{"id":682313,"date":"2026-05-20T17:05:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T17:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/682313\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T17:05:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T17:05:13","slug":"wnba-power-rankings-every-team-ranked-after-start-of-2026-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/682313\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA Power Rankings: Every team ranked after start of 2026 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

After months of uncertainty about whether the 2026 WNBA season would happen at all, the first week of action is already in the books. With the new collective bargaining agreement in place, teams were able to spend money like never before, leading to unprecedented roster shakeups around the league.<\/p>\n

Will any of those overhauls pay off with a parade later this summer? We\u2019ve had a little less than two weeks of games to analyze and speculate about which teams made the most out of their abbreviated offseasons. Front offices may be starting to spend more money, but the early favorites are familiar faces from the past few years.<\/p>\n

Teams are still rounding into shape, but it\u2019s a short season (just 44 games), and minuscule margins separate the league\u2019s championship contenders. Looking at FanDuel\u2019s odds for WNBA Championship Winner<\/a> provides us with a sense of how the public is ranking teams against each other in their quest for the title after their first week and a half of live game action.<\/p>\n

Championship odds: (+220)<\/p>\n

The Liberty are running the league\u2019s top offense, and their only blemish was a last-second loss to the Portland Fire. Breanna Stewart has resumed her MVP-level play, while Marine Johannes has been shooting 41.7% on 3.8 threes per game. The schedule gets tougher, but they\u2019ll also be adding Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally soon, after both returned to practice this week. The Liberty have the talent and depth to stack up wins through the regular season, but they\u2019ll need a toolkit of answers and alternatives for the league\u2019s other contenders in crunch time if they want to secure the championship in Chris DeMarco\u2019s first season in charge.<\/p>\n

Championship odds: (+420)<\/p>\n

The defending champs came out of a front-loaded opening week at an impressive 4-1. A\u2019ja Wilson picked up where she left off in last year\u2019s MVP campaign, averaging 25 pts and 2 blocks. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young are both scoring in double digits and averaging more than six assists each. Offseason pickup Chennedy Carter has been a revelation, averaging 19.4 points on nearly 70% from the field, and making quick decisions as another catalyst for an Aces team that\u2019s adding new ways to pressure defenses.<\/p>\n

The Fever are pushing the league\u2019s second-highest scoring offense, but they\u2019re also in the bottom four in opponent points allowed (91.8). They\u2019ll need someone to step up and establish a defensive identity, especially if Aliyah Boston\u2019s injury keeps her out for an extended time.<\/p>\n

\"ATLANTA,<\/a><\/p>\n

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 17: Naz Hillmon #00 of the Atlanta Dream reacts against the Las Vegas Aces during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on May 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

Allisha Gray has been doing everything for the Dream, scoring 25 points and grabbing seven boards per game. Rhyne Howard has yet to find a groove, and Brionna Jones is still out with an injury; but Angel Reese has been a force down low with 10.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. The stingey Dream defense is allowing just 82.3 points per game, but they\u2019ll need more offensive firepower to take down the league\u2019s elite teams.<\/p>\n

Rookie Olivia Miles (15.5 pts, 5.8 asts, 1.5 stls) is learning on the fly for a Lynx squad that\u2019s getting it done by committee without superstar Napheesa Collier. As a team, the Lynx are shooting over 50% from the field, and average more than 13 stocks (steals + blocks) per game.<\/p>\n

The Mercury are getting solid production from their stars, Kahleah Copper (17.8 pts\/game) and Alyssa Thomas (16.5 pts, 7.5 rebs, and 8.5 asts per game). Rookie Jovana Nogic has also been a bright spot, averaging 16 points with 65% 3PT%, including a 27-point outburst against the Sky in her fourth pro game.<\/p>\n

\"ARLINGTON,<\/a><\/p>\n

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MAY 18: Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Washington Mystics at College Park Center on May 18, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Wings responded to early public criticisms from first-year head coach Jose Fernandez by drubbing the Mystics, and the young team may be starting to gel with some offseason acquisitions. Paige Bueckers (20 pts, 5.5 asts\/game) and Jessica Shepard (11 pts, 9.8 rebs, 5.5 asts) have led the way, while Arike Ogumbowale (16 pts\/game) and Alanna Smith (1.5 stls, 0.8 blks\/game) remain elite in their roles.<\/p>\n

8. Golden State Valkyries<\/p>\n

The Valkyries boast the league\u2019s second best net rating (+8.3) behind a defense that\u2019s given up the fewest points per game in the league. Rookie Janelle Salaun has had a fast start, averaging 15.7 points; and Veronica Burton has chipped in 15 points and 7.3 assists. The schedule gets tougher before it softens, with early tests against New York and Indiana this week.<\/p>\n

Opening-week losses to the Aces and the Fever may skew the statistics this early, but the Sparks have mustered only a league average offense and the league\u2019s worst defensive rating (121.3). Kelsey Plum (26.8 pts, 5.5 asts) leads the league in scoring, but the rest of the offense looks top-heavy behind Dearica Hamby (17 pts, 7.3 rebs) and Nneke Ogwumike (16.5 pts, 6.8 rebs).<\/p>\n

The league\u2019s youngest team continues to grow around young stars Sonia Citron (20 pts\/game) and Kiki Iriafen (16.5 pts, 12.8 rebs). Shakira Austin has kicked in 16.3 points and 8.5 boards, while rookies Cotie McMahon and Lauren Betts are starting to look comfortable.<\/p>\n

The Sky boasted the league\u2019s best defensive rating after four games, but they\u2019ll need to find more ways to generate offense after losing Rickea Jackson (18 pts\/game) to a season-ending ACL injury on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\"LOS<\/a><\/p>\n

LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 17: Kiki Rice #1 of the Toronto Tempo handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 17, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and\/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo\/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Championship odds: +17500<\/p>\n

Brittany Sykes (25.6 pts, 4.8 asts, 2.2 stls) has been a star for the first-year franchise, and Marina Mabrey continues to produce (20.8 pts, 1.4 stls). Rookie Kiki Rice is taking advantage of increased minutes, following up a season-high 19 points against the Sparks on Sunday with a 15-7-3-2 line against the Mercury on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Championship odds: +40000<\/p>\n

The Storm are seeing growth in their depth despite playing without Ezi Magbegor or Dominique Malonga (for one game). Jade Melbourne, Flau\u2019jae Johnson, and Natisha Hiedeman are all scoring in double digits.<\/p>\n

Championship odds: +50000<\/p>\n

Sophomore forward Aneesah Morrow is averaging a double-double (14 pts, 11 rebs), but the Sun\u2019s other two leading scorers are Brittany Griner (15 pts) and Hailey Van Lith (11.2 pts).<\/p>\n

Championship odds: +50000<\/p>\n

Bridget Carleton (17.0 pts\/game, and 26 in an upset win over the Liberty) and Carla Leite (19.5 pts) have led the way for a team that\u2019s giving up the third most points per game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After months of uncertainty about whether the 2026 WNBA season would happen at all, the first week of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":682314,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[49,48,82,630],"class_list":["post-682313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-sports","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=682313"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682313\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/682314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=682313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=682313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=682313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}