We're at the end of the line for ESPN's weekly WNBA Power Rankings. The regular season concludes Thursday. The playoffs begin Sunday for eight teams, and the other seven look toward the offseason. And for the Connecticut Sun, there is a move south to Houston and name change to the Comets.
It's an exciting finish because playoff seeding is still not wrapped up. While that plays out, in these last Power Rankings we will look at the best thing that happened this season for each team.
Every franchise had some positive developments, some of which could be building blocks for 2027.
1. Golden State Valkyries (31-11)
Previous ranking: 1
Rest of the regular season: @ POR (Sept. 22), @ LA (Sept. 24)
The Valkyries' addition of versatile forward Gabby Williams in free agency was a key part of their improvement from the No. 8 seed in their 2025 inaugural season to a No. 1 or 2 seed this year. Williams, whose defensive prowess goes back to her days at UConn, was the perfect fit for the WNBA's top defense in 2026. She also leads Golden State in scoring (14.3 PPG). The Valkyries beat Portland 82-66 and Seattle 70-57 last week to cross the 30-win threshold and secure home-court advantage in the first round.
2. Minnesota Lynx (32-10)
Previous ranking: 2
Rest of the regular season: @ IND (Sept. 22), vs. IND (Sept. 24)
Last year, the Lynx needed a point guard, and they got a great one with No. 2 pick Olivia Miles. She clicked with coach Cheryl Reeve, who trusted Miles to quarterback the offense, and Miles is now a lock for the Rookie of the Year award, averaging team highs of 19.8 points and 6.0 assists. But despite owning the league's best record going into their last two games, the Lynx haven't been as sharp as hoped while closing out the season. They lost their two games before the FIBA World Cup break, then their first game after it: 93-81 to New York at home Friday. Minnesota then pounded Connecticut 101-89 Sunday but will finish with back-to-back games against Indiana, which is fighting for a better playoff seed.
3. Las Vegas Aces (29-13)
Previous ranking: 3
Rest of the regular season: vs. LA (Sept. 22), @ PHO (Sept. 24)
The best part of 2026 for the Aces has been that their big three -- A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray -- is still going strong in its sixth season together. In today's pro sports world, how often does a trio of stars get that much time as a unit? The defending champion Aces haven't had the extreme highs and lows of last year's regular season, but they will end up with a similar record and momentum heading into the playoffs. Wilson and Young combined for 117 points, 19 rebounds and 22 assists in two blowout wins over Seattle this past week, 114-77 Thursday and 98-77 Sunday, and Wilson appears on her way to her fifth MVP award.
4. Atlanta Dream (29-14)
Previous ranking: 5
Rest of the regular season: @ NY (Sept. 23)
The Dream's offense is on fire. This past week, Atlanta beat Connecticut 103-59, Chicago 106-81 and New York 95-84, moving closer to securing a top-four playoff seed. The best thing that happened for this team -- and a big reason for that success -- was obtaining Angel Reese in a trade with Chicago. The Dream have relied heavily on Reese to replace two of their top rebounders from last season: Brionna Jones, who was limited to nine games by leg injuries, and Brittney Griner, who signed with Connecticut. Reese is leading the WNBA in rebounding average (12.3 per game) for the third season in a row.
5. New York Liberty (26-17)
Previous ranking: 6
Rest of the regular season: vs. ATL (Sept. 23)
The Liberty got a confidence boost with a 93-81 win at Minnesota on Friday, then followed that with a 106-69 blowout of Toronto on Sunday. But Monday's 95-84 loss at home to Atlanta ended the Liberty's chances of being a top-four seed. With prized free agent Satou Sabally limited to 13 games because of concussion issues, this hasn't been the season the Liberty were hoping for -- although it still could be with a strong playoff run. But one bright spot was the emergence of French rookie guard Pauline Astier, who has started 38 games and averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 assists.
6. Washington Mystics (26-16)
Previous ranking: 8
Rest of the regular season: vs. CON (Sept. 22), vs. CHI (Sept. 24)
Being the WNBA's youngest team has been no impediment for the Mystics, who are back in the playoffs after a two-year absence. The highlight has been the play of center Shakira Austin, the No. 3 draft pick in 2022, who fully realized her potential this season. She is averaging career highs in points (17.2), rebounds (9.4) and assists (2.6). The Mystics returned from the World Cup break with two road victories: 110-80 at Chicago on Thursday and 93-77 at Indiana on Sunday. Washington has gone 14-4 since July 20 and has become a team to watch in the playoffs.
7. Indiana Fever (27-15)
Previous ranking: 6
Rest of the regular season: vs. MIN (Sept. 22), @ MIN (Sept. 24)
Having a healthy Caitlin Clark back after she was limited by injuries to 13 games in 2025 has been the best part of the season for Indiana. Not just for all she does and the excitement she brings but how well the backcourt of Clark (22.7 PPG, 8.4 APG) and Kelsey Mitchell (25.1 PPG) plays together. They've been the engine powering the Fever all season, with Indiana hitting the 100-point mark a record 20 times. But when the offense is off, Indiana is in trouble, and such was the case Sunday in a 93-77 loss to Washington. Now the Fever finish their season with two games against the Lynx, still fighting for seeding.
