The FIBA World Cup tips off in less than a month, and its effects are already starting to be felt in the WNBA season.Multiple teams are practicing minutes management ahead of the tournament. The Golden State Valkyries have French star Gabby Williams on a reduced workload in August, and the Las Vegas Aces just benched A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young — all of whom will be competing for Team USA in Berlin — on the second day of a back-to-back, despite the Aces’ playing a nationally televised game in New York.Some teams appear to be managing injuries more conservatively with the World Cup on the horizon. Kelsey Plum sat for six weeks with a left lower leg injury while the Los Angeles Sparks were reeling, and then, because of calf tightness, she missed the second half of the Phoenix Mercury’s loss to the Washington Mystics on Sunday, which, for all intents and purposes, knocked the Mercury out of playoff contention. Leonie Fiebich, a key player for the host country Germany, hasn’t played for the New York Liberty since July 3.The Portland Fire and Dallas Wings have already temporarily suspended two players (Luisa Geiselsöder and Costanza Verona) who will be competing in the World Cup. Geiselsöder’s absence opened the door for rookie Jordan Harrison, who entered the Fire’s rotation two games earlier, to be promoted to a standard contract.It’s also been entertaining to see Team USA “snubs” face players who will be representing America in September, such as Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin against the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese and the Mercury’s Plum and Kahleah Copper. Or Minnesota Lynx veteran Kayla McBride’s historic day against Paige Bueckers and the Wings.The tournament might last only 10 days, but its shadow is proving to be much longer.RankTeamPrevious rank1Washington22Minnesota13Golden State34Las Vegas 65Indiana46New York77Atlanta 58Dallas89Chicago910Los Angeles 1111Portland 1212Connecticut1313Phoenix 1014Toronto1415Seattle15Trending upWashington MysticsThe last time the Mystics had a winning streak of at least seven games came in 2019, the year Washington won its lone title. It’s probably unfair to hold the Mystics to the standard of that team, led by MVP Elena Delle Donne when she posted the league’s first 50-40-90 season, but Washington keeps racking up wins. Five of the seven in this streak are against current playoff teams. The Mystics are finally starting to gear up for the postseason, as evidenced by the acquisition of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton this week, to provide a veteran presence down the stretch.It’s unclear that Washington needed any reinforcements the rest of the way, however, considering how well the big three of Citron, Iriafen and Austin (are we using the nickname CIA? I’m torn) are performing. For today, let’s focus on the production of Austin, who has put herself in the Most Improved Player and All-WNBA conversation as the Mystics have jumped to the top of the power rankings.Austin averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds last week to continue a stretch of four straight double-doubles. She has been strong in the post, hard to contain on the move and shooting the ball well from distance. That range has enabled Washington to play Austin next to Lauren Betts, even though they are nominally both 5s, to give the rookie more minutes.