WNBA Power Rankings: Sparks, Valkyries headed in opposite directions - ESPN

The WNBA's two California teams, the Los Angeles Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries, seem to be heading in opposite directions.

The 11-14 Sparks have the league's longest active winning streak at five games — they jump three spots in this week's ESPN Power Rankings as a result — while the 11-13 Valkyries have lost six of their eight games so far this month.

Los Angeles also returns a key player from injury as Golden State loses one.

Sparks forward Cameron Brink, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, returns to action Tuesday against the Aces. The former Stanford star was limited to 15 games as a rookie after suffering an ACL injury in June 2024. She averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks before the injury.

Brink's much-anticipated return seems even more fortuitous with how the Sparks are playing. Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Azura Stevens and Rickea Jackson are all averaging double-figure scoring, and Julie Allemand has settled into the starting point guard role with two 10-assist games in the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Valkyries have lost their leading scorer and rebounder, Kayla Thornton, for the rest of the season after knee surgery. She was the expansion franchise's first All-Star.

There is some good news for Golden State: French center Iliana Rupert joined the team last week after missing the first half of the season because of overseas commitments.

We've seen some abrupt turnarounds — for good and bad — from teams all season. But for now, the Sparks look more like a playoff team than the Valkyries do, which wasn't the case a month ago.

Previous ranking: 1

Next seven days: vs. NY (July 30), @ LV (Aug. 2)

Minnesota beat Chicago and Las Vegas last week, but the Lynx's defense was too lax in Sunday's 90-86