8. Dallas Wings (26-17)
Previous ranking: 7
Rest of the regular season: @ SEA (Sept. 23)
With victories this past week against Los Angeles (97-77) and Phoenix (87-82), the Wings had won six in a row. But on Monday, they let a 14-point lead slip away in an 87-86 loss at Phoenix. Still, Dallas is headed back to the playoffs after a two-year absence. While everyone expected another great year from Paige Bueckers, Jessica Shepard has been a game changer in her first season with the Wings. A candidate for most improved player, she is averaging 14.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
9. Los Angeles Sparks (16-26)
Previous ranking: 10
Rest of the regular season: @ LV (Sept. 22), vs. GS (Sept. 24)
It's a sad end to the season for L.A., as Nneka Ogwumike will retire and the Sparks will miss the playoffs for the sixth year in a row. Ogwumike is finishing a Hall of Fame career on a high note, as she led the Sparks in scoring, rebounding and assists in their two games last week: a 97-77 loss at Dallas and a 105-84 win over Portland. The season's biggest positive was the development of younger players such as Rae Burrell, who will be a restricted free agent in 2027, and Cameron Brink, who will be on the last year of her rookie contract in 2027. Both could be an important part of the Sparks' next chapter; a new general manager, Ariana Andonian, will try to get the three-time champion franchise back on track.
10. Phoenix Mercury (16-27)
Previous ranking: 11
Rest of the regular season: vs. LV (Sept. 24)
The Mercury, who made the WNBA Finals last season, won't be going to the playoffs -- but they are still battling until the end. After beating Portland 94-91 on Thursday, they fell at Dallas 87-82 on Saturday. But then Phoenix won 87-86 in the rematch with the Wings on Monday at home, led by Kahleah Copper's 31 points. She has been the best part of a disappointing season for Phoenix, as she averaged a career-high 21.6 points.
11. Portland Fire (16-27)
Previous ranking: 9
Rest of the regular season: vs. GS (Sept. 22)
Golden State making the playoffs in its first season last year was the exception. The rule is that expansion teams must get their feet under them before they can compete for the postseason. Based on that timeline, Portland has had a promising first season, though the end hasn't been as strong. The Fire fell in their three games this past week -- to Phoenix (94-91), Golden State (82-66) and Los Angeles (105-84) -- and have lost seven of their past eight. The brightest spot for Portland this season was French guard Carla Leite, its second pick in the expansion draft. Just 22 and in her second WNBA season, Leite led the Fire in scoring (16.0 per game) and assists (6.3).
12. Chicago Sky (15-27)
Previous ranking: 12
Rest of the regular season: vs. TOR (Sept. 22), @ WAS (Sept. 24)
The Sky, who lost 110-80 to Washington and 106-81 to Atlanta last week, will miss the playoffs for the third year in a row and remain a franchise looking for its identity. Before the season, Chicago traded Angel Reese to Atlanta, a move that didn't sit well with many of the team's fans. The Sky also obtained Rickea Jackson in a trade with Los Angeles, but she played just four games before an ACL injury ended her season. One of their big free agent signings, Skylar Diggins, was limited to 19 games by injury. One of the gold nuggets of the season was signing guard Sydney Taylor, who went undrafted in 2024 when her college career ended. She has averaged 13.4 points as a rookie and hit some big shots in Sky victories.
13. Connecticut Sun (10-32)
Previous ranking: 13
Rest of the regular season: @ WAS (Sept. 22), vs. TOR (Sept. 24)
The Sun will end their chapter in the WNBA on Thursday. League followers should not forget how important the Mohegan Tribe's stewardship was when it became the league's first independent owners in 2003, taking over the short-lived Orlando Miracle. It kept the league from losing that franchise altogether, which is what happened five years later to the Houston Comets. Next year, the Sun will leave Uncasville, Connecticut -- a small town the WNBA outgrew -- for Houston and revive the Comets. Last week, Connecticut fell 103-59 at Atlanta and 101-89 at home to Minnesota. Despite those blowouts, the best part of 2026 for the Sun was that they didn't just mail in the season. They still reached double-digit victories and will not finish last. They say goodbye to the Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday, and we'll watch to see what this franchise looks like next year.
14. Seattle Storm (8-35)
Previous ranking: 14
Rest of the regular season: vs. DAL (Sept. 23)
The Storm knew this season would be about developing young players under a new coaching system. Seattle, which lost twice last week, will finish with the league's worst record but ahead of Toronto for the second-to-last spot in the Power Rankings thanks to a small edge: The Storm have won three games since the start of July to the Tempo's two. The promise of the future is the best part of Seattle's 2026: centers Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam are both 20, and guard Flau'jae Johnson is 22. They combined to average 43.5% of the Storm's scoring this season.
15. Toronto Tempo (11-31)
Previous ranking: 15
Rest of the season: @ CHI (Sept. 22), @ CON (Sept. 24)
Toronto lost 103-85 to Indiana and 106-69 to New York last week. But the Tempo's 2026 highlight had nothing to do with their record: They made history this season as the first WNBA team outside the United States. Toronto also had a dynamic guard trio -- when those guards were healthy. Marina Mabrey was limited to 32 games and Brittney Sykes 17; they are shut down for the season. Rookie Kiki Rice has played 26 games, scoring in double figures in the past 11. Having all three at full strength and upgrading post play could make 2027 a better season for the Tempo.
