We are nearly a month into the WNBA's 30th season, and there's been plenty of excitement. In this edition, I will break down my power rankings from Friday, May 22, to Friday, June 5. All 15 teams are ranked, but which teams are rising and which are falling?
There was a period of uncertainty for months, but the WNBPA and WNBA eventually agreed to a historicΒ collective bargaining agreement. Several players are now earning seven-figure salaries, and matchups are being broadcast across various networks under the brand-new $2.2 billion media rights deal.
Rebel jerseys have been released, and the W continues to honor its 30th season with throwback jerseys and nostalgia from the inaugural season in 1997.
Some teams are just eight games into the season, and the annual Commissioner's Cup games are underway. All 15 teams will compete for a $500,000 prize pool, a trophy, and a charitable donation to a community organization. Running from June 1 through June 17, 49 games will be played and will also count towards the regular-season record.
The championship game will be held on June 30 and will feature the top team from the Eastern and Western Conferences. The stakes are high, and point differential matters. For more information about the Commissioner's Cup, Ballislife has all the event details.
Portland Fire's Alex Sarama was named May's Coach of the Month, and Lynx star Olivia Miles earned Rookie of the Month honors for the opening month. In addition, former South Carolina Gamecocks teammates A'ja Wilson (Aces) and Allisha Gray (Dream) earned recognition as the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Month.
Highlights from the past two weeks include the Portland Fire's continued success, with massive wins over the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever. No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd had a breakout game with 24 points and six threes against the Liberty, and Miles put on a clinic for a career-high 28 points against the Golden State Valkyries.
In the Hoosier State, Kelsey Mitchell reached 5,000 points, and the Fever are back on track following some buzz regarding Caitlin Clark's struggles and coaching. But in reality, this wouldn't be discussed if it were a man's sport.
A strong rookie class continues to lead the way this W season, as Awa Fam touched down in the Emerald City and made her debut with the Storm. Expansion teams (Tempo, Fire)Β have surprised early on, and Nneka Ogwumike is now the fifth all-time leader in rebounds in WNBA history, passing Tamika Catchings.
Although these are just a few storylines, here are my power rankings for weeks 3 and 4. These will change week-to-week, but who's rising and who's falling?
2026 WNBA Power Rankings (May 22-June 5)
*Editor's Note: Rankings made before Friday, June 5 games*
15. Connecticut Sun
Last Rank: 15
2026 WNBA championship odds: +50000 (+50000 preseason)
Record: 2-9
Trends: 0-4 at home, and went 1-4 since May 22. The Sun posts a -9.4 point differential over the last five games and is 1-6 on the road and 0-2 against conference teams.
The Skinny: The Connecticut Sun owns the WNBA's worst record at 2-9 and a -12.9 point differential. Not only do they put up the fewest points per game (75.5), but they also remain one of the least efficient teams on defense, allowing 88.4 points per game.
Despite Connecticut's 76-74 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Hartford, the Sun have a 1-4 record over the last week with a -9.4 points differential per game.
LeΓ―la Lacan returns to Connecticut, who posted 12 points, two rebounds, three assists, and a steal in the win over LA. Her presence should provide some steadiness on both sides of the ball, but I don't expect the Sun to turn it around. Over the last two weeks, they lost to the Lynx by 21 points and to the Fire by 14 points.
Injuries and rotational experiments have been an issue for Connecticut, and now Hailey Van Lith rejoins the team on a developmental contract. Aneesah Morrow is shining bright, but I'm expecting a full rebuild to continue in Uncasville.
14. Chicago Sky
Last Rank: 8 ( -6 )
2026 WNBA championship odds: +17500 (+5500 preseason)
Record: 3-6
Trends: Lost five straight games and is winless at home (0-4). Chicago's last win came against the Minnesota Lynx on May 17.
The Skinny:Β The Sky drop six spots this week while riding a five-game losing streak. Chicago gets AzurΓ Stevens back, but rookie Gabriela Jaquez has missed three straight games with a knee injury. Not to mention, DiJonai Carrington and Courtney Vandersloot remain out, while Rickea Jackson will miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury.
