Through eight games, the 2026 WNBA season is already delivering chaos, history, and a storyline nobody predicted. The reigning champions are drowning at 2-7. A rookie is dragging the league’s best team to a 6-2 record without its franchise player. An expansion team built on castoffs and late-round picks just went 3-1 in Week 3. And Caitlin Clark, in a single game she could barely shoot straight in, became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career points and 500 career assists simultaneously.
The WNBA’s 30th anniversary season, turbocharged by a landmark new CBA that tied player salaries directly to league revenue for the first time, was always going to be different. Two new franchises — the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo — are playing their inaugural games. Roster upheaval is everywhere. And the talent is concentrated in ways that make every matchup feel consequential.
These are the power rankings through May 29, 2026. Buckle in.
1. Minnesota Lynx (6-2) — Up from No. 5
Here is the most stunning sentence in the WNBA right now: the Minnesota Lynx are the league’s best team, and Napheesa Collier has not played a single minute.
Collier, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and the franchise’s $1.4 million supermax signee — and one half of the reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year pairing alongside A’ja Wilson — tore three ligaments and a muscle in her left ankle during last year’s semifinals against Phoenix. She had two surgeries this offseason — the second in March — and she is not expected to return to on-court activities until early June at the earliest. The Lynx have done this without her.
The engine of their run is No. 2 overall pick Olivia Miles, who is averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game with a +66 net rating that leads the league. She is one of only two players in the WNBA averaging 15-5-5 this season. Natasha Howard is playing like a legitimate star at power forward, posting 17.0 PPG and 8.3 RPG on a stunning 66.7 percent from the field. Veteran contributors Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams fill the gaps.
Minnesota went 2-0 in Week 3, beating Atlanta 96-81 and then thumping Chicago 75-58. Their biggest structural weakness — center depth once you get past Howard and backup Emese Hof — evaporates the moment Collier walks back into the arena. When that happens, the rest of the league has a real problem.
2. Golden State Valkyries (5-2) — Up from No. 3
The Valkyries went 2-0 in Week 3 and announced themselves as a legitimate threat with two performances that could not have been more different. They demolished Connecticut 97-70 on May 25, then ground out a nervy 90-88 road win over Indiana two days later in what may be the signature game of the young season.
Veronica Burton was extraordinary against the Fever. The 2025 Most Improved Award winner finished with 25 points and a career-high five blocks — the first 20-point, 5-block performance in Valkyries franchise history. She is averaging 15.9 points and 5.9 assists per game with a +59 net rating, and she is making the case that her award last season was only the beginning.
Gabby Williams added 19 points and 6 assists in the Indiana win. Janelle Salaün contributed 19 points off the bench. This is a deep, disciplined team built to win close games. Their next test is the biggest one yet: at Las Vegas on May 31, a matchup that will define the Western Conference narrative for weeks to come.
3. Atlanta Dream (5-2) — Up from No. 4
Atlanta dropped their first notable game of the season — a 96-81 loss at Minnesota on May 27 — but immediately showed their character by going into Portland two days later and winning 86-66. The Dream are a legitimate contender, and they may be the East’s best team when they are healthy.
Allisha Gray is an MVP candidate averaging 21.7 points per game on nearly 47 percent shooting with a +27 net rating. After Gray’s big week, teammate Rhyne Howard — who earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the fourth time in her career — drew a remarkable endorsement: “She’s going to prove why she’s the best player in this league.” Angel Reese bounced back from a difficult stretch with an 18-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist performance in the Portland win, though concerns remain about her 40.3 field goal percentage and turnover rate.
The loss of Brionna Jones to a torn right meniscus leaves Atlanta thin in the frontcourt, and that will matter in June. But the offensive talent on this roster is genuinely special.
4. Dallas Wings (5-3) — Up from No. 6
Dallas handed Las Vegas back-to-back losses on the season — a remarkable achievement against the team that entered Week 3 as the top-ranked squad in the league. They beat the Aces 95-87 on May 28, outscoring Las Vegas 50-34 in the second half in a performance that exposed real defensive and depth concerns for the reigning conference powers.
