New WNBA Power Rankings at the 2026 All-Star Break
The 2026 WNBA season has reached the All-Star break, and the championship race feels more wide open than it has been in years.
Minnesota has been the best team for most of the season and Napheesa Collier is just now returning from injury, Las Vegas has A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young, Indiana's offense is putting up historic numbers, New York has all of the talent on paper and several other teams could make a deep run, too.
We'll break down all 15 teams in our updated power rankings, starting at the bottom and working our way to the top.
15. Seattle Storm (6-23)
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Almost every Seattle Storm game seems to follow the same script: their young core flashes its immense potential for 35 minutes, they're right in the game entering crunch time, and then, well, everything falls apart.
Seattle is 1-12 in clutch games this season—tied with the 2011 Tulsa Shock for the worst clutch winning percentage (7.7%) since the WNBA began tracking the stat in 2006.
But that's not necessarily bad news for Storm fans. This season was always going to be about player development, and Seattle has arguably the league's most exciting young core in Dominique Malonga, Awa Fam and Flau'jae Johnson. All three have already taken meaningful steps forward.
Malonga is an All-Star-caliber player at 20 years old, Fam is one of the best shooting teenage bigs the sport has ever seen and Johnson has become a much more efficient scorer at all three levels. There's also a good chance Seattle adds a top prospect in the 2027 WNBA Draft to that trio.
14. Connecticut Sun (7-20)
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After opening the season 2-15 through June 19, the Connecticut Sun have been much more competitive over the past month, going 5-5 over their last 10 games with wins over Minnesota, Washington and Portland.
A major reason for that turnaround has been finally getting Leïla Lacan and Brittney Griner on the floor together. The duo shared the court for just six games (124 total minutes) over Connecticut's first 17 contests. Since then, the Sun are 5-2 when both are available, outscoring opponents by 6.5 points per 100 possessions during that span.
That said, this remains a rebuilding season for Connecticut ahead of its planned move to Houston in 2027. The Sun still lack the shot creation and perimeter shooting needed to consistently compete against the league's top teams with their current roster. But if they're lucky enough to win the draft lottery, things could quickly look promising for this franchise.
13. Chicago Sky (9-18)
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Chicago's 2026 season has been a major disappointment. After signing four veterans to multi-year contracts last offseason and trading an unprotected 2028 first-round pick for a backup guard, the Sky are 0-13 against the top-8 teams since Rickea Jackson suffered a torn ACL on May 23.
The biggest bright spot, however, has been the emergence of Sydney Taylor. After going undrafted out of Louisville in 2024 and spending two seasons developing overseas, the 25-year-old guard is now averaging 14.2 points per game in the best league in the world.
Since entering the starting lineup on June 17, Taylor has averaged 17.9 points per game (No. 1 among rookies) while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three. She's a dynamic downhill scorer who can create out of ball screens, excels running off movement and has become a much more reliable all-around shooter over this stretch.
Without a doubt, signing the undrafted guard has been, without question, the best move Jeff Pagliocca has made since becoming the Sky's general manager. If this level of play continues, there's serious All-Star potential for Taylor.
12. Toronto Tempo (10-16)
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Toronto has been hit hard by injuries, contributing to a 2-8 record over their last 10 games. Brittney Sykes hasn't played since June 16, while rookie guard Kiki Rice has been sidelined since June 3.
When Marina Mabrey, Sykes and Rice have all been healthy, the Tempo have looked like one of the league's better offensive teams. But without Sykes and Rice, Toronto's biggest problems have come on the defensive end.
During that stretch, the Tempo rank last in defensive rating, allowing 116.8 points per 100 possessions over their last 16 games—the worst defensive rating over a 16-game span in WNBA history.
Without Sykes and Rice, Toronto don't have any positive perimeter defenders, allowing opponents to get into the paint far too easily. In addition to that, their undersized frontcourt also doesn't have enough rim protection to compensate for those issues.
11. Los Angeles Sparks (10-16)
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Kelsey Plum hasn't played in a month because of a lower leg injury, and without their leading scorer, the Sparks simply don't have enough offensive firepower to overcome their defensive shortcomings.
Over their last 10 games, Los Angeles is 2-8—tied for the worst record in the league during that span—while ranking No. 12 in offensive rating and No. 14 in defensive rating. The Sparks enter the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak, and there's still no timetable for Plum's return.
