making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year. Not to mention she was to be part of Team USA’s 3×3 team in Paris prior to getting hurt.
Washington Mystics – D
Among many a WNBA pundit, the Mystics have been referred to as the best six-win team one has ever seen.
Unfortunately for the Mystics, Eric Thibault’s team still only has six victories.
We do forget that Washington has a much-ballyhooed rookie as well in Aaliyah Edwards.
Insert the SpongeBob meme here of the ‘Stics looking at the other 11 WNBA teams enjoying All-Star Game festivities as Washington is the sole team of the 12 sans a representative in Sunday’s exhibition. Ariel Atkins is the team’s leading scorer with 15 points (and three assists) per contest and Myisha Hines-Allen has added 12.5 points a game (plus five rebounds) to the Washington cause.
The team did get a victory prior to the All-Star/Olympic break with Edwards being named to Team Canada for the upcoming Paris 2024 Games. Also – the Mystics will have a presence in the desert this week as Stefanie Dolson was announced as a 3-Point Contest participant.
Dallas Wings – D-
This one is a sad one.
The most disappointing team in the WNBA this season, arguably, may be Latricia Trammell’s Dallas Wings.
This is a team that was in the league’s semifinals last season and gave the eventual champion Aces everything it could handle in that Game 3 at home. The Wings have struggled mightily and a huge reason for that has been battling the injury bug.
The 2024 season is proving simply how valuable Satou Sabally is as she has not played. Natasha Howard has also been bit by the injury bug as has Arike Ogunbowale. Dallas did score an impressive victory on its home floor against the Fever to close out this part of the season. For the Wings, at this part of said season, to be at the bottom of the standings when they were one of two teams to beat Las Vegas prior to last season’s All-Star break is a massive letdown.
