WNBA Standings Last Year: Complete Team Rankings and Playoff Results
I still remember scrolling through the WNBA standings last season, feeling that familiar mix of anticipation and dread. As someone who’s followed the league since its early days, I’ve come to appreciate how much those rankings tell us—not just about wins and losses, but about team chemistry, resilience, and the kind of communication that fuels a playoff push. One quote that stuck with me, from a player interview mid-season, sums it up perfectly: “Big factor na rin yung mag-memessage kami sa isa’t isa. Parang nakakalakas din talaga ng loob lalo and mas lalong mapu-push sa laro dahil nandun yung bawat isa sa amin eh.” It translates roughly to how messaging each other strengthens their spirit and pushes them further in the game because they’re all there for one another. That intangible bond, I believe, was the secret sauce for several teams last year, turning what could have been mediocre seasons into memorable campaigns.
Let’s dive into the complete team rankings from the 2022 season, starting with the Las Vegas Aces, who topped the standings with a dominant 26-10 record. Watching them play, it was clear they weren’t just relying on raw talent; their cohesion was off the charts. I recall tuning into a close game against the Chicago Sky where the Aces’ bench was constantly cheering and exchanging quick words during timeouts—that “messaging” in action, boosting morale when it mattered most. It’s no surprise they cruised through the playoffs, eventually clinching the championship. Close behind were the Chicago Sky at 26-10 as well, though tie-breakers placed them second. Their playoff run was impressive, but I’ve always felt they struggled a bit in high-pressure moments, maybe because that internal communication frayed under stress. Then came the Connecticut Sun at 25-11, a team I’ve had a soft spot for; their gritty performances, especially in come-from-behind wins, showcased how locker-room chats can translate to on-court resilience.
Moving down the list, the Seattle Storm finished at 22-14, and honestly, I was a little disappointed. With stars like Sue Bird in her final season, I expected more fireworks, but injuries and maybe a lack of that daily motivational messaging held them back. The Washington Mystics at 22-14 were a pleasant surprise—their young roster seemed to thrive on constant encouragement, reminding me of that quote about pushing each other through tough games. The Dallas Wings at 18-18 were the definition of average, but I admired their fight; in interviews, players often mentioned group chats that kept spirits high even during slumps. The New York Liberty at 16-20 and Phoenix Mercury at 15-21 were where things got rocky. As a fan, it was frustrating to see the Mercury’s talent not translating to wins; I suspect internal dynamics weren’t as supportive, lacking that “nakakalakas ng loob” (strengthening of spirit) element. The Indiana Fever at 13-23 and Atlanta Dream at 11-21 rounded out the lower end, and while their records were underwhelming, I noticed glimpses of growth in their teamwork, hinting at better days if they foster more unity.
Playoff results last year were a rollercoaster, reinforcing how regular-season standings don’t always predict postseason drama. The Aces’ path to the title was a masterclass in sustained teamwork; in the semifinals against the Storm, they won 3-1, and I remember thinking how their huddle talks must have been electric, full of those motivating messages. The Sun put up a fierce fight in the finals but fell short 3-1, and from my perspective, they just couldn’t match the Aces’ emotional synergy when it counted. What stands out to me, though, is how the Sky’s early exit in the semifinals highlighted a gap—they had the skills, but perhaps not the constant push from within that the quote emphasizes. It’s a reminder that in the WNBA, where margins are thin, those small, daily interactions can make or break a championship dream.
Reflecting on it all, last year’s standings and playoffs taught me that numbers only tell part of the story. As an avid follower, I’ve grown to value the human element—the texts, the pep talks, the shared moments that build what players call “lakas ng loob.” It’s why teams like the Aces soared while others stumbled, and why I’ll keep an eye on those dynamics in seasons to come. If there’s one takeaway, it’s that in basketball, as in life, connection fuels greatness, and I’m excited to see how this unfolds in the next rankings.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
