2024 WNBA Finals – Liberty vs. Lynx – An Early Showdown – WHY NOT?

Can the first rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals also be a rematch of the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup Championship?

The last time the Liberty and Lynx squared off was the winner-take-all Game 5 of the 2024 Finals, which needed overtime to decide a champion.

The rivals aren’t set to meet again until July 30, unless… they find themselves atop their respective conferences when Commissioner’s Cup group play ends on June 17. If that were to happen, the teams would meet on Tuesday, July 1 for the championship match.

Both teams enter this week with unblemished records – both overall and in Commissioner’s Cup games. If they can hold those positions, then the already heightened stakes of the Cup final would be elevated even higher by it also being the first clash of the league’s current titans.

1. New York Liberty (8-0, 2-0 Cup)

Last Week: 1 ↔️

This Week: Tue. vs.CHI, Sat. at IND

The Liberty are off to their best start in franchise history after their win over Washington on Thursday lifted them to 8-0 to start their first title defense – topping the 7-0 mark from the league’s inaugural season in 1997. Half of New York’s wins have come by 20+ points. That’s just two shy of how many the Liberty had during last year’s title run (6). How high can the Liberty extend their hot start? They have the Sky and Fever to deal with this week.

2. Minnesota Lynx (9-0, 3-0 Cup)

Last Week: 2 ↔️

This Week: Wed. at SEA, Sat. vs. LAS

The Lynx have a compelling argument to sit atop this week’s power rankings. They have the best overall record and best Commissioner’s Cup record in the WNBA. But, out of respect for the champs, I can’t drop the Liberty to No. 2 if they haven’t lost a game since  hoisting the WNBA championship trophy. For the Lynx, Napheesa Collier is running away with the scoring title race. Her 25.5 ppg is 3.5 ppg higher than any other scorer in the W as she continues to be a dominant force each and every night.

3. Atlanta Dream (5-3, 0-1 Cup)

Last Week: 5 ⬆️

This Week: Tue. vs. IND, Fri. vs. CHI, Sun. at WAS

Even though Atlanta’s four-game win streak was snapped by Connecticut on Friday, the Dream remain one of the hottest teams in the league as winners of four of their last five games. We’ll find out if that loss to the Sun derails the Dream or if they get back on track with a three-game week, including matchups with the Fever and Sky and a road trip to Washington, DC.

4. Seattle Storm (5-4, 2-1 Cup)

Last Week: 6 ⬆️

This Week: Wed. vs. MIN, Sat. at GSV

The Storm enjoyed a 2-0 week after enduring their first three-game slide of the season. Keep an eye on Gabby Williams, who has bounced back from a relatively slow start to the season. After averaging 11 ppg on 43.6% shooting through Seattle’s first four games, she’s averaging a team-best 18.6 ppg on 56.2% shooting over Seattle’s last five games. Seattle is the only team with three different players all ranked top 20 in the league (15 ppg) in scoring.

5. Phoenix Mercury (6-4, 2-2 Cup)

Last Week: 3 ⬇️

This Week: Wed. vs. DAL. Sun. at LVA

Injuries continue to mount for the Mercury, with Alyssa Thomas (calf) joining Natasha Mack (concussion) and Kahleah Copper (knee) on the sidelines. In spite of the injuries and a 1-2 record this week, the Mercury stay in the top half of the rankings as they are one of only three teams – along with the unbeaten Liberty and Lynx to reach 6+ wins so far this season. Five of those six wins have come in clutch time as no team has played more clutch games (eight) than the Mercury this season.

6. Indiana Fever (4-4, 2-0 Cup)

Last Week: 7 ⬆️

This Week: Tue. at ATL, Sat vs. MIN

After dropping their final three games of May, losing Caitlin Clark (quad) and two others to injury, I did not anticipate a strong start to June as the Fever opened Commissioners’ Cup play – as evidenced by last week’s rankings. Boy, was I wrong?! The Fever won two straight to improve to 2-2 without Clark – and will try to keep the momentum going when they visit the Dream before hosting the Lynx this weekend. Clark could return as early as Tuesday, but there’s no official word as of yet.