At this point, it's difficult to imagine them making a realistic playoff push. Los Angeles sits four games behind the 8-seed, and that gap could grow even larger by the time Plum is healthy.
10. Phoenix Mercury (10-18)
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The Phoenix Mercury are the most confusing team in the league to figure out. On any given night, they look capable of beating anyone, but they're just as capable of losing to anyone, too.
What gives Phoenix the edge over Toronto and Los Angeles in our rankings is their ceiling. We still haven't gotten to see much of what this team looks like with an efficient Kahleah Copper and a healthy Natasha Mack on the floor together.
Copper opened the year playing some of the least efficient basketball of her career, averaging 17.1 points on just 32.8 percent shooting from the field through her first 13 games. Since then, she's looked like a Top-15 player again, averaging 23.6 points on 51.8 percent shooting. Unfortunately, Mack was out for a majority of that run.
That said, the path to the playoffs remains extremely difficult. The Mercury are five games out of the final playoff spot with only 16 games remaining, and that climb doesn't get easier considering Washington's recent play.
9. Portland Fire (11-16)
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Portland entered the season projected to win somewhere between eight and 12 games. At the All-Star break, the Fire are already nearing the high end of those expectations with over a third of the season remaining.
They've established a strong offensive identity built around relentlessly attacking defenses out of the pick-and-roll. No team in WNBA history runs more ball screens more than Portland, with more than half of their points in half-court settings coming from possessions involving a pick-and-roll. The Fire consistently create advantages, then capitalize on them thanks to a roster full of quick decision-makers.
The engine behind that system is 22-year-old guard Carla Leite. With her feel for angles, elite change of pace and blazing speed, Leite gets into the paint almost whenever she wants. According to Synergy Sports, she's generating 22 points per game as a pick-and-roll ball handler—the highest mark ever recorded.
8. Washington Mystics (14-12)
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The Washington Mystics are one of the youngest teams in WNBA history, and despite ranking second-to-last in offensive rating, they've found ways to win. Washington has already beaten every playoff team except Dallas by leaning on their elite defense.
The Mystics are long, athletic and play exceptionally connected on the defensive end. They limit easy looks at the rim, and are comfortable turning games into physical, late-clock half-court battles.
The way they win games late is almost unheard of. Washington has already attempted more clutch free throws than any WNBA team since 2016, and it's only July 24. The Mystics might not have much shooting, but they destroy teams on the margins through their defense, rebounding and foul-drawing. They are currently tied for the most clutch wins in the league (11).
It's not the most conventional blueprint, however, it just continues to work. Sonia Citron is one of the league's best two-way wings, Shakira Austin is an incredibly versatile defender, Kiki Iriafen is a double-double machine and Lauren Betts has also started to put together some really strong tape recently.
7. New York Liberty (15-12)
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New York's season has been anything but consistent. The Liberty have won just four of their last 12 games, and even their most recent victory was a 95-94 home win over Chicago.
Injuries have played a major role, for sure. New York's most talented lineup—Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, Satou Sabally, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones—has logged just 25 minutes together all season. All five players have been available in only four of the Liberty's 27 games.
But beyond the injuries, there are legitimate concerns. This isn't as athletic a roster as New York has fielded in recent years. The Liberty have some defensive issues at the point of attack, aren't as deep on the wing and haven't consistently generated quality looks on a nightly basis.
Still, the talent is too much to count out. Breanna Stewart is still a top five player in the sport, and if New York can finally get healthy, they will be serious championship contenders. But if the Liberty can't string together some winning streaks, that postseason run could be a gauntlet as a seven or eight seed.
6. Atlanta Dream (16-10)
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Bri Jones' return from injury couldn't come at a better time for Atlanta, and her impact should elevate things on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, Jones gives the Dream a much-needed interior presence. Despite their success this season, Atlanta ranks just No. 13 in field-goal percentage at the rim (56.0%).
Defensively, the Dream have built one of the league's best teams by creating chaos on the perimeter and forcing turnovers, but they've struggled from a rim protection standpoint, ranking last in opponent field-goal percentage at the rim (63.1%). Jones should provide a significant boost there as well.
The other key variable is Rhyne Howard's consistency. Through her first 15 games, Howard was enjoying the most efficient scoring stretch of her career, shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three. Over her last 10 games, those numbers have dipped to 38.2% and 30.7%, respectively. Atlanta has the talent to compete with anyone, but when you take as many threes as they do, you're often banking on a hot shooting run coming at the right time.
