WNBA Power Rankings: Lynx dethroned, Sparks bump up
The Minnesota Lynx wanted to lock up the WNBA playoffs' No. 1 seed before the break for the FIBA Women's World Cup. That didn't happen. And despite two losses in a row, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve isn't worried.
"The sky isn't falling for me," Reeve said Sunday following Minnesota's 89-81 loss at Atlanta. "It's not like, 'OK, what's the big problem now?' We've got to handle physicality. We've got to toughen up and exploit the physicality. So these two games [were] good for us."
The Lynx held on to No. 1 in last week's ESPN WNBA Power Rankings despite that other loss, 88-66 to Golden Stateon Aug. 24. But after the Valkyries went 3-0 this past week, they have elevated to the top spot again, with the Lynx dropping to No. 2.
That said, Minnesota can go back to working to secure the No. 1 seed after WNBA play resumes on Sept. 17. Going against two tough defenses such as Golden State and Atlanta gave the Lynx a taste of what they know they will get in the playoffs.
There's also the fact that the Lynx have had the toughest closing section of the WNBA schedule. Eight of their 10 games in August were against playoff teams. Three of the four remaining games when the season resumes will also be against teams playing in the postseason.
Minnesota has been the most consistent team in 2026; this is just the second time the Lynx have lost two in a row. Between July 8 and Aug. 21, they won 16 of 17 games. Reeve doesn't think that success has made the Lynx any less hungry or complacent, but she acknowledges they haven't executed as well of late as they did for most of this season.
"In terms of the [World Cup] break, all of us have some players missing," Reeve said of those who will be competing in Germany, including the Lynx's Napheesa Collier. "But there are areas that we want to expand on in terms of the playbook. There are areas you want to shore up.
"That's one thing I told them is, you can't use these couple weeks like 'This doesn't mean anything.' This means a lot if you have the right approach. If you're just like, 'Well, we're waiting for games to start again,' then you're probably going to miss out on a pretty great opportunity to improve your team."
While eight teams will be trying to improve for the playoffs, the other seven still have goals they hope to achieve for the rest of the season.
1. Golden State Valkyries (29-11)
Previous ranking:3
Rest of the regular season:vs. POR (Sept. 18), vs. SEA (Sept. 19), @ POR (Sept. 22), @ LA (Sept. 24)
The Valkyries return to No. 1 for the first time since a two-week stay in that spot in early July.They bump up now thanks to a 3-0 road trip this past week, defeating Connecticut 89-64 on Wednesday, New York 79-60 on Thursday and Portland 86-69 on Sunday. The most impressive of those wins was in Brooklyn, where they held the Liberty to 30% shooting from the field. The Valkyries will finish against four teams not in the playoffs, and we already know we can count on their defense. What they will look for is fine-tuning their offense during the break because that's where they could use as little improvement come playoff time.
2. Minnesota Lynx (31-9)
Previous ranking: 1
Rest of the regular season:vs. NY (Sept. 18), @ CON (Sept. 20), @ IND (Sept. 22), vs. IND (Sept. 24)
In Sunday's loss at Atlanta, Lynx star forward Collier had 17 points but was 5-of-15 from the field. Reeve said Collier, who returned to action July 22 after surgery on her ankles in the offseason, is still making her way back to 100%. Collier will keep doing that with Team USA in Germany. As Reeve mentioned, she wants to make some playbook tweaks during the FIBA break. And while Reeve has encouraged her players who are not in the World Cup to take advantage of the break to work on their games, this is also a good time to rest for rookie Olivia Miles, who has been going nonstop since college last fall.
3. Las Vegas Aces (27-13)
Previous ranking: 4
Rest of the regular season:@ SEA (Sept. 17), vs. SEA (Sept. 20), vs. LA (Sept. 22), @ PHO (Sept. 24)
The Aces won their only game last week, 93-73 Friday over Toronto. This came after starting forward NaLyssa Smith was ruled out for the rest of the season with a leg injury. Then Monday, it was announced that center A'ja Wilson is out for the FIBA World Cup as she deals with back issues. With Smith out, the load inside on Wilson is even heavier. During the break, Wilson needs rest. Coach Becky Hammon and staff will be working with veteran post player Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who is averaging 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds off the bench. The Aces will look for Parker-Tyus to move into a bigger role in Smith's absence.
