Everybody knows who the top title contenders in the WNBA are. Washington Mystics, Connecticut Sun, Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks. After the Chicago Sky big win against the Sparks on Friday, they should be mentioned as well. With the WNBA playoffs around the corner, there could be some teams that could make some noise in the playoffs.
Minnesota Lynx
Even with Maya Moore not playing, the Lynx still have center Sylvia Fowles, who is a significant physical presence in the middle. So far this season she is averaging 13.9 points per game on 59.2 percent shooting from the field. Fowles is also, averaging 9.4 rebounds per game. For the Lynx to make noise in the playoffs, they will need Fowles to take her game up another level.
Point Guard Odyssey Sims has stepped it up for the Lynx this season. Sims leads the team scoring with 14.3 points per game. She is not shooting a high percentage from the field, but she is still useful. Sims also leads the team in assist with 5.5 per game. Rookie Napheesa Collier has been a big help for the Lynx. In her first season, she has been the perfect player to play next to Fowles. Collier is averaging 11.8 points per game in her first season. She also grabs 6.5 rebounds per game. Collier is an outstanding all-around player for the Lynx. If the Lynx play good in the playoffs, she will be a big reason why.
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury are a very intriguing team. The Mercury has two of the top five scorers in the WNBA. Brittney Griner leads the WNBA in scoring with 19.4 and DeWanna Bonner is fourth with 18.3 points per game. Griner also averages two blocks and seven rebounds per game.
The Key for the Mercury is to get Griner back from suspension and hope Diana Taurasi can make it back from her back injury. If Taurasi comes back, it will give the Mercury an outstanding big three, and they would make considerable noise in the WNBA playoffs. Even without Taurasi, Phoenix will be tough out because of Griner and Bonner. The defense will be crucial for them to be successful.
Seattle Storm
The Storm is a threat because of Natasha Howard. Howard is an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Howard is averaging 18.9 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting from the field. Also, Howard averages 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. She is the definition of a two-way player. The Storm will go as far as Howard can take them.
If the Storm wants to make noise in the Playoffs, they will need more from Jewell Loyd. She is averaging 12.3 points per game, but her shooting percentages are not that great. She is shooting just 36.3 percent from the field and 26.3 from three. Those numbers will need to improve if the Storm will have any chance to win.