Since May 22, the Sky are 0-4, including a 21-point loss to the Lynx and an 18-point loss to the Mystics. Not only do they post one of the worst differentials in the WNBA (-14), but they rank No. 14 in offensive rating (91.2) and No. 12 in defensive rating (107.7) during that span.
Over the last two weeks, Chicago's offense has been abysmal, averaging just 77.3 points per game while shooting 22.6% from beyond the arc. You won't gain points shooting just 37.9% from the field, and they own the league's worst point margin since May 22. Not to mention, Chicago has been getting killed in second-chance points and interior scoring.
Trounced by the Lynx twice, the Sky fall to No. 14 as they also took losses to the Tempo and Mystics.
13. Phoenix Mercury
Last Rank: 11 ( -2)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +5000 (+1500 preseason)
Record: 3-8
Trends: 1-4 record at home, and 2-4 on the road. The Mercury broke a six-game losing streak and are 1-4 since May 22. Over the last two weeks, Phoenix played four of its five games on the road.
The Skinny:Β I thought I was being a bit harsh when I penciled in the Phoenix Mercury at 11 last week. The Mercury finally broke their six-game losing streak with a 72-68 victory over the Seattle Storm. But even then, they won by just four points against a rebuilding squad.
Over the last two weeks, Phoenix lost to the Liberty by 10 points and suffered back-to-back losses in New York. Perhaps the most surprising loss came in a 34-point defeat to Minnesota.
I'm not entirely convinced that Phoenix should move up after they barely beat Seattle. Despite Monique Akoa Makani's return, that hasn't exactly translated into wins. The Mercury are 1-3 since her return and rank No. 13 in defensive rating (107.7) over that span. While the offense hasn't been nearly as potent, Phoenix has given up an average of 85.5 points to New York, Minnesota, and Seattle.
That doesn't include the 111 points the Lynx poured on the Mercury. It's been a tough stretch for Phoenix, which simply couldn't get it done against the Dream, Liberty, and Lynx. Rookie Jovana NogiΔ has cooled off, and there's been little offense at times outside of Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper. Even at times, Thomas has been inconsistent.
It's disappointing that the Mercury advanced to the 2025 WNBA finals and dropped this far. Not saying it can't change, but this is where I rank them currently. This week, they drop two spots.
12. Seattle Storm
Last Rank: 14 (+2)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +50000 (+50000 preseason)
Record: 3-8
Trends: Riding a four-game losing streak and has a 1-4 record over the last two weeks. Seattle is 1-4 on the road and 2-4 at home. Over the last five games, the Storm lost two straight on the road and finished 1-2 at home.
The Skinny: In this edition of my power rankings, the Seattle Storm move up two spots. While they have a 3-8 record this season, I have moved them up from No. 14 for a few reasons.
Seattle is in rebuild mode and has a ton of youth, including Flau'jae Johnson, Awa Fam, and others. Seattle went just 2-4 over the last two weeks, but played six games. Over that span, they took losses to the Tempo, Wings, and Mercury, and Mystics, but gained two victories over Connecticut (+18) and Washington (+12).
Sure, losses matter, but the point differential hasn't been as bad as that of other teams. Yes, the 21-point loss to the Lynx isn't ideal, but they've been torching teams left and right. And the loss to Paige Bueckers and the Wings by -23 wasn't the most efficient. However, they hold a -5.3 point differential and lost to the Mercury by just four points.
While losses haven't translated into wins, Seattle has remained competitive, and that's without Dominique Malonga, who's missed eight straight games due to a concussion. Johnson continues to develop, although her talent is raw; the shooting woes continue. Overall, Natisha Hiedeman has fully embraced a leadership role as a primary scorer and facilitator, and the Awa Fam era is officially here.
While Fam's arrival hasn't translated into wins ... just yet, she's averaging 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals on the season. We saw Fam break out for 18 points against the Mercury, and Zia Cooke has shown flashes of brilliance, although inconsistent.