5. Dallas Wings (18-9)
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Dallas enters the All-Star break as one of the hottest teams in the league, winning seven of its last 10 games and on pace for the best winning percentage in franchise history since relocating from Detroit in 2009.
It all starts with Paige Bueckers, and her all-around offensive creation has been nothing short of historic:
- At the rim (pick-and-roll, isolation, post-ups): 81.5% (No. 1 in the WNBA)
- Pull-up mid-range: 47.9% (No. 5 in percentage, No. 2 in makes)
- Pull-up three-pointers: 46.8% (No. 2 in percentage, No. 6 in makes)
Bueckers is the engine, but she's far from the only reason for Dallas' success. Jessica Shepard has become the offensive hub that ties everything together, maximizing Bueckers' on and off ball utility with her screening, passing and decision-making. Azzi Fudd has been very impactful on both ends as a rookie, and Arike Ogunbowale has done a better job slotting into a simplified offensive role over the past few weeks.
The biggest questions won't be answered until the postseason. Can Dallas consistently defend elite pick-and-roll offenses? How will Shepard's unique skill set translate in the playoffs? Can the Wings generate enough efficient rim pressure? The regular season has been an overwhelming success, but we'll learn a lot about this team long-term in a few months.
4. Indiana Fever (17-10)
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The Indiana Fever are playing offense at a level we've never seen before in the WNBA. Over their last 10 games, they're averaging more than 123 points per 100 possessions—the highest offensive rating over any 10-game stretch in league history.
Kelsey Mitchell has been on an incredible scoring tear, Caitlin Clark is creating elite offense from every area of the floor, and oh yeah, your third option, Aliyah Boston, is also averaging nearly 19 points per game on 60 percent shooting. How is that possible?
The defense is still inconsistent, but if Indiana can be even average on that end while sustaining anything close to this offensive level, the Fever have legitimate championship upside.
3. Golden State Valkyries (18-8)
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The Golden State Valkyries are, in many ways, the Washington Mystics on steroids. Over their last 10 games, they've ranked just No. 10 in offensive rating but first in defensive rating. Despite those offensive inconsistencies, they've gone 9-1—the best record in the WNBA during that span.
The Valkyries consistently win the math battle by generating shots at the rim and from three, and pair that with an elite defensive scheme filled with high-level, rangy defenders. They also control games by winning the possession battle and playing at the slowest pace of any team since the 2021 Connecticut Sun.
They're built to win a lot of regular-season games, but there are still questions about their championship ceiling. Gabby Williams' shooting has begun to regress to the mean while Kiah Stokes has been arguably the best defender in the league on a per-minute basis but offers very little offensively. So can Golden State consistently rely on small-ball lineups with Janelle Salaün at the five in the playoffs?
2. Las Vegas Aces (18-8)
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You just can't rank a team with A'ja Wilson lower than No. 2. She isn't playing quite at the same defensive level as in previous years, but her impact and production are undeniable and continuously covers up for many of Las Vegas' team-building issues.
This season, Las Vegas has a +12.5 net rating in Wilson's minutes. When she is off the court, that drops to a -10.7. That's the largest on-off swing by any player in the league outside of her own teammate, Jackie Young.
Those two superstars, plus the way Chelsea Gray elevates her game in the postseason might just be enough to win another championship, but their biggest question right now is with the fifth starter spot.
There's an argument that Stephanie Talbot is the worst starter in the league, and it's hard to feel great about playing her in the playoffs. So will Jewell Loyd figure things out eventually like she did at this time last year? If not, that's a weakness teams will poke at in a series.
1. Minnesota Lynx (22-6)
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The Minnesota Lynx have a top-three offense and a top-three defense, and their best player has played in just one game.
It's hard not to view them as the championship favorite when you add Napheesa Collier to a roster that already features four All-Star caliber players (several of whom are playing at an All-WNBA level) plus an All-Defensive caliber backup forward who shoots nearly 40 percent from three.
Then there's Cheryl Reeve, the greatest coach in WNBA history.
That doesn't mean Minnesota is an overwhelming favorite, but it's difficult to find many weaknesses. The Lynx have elite pick-and-roll playmaking, shot creation, off-ball shooting, rim scoring, connective passing and defense. They're just so scary everywhere.
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