WNBA, you were missed. Yes, it was fun to see The United States Women’s National Team bring home gold for the eighth straight time in Paris (that’s what we do!), but we have a highly competitive, highly cut-throat season to get back to.

Tons of questions loom over the restart of action. Who will be 100% healthy? What teams will make an August jump in the standings? Will the Olympians’ fatigue play a factor?

Three teams—New York, Connecticut, and Minnesota—have already clinched playoff spots. However, plenty of regular season remains to secure those final five spots.

Let’s dive back into my weekly power rankings and see how teams are faring post-Olympic break.

Stats and analysis as of Sunday, August 25.

1. New York Liberty (25-5)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week: W vs. Wings 94-74, W vs. Wings 79-71, L vs. Sun 72-64
• This Week: Monday at Mercury, Wednesday at Sparks, Friday at Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 106.7 (1); DefRtg: 94.2  (2); NetRtg: 12.5  (1); eFG%: 52.1 (2)

I had whiplash seeing Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu drain 3s over the Sparks in LA on August 15—their first game back with the Liberty—after just seeing them do it over Team France in Paris a few days prior. Stewie scored 27 points in only three quarters, and the Liberty shot 50 percent from beyond the arc against the Sparks. Then, two days later, they defeated the Aces again in Las Vegas. That win clinched a spot in the playoffs, making them a betting favorite for winning the WNBA title this season.

“Nobody cares if we just came off the Olympics and we have a game four days later [with a] nine-hour time zone change,” Stewart said after the win over the Aces, with fellow Olympians Ionescu and coach Sandy Brondello next to her, laughing.

“When you think about it, it’s a little bit wild, and I think the three of us are all still experiencing some jet lag or tiredness, but just making sure that we set the tone. And our teammates have really worked hard while we’ve been gone, and we have bigger things to do.”

They earned two wins against Dallas this week, but the Sun snapped the Liberty’s eight-game winning streak, making it their first loss to Connecticut in two years.

2. Connecticut Sun (22-7)

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: W vs. Sparks 69-61, W vs. Sky 82-80, W at Liberty 72-64
• This Week: Wednesday at Fever, Saturday at Mystics, Sunday vs. Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.9  (6); DefRtg: 93.9 (1); NetRtg: 8.0 (3); eFG%: 47.6  (9)

Sun fans showed up and showed out for Tuesday’s sold-out game in Boston at the TD Garden, the WNBA game played in the iconic arena. After the overflowing support of the 2024 NBA Champions, Boston Celtics, over 19,000 fans came to cheer on their neighboring WNBA squad.

“It really just shows how much this city loves sports. It doesn’t matter what sport, what gender — they’re going to show up and show out,” DiJonai Carrington said pre-game. “I thought we were going to cover up the whole top part above the boxes.”

No cover-up was needed. The roaring crowd assisted the Sun in a close win against the Sparks. DiJonai Carrington led the way with 19 points, and Alyssa Thomas added 16 rebounds in the win.

The major news that broke just ahead of the Olympic break was Connecticut acquiring shooter Marina Mabrey. So far, in five games with the team, she’s averaging 14.4 points per game and shooting over 40% from 3-point land. So far, so good.

With the help of 15 points from Mabrey, the Sun finally defeated the Liberty, which clinched their spot in the post-season and are now cruising on a three-game winning streak.

3. Minnesota Lynx (22-8)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: W at Aces 98-87, W vs. Aces 87-74, W vs. Fever 90-80
• This Week: Wednesday at Mercury, Friday at Wings, Sunday vs Sky
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.2  (3); DefRtg: 94.2 (3); NetRtg: 9.0 (2); eFG%: 52.3 (1)

Whew, what a week it was for the Lynx. In the back-to-back wins over the Aces last week, Napheesa Collier was looking like MVPhee. With 23 points on 9-15 from the field (including 50% from 3) in Wednesday’s bout and an explosion for 27 points and 18 rebounds in Friday’s 13-point victory, Phee’s confidence is soaring—and so is her team’s. They moved up three spots on OffRtg to third place. After Saturday’s 10-point win over the Fever (and 31 more points for Collier), that’s six straight wins for Minnesota.