7. Las Vegas Aces (4-3, 1-1 Cup)

Last Week: 4 ⬇️

This Week: Wed. vs. LAS, Fri. vs. DAL, Sun vs. LVA

The Aces had just one game last week, but put up a season-low 67 points in a loss to the Valkyries on Saturday. Las Vegas’ lack of scoring is cause for some concern, especially when you consider the fact that the Aces have led the WNBA in points per game every season since 2020 – a streak that includes both of their championship runs in 2022 and 2023.

8. Washington Mystics (4-6, 1-2 Cup)

Last Week: 8 ↔️

This Week: Sun. vs. ATL

After opening June – and Commissioner’s Cup play – with consecutive single-digit losses to the Fever and Liberty, the Mystics closed the week strong with a 37-point win over the Sun that saw Washington put up 104 points. It was the Mystics’ highest scoring game since June 28, 2023 (109) and largest win since Aug. 18, 2019 (+39). This week, the Mystics host the Dream in a rematch of the season opener for both teams won by Washington by four.

9. Los Angeles Sparks (3-6, 1-1 Cup)

Last Week: 9 ↔️

This Week: Mon vs. GSV, Wed. at LVA, Sat. at MIN

The Sparks had only one game last week and they took care of business, posting a season-high 93 points in 14-point win over the Wings to snap a three-game skid and get back to .500 in the Commissioner’s Cup after dropping their opener to Phoenix. A player to watch in purple and gold – Azurá Stevens. The 8th year forward/center is putting up career numbers in scoring (14.6 ppg) and shooting percentages across the board (51.1% FG, 40.0% 3P and 90.5% FT).

10. Golden State Valkyries (3-5, 1-2 Cup)

Last Week: 10 ↔️

This Week: Mon. at LAS, Sat. vs. SEA

The Valkyries are coming off an impressive win over the Aces on Saturday that saw Golden State set franchise highs in points (95), all shooting percentages (47.9% FG, 35.7% 3P and 94.4% FT), rebounds (43), fewest turnovers (12) and margin of victory (+27). Leading the way was Kayla Thornton, who scored a career-best 22 points. Golden State is the only team without a top 25 scorer, with Thornton just on the outside looking in after Saturday’s performance.

11. Chicago Sky (2-5, 0-1 Cup)

Last Week: 11 ↔️

This Week: Tue. at NYL, Fri. at ATL., Sun. at CON

After putting up 94+ points in consecutive wins over Dallas last week, Chicago’s offense struggled against Indiana for the second time this season. With just 52 points on Saturday – the Sky’s lowest-scoring game since Aug 04, 2011 – Chicago’s point total across the two games with Indy is just 110 (55 ppg). Things don’t get any easier for the Sky as they move forward without Courtney Vandersloot, who suffered a torn ACL on Saturday. Chicago’s first challenge this week – facing the unbeaten Liberty to open a three-game road trip.

12. Connecticut Sun (2-7, 1-2 Cup)

Last Week: 13 ⬆️

This Week: Sun. vs. CHI

Connecticut’s season so far has featured either close games (four games decided by eight points or less, including both Sun wins) and lopsided affairs (five games decided by 22+ points, all of which are Sun losses). Connecticut has won two of its last four games with Marina Mabrey being the key, The two wins coincide with her two highest-scoring games of the season – 26 points vs. Fever and 34 points vs. Dream. The new-look Sun seek their third win in five games when they host the Sky this weekend.

13. Dallas Wings (1-9, 0-3 Cup)

Last Week: 12 ⬇️

This Week: Wed at PHX, Fri. at LVA

The good news: rookie star Paige Bueckers has cleared concussion protocol after missing three games and is cleared to return to the court. The bad news: she’s dealing with an unrelated illness that kept her out of Sunday’s loss to Minnesota – the fifth straight defeat for Dallas, dropping them to a league-worst 1-9 on the season. Bueckers has until Wednesday, when the Wings visit the Mercury, to recover and hopefully return to the court soon.