I'm not saying Seattle will move up a ton in the standings, but I can get behind the defensive hustle. The Sun scored just 59 points, and the Tempo, Mystics, Wings, and Mercury were all held to under 80 points. I have them at 12 since they continue to rebuild, and offense has been an issue (scored just 56 points against Dallas).
Since May 22, Seattle dropped to No. 13 in offensive rating (92.1), but surprisingly, they are a top-four team on defense. The Mystics are hanging in, but I need more data and games before moving them up the ladder.
11. Los Angeles Sparks
Last Rank: 10 (-1)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +3000 (+1500 preseason)
Record: 4-5
Trends: 3-1 record on the road and a 1-4 record at home. The Sparks are riding a two-game losing streak and are 2-2 since my last rankings. Four of their last five games have been on the road.
The Skinny: I initially ranked the Sparks as high as No. 5 in my initial rankings, and this week they drop one spot over a two-week span.
Sparks star Kelsey Plum missed three consecutive games with an ankle injury, which hurt their cause. Probable to return tonight, it's important to note how impactful she is for Los Angeles.
With a 4-5 record overall, the Sparks went 2-2 over the past 14 days, which resulted in wins over the Mystics and Aces, and losses to the Sun and Aces. Had Plum not gotten hurt, we might have had a different conversation.
Let's talk about the good: The Sparks trounced the Aces 101-95, thanks to Kelsey Plum's 38-point performance. It's certainly impressive that the Sparks beat the defending champs and took care of business without Plum in Washington, thanks to Nneka Ogwumike's 20-point, 11-rebound outing.
Over the last four games, the Sparks finished with a -2 point differential, with an average of -0.5 per game. That's not terrible for a team under .500, which was without its top star.
Now, the bad: Plum accounts for over 30% of the Sparks' offense, as she is averaging 26.8 points on the season. It's been hard for me to get a pulse on this team due to inconsistencies. What I can tell you is that there was a significant drop-off in offensive production in Plum's absence. Without her, they averaged just about 75 points against the Aces and Sun and failed to score above 81 points.
The frontcourt has been solid, consisting of Ogwumike, Dearica Hamby, and Cameron Brink. But I need to see consistent production from Rae Burrell, Ariel Atkins, and Erica Wheeler. Outside the big three, the offensive production drops off some.
I have the Sparks at 11, as the defense has improved significantly, from No. 15 to No. 8 in terms of rating. However, the offense ranks No. 10 over that span. Until I get a full read on this team, it will be tough to evaluate.
10. Washington Mystics
Last Rank: 9 (-1)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +12500 (+10000 preseason)
Record: 4-4
Trends: 3-2 on the road and 1-2 at home. The Mystics have won two of their last three games and have gone 2-2 since the last rankings.
The Skinny: The Washington Mystics are the team that I refuse to quit on. 4-4 on the season, they have a 2-2 record since my last rankings. That includes two victories: a 14-point blowout over the Storm and an 18-point win over the Sky.
I know that's not all that impressive given that Seattle is rebuilding and the Sky are ailing with injuries. However, we need to talk about Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen. Arguably the most dynamic frontcourt duo, they combined for 32 points and 19 rebounds against Chicago. Against the Sparks, they recorded a combined 38 points and 19 rebounds.
We know the pair has been dominant. So dominant that rookie Lauren Betts is logging just 13.6 minutes per game. I suppose extra front court depth is a good thing for an up-and-coming team.
At No. 10, the Mystics boasted a +15 point differential, which isn't bad for a .500 record since my last rankings came out. Their strength of schedule wasn't particularly strong, which keeps them in the mid-to-lower half.
I do think the Mystics could have won against Seattle and against a Sparks team without Plum. Over the last few weeks, the Mystics shot up to fifth in offensive rating (107.6), scoring 90 points against Chicago, along with 85 and 87 against Seattle and LA. Most impressively, they rank among the top five in defensive rating (102.2) and NET rating (5.4) since May 22.
