As the WNBA season hits the three-week mark, it’s a good moment to step back and assess how teams are faring. The Minnesota Lynx are unexpectedly leading the pack, while the Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings have shown impressive improvements. The Las Vegas Aces, despite a rocky start, continue to be formidable with three championships under their belt in recent years. Here’s a quick look at the standings for all 15 teams:
Record: 5 wins, 2 losses
Average score difference: +7.6
Key wins and losses: Victories against Phoenix, Dallas, Toronto, Chicago, and Atlanta. Defeats to Atlanta and Chicago.
Coached by Sheryl Reeve, the Lynx have a strong winning culture. After a shaky start of 2-2, they rebounded with three consecutive wins, even with some significant offseason departures and the ongoing absence of Napheesa Collier. Standout performances from Olivia Miles, along with Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride maintaining form, have been key, while Natasha Howard is proving to be an excellent acquisition.
Record: 4-3
Average score difference: +6.7
Key wins and losses: Defeated Los Angeles, Connecticut (twice), and Atlanta. Lost to Los Angeles, Dallas, and Phoenix.
The Aces started with a rough loss to a struggling Phoenix team but found some rhythm against the Dream. Winning three titles in four years, they’re still backed by A’ja Wilson, arguably the best player in the league—regardless of their early season hiccups.
3. Golden State Valkyries
Record: 5 wins, 2 losses
Average score difference: +8.4
Key wins and losses: Victories over New York, Seattle, Connecticut, Indiana, and Phoenix. Lost to Chicago and Indiana.
The Valkyries focus heavily on defense, thanks to two-way players like Veronica Barton and Gabby Williams. Coach Natalie Nakase has also seen excellent contributions from supporting players such as Kaitlyn Chen and Janelle Saraun.
Record: 4-2
Average score difference: +1.5
Key wins and losses: Wins over Minnesota, Dallas (twice), and Phoenix; lost to Las Vegas and Minnesota.
Despite a tough loss to the Lynx recently, the Dream have shown strong defense against their opponents’ key players and performed well against the Wings. Rhyne Howard, Alisha Gray, Angel Reese, Jordan Canada, and Naz Hillmon form a solid starting five, making them serious title contenders.
Record: 5-3
Average score difference: +3.6
Key wins and losses: Victories against Indiana, Washington, Chicago, and New York; losses to Atlanta (twice) and Minnesota.
Paige Bueckers is having an impressive season, averaging 19.3 points on over 52% shooting, with Azi Fuad finding his stride and Jessica Shepherd consistently racking up triple-doubles (averaging 11.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and six assists). However, the Wings’ revamped roster isn’t quite jelling yet, with Alana Smith struggling, and Arike Ogunbowale’s performance raising questions.
Record: 4-3
Average score difference: +5.5
Key wins and losses: Wins against Los Angeles, Seattle, Golden State, and Portland; losses to Dallas and Washington.
All of the Fever’s losses have been tightly contested, suggesting they are a notably stronger team than in recent seasons. It’ll be intriguing to see how they match up against top teams like the Lynx and the Aces. For now, they’ve got a healthy Kaitlin Clark, scoring 23.8 points per game, along with Kelsey Mitchell’s 22.3 points.
Record: 5-3
Average score difference: -1.3
Key wins and losses: Wins over New York (twice), Connecticut (twice), and Toronto; losses to New York, Chicago, and Indiana.
The Fire were written off before the season began, yet they’ve surpassed expectations, securing a surprising win over the Liberty. Bridget Carleton, Carla Leite, and Sarah Ashley Barker have been standout players, showing the promise of this expansion team.
Record: 4 wins, 4 losses
Average score difference: +2.9
Key wins and losses: Wins against Washington, Phoenix, Portland, and Connecticut; losses to Golden State, Portland (twice), and Dallas.
The Liberty have faced a wave of injuries early on, which has been disappointing. Key players like Sato Sabally and Sabrina Ionescu missed significant time, while rookie Pauline Austier has been a pleasant surprise. Brianna Stewart continues to dominate, but overall, the team hasn’t met expectations yet.
Record: 4 wins, 4 losses
Average score difference: -2
Key wins and losses: Wins over Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Chicago; losses to Washington, Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Portland.
Tempo has proven to be an entertaining watch. Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabry may not be the league’s flashiest guards, yet they are fueling Toronto’s success. KiKi Rice is enjoying a solid rookie campaign, with Nyara Sabally showcasing his competitive edge against top players.
Record: 3-3
Average score difference: -4.5
Key wins and losses: Wins against Toronto, Phoenix, and Las Vegas; losses to Las Vegas, Indiana, and Toronto.
Kelsey Plumb, the league’s top scorer, is sidelined for at least a week with an ankle sprain. Despite losing their first two games, the Sparks are gaining momentum, winning three out of four, with Cameron Brink stepping up impressively. Dearika Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike will need to rise to the occasion during Plumb’s absence.
Record: 3 wins, 4 losses
Average score difference: -1
Key wins and losses: Victories over Golden State, Minnesota, and Portland; losses to Phoenix, Dallas, Minnesota, and Toronto.
The Sky had started strong, looking like a potential dark horse, but a torn ACL for Rikea Jackson, their leading scorer, has derailed their momentum. Following that injury, they’ve dropped three straight. Sidney Taylor contributed well in a recent game, and Camila Cardoso remains a reliable star. It’s hard to believe they started the season so promisingly with a 3-1 record.
Rebuilding (or should be)
Record: 3-3
Average score difference: -3.5
Key wins and losses: Wins over Toronto, Indiana, and Seattle; losses to New York, Dallas, and Seattle.
The Mystics have had their own moments of excitement. Sonia Citron has been impressive, along with the frontcourt duo of Kiki Iliafen and Shakira Austin. Though the youngest team in the league, they’re not without talent, securing an overtime win over the Fever and managing to keep a balanced record.
Record: 3 wins, 5 losses
Average score difference: -1.8
Key wins and losses: Victories over Washington and Connecticut (twice); losses to Toronto, Indiana, Connecticut, Golden State, and Washington.
Seattle seems to have a promising future. With Dominic Malonga and Our Pham forming one of the youngest frontcourts, they have potential star power. While immediate wins might not be on the horizon, there’s definitely a reason for Storm supporters to feel hopeful about what’s coming.
Record: 2 wins, 6 losses
Average score difference: -1
Key wins and losses: Wins against Las Vegas and Chicago; losses to Golden State, Minnesota, Toronto, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York.
The Mercury, fresh off a Finals appearance, started with a promising win but have since fallen flat, now sitting at 1-6. Injuries and player departures have made it difficult for them to find their groove, and as their struggles continue, they’ll need to reassess their strategy moving forward.
Record: 1-8
Average point difference: -14.2
Key wins and losses: Sole victory over Seattle; losses to Seattle (twice), New York, Las Vegas (twice), Golden State, and Portland.
The Suns have struggled significantly, as expected, given their youth. With the poorest goal differential in the league, their only win was against a similarly rebuilding Storm team. However, Layla Rakan’s return from overseas could provide a boost they desperately need.
