As the calendar turns to August and the All-Star game is behind us, the WNBA playoffs are fast approaching. This final six-week stretch is vital for playoff positioning, as home-court advantage and simply making it into the postseason will be major goals for teams.
Injuries have played a massive part in the standings this season, which didn’t stop this last week. On the court, several teams continued impressive stretches while others plummeted.
Here are our latest WNBA power rankings, complete with an analysis of each team.
13) Connecticut Sun
Although the Connecticut Sun pulled out a surprise 16-point victory against the second-seeded New York Liberty, it was just their fifth win of the season, versus what turned out to be 22 losses when they fell to the same Liberty squad by nine points on Sunday.
While a 2-2 stretch in their last four is a step forward, the Sun are far from the playoff picture. Without a young star to cling to (their leading scorers are 28-year-old guard Marina Mabrey and 36-year-old forward Tina Charles), Connecticut has perhaps the bleakest future in the entire league.
12) Chicago Sky
Three weeks ago, the Chicago Sky stood pat with a 7-13 record. It wasn’t good, but it put themselves within striking distance of making a potential playoff push over the season’s final two months. Instead of doing that, the Sky have gone the complete opposite, losing eight games in a row.
They haven’t been particularly close either, with just one loss coming within less than double digits. Chicago isn’t just losing. They’re getting blown out. It’s come in a stretch when All-Star forward Angel Reese has missed five of seven games with a back injury.
Already a lost season for Chicago, Reese should take her time rehabbing the injury and make sure she’s fully healthy for the 2026 campaign. The 2025 campaign is just about wrapped up for the seven-win Sky.
11) Dallas Wings
What has been an extremely positive season for 2025 No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers has been less so for the Dallas Wings. She’s powered the team to eight wins, a real accomplishment with the roster around her.
The Wings have received next to no impact from their frontcourt this season, with injuries and EuroBasket to blame. But even then, the talent level on this roster simply isn’t enough for Bueckers to carry, who’s averaging 18.5 points and 5.5 assists (plus 1.8 steals per game) and is the runaway leader for the Rookie of the Year Award.
FUN STAT: Paige Bueckers is on the brink of recording the most 20-point, 5-assist, 2-steal games by a first-year player in WNBA history
1. Arike Ogunbowale — 5
Cynthia Cooper — 5
Tamika Catchings — 5
Caitlin Clark — 5
5. Paige Bueckers — 4 (15 Games Remaining)— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) August 4, 2025
Having lost eight of 10, the Wings are far out of the playoff race with an 8-21 record. They’re slightly better than the Sky and Sun, who have been free-falling for the past month. Dallas has been competitive against playoff-caliber competition, inspiring belief that in the coming seasons, with a revamped frontcourt, the Wings could compete for a playoff spot.
10) Washington Mystics
Five days after reaching .500 with a 17-point victory over the Sky, the Washington Mystics find themselves out of the playoff picture and with a 13-15 record after losses to the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream. Just one game back from the final playoff spot, the Mystics could be in with a good finish to the season.
The only issue is that Washington hasn’t been able to string together more than three wins in a row. A potential culprit has been their inability to figure out who the go-to scorer is. On any given night, it seems to be someone different, both positive and negative.
The negatives have shown of late, as rookie Kiki Iriafen excelled against the Dream with 22 points and five rebounds, but took just eight shots against Golden State. It’s an interesting mashup of players for the Mystics, putting head coach Sydney Johnson in a tough spot as he hopes to land them in the playoffs.
9) Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks (outside of the Minnesota Lynx) have been the hottest team in basketball over the past few weeks. They have won five of their last seven games and are putting themselves in position to play meaningful games over the season’s final stretch, as a playoff spot is within reach.
While the return of center Cameron Brink, who suffered a torn ACL last season, has undoubtedly helped, the winning ways have come on the backs of Kelsey Plum and Rickea Jackson, each playing the best they have all season. If they can keep it up and make the playoffs, we may witness one of the most surprising turnarounds in league history.
8) Golden State Valkyries
Solid yet unspectacular is a perfect description of the Golden State Valkyries this season. As an expansion franchise, that should be considered a significant victory, as they hold the eighth seed in the playoffs.
The Valkyries’ offense operates in a laissez-faire style, as each night could present a different leading scorer. Four players average double figures in scoring, with several others close behind. Golden State had a successful week, starting 3-0 before falling to the Las Vegas Aces. The loss was costly, dropping the Valkyries below the Aces in the standings.
The season’s stretch run should be kind to Golden State, as its players should be fresh. But come the playoffs, the question remains if they have a go-to scorer that can single-handedly win a series.
7) Las Vegas Aces
The disappointing season for the Las Vegas Aces has yet to completely shift positively, although they have won three of their last four games. This still leaves them with a 15-14 record.
