WNBA Power Rankings: Fever, Mystics rising ahead of All-Star break

The Minnesota Lynx have held onto No. 1 in ESPN's WNBA Power Rankings since the opening weekend of games in May. This week is the closest the Lynx have come to losing their spot.

Minnesota, of course, still is comfortably atop the WNBA standings. But since our rankings take more of weekly temperature of WNBA teams, the Lynx needed Monday's 91-78 victory over the Chicago Sky to stay put.

That completed their week at 2-2, just holding off the surging Phoenix Mercury, who handed the Lynx one of their losses. The Mercury beat the Lynx 79-71 last Wednesday, then scrambled to a 78-77 victory at Golden State on Monday.

For now, Minnesota stays on top. That could change next week depending on Wednesday's showdown in Minneapolis as the Mercury visit the Lynx. That will be the last game for both teams before the All-Star break.

Phoenix will try to give Minnesota its first home loss of 2025, not including the Lynx's Commissioner's Cup defeat against the Indiana Fever on July 1. That doesn't count in the standings, where Minnesota is 11-0 at home and holds a three-game lead over Phoenix through Monday's games. However, the Lynx know Indiana showed they have some vulnerability at Target Center and will hope to keep that from happening again. And keep the Mercury firmly in second place.

1. Minnesota Lynx (19-4)

Previous ranking: 1

Next seven days: vs. PHO (July 16)

It's hard to nail down a similar thread between Minnesota's losses last week at Phoenix and Chicago. The Lynx weren't as good as they needed to be offensively against the Mercury, and their defense was not as sharp vs. the Sky in an 87-81 defeat Saturday. But in both cases, they bounced back with victories. They beat Los Angeles 91-82 the day after losing to Phoenix, and in the rematch at Chicago on Monday did a much better job controlling the game. MVP favorite Napheesa Collier's remarkable free throw shooting continued Monday: She was 11 of 11 from the line and is at 95.4% (104 of 109) for the season. She also made a career-high four 3-pointers in Monday's game.

2. Phoenix Mercury (15-6)

Previous ranking: 2

Next seven days: @ MIN (July 16)

The Mercury signed DeWanna Bonner last week after she had been waived by Indiana in June, and she joined the team Wednesday against Minnesota. It's already paying off for Phoenix: Bonner had 7 points and 6 rebounds in the win against the Lynx, then led the Mercury with 22 points and 11 rebounds in Monday's victory over Golden State. Now picture Phoenix whenever Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper are fully healthy.

3. New York Liberty (14-6)

Previous ranking: 4

Next seven days: vs. IND (July 16)

The defending champions secured a couple victories to fire them up, defeating the Aces 87-78 on Tuesday, then rallying from a 19-point deficit to beat the Dream 79-72 on Sunday. The defense that fueled the comeback against the Dream was a welcome sight for the Liberty, as was forward Leonie Fiebich's combined 36 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists between the two wins.

4. Indiana Fever (11-10)

Previous ranking: 7

Next seven days: @ CON (July 15), @ NY (July 16)

Following an 80-61 loss to Golden State last Wednesday with an offense that looked like it was full of imposters, the Fever beat the Dream (99-82) then the Wings (102-83). The best version of Indiana's attack showed up in both wins, with Kelsey Mitchell scoring a combined 45 points and Caitlin Clark dishing a combined 22 assists. The Fever will look to keep the momentum going with back-to-back East Coast games before returning home to host Saturday's All-Star Game.

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Fever cook the Wings for a dominant win at home

Four out of five of the Fever starters finish with double-digit points to fuel the Fever to a 102-83 win over the Wings.

5. Washington Mystics (11-10)

Previous ranking: 9

Next seven days: @ LA (July 15)

The Mystics had a great week with their second three-game winning streak of the season. They were all close contests: Washington beat Chicago and Las Vegas by two points, then Seattle by five. Guard Brittney Sykes totaled 48 points in the wins while rookie All-Star forward Kiki Iriafen (8.5 rebounds per game) continued to be the Mystics' best on the boards.

6. Atlanta Dream (12-7)

Previous ranking: 3

Next seven days: @ CHI (July 16)

The Dream have hit a rough patch. They have lost five of their past seven games, falling 99-82 at Indiana and 79-72 at New York last week. Then on Monday, they found out All-Star Rhyne Howard -- second on the team in scoring and assists -- will miss the rest of July with a knee injury.

One positive is Jordin Canada averaging 17.2 points and 7.2 assists over her past five games.

7. Golden State Valkyries (10-11)

Previous ranking: 6

Next seven days: @ SEA (July 16)

The Valkyries weren't far from a 3-0 week, which would have moved them into the Power Rankings' top 4. But after an 80-61 victory at Indiana on Wednesday -- their second win this season against the Fever -- they lost two one-possession games. They fell 104-102 at Las Vegas on Saturday, then 78-77 at home to Phoenix on Monday. Natalie Nakase might be in her first season as a WNBA head coach, but she sounded like a veteran in being irritated with the officiating that sent the Mercury's Alyssa Thomas to the line with 1 second left for what turned into the winning free throw. Still, Golden State has proven it can compete with anyone in the league.

8. Seattle Storm (13-9)

Previous ranking: 5

Next seven days: vs. GS (July 16)

Do we have a handle on the Storm yet? No, as they continue to ride the Power Rankings elevator up and down. Over the past week they lost 93-83 at last-place Connecticut, beat the Sun 79-65 at home, then lost 74-69 to Washington at home. The Mystics outscored the Storm 27-14 in the fourth quarter.

Some good news for Seattle, though: Veteran guard Tiffany Mitchell has provided a boost since joining the team after being waived by Las Vegas on June 30.

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Tiffany Mitchell glides in for smooth layup off 1-2 step

Tiffany Mitchell glides in for smooth layup off 1-2 step

9. Las Vegas Aces (10-11)

Previous ranking: 8

Next seven days: @ DAL (July 16)

Aces star A'ja Wilson injured her right (non-shooting) wrist in an 87-78 loss to New York last Tuesday, then missed Las Vegas' 70-68 loss to Washington on Thursday. But the three-time MVP was back on Saturday, getting 34 points and 16 rebounds in a 104-102 win over Golden State. Jackie Young also had 30 points against the Valkyries in the Aces' highest-scoring game of the season.

10. Chicago Sky (7-14)

Previous ranking: 11

Next seven days: vs. ATL (July 16)

Chicago went 2-2 in a busy week, with victories over Dallas and Minnesota, and losses to Washington and Minnesota. Ariel Atkins suffered a leg injury in the first half of Monday's loss to the Lynx and didn't return. The Sky can't afford to lose more experience at guard, so it would be costly if she misses significant time.

11. Los Angeles Sparks (7-14)

Previous ranking: 12

Next seven days: vs. WAS (July 15)

Los Angeles has yet to win two games in a row, losing to Minnesota 91-82 then beating Connecticut 92-88 last week. But three Sparks are playing well -- All-Star Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby and Azura Stevens -- and their offense has been decent (82.5 PPG.) Now the question is whether they can climb the standings by improving their defense after allowing 87.2 PPG through the first half of the season, the second-most in the league.

12. Dallas Wings (6-16)

Previous ranking: 10

Next seven days: vs. LV (July 16)

Dallas fell 87-76 at Chicago then 102-83 at Indiana in two dispiriting games last week. Arike Ogunbowale returned from a thumb injury against the Fever but went 0-of-10 from the field. And it's obvious that center Teaira McCowan doesn't fit within first-year coach Chris Koclanes' system: After averaging double-figure scoring in each of her first six WNBA seasons, she is now averaging 5.6 points and playing just 14.1 minutes per game, both career lows.

13. Connecticut Sun (3-18)

Previous ranking: 13

Next seven days: vs. IND (July 15)

There hasn't been much for the Sun to celebrate in 2025, but they did secure their first win since early June last Wednesday, beating the Storm 93-83 before following the victory up with losses to Seattle and Los Angeles.

One consistent bright spot has been Tina Charles, who -- at 36 years old and in her 14th WNBA season -- is leading the Sun in scoring (15.4 PPG). She had season highs of 29 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Seattle.