I'm giving this team grace since Sonia Citron missed Tuesday's contest against the Sky with a foot injury. Even without her, the Mystics dropped 90 points and had a well-balanced scoring attack from both the starters and bench. Plus, is Alicia Florez Getino Sydney Johnson's new secret weapon?
9. Toronto Tempo
Last Rank: 12 ( +3 )
2026 WNBA championship odds: +15000 (+15000 preseason)
Record: 5-5
Trends: 3-3 record on the road and 2-2 at home. Toronto has won two of its last three games and boasts a 2-2 record since my last power rankings.
The Skinny: It's safe to say that the two newest WNBA expansion teams have not disappointed. Both the Fire and Tempo are at .500 or above, which no one projected. Then again, Sandy Brondello is a two-time WNBA champion coach for a reason.
Toronto continues to hold its own as Nyara Sabally holds down the frontcourt, as Isabelle Harrison and Temi FΓ‘gbΓ©nlΓ© are out with injuries. 2-2 since my last rankings, Toronto lost to the Fire by 18 points and to the Liberty by 15 points. While neither win is as strong, a win is a win, right?
The Tempo put up 111 points in the victory over the Sky and defeated the Storm 93-72. All season long, the Tempo have been a top-four offensive team, one that's led by backcourt pair Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes.
When Toronto is hot, it's hot, especially when it comes to Mabrey's 3-point shooting. This team can score, especially after putting up 106, 111, 98, and 93 points over the last four games. And can we talk about Sabally's career-high 29-point performance against the Sky and her ability to stretch the floor?
I predicted the opposite: I thought Toronto would excel defensively but struggle to score. While I didn't expect Brondello's Brooklyn homecoming to result in a win, I did expect them to stay more competitive against Portland.
My biggest issue for Toronto is defense, consistency, and health. The team has an ailing frontcourt, and rookie Kiki Rice is now expected to miss time withΒ a Grade 2 ankle sprain. And while they held the Storm to 72 points, Portland, Chicago, and New York scored 99, 104, and 97 points against Toronto.
As I mentioned previously, Mabrey and Sykes need to be on to stack up wins, and we saw this in Sykes' 38-point performance against the Sparks. This team has struggled against top-tier teams, and over the last two weeks, they've climbed as the second-best team on offense but the worst in defense.
Toronto is a gritty team, a mid-level one that can keep afloat. How will injuries affect them down the line? I need to see more from the defense.
8. Indiana Fever
Last Rank: 6 (-2)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +1000 (+550 preseason)
Record: 5-4
Trends: 1-2 on the road, 4-2 at home. Indiana broke a two-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta. They held a 2-2 record since my last rankings.
The Skinny: It's been a rocky start for the Fever, as Caitlin Clark missed one game with a back injury. The WNBA fined Indiana for leaving Clark off the injury report, and there's been complete nonsense surrounding a short clip of Clark arguing with head coach Stephanie White. I promise, this happens in sports, and we should look to greener pastures ahead.
The Fever are one of the heavily favored teams to win this season, and boast a 5-4 record. Over the last two weeks, we saw Indiana hit rock bottom after Clark scored just six points in Portland's 100-84 blowout victory over Indiana. Suffering back-to-back losses, the Fever suffered a 90-88 heartbreaking loss to the Valkyries.
The Fever are back on the map as they carried out a much-needed 83-71 victory over the Atlanta Dream. Not only did Kelsey Mitchell notch 5,000 career points, but the defense made a statement. As a team, the Dream shot just 34% from the field and 29% from three. Clark, Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston combined for 61 points as Sophie Cunningham and Raven Johnson came alive off the bench.
I want to put the Fever higher, but they held a 2-3 record over the last two weeks with a -11 point differential. Over that period, they ranked No. 9 in offensive rating (106.5), No. 11 in defensive rating (106.5), and turnovers remain a problem.
The good news is Indiana is able to beat top teams such as Golden State and Atlanta. The bad? They lost to Portland by 16 points. If the Fire didn't play so well, I would love the Fever up to No. 7 here. Since May 22, they have had the seventh-worst NET rating (0), but I'm not terribly alarmed by the losses.
