With a month left in the regular season, the playoff push is heating up. Indiana continues to firm up its foothold atop the East, but the division's second through sixth spots are separated by only 1½ games. Phoenix remains the top dog in the West, followed by Seattle. But again, the third-, fourth- and fifth-place teams are separated by only two games. A look at this week's Power Rankings, as compiled by ESPN.com women's basketball editor Melanie Jackson (through Tuesday's games):

2009 Power Rankings: Week 10
	RANK(LW)	TEAM	RECORD	COMMENT
	1 (1)	Fever	17-5	The Sparks shot 51 percent from the field to end the Fever's five-game winning streak Monday. But the real noteworthy part of Indiana's week happened two days earlier with a 90-83 win at Phoenix, the only team even close to threatening the Fever's perch. Katie Douglas is averaging 24.7 points over the past six games. Indiana plays at Minnesota on Thursday to cap a three-game road swing.
	2 (2)	Mercury	16-7	The Mercury have been idle since losing to Indiana and no doubt are looking to get back on track with a home-and-away series with San Antonio on Thursday and Saturday. Although the Silver Stars are one of only six teams to beat Phoenix this season, don't expect Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter to be held a combined 11 points below their averages again.
	3 (3)	Storm	13-9	Seattle is redefining "nail-biter." Four of the Storm's past six games went to overtime (they went 2-2 in those games, but both losses came last week, to Phoenix and Los Angeles), and of the games that haven't needed an extra period, the last double-digit decision was back on July 17. Seattle has lost three of five games since the All-Star break and now embarks on a three-game road swing against the Sun, Dream and Shock -- and it's just 1-4 against East teams.
	4 (4)	Dream	11-11	Before Saturday's loss to Chicago, the Dream had won a franchise-record four consecutive games, which matched their total victories in 2008. They've gotten themselves in the playoff hunt. Atlanta must continue to add to the W column in its upcoming five-game homestand (where it's 7-4) before wrapping up the season with six of seven games on the road.
	5 (6)	Sun	11-10	Connecticut's August schedule is just plain brutal. The Sun play 13 games this month, including four back-to-back scenarios. Connecticut plays Seattle for the first time this season on Thursday, then travels to Washington on Friday. The Sun have been able to split their previous two back-to-backs.
	6 (7)	Mystics	11-11	This weekend's home games with Connecticut and New York are crucial if the Mystics are going to be able to stay a step ahead of Chicago and Detroit in the East standings. The Sun beat the Mystics on Sunday, the first of two straight losses for Washington, which has a half-game lead over the Sky and a one-game edge over the Shock. The Mystics head west for a four-game swing starting Tuesday.
	7 (8)	Silver Stars	10-12	The Silver Stars currently hold fourth place in the West, but don't forget they have a losing record. They are 3-4 since the All-Star break, have lost two of their past three -- including Tuesday's 17-point home loss to woeful Sacramento. When will the combination of Becky Hammon, Sophia Young, Ann Wauters and Shanna Crossley equal a winning record?
	8 (5)	Sky	11-12	The Sky's current win-loss-win-loss pattern is better than July's four-game or two-game losing streaks. That Chicago is 1-2 on its current four-game road trip that concludes at New York on Friday is no surprise (only Sacramento is as bad on the road, at 3-10), but the Sky can't rely on their home success if they are going to catch Washington or Atlanta in the East standings.
	9 (9)	Lynx	11-11	Why is a team currently in playoff position ranked so low? The Lynx are 3-7 in their past 10 games and have even lost three of their past four home games.
	10 (10)	Sparks	8-12	When will the Sparks start taking advantage of their slew of home games in the second half of the season? Things went right Monday, when L.A. upset Indiana, perhaps the top team in the league. But the Sparks followed it up with a home loss to New York the next night. Look for L.A. to try to get some momentum going with two games against the Monarchs this weekend and then another back-to-back early next week (both at home, against Washington and Minnesota).
	11 (11)	Shock	9-11	Despite their twice being four games below .500, you had a feeling there'd be a "Here come the Shock" moment. Winners of two straight (for just the second time this season) and three of their past four games, the Shock have moved within a game of fourth place in the East. And with second-place Connecticut just 1½ games ahead, this week's road games at Atlanta and Indiana are pivotal. The defending champ has twice lost by 12 points to the Fever this season.
	12 (12)	Liberty	8-14	After losing five straight, the Liberty are 2-1 in their past three games and capped their longest road trip of the season (five games) with a 65-61 victory at L.A. on Tuesday. Coach Anne Donovan lost in her return to Seattle on Saturday. Will her Madison Square Garden debut Friday against Chicago have a different ending?
	13 (13)	Monarchs	6-17	With two fewer wins than anybody else in the league, the Monarchs continue to bring up the rear. But that rare road win at San Antonio (Sacramento is 3-10 on the road) didn't go unnoticed. Up next is a back-to-back home-and-away with L.A. on Friday and Saturday.