There’s less than a month left of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) season and the playoff race is in constant flux.
The Mystics were once challenging for a spot in the playoffs, have been overtaken by the Los Angeles Sparks. Elsewhere, the formerly elite Seattle squad is falling apart, but the Las Vegas Aces have stacked the deck.
With all of that movement around the league, let’s see where teams fall this week.
13. Chicago Sky
Last: 12 | Upcoming: GSV (8/15), SEA (8/19), NYL (8/21),
Chicago is in an extremely unenviable position. They have lost three straight games, with two of them being over 20 points. Not only are they near the bottom of the standings, but they won’t even profit from their place in the cellar; the rights to their 2026 draft pick belong to the best team in the WNBA.
12. Connecticut Sun
Last: 13 | Upcoming: IND (8/17), WAS (8/19), WAS (8/21)
Connecticut is in a transitional period. What once was a perennial playoff powerhouse team on the verge of a championship soon became a rebuilding team. Now the Sun is set to relocate to a new city with multiple groups bidding on the team.
Whoever secures the deal will get one of the league’s best defenders already in rookie Saniya Rivers. She even blocked 6’7″ Kamilla Cardoso in the victory against Chicago.
11. Washington Mystics
Last: 10 | Upcoming: IND (8/15), LAS (8/17), CON (8/19), CON (8/21)
The Mystics have been less magical since they traded away leading scorer Brittney Sykes. A team that was once challenging for a playoff spot has nearly fallen out entirely.
The Mystics have an extremely capable young core led by Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, but the weight of the team may be too much for the young All-Stars.
10. Seattle Storm
Last: 8 | Upcoming: ATL (8/15), PHX (8/17), CHI (8/19), DAL (8/22)
There’s a storm brewing in the standings. Once one of the top teams in the WNBA, the Seattle Storm has lost six straight games.
Seattle hoped to bolster the team with the addition of Sykes, but even her two-way prowess hasn’t helped the team rebound from the slide. With the Sparks surging and even the Mystics still in the playoff hunt, the Storm is at risk of falling out of the playoff race.
9. Dallas Wings
Last: 11 | Upcoming: LAS (8/15), LVA (8/17), LAS (8/20)
With Arike Ogunbowale out with an injury, sophomore Maddy Siegrist stepped up against the Indiana Fever. Siegrist, the third pick of the 2023 draft, tied her career high in a one-point win.
Li Yueru also saw extended minutes against the Fever and chipped in 20 points off the bench. Rookie of the Year favorite Paige Bueckers helped to seal the win with 16 points and eight dimes.
8. Indiana Fever
Last: 7 | Upcoming: WAS (8/15), CON (8/17), MIN (8/22)
Indiana has had an unfortunate run of bad luck.
All-Star Caitlin Clark has been out with an injury for an extended period, but she recently got some more company in the trainer’s room as key players Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson both suffered season-ending injuries in the same game. But it’s not all bad news.
Though they may be down a few players, the Fever is not out. Kelsey Mitchell has been otherworldly as of late. She dropped 26 on Chicago in the victory and 24 against Dallas in a single-point loss.
7. Phoenix Mercury
Last: 3 | Upcoming: LVA (8/15), SEA (8/17), GSV (8/19), LVA (8/21), GSV (8/22)
The Mercury has a stacked starting lineup filled with All-Stars, yet they’ve had trouble staying on court due to various injuries. Now with all of the squad healthy, Phoenix is still finding itself. The team has been elite scoring but have struggled against the top teams all season, especially the Atlanta Dream, who just seem to have Phoenix’s number.
And, like it or not, you’ll eventually have to beat the best if you want to be the best.
6. New York Liberty
Last: 4 | Upcoming: MIN (8/16), MIN (8/19), CHI (8/21)
Even champions struggle.
The Liberty are facing a tough run. After mostly coasting to start the season, New York has dealt with a great deal of adversity, including the loss of an MVP candidate in Breanna Stewart. Though the Liberty has had struggled at this point, their championship hopes are still alive, even though Sabrina Ionescu has cooled off lately.
5. Los Angeles Sparks
Last: 5 | Upcoming: DAL (8/15), WAS (8/17), DAL (8/20)
The LA Sparks has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. A team that was nearly at the bottom of the standings has suddenly found itself in the thick of the playoff race.
A string of injuries previously stalled the Sparks’ start to the season, but a clean bill of health and the addition of Julie Allemand, who led Belgium to the EuroBasket title, into the starting lineup helped reverse the team’s fortunes. Her presence adds extra playmaking, scoring, and rebounding to the second-highest scoring team in the league.
4. Golden State Valkyries
Last: 9 | Upcoming: CHI (8/15), ATL (8/17), PHX (8/19), PHX (8/22)
After a bit of a stumble, the Valkyries is flying high lately. Golden State is back above .500 and solidly in the playoff race once more, thanks to its well-balanced team.
Tiffany Hayes, just two years after announcing her retirement, is one of the leading scorers of the team. Veronica Burton is having a breakout year. She’s one of the tougher defenders on the team, and her assist numbers have spiked as well. Burton could also be a name to watch as one of the top contenders for Most Improved honors this season.
3. Las Vegas Aces
Last: 6 | Upcoming: PHX (8/15), DAL (8/17), ATL (8/19), PHX (8/21)
The Aces is hotter than a desert summer. They’re currently riding a five-game winning streak, including a win over New York Liberty thanks to a vintage Jewell Loyd performance. Loyd has looked like her Seattle self since coming off the bench, where the team has been 7-1 in that stretch.
The rest of the team has come around as well. Jackie Young’s two-way skills have helped to power the Aces, while Chelsea Gray has been dropping timely assists and buckets. And A’ja Wilson? She’s A’ja Wilson.
2. Atlanta Dream
Last: 2 | Upcoming: SEA (8/15), GSV (8/17), LVA (8/19), MIN (8/21)
It truly is a dream come true in Atlanta. Not only is the club on a six-game winning streak but, after nearly a month away with an injury, Rhyne Howard and Brittney Griner returned to the lineup.
Though they may have been without some of their top players, Atlanta is one of the deepest teams in the league. Including Howard, the Dream boasts three current All-Stars, with the other two being Allisha Gray and Brionna Jones. That star power held down the fort while Howard and Griner were sidelined, and now it’s time to reap the rewards of that depth.
1. Minnesota Lynx
Last: 1 | Upcoming: NYL (8/16), NYL (8/19), ATL (8/21), IND (8/22)
Minnesota keeps on rolling. Even without MVP-favorite Napheesa Collier, the Lynx is well in control in the standings and became the first team to clinch a playoff spot. It is elite on both sides of the ball, which has only been enhanced by the addition of DiJonai Carrington.
Alanna Smith has also shone during this winning streak, and she should be in multiple awards conversations this season, including Most Improved and DPOY.
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