The issue has been finding any output outside of three-time MVP A’ja Wilson all season long. Jewell Lloyd answered the bell in the Aces’ most recent victory, scoring a season-high 27 points in the 24-point drubbing of the Valkyries. That came after a 111-58 embarrassment of a loss to the Minnesota Lynx, at home.
Largest margin of victory in WNBA history:
59 — Lynx vs. Fever on Aug. 18, 2017
53 — Lynx @ Aces today
48 — Liberty vs. Sun on Jun. 1, 2025
46 — Storm vs. Shock on Aug. 7, 2010
45 — Comets @ Mystics on Aug. 17, 1998 https://t.co/SYIiZs18vq— Automatic (@automaticnba) August 2, 2025
It’s hard to imagine the Aces doing much if they make it to the playoffs. While talented on paper, this team hasn’t performed at a high enough level.
6) Seattle Storm
After jumping out to a 12-7 record, the Seattle Storm have had an up-and-down ride since. This week, they included an expected blowout win over the Sun and two close losses to the Sparks and Indiana Fever at home. The game against Los Angeles went into double overtime, with Storm star Nneka Ogwumike scoring 37 points, yet the effort was wasted.
Seattle heavily relies on Ogwumike, 35, as the offensive engine. Next in the pecking order is Skylar Diggins, also 35. While they form a dangerous duo, whether their bodies can withstand an entire season to make a playoff run remains a question.
They’ll also need some help from the supporting cast. Outside the starters, no player averages more than six points per game, which can hamstring teams later in the season.
5) Phoenix Mercury
It was a shaky week for the fourth-seeded Phoenix Mercury, who fell to the Fever by six and the surging Atlanta Dream by 23, mustering just 72 points. They did defeat the Sky to finish the week, but the focus was on something else: Satou Sabally’s absence.
Head coach Nate Tibbets said that she was out for “personal reasons,” which he didn’t explain further. The team’s leading scorer, she’s arguably the most critical player. The Mercury is more than likely going to make the playoffs, barring a collapse. Without Sabally and with others having to step up, they surely won’t make it far.
4) Indiana Fever
With Caitlin Clark out of the lineup, the Fever have inexplicably gone on a hot streak. They’ve won five consecutive games by a relatively comfortable margin before pulling out a four-point victory over the Storm on Sunday.
FIVE IN A ROW‼️ pic.twitter.com/gnBgYRjSIo
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 3, 2025
Kelsey Mitchell has been the catalyst behind the run, leading the team to score in three games. However, others on the roster are getting more opportunities with the ball in their hands, such as Aari McDonald (27 points against the Mercury) and Natasha Howard (21 points against the Storm).
While it’s a nice story, the Fever’s ceiling is very much indeed with Clark on the floor, finding open teammates and pulling up from deep. She’s expected back in mid-August. However, if Indiana keeps winning, she should be in no rush to return and be fully healthy when stepping back on the court.
3) New York Liberty
The New York Liberty, seen as a top-two team in the league for much of the season, has slightly let go of the rope of late. Much of that concerns the absence of Breanna Stewart, who’s dealing with a leg injury. While the return timetable is unknown, she’s not expected to miss the rest of the season.
Without her, the burden on All-Star point guard Sabrina Ionescu has been heavy. The Liberty lost four straight games before winning on Sunday against the lowly Sun. Ionescu essentially did it all herself, scoring a game-high 36 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out four assists.
The schedule is favorable, as they face the Wings twice. Despite that, Ionescu may have to catch fire again if New York is to sweep that mini-series. If not, the Liberty will quickly lose ground in the playoff seeding race.
2) Atlanta Dream
Winners of five of their last six, the Atlanta Dream are rolling right now and are currently just a half game back of the Liberty for the second seed. With five double-digit scorers on the season, the Dream have been extremely unselfish with the basketball and exemplify everything a team is.
The Atlanta #Dream (18-11) have won five of their last six pic.twitter.com/qTIS80UsEu
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) August 3, 2025
In those six games, they’ve had five different leading scorers. Last Sunday, they provided hope that they can compete as an inner-circle contender when they defeated the top-seeded Lynx by four points on the road. Center Brittney Griner led the way with 22 points.
Looking ahead, the Dream will take on the Sky and Mercury before a two-game series with the Storm. If they can keep up their winning ways, they could pass the Liberty and claim the No. 2 spot once the playoffs tip off in September.
1) Minnesota Lynx
The Lynx are far and away the top team in the WNBA, and they showed it with their 53-point win over the Aces on Saturday. But that’s not what the concern was once the game was over. In the win, presumed leader for the MVP award, Napheesa Collier, appeared to injure her ankle and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
Collier has had a masterful season leading the way for Minnesota, averaging 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. Looking to avenge last year’s heartbreaking Finals loss to the Liberty, the Lynx have had extra motivation all season.
But without Collier in the lineup, they might as well be considered right back in the pack, not with the 5.5-game lead over the second-place team in the standings. While specifics have yet to be reported, Collier’s injury and when she’s able to come back will have a major impact on the league’s outlook this season.