The newest face of the Lynx, Myisha Hines-Allen—traded at the deadline from the Washington Mystics—fits right into this defensive-minded squad. Last season, Minnesota finished 10th in defensive rating. This year, they’ve had multiple weeks at the top spot. Everyone has bought in, and Hines-Allen adds another level of depth to their second unit to ensure there isn’t a defensive drop-off.

Another memorable time that the Lynx made a mid-season trade? July 2015, when they traded for Sylvia Fowles from the Sky. Fowles went on to help them win the franchise’s third championship and grabbed the Finals MVP award. Hines-Allen brings that championship pedigree (she won with the Mystics in 2019). I think this trade moves the needle for Minny.

4. Seattle Storm (18-10)

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: W at Mystics 81-77
• This Week: Monday vs. Mystics, Wednesday vs. Dream, Friday vs. Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.5  (7); DefRtg: 94.6 (4); NetRtg: 6.9  (4); eFG%: 47.3 (10)

The biggest news around the league was Seattle signing free agent Gabby Williams to a rest-of-the-season contract after her stellar Olympic silver-medal performance. This will be Williams’ third season with the Storm after being acquired from the Sparks in 2022. In the ‘22 season, she averaged 7.5 points, five rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Her addition immediately solidifies the Storm as a championship contender. Williams will return to the Storm’s lineup on August 26.

After a two-game losing skid, the Storm were able to bounce back against the Mystics, with Nneka Ogwumike scoring 24 points and Jewell Loyd adding her own 18 points. Ezi Magbegor, an Olympic bronze medalist with Australia, scored 13 points while grabbing 14 boards.

5. Las Vegas Aces (18-11)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: L vs. Lynx 87-98, L at Lynx 74-87, W at Sky 77-75
• This Week: Tuesday at Wings, Friday vs. Dream, Sunday at Mercury
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 105.4 (2); DefRtg: 100.7 (6); NetRtg: 4.7 (5); eFG%: 51.7 (3)

After her thrilling game-winner over the Sky on Sunday, the Aces certainly agree with what Dawn Staley said following Team USA’s gold medal win, “We have A’ja Wilson, and you don’t.” Period.

Wilson’s M’VP campaign hasn’t skipped a beat. Since returning to regular-season play, she has tallied 117 total points in five games. It’s just getting absurd at this point. As far as the team goes, they’ve gone 2-3 post-break. Four of Vegas’ five starters are coming off of heavy Olympic minutes. Could fatigue be a factor?

Fans wanted the Aces to add one more piece at the trade deadline—possibly someone to deepen their bench—because Wilson has had to carry most of the load on both ends of the floor. The Aces allowed 65% FG in the first half against Minny, the highest of any half of the season. And they continue to struggle to find a defensive identity. Some things must change if they want to finish the season strong and vie for a three-peat.

6. Indiana Fever (13-16)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: L at Lynx 80-90
• This Week: Monday at Dream, Wednesday vs Sun, Friday at Sky, Sunday at Wings
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.2  (5); DefRtg: 107.9 (11); NetRtg: -5.6 (9); eFG%: 51.2 (4)

This Fever team couldn’t look more opposite from the start of the season. They truly benefited from the two-week break to regroup, reorganize, and rejuvenate. After two statement wins over Phoenix and Seattle, they came up short against Minnesota.

Another week, another broken record by Caitlin Clark. During the win over the Storm, she passed legendary point guard Ticha Penicheiro for the most total assists in a season by a rookie. Penicheiro set the record in 1998 with 224. Clark, still with 11 games to go in the season, could pass the overall regular-season assist record of 316 set by Alyssa Thomas in 2023.

“If you watch her highlights, she was definitely a better passer than me,” Clark said of Penicheiro. “She had way more flair to her game. She would spin around and make these crazy passes. I kind of just run in transition and chuck it up there and hope for the best.”

Well, it’s been working. The Fever offense is humming at just the right time. Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell are proving to be a triple threat, and with their loud, boisterous home crowd, I know very few teams want to face them come playoff time.

