We’re three weeks into the WNBA season, and while there’s a lot of basketball left to be played, it’s time to take a look at where things thus far. The Minnesota Lynx have surprisingly been the league’s best team, but the Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings have both made massive strides. The Las Vegas Aces haven’t had the best start to the year, but they’re riding the high of winning three titles in the last four years. Here’s where all 15 teams rank in the early days.
Record: 5-2
Average point differential: +7.6
Key wins/losses: Wins over Phoenix, Dallas, Toronto, Chicago, and Atlanta; losses to Atlanta and Chicago
Under Cheryl Reeve, the Lynx only know one way, and it’s how to win. After a 2-2 start to the season, they’ve rattled off three straight victories despite several major offseason losses and Napheesa Collier’s continued sidelining. Olivia Miles has been awesome, Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride picked up where they left off, and Natasha Howard has proven to be one of the best signings of free agency.
Record: 4-3
Average point differential: +6.7
Key wins/losses: Wins over Los Angeles, Connecticut (twice), Atlanta; losses to Los Angeles, Dallas, and Phoenix
The Aces got blown out on opening night to a Phoenix team that has been very underwhelming, and they’ve benefitted from a somewhat easier schedule (two teams against the league’s worst team, the Sun). But, they put together a great game against the Dream, and regardless of how they’ve fared in the first three weeks of the season, they’ve won three titles in the last four years and have the best player in the world in A’ja Wilson.
3. Golden State Valkyries
Record: 5-2
Average point differential: +8.4
Key wins/losses: Wins over New York, Seattle, Connecticut, Indiana, and Phoenix; losses to Chicago and Indiana
The Valkyries are defensive-minded and have a roster filled with two-way players. Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams are heading the charge. Still, second-year head coach Natalie Nakase has also benefited from strong play of role players like Kaitlyn Chen, Janelle Salaun, and others.
Record: 4-2
Average point differential: +1.5
Key wins/losses: Wins over Minnesota, Dallas (twice), and Phoenix; losses to Las Vegas and Minnesota
The Dream suffered a tough loss to the Lynx on Wednesday, but have also completely shut down opposing stars and matched up really well with the Wings, for one. Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Angel Reese, Jordin Canada, and Naz Hillmon are a great starting five, and when it’s all said and done, it’s likely the Dream will be in the mix for a title.
Record: 5-3
Average point differential: +3.6
Key wins/losses: Wins over Indiana, Washington, Chicago, and New York; losses to Atlanta (twice) and Minnesota
Paige Bueckers has been fantastic, averaging 19.3 points on 52.2% shooting, including 48.3% from three. Azzi Fudd is finding her footing, and Jessica Shepard is perennially flirting with a triple-double (she’s averaging 11.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6 assists per game). The Wings’ new-look roster hasn’t meshed perfectly — Alanna Smith’s not quite the player she was under Cheryl Reeve, and Arike Ogunbowale hasn’t been particularly efficient. Still, it feels like things are trending in the right direction.
Record: 4-3
Average point differential: +5.5
Key wins/losses: Wins over Los Angeles, Seattle, Golden State, Portland; losses to Dallas and Washington
The Fever’s three losses all came in the waning seconds, and they’ve otherwise looked like a more complete team than they’ve been in years past. It will be interesting to see how they fare against other elite teams like the Lynx and the Aces, but for now, Caitlin Clark is healthy and dominant (averaging 23.8 points, 9 assists), Kelsey Mitchell is Kelsey Mitchell (tallying 22.3 points per game), and Aliyah Boston is still awesome.
Record: 5-3
Average point differential: -1.3
Key wins/losses: Wins over New York (twice), Connecticut (twice), and Toronto; losses to New York, Chicago, and Indiana
The Fire were not supposed to go 2-1 against the New York Liberty. Carla Leite was not supposed to be a clutch-time superstar. But, Portland has proven to be the latest expansion team to immediately exceed expectations, thanks to strong play from Bridget Carleton (15.3 points per game), Carla Leite (16.3 points, 4 assists per game), and Sarah Ashlee Barker (9.1 points off the bench). First-year head coach Alex Sarama has the Fire out-competing opponents every night.