The Wings are getting contributions from everywhere. No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd made her first career start in that game and scored 22 points in a performance that announced her arrival. Paige Bueckers added 24 points and 6 assists. And Jessica Shepard posted the second triple-double in WNBA history with those specific numbers — 22 points, 20 rebounds (a career high), and 10 assists — while leading the entire WNBA in rebounds at 11.4 per game.
The five wins Dallas owns include victories over Las Vegas (twice), New York, Indiana, and Chicago. That is five opponents who are all above .500. This team is the real thing.
5. Indiana Fever (4-3) — Up from No. 8
Indiana went 1-1 in Week 3, but the game they lost produced one of the most electric moments of the WNBA’s 30th season. With just her third assist of the second quarter against Golden State on May 28, Caitlin Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career points and 500 career assists — accomplishing both in just 59 games. Sue Bird had previously held the mark at 82 games.
The cruel irony is that Clark shot 3-for-12 from the field in that loss. She is averaging 22.5 points and a league-leading 8.5 assists per game on the season, and the Fever lead the entire WNBA in scoring at 93.7 points per game. The problem is defense. Indiana ranks fourth in defensive rating (102.9), and against playoff-caliber opponents in close games, that gap is being exposed. Coach Stephanie White has work to do on that end before the season deepens. The WNBA also issued Indiana a formal warning this week for failing to properly disclose Clark’s back injury on the injury report in Week 2.
Kelsey Mitchell is averaging 21.1 points per game and giving the Fever a legitimate second scoring option. The talent is undeniable. But great teams win games they are not supposed to, and right now Indiana is still losing the close ones.
6. Las Vegas Aces (4-3) — Down from No. 1
The Aces entered Week 3 as the top team in these rankings. They ended it having dropped two straight, been outscored 50-34 in a second half against Dallas, and watching Arike Ogunbowale leave a game early with illness while the rest of their depth struggled to compensate.
A’ja Wilson remains one of the two or three best players on the planet. She is averaging 24.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game on 52.5 percent shooting, and her 64.3 percent mark from three-point range is historically remarkable for a player of her size. She is a frontrunner for MVP — and the reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside Minnesota’s Alanna Smith. Chelsea Gray is averaging 6.6 assists per game, third in the league. Chennedy Carter is contributing 19.1 points per night.
But this team has a vulnerability, and Dallas found it twice. If Golden State beats them on May 31, Las Vegas will have lost three straight and will have serious questions to answer about their championship viability. That game cannot come soon enough.
7. Los Angeles Sparks (4-3) — Up from No. 11
The biggest mover in the top half of these rankings, Los Angeles has won three consecutive games and climbed from No. 11 on the back of one of the most dazzling individual performances in the league. Kelsey Plum leads the entire WNBA in scoring at 26.8 points per game while shooting 58.9 percent from the field and 48.8 percent from three. She is also averaging 6.3 assists per game. She reportedly played through an ankle sprain to do it.
The Sparks beat Washington 92-87 in their lone Week 3 game. Dearica Hamby is averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, and Nneka Ogwumike provides veteran presence and versatility. The concern is a reported -8 net rating when Plum is not playing at full capacity — this team lives and dies with her. But when she is going, nobody in the league can stop her right now.
8. New York Liberty (5-4) — Holding
The Liberty were supposed to be the East’s dominant force. Instead they spent the first three weeks of the season managing a rotation of injuries that kept most of their best players off the floor for large stretches. Sabrina Ionescu missed the first five games with a preseason foot injury. Satou Sabally missed multiple games after suffering a concussion in last year’s Finals rematch and dealing with subsequent illness. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was on personal leave. Leonie Fiebich only made her 2026 debut on May 27.
Through all of it, Breanna Stewart has been the Liberty’s only constant — averaging 20.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game with a +23 net rating. She has kept this team competitive almost singlehandedly at times.
The good news: New York snapped a three-game losing streak — their longest since 2022 — with back-to-back wins over Phoenix, including one that featured a 23-0 third-quarter run. For the first time this season, they entered this week with a healthy roster. Now they need to make up for lost time.