7. Phoenix Mercury (16-14)

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week: L at Dream 72-63, W at Dream 82-80
• This Week: Monday vs. Liberty, Wednesday vs. Lynx, Sunday vs. Aces
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.9  (4); DefRtg: 104.4 (9); NetRtg: -1.5 (6); eFG%: 51.0  (5)

Olympic gold medalist Kahleah Copper picked up exactly where she left off in France. In her first game back, she went to her former stomping grounds of Chicago (wearing her former Sky jersey as her tunnel fit), dropped 29 points, and led her team in the W. Two days later, she gave Indiana a 32-piece nugget in 38 minutes. What a menace.

Her backcourt partner-in-crime and fellow Olympian, Diana Taurasi, exploded for 23 points (46% from the field) in the huge win over Chicago on August 18. That performance marked her 23rd 20-point game since turning 40. (Michael Jordan only had 20 of them at that age, and Kareem Abudl-Jabbar only 16, by the way.) Wow.

The Mercury are still trying to put the pieces together to stay above .500. They signed Monique Billings off of waivers. At Tuesday’s trade deadline, they made a move, sending a 2025 pick and Sug Sutton to the Mystics and acquiring the rights to Klara Lundquist.

Phoenix is coming up on a five-game homestand, which starts with Monday’s match-up versus New York. So far this season, they’re 9-4 at home. If they can win these pivotal games with the rowdy X-Factor behind them, I can see them moving up the rankings.

8. Chicago Sky (11-18)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week: L at Sun 80-82, L vs Aces 75-77
• This Week: Wednesday vs Mystics, Friday vs Fever, Sunday at Lynx
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.7  (9); DefRtg: 101.3 (7); NetRtg: -3.6 (7); eFG%: 45.2 (12)

Be prepared; some Angel Reese ridiculous rebounding stats are incoming: On August 15 against the Mercury, Reese passed Sylvia Fowles (117) for the most single-season offensive rebounds in Sky franchise history. Then, after her wild 19-point, 20-rebound showing against the Mercury on August 18, Reese became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 20 double-doubles in a single season and is the only rookie to average a double-double this season. Then, in a narrow loss to the Sun, Reese put up 20 rebounds again; it was a first for a WNBA player, and the last an NBA rookie posted back-to-back 20-rebound games was in 1993, when Shaquille O’Neal did it.

“I don’t want to hear about no records,” Reese told a post-game reporter after the 25-point loss to the Mercury. She’s a competitor, through and through, and has shown to care more about the team’s final score than her own.

The Sky’s total loss margin this week was only four points. And these weren’t to just anyone; it was versus two title contenders in the Sun and the Aces. In the latter, Chennedy Carter hit a nasty crossover 3-pointer to tie the game with seconds remaining. She finished with 25 points, but it was A’ja Wilson with the game-winning bucket with 1.1 seconds left to soil Chicago’s winning hopes. Still, I hope the Sky take these losses in stride—it’s only improving this young squad.

9. Atlanta Dream (10-18)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week: W vs. Mercury 72-63, L vs. Mercury 80-82
• This Week: Monday vs Fever, Wednesday at Storm, Friday at Aces, Sunday at Sparks
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.0  (12); DefRtg: 100.5 (5); NetRtg: -5.5 (8); eFG%: 45.2 (11)

The Dream was one of those teams that desperately needed the Olympic break to happen when it did. Since Rhyne Howard got healthy (and won a bronze Olympic medal with Team USA’s 3×3 squad), and Jordin Canada returned to the starting lineup. But before the break, the Dream were on an eight-game losing streak. Things needed to change expeditiously. And they did. The tides turned with a major near-buzzer-beater win over Seattle, as Tina Charles scored the go-away bucket with 1.1 seconds remaining. This set the tone for the upset win over Connecticut on August 18.

