Even with the superstar potential of the 2027 and 2028 WNBA Drafts \u2014 with JuJu Watkins, Madison Booker and Sarah Strong, among others, set to enter the league \u2014 there weren\u2019t many WNBA franchises that embraced teardowns this offseason to put themselves in better draft position.<\/p>\n
Connecticut, Washington and Seattle are in clear youth movements, but Toronto signed several veterans who can help now, as well as a proven coach in Sandy Brondello. Chicago cycled out some draft assets in hopes of returning to the playoffs, and Los Angeles got significantly older to chase the postseason for the first time since 2020.<\/p>\n
The problem in a 15-team league is that making the playoffs is harder than it has been in more than a decade, and some teams will naturally fall into the lottery whether they planned to or not. It\u2019s too early for any team to change its preseason goals set, but the promise of the 2027 lottery could at least make that prospect a little more palatable. If Minnesota\u2019s depth wears thin or Golden State can\u2019t find offensive answers or the Sparks\u2019 veteran push goes awry, a light is at the end of the tunnel, whether their front offices or ownership groups see it that way.<\/p>\n
It\u2019ll be interesting to see if any teams proactively make a move down the standings. Connecticut should have a healthy lead in the lottery odds after finishing with 11 wins in 2025 and sitting at the bottom of the league yet again. But second place is well within reach. The top of the WNBA is good enough that hosting one postseason game hardly seems like a good enough prize to miss out on the incoming college stars.<\/p>\n
As teams fall down the power rankings, it\u2019s worth considering what success looks like this season.<\/p>\n
Two teams trending upChicago Sky<\/p>\n
The offseason makeover for Chicago is taking hold, at least early. This is a scrappy team that plays hard and makes quick decisions offensively, and it has yielded the best defense in the league (per Her Hoop Stats) with a 3-1 record to start the season \u2014 all of those on the road. The Sky are benefitting from a little opponent shooting luck, as teams are making below 30 percent from 3-point range against them, but mostly, Chicago is creating its own fortune.<\/p>\n
Gabriela Jaquez is arguably outperforming her draft position as a lottery pick. She\u2019s averaging 12.5 points per game on better than 50 percent shooting from the field, capped off by 20 points in the Sky\u2019s win over Minnesota when they were without leading scorer Rickea Jackson in the second half.<\/a> Jaquez is also adding nearly six rebounds per game, as Chicago entered Sunday third in the league in team rebounds.<\/p>\n Jacy Sheldon has been an excellent addition with her defensive pressure and downhill attacks. She had a critical takeaway against the Valkyries to close out a win, and as the Lynx were mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter Sunday, Sheldon had two steals on inbounds plays.<\/p>\n Jackson\u2019s injury puts a damper on the Sky\u2019s momentum, but there is a lot to like outside of the third-year forward\u2019s production.<\/p>\n BIG DAWGGGG GABS \ud83e\udd73#skytown<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gk8OIYsN8O<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) May 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Portland Fire<\/p>\n Another team that knows how it wants to play<\/a>, even if the results haven\u2019t been as positive as in Chicago. Like the expansion Valkyries a year ago, the Fire are getting up a high volume of 3-pointers. Nearly 45 percent of their shot attempts come from beyond the arc; unsurprisingly, their one win came when they converted on at least 10 of those. Portland isn\u2019t getting to the rim often or generating many free throws, so the reliance on the 3-ball likely will continue.<\/p>\n The Fire are full-court pressing on 16 percent of possessions, per Synergy, the highest rate in the WNBA. That doesn\u2019t count the extended ball pressure that is their standard operating procedure, a level of freneticism that forced the New York Liberty into 30 turnovers over two games last week; Portland converted those giveaways into 38 points.<\/p>\n The defense behind the press still leaves something to be desired, as the Fire are worst in the league in opposing effective field-goal percentage (59.1 percent). Their lack of frontcourt size seems more problematic than it has been, though. Kamilla Cardoso had her way against the Portland frontline, but Jonquel Jones \u2014 who is only one inch shorter \u2014 wasn\u2019t nearly as effective. If the pressure prevents the ball from getting inside, Portland can survive what appear to be big mismatches.<\/p>\n One team trending downDallas Wings<\/p>\n It\u2019s never ideal when a coach calls out players\u2019 selfishness three games into the season, or when a team repeatedly gets beaten on the pick-and-roll coverage to blow a fourth-quarter lead. But that\u2019s where Dallas stands after two losses in the past week.<\/p>\n The Wings were the darlings of opening weekend after stealing a road win in Indiana, but nothing has been as easy since. The schedule is partly to blame as they suffered two close losses to Atlanta and Minnesota; however, it doesn\u2019t get much easier.<\/p>\n Beyond Paige Bueckers, Dallas is searching for consistent two-way production. Jessica Shepard provides a playmaking hub on offense but was lost as the last line of defense. Alanna Smith can be the defensive anchor but isn\u2019t really being guarded on offense. Maddy Siegrist, who has been with the Wings longer than either of those players, said, \u201cI don\u2019t really know\u201d when asked about her role following the loss to Minnesota. Dallas put the majority of its free agency resources into frontcourt players and hasn\u2019t yet clarified what all of those players can do.<\/p>\n Yet, there might even be more questions in the backcourt. The Wings aren\u2019t running Bueckers as a point guard, but they didn\u2019t draft Olivia Miles to play next to her, either. Azzi Fudd is the better spacer next to Bueckers while Arike Ogunbowale soaks up more usage depending on which archetype Dallas prefers. Even when Fudd has played well, it\u2019s unclear if Dallas is comfortable limiting Ogunbowale\u2019s role too much given the length of her tenure with the franchise.<\/p>\n It\u2019s early to have existential concerns about the Wings, but coach Jose Fernandez invited this criticism by calling out players. There will always be a spotlight on a team with Bueckers. Chris Koclanes couldn\u2019t survive it as the Wings coach a year ago.<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 Fern\u00e1ndez didn\u2019t hold back after the Wings\u2019 loss to the Lynx \ud83d\ude33 pic.twitter.com\/AYMC28VDgb<\/a><\/p>\n