WNBA power rankings: Liberty reign supreme after Fever win, while Storm surge after wins vs. Mercury, Aces

On Saturday, the New York Liberty managed a signature win against the Indiana Fever on national television. Playing in a very loud Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the Liberty’s defense clamped down in the final minutes, and with the game on the line, the Fever’s Caitlin Clark got the ball, and New York’s Natasha Cloud poked the ball out of Clark’s hands.

The loss prompted Fever coach Stephanie White to complain about the inconsistencies she sees in officiating. Both she and Clark argued that Cloud had committed a foul on that final play.

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“I thought she got fouled. I think it's pretty egregious what's been happening to us the last few games," White said after the game. “And I might be able to understand it if we were just chuckin' 3s, but we're not. We're attacking the rim. And the disrespect right now for our team has been pretty unbelievable.”

The final 10 seconds of the game overshadowed what a thriller the previous 39 minutes were. There were 14 lead changes, and Aliyah Boston (27 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists) starred for the Fever while Jonquel Jones (26 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists) had her best game of the season so far for New York. But the Liberty’s experience won out in the end, as the Fever couldn’t capitalize on more than one chance to win the game.

Before the holiday weekend ended, White faced a bigger problem than referees and a 2-2 record. The Fever announced on Monday morning that Clark had suffered a left quadriceps strain and that the sharpshooter would miss at least two weeks.

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There’s never a good time for a star player to be injured, but this could be the easiest stretch of Indiana’s schedule. The Fever travel to Baltimore to play the Mystics at CFG Bank Arena on Wednesday, then host the winless Connecticut Sun at home on Friday. Next week they host the Mystics before heading to Chicago on June 7 to play the Sky, who also haven't yet won a game, at the United Center.

The Fever’s front office made aggressive moves in the offseason to strengthen the starting lineup and the bench. Players like Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull can step up in this period to make sure Clark’s injury doesn't derail their season.

AP Player of the Week: Napheesa Collier

Just four games into the season, Napheea Collier is showing she is an early front-runner for MVP. She leads the league in scoring, averaging an eye-popping 29.5 points per game. Her scoring is helped by her efficiency behind the arc. Collier is shooting 53.8% from the 3-point line. In Friday's Lynx win over the Sun, Collier notched a double-double with 33 points and 11 rebounds, plus 3 blocks.

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Game to watch

Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury, Friday at 10 p.m. ET on ION: The Minnesota Lynx have started out the season hot, proving that their trip to the 2024 Finals was no fluke. But it cannot be ignored that they have only faced teams at the bottom of the standings. This week, they will face much tougher tests, and that includes a trip to Phoenix to face the retooled Mercury.

Yahoo Sports' WNBA Power Poll

*Current record in parentheses

1. New York Liberty (3-0)
2. Minnesota Lynx (4-0)
3. Seattle Storm (3-1)
4. Phoenix Mercury (3-1)
5. Indiana Fever (2-2)
6. Las Vegas Aces (2-2)
7. Atlanta Dream (3-2)
8. Golden State Valkyries (2-1)
9. Los Angeles Sparks (2-3)
10. Washington Mystics (2-3)
11. Chicago Sky (0-3)
12. Dallas Wings (0-4)
13. Connecticut Sun (0-4)

AP WNBA Power Poll

*Previous week's ranking in parentheses

1. New York Liberty (1)
2. Minnesota Lynx (2)
3. Seattle Storm (8)
4. Phoenix Mercury (4)
5. Indiana Fever (3)
6. Las Vegas Aces (5)
7. Atlanta Dream (9)
8. Golden State Valkyries (13)
9. Los Angeles Sparks (7)
10. Washington Mystics (6)
11. Dallas Wings (10)
12. Chicago Sky (11)
13. Connecticut Sun (12)