Final WNBA Power Rankings for 2026 After Valkyries Win Title
The Golden State Valkyries' championship could change how WNBA front offices build their teams.
In their most important moments, the Valks played lineups with five above-average defensive players, leaning on their defense to get stop after stop.
The offense wasn't always pretty, but they got just enough to win their first title in just their second season.
These power rankings are forward-looking. The teams are ranked based on how they are expected to perform in 2027. We can't know how the offseason will unfold, so some teams were downgraded for having free agents they could lose.
15. Houston Comets
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The Comets, by way of Connecticut, are returning to the WNBA after leaving in 2008.
Houston won the W's first four championships behind Hall of Famers Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson.Ā
It could take a while for the Comets to put together a comparable Big Three, but a great first step would be landing the No. 1 pick to take JuJu Watkins.Ā
Whoever they draft will join Aaliyah Edwards, who finished strong down the stretch, averaging 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in her last 10 games.
14. Seattle Storm
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The Storm are rebuilding the right way.Ā
Their young trio of Dominique Malonga (20), Flau'jae Johnson (22) and Awa Fam (20) got valuable developmental reps all season.Ā
Seattle has a lottery pick that will join its young core.Ā
The Storm will likely miss the playoffs in 2027, but they should be much more competitive.
13. Phoenix Mercury
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It's been a disastrous year for the Mercury.Ā
After losing in the Finals to the Aces, Phoenix saw Satou Sabally bolt to the Liberty in free agency.Ā
The Mercury sought more offensive firepower, so they traded their 2027 first-round pick for Kelsey Plum in August.Ā Ā
Plum played just five games with Phoenix before being shut down for the season with a lower-leg injury. She's a free agent for 2027.Ā
Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper need a much better supporting cast to get the Mercury back in the playoffs.
12. Los Angeles Sparks
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The Sparks are lacking a cornerstone young player to build around, but they will have two picks in the top seven to find that player.Ā
The last time the Sparks had two lottery picks, they took Cameron Brink (No. 2 overall) and Rickea Jackson (No. 4 overall) in 2024.
Trading Jackson (now 25) for Ariel Atkins (now 30) doesn't look like it will age well. That's the type of trade a team makes when it's sure it will be a contender. The Sparks are not that, and now they have to hope Jackson doesn't realize her full potential and make the trade look lopsided.Ā Ā
The Sparks could use a breakout season from Brink, who should start at center after Nneka Ogwumike's retirement.Ā
11. Toronto Tempo
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The Tempo have a good foundation with Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes and Kiki Rice.Ā
If they could add JuJu Watkins and a solid free-agent center to that core, they'd be cooking.Ā
The Tempo and Comets both have a 32.9 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick.Ā
At worst, the Tempo will have the fourth pick. It will be crucial that they hit on their 2027 first-rounder.
10. Chicago Sky
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The Sky started the season 3-1 with Rickea Jackson healthy. She had 19 points in a win over Portland and 18 points in a win over Golden State.Ā
Then Jackson suffered a season-ending ACL tear, and the Sky lost 11 of 12, essentially ending their season.Ā
Jackson, Skylar Diggins, Azura Stevens, Kamilla Cardoso and Courtney Vandersloot are under contract for a bounce-back 2027 season.Ā
The Sky would be wise to re-sign ERFA Sydney Taylor after she averaged 13.6 points per game.
9. Portland Fire
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In their first season since 2002, the Fire exceeded expectations with 17 wins. Of their six players who started at least 15 games, Emily Engstler is the only free agent (restricted), so they should keep this core together for at least another year.Ā
Carla Leite is a star in the making. The 22-year-old averaged 16.1 points and 6.3 assists per game.Ā
The Fire are also likely to be adding a top-five pick to their squad.Ā
Don't be surprised if the Fire rocket into the playoffs next season.
8. Washington Mystics
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The Mystics had 41 turnovers in two playoff games against the Dream, exposing their offense.Ā
Perhaps their best chance of fixing that attack is landing the No. 1 pick and taking JuJu Watkins.Ā The Mystics have a 16.1 percent chance of landing the top pick because they own the Sky's first-rounder.Ā
Even if they don't, they should make the playoffs again next season with second-team All-WNBA center Shakira Austin and two-time All-Star guard Sonia Citron leading the way.
7. Dallas Wings
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The Wings nearly upset the Valkyries in the first round, which speaks to their potential.Ā
And they were playing without Azzi Fudd and Alanna Smith.Ā
A totally healthy Wings team should be a playoff lock next year. They have a well-rounded roster with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale at the guard spots and Jessica Shepard at center.
6. Indiana Fever
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The key to the Fever's offseason is getting free agent Kelsey Mitchell back under contract.Ā
The core of Mitchell, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston is capable of a championship.Ā
If they keep Mitchell, their only missing piece is a center who is a defensive specialist. A'ja Wilson destroyed them in their first-round series loss.Ā
Getting that center could prove difficult, which caps their ceiling.
5. New York Liberty
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The Liberty upset the Lynx in the first round before getting swept by the Dream, which exposed their lack of depth after Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones.Ā
The hope is that Satou Sabally will return next season from her concussion issues and be the piece that puts New York over the top.Ā
That's not an outrageous hope. For example, the Liberty went 1-5 against the Dream this past season, but they were 1-0 when Sabally played. She had 19 points in that game.
4. Minnesota Lynx
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Napheesa Collier's free agency looms over the Lynx's entire offseason.Ā
If she returns, the Lynx could easily win it all next year. The duo of Collier and Olivia Miles was fantastic this past season, and there's every reason to believe Miles will be even better in her second season.Ā
But you have to wonder if Collier is simply ready for a new challenge.Ā
If the Lynx lose Collier, they'd likely land outside the top five of our next power rankings.Ā
We split the difference here with a No. 4 ranking.
3. Las Vegas Aces
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With five-time MVP A'ja Wilson, the Aces will be a serious title contender, but they have some supporting cast problems they must solve.
The biggest is getting Jackie Young under contract. The 29-year-old shooting guard is a free agent.Ā
In getting swept by the Valkyries, the Aces' depth was exposed. They need to hit on depth free agents to support Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Young and Jewell Loyd.
2. Atlanta Dream
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The Dream will have all five of their starters back next season, giving them a great chance to win their first title after falling just short.
Keep in mind that the Dream outscored the Valks by 28 points in the WNBA Finals. They were about as close as they could be to winning it this year.
Perhaps the return of Brionna Jones, who had a season-ending leg injury, will put them over the top. Or maybe they feel their frontcourt rotation is solid with Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon, which could allow them to consider trading Jones for a depth guard or wing.
One minor upgrade could make them the clear favorites for 2027.
1. Golden State Valkyries
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The Valkyries earn the No. 1 spot for a number of reasons.
First, they will have most of their key players back next season. Surely they'll want to re-sign free agents Tiffany Hayes, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kayla Thornton and Kaitlyn Chen, but even if they lose some of them, they'll be fine with Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes leading the way.
But what feels more likely to happen is they'll have an even better roster next season.
They have a great culture, a raucous home crowd, an outstanding head coach (Natalie Nakase) and a quality front office. A top-level free agent, such as Napheesa Collier, should be attracted to what they've built.
If the Valks land an offensive star to pair with Williams, they could dominate the W next season.
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