The Fever are an above .500 team, and I expect them to improve in the rankings as time goes on. Indiana loves to play with pace, and Clark needs to continue to work on shot selection and on opposing defense that hunts her.
7. Portland Fire
Last Rank: 13 (+6)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +50000 (+50000 preseason)
Record: 6-5
Trends: 2-2 on the road, 4-3 at home. Portland is above .500, although it's dropped two of its last three games.
The Skinny: I want to give my sincerest apology to Alex Sarama and the Portland Fire. So much so that I ranked them No. 13 last week and had them at a total under 9.5 wins for the 2026 WNBA season.
I'm not sure if the Fire can keep up this momentum, but they are 6-5 on the season and finished with a 4-2 record over the last two weeks.
I have the Fire over the Fever due to their overall wins since May 22, the strength of schedule, and the fact that they beat Indiana 101-84. As players are waived and signed, somehow, Portland has continued its relevance.
They garnered attention with two victories over the Liberty, one of which came during this span, and another against the Fever. The Fire are for real, at least now anyway. Over the last two weeks, they went on a three-game winning streak against the Tempo, Liberty, and Connecticut.Β Most impressively, they held a +14-point differential and defeated the Tempo and Fever by a combined 35 points.
A middle-of-the-road team in terms of offensive and defensive production, the Fire boasted a sixth-best 3.7 NET rating since my last rankings. While I do look at the overall picture every two weeks, they did suffer a significant 20-point loss to the Dream and an 18-point loss to the Valkyries.
Portland continues to defy the odds as the newest expansion team, and as Megan Gustafson said it best, these are overlooked players that have never been respected. I really respect that she said that.
Led by Carla Leite, Bridget Carleton, Gustafson, and Sarah Ashlee Barker, we have even seen players such as Emily Engstler show out with some two-way performances that fill the box score. They have signature wins over top teams, and I'm a full believer until they prove me otherwise.
6. Golden State Valkyries
Last Rank: 2 ( -4)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +1500 (+3500 preseason)
Record: 6-4
Trends: 2-2 on the road, 4-2 at home. Golden State has dropped two of its last three following a two-game win streak. The Valkyries move from two to six.
The Skinny: The Valkyries are still high on my list, and I'm a huge believer in what Natalie Nakase has got going on in the Bay. 6-4 on the season, the Valkyries dropped four spots, and here's why.
Since my last power rankings, Golden State has gone 3-3 with a +26-point differential. That includes two straight wins over the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever.
The 27-point win over Connecticut isn't all that impressive, and the Fever and Valkyries have kept their games relatively close, win or lose. There's no question Golden State also had a pretty dominant affair over Portland, 95-77.
This is a gritty team that has several two-way players in Veronica Burton, Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, and more. It will only get more challenging from here as Golden State finished up a four-game homestand with a 3-1 record.
The Valkyries lost to the Lynx by just three points and to the Aces by 10. While they've had signature wins against top teams, they can't come out victorious against all of them. A competitive defensive team, Golden State has been inconsistent at times and has to work on defeating upper-echelon teams.
The Valkyries remained a top-three team on the offensive end, as they put up 97 points against Connecticut and 95 against Portland. That also includes a franchise-best 18 3-pointers on 40 attempts against the Fire. Defensively, they ranked ninth with a 4.8 NET rating.
Golden State has some serious versatility and 3-point shooters in Janelle SalaΓΌn, Cecilia Zandalasini, Gabby Williams, Kayla Thornton, Veronica Burton, and so forth. Their future rankings will decide on the defense and whether they can come up with wins against top teams. Juste Jocyte made her debut, so it will be interesting to see her impact moving forward.
5. New York Liberty
Last Rank: 3 ( -2)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +260 (+260 preseason)
Record: 6-4
Trends: 2-1 on the road, 4-3 at home. New York has won three consecutive games and is in the midst of a six-game homestand
The Skinny: New York, New York. The Knicks are in the NBA Finals, but don't sleep on the Liberty. New York bounced back after two losses to the Portland Fire and finished out the last few weeks with a 3-2 record.