4. Indiana Fever (26-14)
Previous ranking:6
Rest of the regular season:@ TOR (Sept. 18), vs. WAS (Sept. 20), vs. MIN (Sept. 22), @ MIN (Sept. 24)
Guards Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell combined for 68 points, eight rebounds and 16 assists in the Fever's only game last week, a 111-91 victory over Connecticut on Friday. Now Clark is at the World Cup, competing in her first major event for Team USA. Mitchell, who has been on fire with a WNBA record streak of 24 consecutive games of 20 or more points, just hopes not to cool down during the break. Post player Aliyah Boston is also playing in the World Cup. She has had more help lately thanks to the progress of forward Makayla Timpson, especially in the nine games since Timpson moved into the starting lineup Aug. 8. Timpson scored in double figures just three times this season before that move; she has done it six times since. The Fever will look to work more on their defense during the break, as that could be key in keeping them in the postseason as long as possible.
5. Atlanta Dream (26-14)
Previous ranking:2
Rest of the regular season:vs. CON (Sept. 17), vs. CHI (Sept. 19), @ NY (Sept. 21), @ NY (Sept. 23)
After going 4-0 on the West Coast, the Dream had a rare dud game last week, falling 101-83 at home Friday to Portland. Angel Reese initially was given her eighth technical foul in that game, which would have kept her out of Sunday's matchup against Minnesota. But the league reviewed the call and rescinded the technical. In an 89-81 victory over the Lynx, Reese had 15 points and 11 rebounds, making it her 29th double-double this season, breaking the WNBA single-season record. Now Reese and teammate Rhyne Howard will play for Team USA. Longtime veteran DeWanna Bonner, who was signed by Atlanta last week after her contract was bought out by Phoenix, has time over the break to familiarize herself with the Dream's system.
6. New York Liberty (24-16)
Previous ranking: 5
Rest of the regular season:@ MIN (Sept. 18), @ TOR (Sept. 20), vs. ATL (Sept. 21), vs. ATL (Sept. 23)
The Liberty were held in check by Golden State last Thursday, falling 79-60 at home. They bounced back from that with an 85-66 win Saturday at home against Chicago. The Liberty have their top player, forward Breanna Stewart, with Team USA at the World Cup. The Liberty also have other players there, such as Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier for France, plus Leonie Fiebich for Germany. The Liberty still must prove they can play consistently enough to make a playoff run. They have a challenging remaining schedule, with three of the four games against playoff teams.
7. Dallas Wings (24-16)
Previous ranking: 8
Rest of the regular season:vs. LA (Sept. 17), vs. PHO (Sept. 19), @ PHO (Sept. 21), @ SEA (Sept. 23)
The Wings had their second 2-0 week in a row, beating Portland 96-78 on Tuesday and Connecticut 97-71 on Sunday. Guard Paige Bueckers, who will play in the World Cup in her first major event for Team USA, had a combined 37 points and 17 assists in the two wins. While the Wings hit a rough patch the first half of August, losing five of seven games, they have a chance to end the regular season strong. Their last four games are against non-playoff teams. Closing out games is one thing they will focus on during the break; that has been a concern during the season.
8. Washington Mystics (24-16)
Previous ranking: 7
Rest of the regular season:@ CHI (Sept. 17), @ IND (Sept. 20), vs. CON (Sept. 22), vs. CHI (Sept. 24)
This season has been a pleasant surprise for Washington, which went 2-1 last week with two victories at Phoenix (94-84 and 80-73) and an 88-72 loss at Los Angeles. Most people didn't pick the Mystics to make the playoffs. But they did, and then Monday got more unexpected news: Guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen were announced as replacement players for Team USA. While they are at the World Cup, the Mystics can focus on improvements from some of their other young players.
