Despite A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Garnering All Attention, This WNBA Team Leads Power Rankings in Mid-Season Analysis

The 2024 WNBA season has finally come to a mid-point. Each team has played at least 20 games in the 40-game series and are now heading into the final few days of action before the All-Star/ Olympics break. The entire season so far has been about the Eastern Conference dominating one way or the other. The last week saw the first overall pick Caitlin Clark set the WNBA record for the only rookie in the league’s 27 years to grab a triple-double. Along with her, Angel Reese also set the headlines for becoming the only WNBA player with 13 consecutive double-doubles.

But the Western Conference is also making highlights with the back-to-back champion A’ja Wilson. She recently re-wrote the Aces franchise history by becoming their all-time leading scorer. Still, one team that may not be getting the required attention has climbed up the spot they originally anchored to– the Connecticut Sun.

The Sun rising in the East

Although they do not have any star power, the Uncasville-based team had a great start to their season. They led the league with a 9-0 win-loss record until their arch-nemesis New York Liberty broke that streak. Still, they regained their feet. Only to fall back by the back-to-back champions– the Las Vegas Aces. These two teams have been the worst matchups for the Sun for the past two years as well. But looks like they are not continuing this season without a tough fight. After a long break of trying to bounce back in the first spot, Connecticut has returned to it just a week before the Olympics break.

However, they still need to prove that they are better than the Aces and the Liberty. In their matchups so far, Connecticut has lost to both Las Vegas and New York. Maybe, they can redeem themselves as they take on the Liberty twice this week. Currently, they stand at the 4th spot according to CBS’ championship odds with a +750. WNBA analyst Terrika Foster-Brasby shares her thoughts on this, “My heart wants to say, ‘Hey this is just completely false, and the Connecticut Sun have as much chance as anyone to win a championship.'” Defying herself, she added, “In reality, until you have defeated them, the odds will look like that against you.”

The team is heavily relying on their power couple– DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas. The 36-year-old forward is leading the team with 16.9 points per clip. The fiancé guard is leading the Sun in three categories with 9.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.6 steals on average. Thomas will also be making a debut in the Paris Olympics after a powerful week with a triple-double. Moreover, they also have two runners for the Most Improved Player of the Year– DiJonai Carrington and Tyasha Harris. Including these four and Brionna Jones, all the starters for Stephanie White produce double-digit scores.

But the rest of the league is also stirring the pot continuously. Here is how the rest of the teams are doing.

How have Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s team wowed the league?

These two rookies do not seem to have any ceiling when it comes to basketball, whether in college or the WNBA. After a week or two of settling into the professional world, they have made a comeback and how so! Both are breaking and making records and pushing their teams towards a brighter future. The Rookie of the Year race is also only getting more intense as the season goes by. Many predict that Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese just might share the ROY award.

For Indiana, things really took a turn for the better as they first got the better of Phoenix at their home and then grabbed an even bigger win by defeating New York in the home game. Moreover, these two games very specifically featured the prowess that the golden rookie Caitlin Clark carries with her. She tied her highest career assists in Gainbridge Fieldhouse this past Saturday with 13 for the game. Currently, she has the most points created in the league. Moreover, she became the only rookie in the 27 years of the WNBA’s history to have a triple-double. Additionally, the team currently stands in the 7th playoff standing after Chicago lost their previous game to the Seattle Storm.

As for Angel Reese, she is giving a tough challenge to Caitlin Clark for the ROY award. She became the only rookie and WNBA player to have 13 consecutive double-doubles. Moreover, it has been the Barbie-Chenn party for the last few games as the two top their own team and push for a win. Still, their series loss to Seattle brought them down to the eighth playoff spot.

The Las Vegas Aces have not been at the top so far in the season. However, with Chelsea Gray’s return and A’ja Wilson’s brilliant back-to-back performances, they seem to be gaining their feet again. Although their record of 13-7 win-loss does not prove it, their chemistry is better than ever before. Not to mention, they have proven how they can win the games when it really matters and that will be the playoffs.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.