The good news is that Leonie Fiebich is back in the lineup, and Satou Sabally has returned with limited minutes. Sabrina Ionescu has played just one game this season due to an ankle injury and is questionable for Saturday's contest against the Fever.
It was a rough start to the period for New York, which lost to Azzi Fudd's 24-point performance 91-76 on its home turf at Barclays Center. Prior to that, New York was trounced by Portland, 81-74.
It's a nice big homestand for New York, which has back-to-back wins over the struggling Mercury and defeated the Tempo in Sandy Brondello's return to Brooklyn by 15 points. It's an improvement, especially for Jonquel Jones, who exploded for 22 points and 17 rebounds against the Tempo. With rookie Pauline Asteir at the helm at point, we saw a nice, well-balanced scoring attack from New York's starting five.
All of the offense can't continuously come from 3-point flamethrower Marine JohannΓ©s, who's shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc this season. Aside from her, Breanna Stewart is nearly averaging a double-double with 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds.
Over the last two weeks, the Liberty offense has improved, ranking No. 11 since my last rankings. Defensively, they stayed afloat as a top-six team with a 2.6 NET rating.
As players have returned, we've seen New York gather monstrous wins over Phoenix and Toronto. They've now won three of their last four games, and hopefully, they'll see Ionescu in the near future. They've gotten this far without a clean bill of health; it will be interesting to see what this team looks like at full strength.
4. Atlanta Dream
Last Rank: 4
2026 WNBA championship odds: +600 (+550 preseason)
Record: 6-3
Trends: 3-2 on the road, 3-1 at home. Won two of the last three games, but lost crucial matchups against the Lynx and Fever.
The Skinny: Atlanta finds itself atop the standings with a 6-3 record and is 4-2 since my last power rankings.Β Last month, we saw Atlanta dominate the Wings 86-69 and barely scraped by the Mercury 82-80.
Other wins included an 86-66 victory over the Fire and a 16-point victory over the Connecticut Sun. The two losses came against the Lynx and Fever, two top teams in the WNBA.
Atlanta is certainly operating at less than 100% strength. Brionna Jones has yet to make her debut, so Angel Reese and Madina Okot are holding down the frontcourt. Even without Jones, a 4-2 record and a +28 point differential is fairly impressive. Over that span, the Dream remained a top-four team defensively and vastly improved on offense.
Not to mention, Atlanta boasted the third-best NET rating (6.5) over the last six games.
There's no question the Dream defense is elite: They held the Wings, Fire, Sun, and Mercury to 80 points or fewer. In particular, Dallas and Portland scored just 66 and 69 points.Β However, I am concerned about those massive losses against the Lynx and Fever.
My biggest issue is the offensive inconsistency in Atlanta. They rely on the starting five, but this team has some solid key players on the bench. Ranging from 71 to 91 points, the Dream averaged 82.8 points over the last six games. While they don't rely on just one player, the team has too much star power not to be the top team.
They boast the second-best defense, and we've yet to see Jones. I like them at No. 4, for now.
3. Las Vegas Aces
Last Rank: 1 ( -2)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +410 (+410 preseason)
Record: 6-3
Trends: 6-1 away, 0-2 at home. The Aces have won two straight and return home after a three-game road trip.
The Skinny:Β The Aces move down two spots, but don't panic. 6-3 on the season, Las Vegas went 2-2 over the last few weeks. It started out rough following a pair of losses to the Sparks and Wings. They eventually turned it around with a +10 margin of victories against the Valkyries and Sparks.
The Sparks' win on June 2 isn't all that impressive considering Kelsey Plum was out for LA. And if there's one thing that's holding true, the offense will continue to run through A'ja Wilson, who's the leading MVP candidate at several sportsbooks. Scoring 20+ in four consecutive games, Wilson averaged 24.5 points against LA, Dallas, and Golden State.