9. Portland Fire (16-24)
Previous ranking:10
Rest of the regular season:vs. PHO (Sept. 17), @ GS (Sept. 18), @ LA (Sept. 20), vs. GS (Sept. 22)
The Fire were eliminated from playoff contention last Tuesday with a 96-78 loss at Dallas. But they bounced back Friday to beat playoff-bound Atlanta 101-83, one of their most impressive wins of the season. That was followed Sunday by an 86-69 loss to Golden State. Portland still must face the Valkyries twice more when the WNBA resumes, and the Fire could view those games as their version of the playoffs in their first season. They could impact Golden State's postseason position.
10. Los Angeles Sparks (15-25)
Previous ranking: 12
Rest of the regular season:@ DAL (Sept. 17), vs. POR (Sept. 20), @ LV (Sept. 22), vs. GS (Sept. 24)
The Sparks got back-to-back victories last week for the first time since July 8-10. They beat Washington 88-82 on Friday and Seattle 90-74 on Sunday. Nneka Ogwumike, who is closing out a Hall of Fame career, had a combined 47 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists and six steals in the two games. During the break, the Sparks should focus on younger players such asRae Burrell and Cameron Brink and how to finish strong with them.
11. Phoenix Mercury (14-26)
Previous ranking: 11
Rest of the regular season:@ POR (Sept. 17), @ DAL (Sept. 19), vs. DAL (Sept. 21), vs. LV (Sept. 24)
The Mercury lost consecutive games at home to Washington 94-84 last Tuesday and 80-73 on Thursday. Then they took out some frustration on Toronto, winning 101-69 on Saturday. Phoenix announced Monday that guard Kelsey Plum, acquired in a trade Aug. 2, will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup. Now the Mercury hope Plum, who played five games for them, will return as a free agent in 2027. The Mercury can spend the break cheering for their World Cup participants, including Kahleah Copper for Team USA. Then Phoenix might have some impact on postseason order with three games against playoff teams left.
12. Chicago Sky (15-25)
Previous ranking:9
Rest of the regular season:vs. WAS (Sept. 17), @ ATL (Sept. 19), vs. TOR (Sept. 22), @ WAS (Sept. 24)
The Sky showed signs of life in mid-August with three wins in a row. Since then, the light has pretty much gone out of their season. Last week, they lost 87-81 at Connecticut on Tuesday and 85-66 at New York on Saturday. The development of rookie guard Sydney Taylor is the biggest positive of this season for the Sky. They still have three games against playoff teams, and Taylor has shown an ability to rise to the occasion in big moments. She might do that again as the Sky's season concludes.
13. Connecticut Sun (10-30)
Previous ranking: 13
Rest of the regular season:@ ATL (Sept. 17), vs. MIN (Sept. 20), @ WAS (Sept. 22), vs. TOR (Sept. 24)
At least the Sun won't end their final season in Connecticut without reaching double-digit victories. They got their 10th win last Tuesday, beating Chicago 87-81. That was followed by losses to Golden State (89-64), Indiana (111-91) and Dallas (97-71). Forward Aaliyah Edwards twice scored 26 points last week, and she could be a factor as Connecticut still must face three opponents who are in the playoffs.
14. Seattle Storm (8-32)
Previous ranking: 15
Rest of the regular season:vs. LV (Sept. 17), @ GS (Sept. 19), @ LV (Sept. 20), vs. DAL (Sept. 23)
The Storm got what might be their final victory of the season last Wednesday as they defeated Toronto 90-78. Then they fell 90-74 to Los Angeles on Sunday. Seattle has all its remaining games against teams headed to the playoffs. Rookie Flau'jae Johnson scored in double figures in five of her last seven games, and she's one of several young players Seattle can build around.
15. Toronto Tempo (11-29)
Previous ranking: 14
Rest of the season:vs. IND (Sept. 18), vs. NY (Sept. 20), @ CHI (Sept. 22), @ CON (Sept. 24)
The Tempo have more victories this season than Seattle, but Toronto has seemed to struggle the most of any WNBA team in the last two months. The Tempo have won just twice since July 5. Last week, they lost three games on the road: 90-78 at Seattle, 93-73 at Las Vegas and 101-69 at Phoenix. Rookie guard Kiki Rice, who had a combined 48 points and 14 assists last week, is their brightest spot as they finish the season.
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