What I noticed: This current starting lineup is working. Canada, Howard, Charles, Allisha Gray, and Naz Hillman are 3-1. Together, at about 22 minutes per game, they’re averaging 45.3 ppg and are +6.8. In the two games against the Mercury last week, Gray had 21 and 22 points, respectively, showing she can lead this team. Gray and Co. are peaking at the right time as they gun for that last playoff spot.

Side note: With her 7,491st point, Tina Charles became the second all-time WNBA leading scorer on Wednesday, passing Tina Thompson. What a special moment for a special player.

10. Dallas Wings (7-22)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week: L at Liberty 74-94, L at Liberty 71-79, W vs. Sparks 113-110
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Aces, Friday vs. Lynx, Sunday vs. Fever
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.5  (8); DefRtg: 109.3 (12); NetRtg: -10.4 (12); eFG%: 48.3 (7)

Whew, Dallas, glad to have Satou Sabally back in a Wings uniform, huh? After having an outstanding Olympic performance for Germany, including a 33-point eruption, Satou has looked healthy and determined since being back. In Tuesday’s loss against the Liberty, Sabally soared for 24 points (5-8 from 3), five rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

In Sunday’s win over the Sparks, the Wings overcame a 22-point deficit (they were down 19 heading into the 4th quarter) to get back into the win column. After the game, Teaira McCowan (17 points, 11 rebounds) said this was a turning point for her team. Dallas has a last-ditch effort at making the playoffs, especially with a win over the Fever this week.

11. Washington Mystics (7-22)

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week: L vs. Storm 77-83, W vs. Sparks 80-74
• This Week: Monday at Storm, Wednesday at Sky, Saturday vs. Sun
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.0 (11); DefRtg: 103.1 (8); NetRtg: -6.0 (10); eFG%: 49.9 (6)

I know Mystics fans are happy because they get to see Shakira Austin and Brittney Sykes play basketball again! Since returning from their injuries, Austin (hip) averages 15.8 points and 8.8 rebounds, and Sykes (ankle) 14.5 points and 5 assists per game.

Austin told me on the Queens of the Court: A WNBA Podcast that she didn’t want to return to the court until she was 100%. Despite Tuesday’s loss to Seattle, Austin went off for 24 points and nine rebounds in only her third game back in the starting lineup.

The Mystics made moves during last Tuesday’s trade deadline that may have raised some eyebrows. They shipped Myisha Hines-Allen to Minnesota and received a 2026 2nd-round pick, forward Sika Kone, and guard Olivia Epoupa. The Mystics then waived Epoupa and DiDi Richards. They also grabbed Sug Sutton and a 2025 third-round pick from the Mercury while they traded the rights to Swedish guard Klara Lundquist. It makes you wonder if the Mystics front office has decidedly closed the chapter on this season while focusing ahead to the future. It might not be a bad idea with their already robust and youthful core.

12. Los Angeles Sparks (6-24)

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week: L at Sun 61-69, L at Mystics 74-80, L at Wings 110-113
• This Week: Wednesday vs Liberty, Sunday vs Dream
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 97.1 (10); DefRtg: 105.9 (10); NetRtg: -8.8 (11); eFG%: 48.0 (8)

The Sparks had a rough first game back from the break, dropping to the number-1-seeded Liberty by 35 points. They allowed a whopping 14 made 3-pointers. Then, Sunday’s loss to Dallas was another stinger. LA was leading by as much as 22 points—looking great, making shots, and working together—and they fumbled it, losing by three points. Odyssey Sims had a team-high 26 points and 10 assists for the Sparks, becoming the first WNBA player to get 25+ points and 9+ assists in a game off the bench.

A positive: Inserting Rickea Jackson into the starting lineup was coach Curt Miller’s best decision. She’s the real deal. Lately, it’s been evident how much Jackson has been in the lab over the break. She’s not pressing the issue; consistency has been oozing from her game as she solidifies herself as a three-level scorer. Since returning to action, she’s averaging 16 points, and in Sunday’s loss to Dallas, Jackson had a career game, scoring a career-high 25 points (9-for-15 FG, 6-for-8 from 3), a career-high three blocks and matching career highs in steals with two and assists with four. As LA begins building for their future, they must ensure she’s a centerpiece.