The Aces are still a top-tier team, but there've been inconsistencies on both sides of the ball. Although they finished up the week with a +6 point differential, they ranked No. 14 in offensive rating. Jackie Young went cold due to personal issues (understandably), and Chennedy Carter got bruised up. The offense was hot early on, as the Aces scored 95 and 91 points against the Sparks and Valkyries. In their last game, they scored just 79 points against LA.
I expect the Aces to remain a top team, but they didn't have the best record or outing. While they are back on track with two straight wins, health and consistency are two major factors. They are tied for the second-best record and even beat both the Valkyries and Sparks by 10 points on the road. Since my last ratings, they ranked No. 8 in NET rating (1.2).
The defense also has to improve. Look out for that in the near future.
2. Dallas Wings
Last Rank: 5 ( +3)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +1500 (+2500 preseason)
Record: 6-3
Trends: 3-1 away, 3-2 at home. The Wings are on a three-game winning streak and have won four of their last five games
The Skinny: I personally thought I ranked the Wings too high, but turns out I was right. Dallas moves up three spots after finishing 3-1 since my last rankings.
Dallas is the real dealβthey now have signature wins over top teams, including a 91-76 victory over the Liberty on the road and a 95-87 win over the Aces. While they were ousted by the Dream by 17 points, Dallas is coming off a 23-point victory over the Seattle Storm.
It's clear that head coach Jose Fernandez knows what he's doing. He eased Azzi Fudd into the starting rotation until she was comfortable, and now she remains a fixture of the starting five moving forward.
Awak Kuier will miss some time with a wrist injury, but it's clear the Wings have a ton of versatility. And mind you, that's with Alanna Smith struggling. Jessica Shepard is earning every cent of her payday, as we saw her cook up a triple-double against the Fever.
Over the last four games, the Wings boast a +29-point differential and rank second in defensive rating (97.4), behind the Minnesota Lynx. Despite some offensive inconsistencies lately, the Wings own the No. 1 offensive rating (111.3) in the WNBA along with the second-best NET rating (8.0).
There are times when Dallas doesn't look like a top team at all, while others, they look like they can win it all. Paige Bueckers is having an incredible sophomore campaign, averaging 23.2 points over the last four games. Defensively, this is a very different Dallas team than we've seen in the past. Over the last couple of weeks, the Wings held Seattle to 56 points and New York to 76 points.
The Wings have victories over the Fever, Liberty, and Aces. If they can defeat the Liberty on the road, they will earn the second spot for this week.
1. Minnesota Lynx
Last Rank:Β 1 (no change)
2026 WNBA championship odds: +410 (+850 preseason)
Record: 8-2
Trends: 5-0 on the road, 3-2 at home. The Lynx have won six straight games, three of which have come on the road.
The Skinny: I personally want to apologize to Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx. No Napheesa Collier? No problem. Only four returning players? No problem. The Lynx jump to the No. 1 spot after earning the WNBA's best record at 8-2.
5-0 over the last couple of weeks, the Lynx have wins over the Sky, Dream, Mercury, and Valkyries. Aside from Golden State, they've been killing teams left and right. With wins coming by +10 or more, the Lynx hold a +83 point differential over the last five games.
Boasting the W's top defensive rating (98.1), the Lynx are a top team on both sides of the ball, thanks to talent and coaching. Rookie Olivia Miles is better than advertised. She's a star. Last night, she broke Caitlin Clark's 3-point rookie record and earned Rookie of the Month honors in May. On Thursday, Miles torched a stingy Dream defense for 28 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. Her IQ, shot creation, ability to drive downhill, and facilitating have been second-to-none.
It turns out that Natasha Howard's return to the Land of 1000 Lakes was a great signing, and Courtney Williams has been thriving off-ball. Miles, Williams, Kayla McBride, and Howard have stepped up as the core four. Over the last two weeks, the Lynx have owned the top spot on defense, offense, and NET rating (20).
Until they come back down to Earth, the Lynx absolutely deserve the top spot here.
Sara Jane Gamelli is the Managing Editor and Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com, as well as Director of Ballislife Bets. Follow her on X atΒ @SaraJGamelli.
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2026 WNBA Power Rankings: Volume 2