WNBA Power Rankings: NY Liberty Light the Way

A

The 2025 WNBA season is filled with new faces, stories and even a new team in the Golden State Valkyries. The champion New York Liberty still look to be a titan after a dominant start, but their Finals opponent from the previous season, the Minnesota Lynx, has matched that historic start with one of their own.

Elsewhere in the league, the Las Vegas Aces are hoping the hit the jackpot and make it back to the top of the mountain, while the refreshed Phoenix Mercury are surprising the league with their entirely renewed roster. Fans of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are waiting with baited breath while the superstar guard battles back from a calf injury.

Here’s a look at where all 13 WNBA teams are standing this week.

A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty wait for a Liberty player to shoot a free throw in the second quarter of their game at Michelob…


Ethan Miller/Getty Images

13. Connecticut Sun (1-6)

Upcoming: WAS (6/8)

The rebuilding Sun eked out their first win of the season against an injured Indiana Fever team and then lost in historic fashion two days later, falling 100-58 to the champion New York Liberty. Not only can Connecticut not put the ball in the bucket, its defense looks like a black hole, not one that swallows up the opposition. They’ve lost by at least 20 points in four of their six losses.

12. Dallas Wings (1-7)

Upcoming: MIN (6/8), PHX (6/11), LVA (6/13)

Though the season has been off to a rough start for the Wings, their number one pick, Paige Bueckers, should be making her return from concussion protocol soon. Her double-digit scoring numbers should help alleviate the burden on Arike Ogunbowale, who is averaging a career-low 16.1 points to start the season and was held to single digits by the Seattle Storm, marking her third such game of the young season.

11. Golden State Valkyries (2-5)

Upcoming: LAS (6/9), SEA (6/14)

The Golden State Valkyries’ record looks worse than it actually is, especially for the team’s inaugural season. The veteran-laced squad kicked off the season with back-to-back wins against rebuilding a rebuilding Mystics squad and a retooling Sparks team, but then ran into a buzz saw of the league’s most elite teams, including back-to-back games against the champion New York Liberty.

Among the bright spots for the team is undrafted rookie Janelle Salaün, who starred during the 2024 Summer Olympics with the Parisian national team.

10. Los Angeles Sparks (2-6)

Upcoming: GSV (6/9), LVA (6/11), MIN (6/14)

Sparks are not flying in Hollywood with the Kelsey Plum- and Dearica Hamby-led squad on a three-game losing streak, including a breakdown against Phoenix that saw them squander an 18-point first-half lead.

The Sparks have been without key contributors in all-rookie selection Rickea Jackson and Rae Burrell, who were poised to make a larger impact this season. That’s not to mention last year’s number two pick, Cameron Brink, who is still working her way back to the court after tearing her ACL last season.

9. Chicago Sky (2-4)

Upcoming: NYL (6/10), ATL (6/13)

The sky is looking a bit gloomy and gray for the team in the Windy City.

Despite reshuffling the deck to add more of a perimeter scoring punch to alleviate spacing issues from their skyscraper duo of Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese and to take advantage of the latter’s passing ability, things just haven’t come together for the new offensive scheme. The Sky is one of the most turnover-prone teams in the league despite having the cool hand of Courtney Vandersloot controlling the tempo.

8. Washington Mystics (3-6)

Upcoming: CON (6/8)

Though they have lost three games in a row, a team starting two rookies shouldn’t be this competitive. Though they might not score as much as other teams, Brittney Sykes has taken on a larger role and spiked her scoring averages while remaining one of the most dogged defenders in the league. She’s also a major factor in why the Mystics are among the top teams in free-throw attempts. Even if they may not put as many points on the board as other teams, they’re relentless on the boards thanks to rookie of the month Kiki Iriafen’s unstoppable motor.

Her fellow rookie draft pick, Sonia Citron, is no slouch either, with the duo comprising half of the 2025 rookie class scoring in double figures this season.

7. Indiana Fever (3-4)

Upcoming: ATL (6/10), NYL (6/14)

The Indiana Fever had quite an offseason, bringing in a new coach and a slew of new players, including the WNBA’s third-leading scorer, DeWanna Bonner, and flamethrower Sophie Cunningham to build around the electric Caitlin Clark. The hype for the season was quickly tempered by an injury to Clark’s quad that has sidelined the rangy point guard for multiple games.

