Minnesota's rise to the top of the WNBA was easy to dismiss at first. The Lynx held a 7-2 record, but they had mostly built it off the weakest teams in the league. Beating Chicago and Phoenix twice is certainly better than losing, but both the Sky and the Mercury are a mess.
Beating them did not prove anything. Beating Atlanta and Golden State did.
The Dream and the Valkyries both look like playoff squads, and the Lynx handled both, besting Atlanta by 15 and escaping Golden State by three. Minnesota now leads the Western Conference at 8-2, and the Lynx have lost just 22 games over their past three seasons.
It is time to take Minnesota seriously. And if the Lynx can win their next two, they will set up a marquee matchup with Las Vegas for Western supremacy.
Here is a look at the WNBA power rankings.
1. Minnesota Lynx
The most impressive thing about Minnesota might be how the Lynx are getting contributions from across the roster. Over the past six wins, five different players have led the team in scoring.
They do, however, need more consistent shooting from Courtney Williams. When she has shot better than 50 percent, Minnesota has rolled over its opposition. When she falls below that metric, the Lynx have found themselves in tight spots. But even when she has a relatively quiet game, someone like Olivia Miles or Natasha Howard steps up to fill the void.
That is the mark of a potential championship team.
2. Dallas Wings
The Wings have come together. Dallas, which held the No. 1 pick last year, looks like a true contender in 2026. They won three straight, crushing Seattle at home and picking up an impressive road win over Las Vegas.
For the year, Dallas has only lost three times, and all have come against upper-echelon opponents. After beating Seattle by 23, Paige Bueckers said she thought all the fans should have gotten their money back because neither team played well. That speaks to how much higher the standards are in Dallas than they have been in recent years.
3. Las Vegas Aces
The Aces have played just two home games, losing them both, yet they still own one of the best records in the league. That is a testament to what Vegas has on its roster, and it is why the Aces will be in the mix all season long.
They are asking a bit too much of A'ja Wilson, who has posted three double-doubles in the past four games. Wilson is talented enough to handle that load temporarily, but Las Vegas needs more from further down the bench to avoid wearing her out.
4. Atlanta Dream
The Dream have arguably been the best team in the East this year. Atlanta stumbled twice in its past four games, though. Losing to Minnesota was understandable given how well the Lynx are playing. Falling to Indiana was not.
Atlanta needs its defense in top shape to win games. The Dream have allowed 80 points or more in both of their losses, and only once did they surrender that many in a victory. Angel Reese's presence makes the defense better, and the rest of the Dream must follow her lead.
5. New York Liberty
It was only Phoenix and Toronto, but it is still a three-game surge. New York has not really found the consistency that championship teams require, and while the Liberty still have plenty of talent, it has not translated into the kind of steady performance needed to break into the league's highest tier.
New York has a couple of big games coming against Indiana and Atlanta. Getting at least a split from those matchups would signal the Liberty are moving in the right direction.
6. Golden State Valkyries
The Valkyries were clipped by Minnesota, but their defense has mostly played well. Golden State was one of the WNBA's surprises a year ago and has carried that momentum into year two.
The defense has slipped a little over the past three games, though that is likely a product of facing Minnesota and Las Vegas back to back. Golden State still boasts the third-best defense in the league, and that remains the foundation of everything they do.
7. Portland Fire
The Fire's collection of castoffs is proving to be a solid basketball team. Portland has now won four of its past six games, with the two losses coming against Atlanta and Golden State.
Expansion outfits are always graded on a curve, but the Fire are in a position to think bigger. Portland is demonstrating that this league is full of players who simply needed an opportunity, and they are making the most of theirs.
8. Indiana Fever
Indiana has made Gainbridge Fieldhouse into a fortress. The Fever have only played three road games and lost two of them, and three of their next four are away from home. That stretch will show whether this group is a genuine contender or simply a product of its friendly surroundings.
If Indiana is going to make real noise, it has to fix the defense. The Fever can score with anyone, but they currently give up the fourth-most points in the league.
9. Toronto Tempo
What started as a promising week for Toronto turned sour quickly. The Tempo lost by 15 in New York, then learned that Kiki Rice is dealing with a Grade 2 ankle sprain.
Toronto has been competitive throughout their expansion campaign, which already exceeded expectations. But there will be an anxious wait ahead as the organization figures out how long Rice will be sidelined.
10. Los Angeles Sparks
There is good news and bad news for the Sparks. Kelsey Plum appears close to returning to the floor, which is welcome. The bad news is that Los Angeles has dropped back-to-back games.
The Sparks' defense actually played well against Las Vegas last time out. The trouble was the offense going cold, with the shooting at just 31 percent. If Los Angeles can pair its usual offensive output with the defensive effort it showed against Vegas, better results should follow.
11. Washington Mystics
With a young roster, inconsistency comes with the territory. Washington has split its eight games evenly, and the Mystics have actually been better away from home, picking up three of their four wins on the road.
Their victory over Chicago last time out was Washington's first home win, and the 18-point margin was an encouraging sign. Handling a lesser opponent convincingly is an important developmental step for a team still finding its footing.
12. Phoenix Mercury
The losing streak is over. Phoenix ended a six-game skid by beating Seattle, and the Mercury have actually been competitive in more games than the record suggests. The one real disaster came against Minnesota, but that game appears to have served as a wake-up call. If Phoenix can survive a four-game road trip, there is still time to salvage the early part of the season.
13. Chicago Sky
Only one of the Sky's past five losses has come by fewer than 10 points. The last two defeats came by margins of 19 and 18, and relief does not appear to be on the horizon. With Connecticut up next, Chicago badly needs a win.
14. Connecticut Sun
The Sun were always going to be a distracted team in their final season in Connecticut, and the results reflect it. The Sun are just 2-9, scoring fewer points than anyone else in the league. The loss to Atlanta made it four defeats in five games, all by double digits.
15. Seattle Storm
Snapping Phoenix's six-game skid capped off a miserable four-game stretch for Seattle. Outside of one win over the Mystics, the Storm have only managed to beat Connecticut this season. It is shaping up to be a long, difficult year in the Pacific Northwest.
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