9. Portland Fire (5-4) — Up from No. 13 (Biggest Riser)
The Portland Fire are the best story of the 2026 season, and it is not close.
Built from an expansion draft, free agency, and late-round picks, led by coach Alex Sarama — who previously held positions with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Rip City Remix (Portland Trail Blazers G League affiliate), and the London Lions before taking the helm in Portland — the Fire went 3-1 in Week 3, with wins over New York (twice), Connecticut, and Atlanta. They closed out the Connecticut game with a 21-6 run. They played the Dream close before falling 86-66. They beat established franchises with a roster that most people did not take seriously four months ago.
Carla Leite scored 20 points against Connecticut. Bridget Carleton contributed 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Veteran center Megan Gustafson anchors the frontcourt. The system is built on read-and-react basketball, ball movement, and collective defense. It is working. Portland now hosts Indiana and Atlanta in what will be two of the most important home games in franchise history — and this franchise is only a few months old.
10. Toronto Tempo (4-4) — Holding
Canada’s first WNBA franchise is finding its footing. The Tempo went 1-1 in Week 3 — absorbing a brutal 100-72 blowout loss to Minnesota before responding with a wild 111-104 win over Chicago in a game that showcased both their offensive ceiling and their defensive limitations.
Brittney Sykes is averaging 20.5 points per game on 90.8 percent from the free-throw line and is clearly the team’s star. Marina Mabrey runs the backcourt alongside her. Kia Nurse has been a quality contributor since signing with Toronto in April 2026. The Tempo’s assist numbers are strong, with their point guards ranking fourth in the league in that category.
The problem is the frontcourt. Nyara Sabally, Temi Fagbenle, and Isabelle Harrison have all missed time with injuries. When those players return healthy in June, this team’s ceiling rises considerably. For now, they are a .500 expansion team with star power and structural concerns. That is not a bad place to be in Week 3 of your existence.
11. Washington Mystics (3-4) — Holding
Washington exceeded expectations in Week 3, going 2-1 with a road win over Seattle that featured Shakira Austin going for 18 points and 13 rebounds. This is a young team that is learning how to win and doing it faster than most people expected.
Sonia Citron is averaging 20.0 points per game in a genuine sophomore breakout. Kiki Iriafen is averaging 10.7 rebounds per game, third in the league. Austin chips in 8.5 boards per night of her own. The Mystics do not have a superstar, but they have a collection of talented young players who are outperforming their preseason projections. They will be a fascinating team to watch as the schedule stiffens.
12. Chicago Sky (3-5) — Down from No. 8
Chicago entered the season with genuine optimism. They have lost four consecutive games and are dealing with a wound that will not heal: the season-ending ACL tear suffered by Rickea Jackson, who was supposed to be the team’s critical third scoring option.
Skylar Diggins is averaging 6.0 assists per game and providing veteran leadership. Kamilla Cardoso is pulling down 9.1 rebounds per night. Rookie Gabriella Jaquez has flashed ability but is managing knee issues and has been asked to fill a void that is too large for a first-year player. The Sky went 0-2 in Week 3, losing to Toronto and Minnesota.
This team has the bones to compete. But without Jackson, the offensive ceiling is simply not high enough to keep pace with the East’s better teams over a full season.
13. Seattle Storm (3-5) — Holding
Seattle is a team defined by its injury report right now. Dominique Malonga, the player who gives the Storm a legitimate frontcourt anchor and two-way threat, remains in concussion protocol. Her return is the single most important variable in determining what Seattle’s ceiling actually is this season.
Flau’jae Johnson has been electric off the bench, posting 17 points in recent wins. No. 3 overall pick Awa Fam showed flashes of her potential in her debut two weeks ago, scoring 10 points. The Storm are guard-heavy, fast, and shoot a high volume of threes. They have the personnel to be a playoff team. They just need Malonga back and healthy. They lost to Washington 64-78 in their lone Week 3 game.