Though Clark may be out, the Fever still have a talented squad that can put up buckets in a hurry. Aliyah Boston leads the league in field-goal percentage, effortlessly scoring at the rim while Lexie Hull is the league’s most accurate sniper so far this season, dropping in more than 55 percent of her triples.

6. Seattle Storm (4-4)

Upcoming: MIN (6/11), GSV (6/14)

The veteran-laden Seattle squad competes nightly and has one of the strongest defenses in the league, buoyed by Ezi Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike is one of the most reliable players in the league, rarely taking bad shots while taking on a lion’s share on the defensive end. They’re a great passing team as well, but the absence of Jewell Loyd is a glaring loss for the team that’s ninth in the league in points per game.

5. Las Vegas Aces (4-2)

Upcoming: LAS (6/11), DAL (6/13)

The Las Vegas Aces are looking to cash in and no one holds more chips than A’ja Wilson. Since getting her signature sneaker, the Nike A’One, in the offseason, Wilson has led the Aces in every major statistical category, even assists. Even though Wilson is one of the greatest on the court, she still has an improved supporting cast this season, including newly acquired Jewell Loyd, who has yet to consistently find her footing and scoring touch with her new team.

4. Phoenix Mercury (6-3)

Upcoming: DAL (6/11)

It’s going to be a hot season in Phoenix. The team underwent a massive shift after Diana Taurasi’s retirement and the loss of Brittney Griner. Instead of undergoing a rebuild, Phoenix brought in a new offensive engine in Alyssa Thomas and unicorn Satou Sabally in a massive four-team trade.

Thomas saw several deep playoff runs with Connecticut but could never get over the hump because of the team’s lack of outside scoring, but that shouldn’t be a problem with Phoenix as they scoured the globe to bring in complimentary shooters for Thomas’ downhill passing game. The former Maryland Terrapin has been out with a calf injury, leaving Sabally to lead the way, with the German Olympian showing off her stat-sheet-stuffing skills in her absence.

It’s also worth noting that the Mercury are hot even without one of the league’s leading scorers, Kahleah Copper, suiting up.

3. Atlanta Dream (5-2)

Upcoming: IND (6/10), CHI (6/13)

After a nightmare season last year, Atlanta is living the dream with their renewed roster.

After adding all-stars in Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner in the offseason, the Dream have solidified themselves as one of the most formidable teams in the WNBA. Rhyne Howard is one of the league’s most versatile players, able to score at all levels and lock down opposing players. Her flashy game perfectly complements that of Allisha Gray, the WNBA Eastern Conference player of the month. Gray, one of the most well-rounded players in the league as evidenced by winning the 3-point contest and skills challenge during last year’s All-Star festivities, lets her game do all the talking.

2. Minnesota Lynx (8-0)

Upcoming: DAL (6/8), SEA (6/11), LAS (6/14)

After a disappointing finals loss to the New York Liberty last year, the Minnesota Lynx are back in the hunt after bringing back most of their team. Napheesa Collier has once again elevated her game to another level this season, leading the league in scoring while still playing her trademark staunch defense.

Minnesota is still equipped with some of the most multifaceted players in the WNBA, like sharpshooters Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton, and lockdown defender Alanna Smith, who is second in the league in blocks.

1. New York Liberty (8-0)

Upcoming: CHI (6/10), IND (6/14)

The New York Liberty are already in championship form. They’ve gotten off to an 8-0 start, their best start since the league’s inaugural season in 1997. Their core is as dangerous as ever, with Breanna Stewart looking like an MVP candidate to start the season.

New York’s 3-point attack is still paramount, with the team having two of the season’s most accurate shooters so far in Leonie Fiebich and Kennedy Burke. Sabrina Ionescu just became the franchise’s career 3-point leader with her dynamic off-the-dribble scoring. The champs might need their depth to step up after Jonquel Jones went down with an ankle injury in the matchup against the Washington Mystics.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *