Ranking every WNBA team's starting fives in 2026, from new-look Liberty to Angel Reese-inspired Dream

Ranking every WNBA team’s starting fives in 2026, from new-look Liberty to Angel Reese-inspired Dream originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The WNBA looks a little different this season. There are more teams, larger contracts and more storylines to follow than ever before. Given all the transactions that took place in the offseason, one could be forgiven if they were a little unsure how WNBA rosters look at present.

We know A’ja Wilson and the Aces are slated to compete for more gold — both individually and collectively — in the seasons to come. We know the likes of the Liberty and Fever should emerge as valuable bulwarks to Las Vegas’ capabilities. And we know that the Storm, Mystics and expansion franchises should all be in the mix for a lottery pick come the end of next season.

But just which WNBA core reigns supreme? Which starting unit is the most capable of leading its team towards championship contention? And which rosters are imposters, lacking in any real ability to impose their will on their adversaries?

The Sporting News is ranking every team’s projected starting five. Follow below for a warm look at the best and worst starting units in the WNBA in 2026.

MORE: Complete results and analysis for every pick in Round 1

Ranking every WNBA team’s starting fives1. Liberty

Projected starting lineup:

New York takes its place atop the WNBA ladder, its starting lineup adorned in diamonds. Between Ionescu, Sabally, Stewart and Jones, the Liberty have 19 All-Star appearances, 17 All-WNBA selections and three MVPs in its collection. Cloud is no certainty at the No. 2 — she remains without a contract, caught in the limbo of free agency.

Nevertheless, Sabally’s addition should provide a new dimension to New York’s attack, now slated to be helmed by former Warriors assistant Chris Kolb.

2. Aces

Projected starting lineup:

The reigning WNBA champions sit at No. 2 on the list of starting lineups. A’ja Wilson is the sport’s greatest and is all but certain to garner MVP consideration for Las Vegas in 2026. Gray and Loyd are aging talents, but they showcased their value during postseason play, offering timely contributions as the Aces traipsed their way to another crown. Young brings it all together, pairing dogged defense with impressive shot-making skills to power the Aces’ backcourt. With Becky Hammon at the helm, there’s no reason to believe Las Vegas won’t be near the top of the standings in 2026 and beyond.

MORE: How Raven Johnson fits with Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston in Indiana

3. Atlanta Dream

Projected starting lineup:

The Dream posted the joint-second-best record in the WNBA in 2025. They could eclipse that mark in 2026, having made a splash by adding Reese into their ranks.

Reese’s credentials need little introduction. She is the WNBA’s greatest-ever rebounder and provides a dizzying combo of defensive versatility, secondary playmaking and transition offense. She should fit right at home in Karl Smesko’s high-octane offense, which will see the likes of Gray and Howard launch triples at the rim with reckless abandon. Jones is a steady paint presence with sumptuous touch while Hillmon is one of the league’s best role players. Everything is shaping up nicely for Atlanta to be a contender in 2026 and beyond.

4. Indiana Fever

Projected starting lineup:

Clark only played 13 games last season. Indiana nearly made the WNBA Finals in spite of it, falling one game short of women’s basketball’s holy land. Clark will likely never have a season as bad as she did in 2025. Assuming she has a clean bill of health next year, she should spearhead one of the WNBA’s best attacks. Mitchell took a step forward as an offensive initiator en route to earning All-WNBA First Team honors in 2025, while Boston reemerged as one of the W’s best two-way talents. Hull and Cunningham should provide trebuchet-like shooting from beyond the arc, giving Stephanie White’s side multiple ways to beat other teams.

MORE: How much do WNBA rookies make in 2026?

5. Minnesota Lynx

Projected starting lineup:

To say Minnesota had a disappointing offseason would be an understatement. The Lynx lost five prominent contributors to last year’s roster, which finished with the best record in the sport. Collier and McBride’s status will be worth watching to start the season; the former was felled by an eardrum issue, while the latter is likely to miss the first month or two of the WNBA campaign after undergoing surgery on both of her ankles. If Collier returns to form upon her insertion into the lineup, the Lynx should still be able to contend for a playoff berth. However, if things start to tumble, expect to see Minnesota take a step back as it readies for life after its mass exodus of talent.