Record: 4-4
Average point differential: +2.9
Key wins/losses: Wins over Washington, Phoenix, Portland, and Connecticut; losses to Golden State, Portland (twice), and Dallas
The Liberty have been very injury-riddled to begin the year, but even with that in mind, they’ve been disappointing. Satou Sabally has been limited to 15 minutes per game in three games, Sabrina Ionescu has only played one, and Leonie Fiebich just made her WNBA debut after beginning the season overseas. Rookie Pauline Austier has been a positive surprise, and Breanna Stewart is still dominant (averaging 20 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, but New York has not met expectations so far this season.
Record: 4-4
Average point differential: -2
Key wins/losses: Wins over Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Chicago; losses to Washington, Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Portland
The Tempo are a fun watch. Brittney Sykes (20.5 points, 4.4 assists) and Marina Mabrey (18.8 points, 3.5 assists) aren’t the most efficient guards in the league, but they’ve powered Toronto’s expansion team. Kiki Rice has been awesome in her rookie season, and Nyara Sabally, when healthy, has shown she can battle with the league’s best bigs.
Record: 3-3
Average point differential: -4.5
Key wins/losses: Wins over Toronto, Phoenix, and Las Vegas; losses to Las Vegas, Indiana, and Toronto
Kelsey Plum has been the WNBA’s leading scorer, and she’s out for at least a week with a sprained ankle. But after losing their first two games, the Sparks have won three of four and have begun to find a rhythm, with Cameron Brink playing some of her best basketball. Dearica Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks’ second-and third-leading scorers, will need to step up in her absence.
Record: 3-4
Average point differential: -1
Key wins/losses: Wins over Portland, Golden State, Minnesota; losses to Phoenix, Dallas, Minnesota, and Toronto
The Sky were looking like the WNBA’s surprise team. Then, Rickea Jackson, their leading scorer and big offseason acquisition, tore her ACL. Since then, they’ve lost three straight games. Sydney Taylor is fresh off a big-time game against the Tempo, and Kamilla Cardoso has been an effective No. 1 option. But, a 3-1 start to the season feels like a distant memory.
Rebuilding (or should be)
Record: 3-3
Average point differential: -3.5
Key wins/losses: Wins over Toronto, Indiana, Seattle; losses to New York, Dallas, Seattle
The Mystics have been a fun watch. Sonia Citron (17.2 points per game on 51.6% shooting) has been awesome, as has been the frontcourt of Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin. They’re the youngest team in the league, but they already have an impressive double-overtime win over the Indian Fever, and a .500 record is not a bad place to be.
Record: 3-5
Average point differential: -1.8
Key wins/losses: Wins over Washington and Connecticut (twice); losses to Toronto, Indiana, Connecticut, Golden State, and Washington
The future is bright in Seattle. Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam make up the youngest frontcourt tandem in the WNBA, and both have the makings of future All-Stars. This isn’t a win-now squad, but there’s a lot for Storm fans to be excited about moving forward.
Record: 2-6
Average point differential: -1
Key wins/losses: Wins over Las Vegas and Chicago; losses to Golden State, Minnesota, Toronto, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York
The Mercury, who lost in the Finals last year and blew out the Las Vegas Aces on opening night, have been the league’s most disappointing team. Since that blowout win, Phoenix has gone 1-6. Scoring has been hard to come by; the Mercury lost Satou Sabally in free agency, and Kahleah Copper is having an inefficient season. Something’s going to have to give, because right now, the Mercury are too experienced to be in this position.
Record: 1-8
Average point differential: -14.2
Key wins/losses: Win over Seattle; losses to Seattle (twice), New York, Las Vegas (twice), Golden State, and Portland
The Sun have been the league’s worst team, and that’s not entirely shocking considering their youth. They have the league’s worst point differential, and their only win came against the similarly rebuilding Storm. But, help is on the way; Leila Lacan, the team’s best player last year, is returning after missing the beginning of the season due to overseas obligations.