14. Phoenix Mercury (2-7) — Falling
Six months ago, Phoenix was hoisting the WNBA championship trophy. Today they are 2-7 and in genuine crisis.
The Mercury lost both of their Week 3 games to New York. In the first, the Liberty went on a 23-0 third-quarter run to blow the game open. Alyssa Thomas continues to be extraordinary — averaging 16.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game with a +7 net rating, a genuine two-way force — but she cannot carry this team alone. Kahleah Copper is averaging 18.8 points per game while shooting 34.3 percent from the field, which is one of the most historically inefficient volume-scoring lines in recent WNBA memory. Her -29 net rating tells the full story.
Phoenix was supposed to be defending champions anchoring the Western Conference. Instead they are looking at an increasingly closed window for the Commissioner’s Cup and a schedule that does not get easier. Something needs to change. The question is what.
15. Connecticut Sun (1-8) — Last
Connecticut is the league’s most confounding team. They have the skeleton of a competitive roster, and yet they cannot sustain a full 40-minute effort against anyone. They were blown out by Golden State 97-70 on May 25, then lost to Portland 61-71 two days later — a game they led for stretches before collapsing down the stretch.
The front office made a decisive move this week, waiving Hailey Van Lith and activating Leila Lacan in a clear sign that the roster construction of Opening Night is no longer the answer. Aneesah Morrow is averaging 9.7 rebounds per game — fourth in the league — and is their one reliably excellent performer. Aaliyah Edwards, the first Canadian player to suit up for the franchise after arriving via trade from Washington in 2025, has yet to provide the consistent spark the Sun need in the backcourt. The opening-night starting lineup combined for just 18 points in their first game of the season, a number that, in hindsight, may have told us everything we needed to know.
More roster moves are coming. They have to be.
Statistical Leaders Through Week 3
Scoring
- Kelsey Plum, LA Sparks — 26.8 PPG
- A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces — 24.3 PPG
- Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever — 22.5 PPG
- Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream — 21.7 PPG
- Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever — 21.1 PPG
Assists
- Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever — 8.5 APG
- Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury — 8.1 APG
- Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces — 6.6 APG
- Jordin Canada, Toronto Tempo — 6.8 APG
- Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings — 6.5 APG
Rebounds
- Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings — 11.4 RPG
- Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream — 10.8 RPG
- Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics — 10.7 RPG
- Aneesah Morrow, Connecticut Sun — 9.7 RPG
- Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky — 9.1 RPG
Five Storylines to Watch in Week 4
1. Napheesa Collier’s Return
She is targeting early June. When she gets back, Minnesota — already the league’s best team — adds a two-time Olympic gold medalist and reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year to a lineup that is already rolling. The Lynx do not just become better; they become the clear and obvious favorite in the Western Conference.
2. Las Vegas vs. Golden State — May 31
This is the most important game of the young season. If the Aces lose, they will have lost three consecutive games and will be looking up at two teams — Minnesota and Golden State — in the Western Conference standings. If Golden State wins, they may be the best team in the West not named Minnesota. Do not miss this one.
3. Can Indiana’s Defense Catch Up to Its Offense?
The Fever lead the league at 93.7 points per game and have an MVP-caliber point guard setting records on a weekly basis. But ranking fourth in defensive rating (102.9) leaves real room for improvement, and against elite playoff-caliber opponents, that gap is already being exposed. Stephanie White needs to find answers before the schedule turns brutal.
4. Azzi Fudd’s Development
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft scored 22 points in her first career start. That is a statement. How quickly can she build on that performance and cement herself as a legitimate third option alongside Bueckers and Shepard? Dallas’s ceiling rises significantly if Fudd is what her draft position suggests she can be.
5. Portland’s Home Stand — and Phoenix’s Reality Check
The Fire host Indiana and Atlanta in what are the two biggest home games in their brief franchise history. And somewhere across the country, the Phoenix Mercury need to look hard at how a championship team became a 2-7 mess in six months and figure out what comes next. The WNBA’s 30th season promised drama. So far, it has delivered on every count.