6. Golden State Valkyries

Projected starting lineup:

Williams is the headliner, taking to the Bay Area after placing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and picking up her first-career All-Star appearance. She’s joining a Valkyries side teeming with talent, both domestically and from abroad. Burton enjoyed a career resurgence in her fourth season in the league. That same could be said for Thornton, who made her first All-Star game after 10 seasons plying away from the spotlight. Salaun and Rupert enjoyed solid showings during their first seasons with Golden State. They should be able to build on their success in 2026.

7. Dallas Wings

Projected starting lineup

We’re bullish on Dallas, which take marked steps to improve its frontcourt depth after limping to a dour 10-34 record in 2025. Bueckers should retain her place as one of women’s basketball’s finest guards, looking to build off of a historic rookie campaign. She’s joined by Ogunbowale and Fudd, both of whom should help stretch defenses. Smith, meanwhile, will patrol the paint, looking to author up another Defensive Player of the Year-like campaign.

MORE: How Azzi Fudd fits with Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale in Wings starting five

8. Los Angeles Sparks

Projected starting lineup:

Los Angeles is banking on Plum, Atkins and Ogwumike gelling to create a playoff-caliber side. Only time will tell if such a concept will come to fruition. Brink is looking to stay healthy for the whole of the season for the first time. She could play a major role on a roster trying to compensate for defensive deficiencies from the likes of Plum.

9. Chicago Sky

Projected starting lineup:

Who would’ve thought that Chicago’s starting lineup would find itself competing for a postseason berth following Angel Reese’s departure? The Sky certainly are no contender. But they have enjoyed an impressive retool, building up their backcourt with Diggins and Carrington. Stevens is a known commodity adored for her contributions on both ends of the floor. Those traits should carry her to success in the Windy City.

Jackson and Cardoso are two 2024 Draft alums who will be looking to take the next step in their with the Sky. Only time will tell if the talented tandem can reach its potential under the Chicago banner.

10. Phoenix Mercury

Projected starting lineup:

Phoenix looks to have reached the end of the line in terms of its current roster configuration. Thomas and Copper remain one of the league’s best two-man tandems. Beyond that — and Monique Akoa Makani’s flashes — the Mercury are fairly timid. Thomas, Bonner and Sami Whitcomb are approaching the end of their careers, suggesting it could be time for some fresh blood in the Valley in the Sun.

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11. Washington Mystics

Projected starting lineup:

The Mystics are something of a unknown at this stage. They have an impressive crop of youngsters, led by Citron, Iriafen and Betts. They also have Austin, a non-shooting big who tends to operate in similar areas to that of Betts.

There will be growing pains in the nation’s capital. But if Citron and Iriafen can take the next step, they could anchor a Washington side that could surprise some people in 2026.

12. Portland Fire

Projected starting lineup:

Portland is a few years away from competing for any sort of postseason berth. But the roster construction is fairly inspired, with Carleton leading a ragtag — but enchanting — group of talents in the Great White North. Leite should get ample opportunities to strut her stuff, while Engstler and Held look to take on greater responsibility on both ends of the floor.

13. Toronto Tempo

Projected starting lineup:

The Tempo have a dynamic backcourt tandem in Mabrey and Sykes…and not much else. Kiki Rice will look to learn off of Allemand, who emerged as one of the W’s top passers in her first season back after three years away.

Beyond that, though, Toronto is fairly toothless, seemingly condemned to a near bottom-of-the-table finish in 2026.

MORE: Who is Azzi Fudd’s mom, Katie Smrcka‑Duffy Fudd?

14. Seattle Storm

Projected starting lineup:

The future is now in the Emerald City, with Fam landing on a roster firmly entrenched in a rebuild. Seattle could very well be considered the League Pass team of the season; Horston, Fam, Magbegor and Malonga all have the chops to enchant audiences, although it’s hard to see how that translates to winning in their first season alongside one another.

MORE: Who is Awa Fam?

15. Connecticut Sun

Projected starting lineup:

The Sun are unlikely to be competitive in their final season in the Mohegan Sun Arena. Griner looked worse for the wear in her first season back since being detained in a Russian prison, while the Sun’s young talent is solid, if unspectacular. Expect a dreary campaign in 2026 — save for a few of Rivers’ defensive highlights.

MORE: UCLA makes WNBA draft history with five first-round picks

Ranking every WNBA team’s starting fives in 2026, from new-look Liberty to Angel Reese-inspired Dream

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