The WNBA logged a short week as players prepare to head to Indianapolis, Indiana, for All-Star Weekend, but that doesn't mean there was a shortage of entertainment or surprises. The WNBA power rankings have a new No. 1 team for the first time in the 2025 season, proving how much the league is still shaking up as the second half approaches. With the midseason break upon us, let's take a look at where each squad in the W stands.

1. Phoenix Mercury (15‑7, +1)

The Mercury have emerged as a top threat, earning them the top spot in this week's WNBA power rankings as the first team to dethrone the Minnesota Lynx. The team has consistently improved behind Alyssa Thomas' leadership — and triple-double prowess — and Phoenix just got Thomas' fiancée DeWanna Bonner back after her stints with the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever.

The Mercury stumbled with rare back-to-back losses, but they rattled off wins over the Dallas Wings, thanks to Sami Whitcomb's career-high 36 points, and, more impressively, the Lynx to reestablish their ability to dominate. With a healthy bench and key pieces expected back in Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally, the Mercury are peaking at the right time.

2. Minnesota Lynx (20‑4, -1)

The Lynx have been dominant at home, remaining undefeated, and boast the top defensive rating in the WNBA. But Minnesota ran into a rare two-game skid last week, which included a loss to this week's top team, the Mercury. Napheesa Collier is playing MVP-caliber ball, and even with their depth, concerns around longevity arise.

The Lynx complete a grueling schedule before the break, playing 10 times in the 18 days before All-Star Weekend. Minnesota's expertly balanced, stingy defensively, and explosive enough offensively to bounce back to the top of the standings, but the players probably need the few days off to recover a bit first.

3. New York Liberty (14‑6, +2)

The defending champs have returned to form. After overcoming the significant absences of stars Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu, getting Leonie Fiebich back from EuroBasket, and having Natasha Cloud as a stabilizing force, the Liberty have recently strung together impressive victories over the Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream, which included a 19-point comeback.

New York won two straight for the first time since its 9-0 start, and the offense remains elite. The Liberty's recent winning ways and deep rotation confirm they're clearly contenders, but maintaining this consistency through the post-All-Star stretch will be key.

4. Seattle Storm (13‑9, =)

The Storm are playing good basketball on both ends, but their inconsistency keeps them from moving up any higher in the WNBA power rankings. A recent midseason surge saw Seattle beat the Dream and Liberty in back-to-back contests before coming back down to Earth with two straight losses to the Sun and Washington Mystics.

Seattle ranks high in advanced stats, but the veteran core in Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, and Ezi Magbegor has to steady the ship. If injuries stay at bay and the roster depth steps up consistently, the Storm should have no trouble remaining in the top tier.

5. Washington Mystics (11‑11, +4)

Hot on the heels of the W's top teams, the Mystics put together a surprising three‑game sweep last week. The stretch included gritty wins over the Chicago Sky, Aces, and Storm by tight margins that brought Washington over the .500 mark for the first time since May. Veteran Brittney Sykes, who was snubbed of a much-deserved All-Star selection, led the charge in the fourth quarter against the Storm the same way she's been leading the squad offensively and defensively all season.

The Mystics' resolve is showing, as they landed at the top of the league with a 90.4 defensive rating within the three-game streak. With key rookies like Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen contributing at an All-Star level, the Mystics are trending upward heading into the break and can keep the momentum going in the campaign's second half.

6. Indiana Fever (12‑10, +1)

The Fever bounced back from a blowout Golden State Valkyries loss by collecting double-digit victories over the Dream and Wings, lifting their record above .500. A returning Caitlin Clark fueled two high-performing nights, and the offense looks fluid again with Clark on the court despite her shooting woes. Defense remains a question mark, but the Fever's recent booms and promising playoff positioning earn them a top‑half spot in the WNBA power rankings.

7. Atlanta Dream (13‑9, -4)

The Dream opened the first half of the season strongly but have since slumped, dropping two to the Fever and Liberty and five of their last eight. Atlanta has struggled to close games out despite having All-Stars Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, proven by their late-game collapse versus New York.

Injuries are now a hindrance, as Howard went down during the Indiana game with a knee injury and has no plans to return any time soon. But when healthy, the Dream's combination of team chemistry and outside shooting threat could propel them back up the WNBA power rankings.

8. Las Vegas Aces (10‑11, =)

The Aces land under .500 after a shaky week due to a loss against the Liberty and a team they could've beaten in the Mystics, and they continue to over-rely on reigning MVP A’ja Wilson, who posted 34 points and 16 rebounds in a recent win over the Valkyries.

But Las Vegas will have to figure out a Plan B soon since Wilson left the Liberty game with a wrist injury and didn't play against the Mystics at all. Meanwhile, Jewell Loyd is still trying to find her scoring flair post-offseason trade. The club didn't go long without Wilson, but she'll need serious and consistent help if the postseason is still in Vegas' plan. If they can recover their chemistry, the Aces remain a threat. For now, though, they hover toward the bottom of the pack.

9. Golden State Valkyries (10‑11, -3)

The Valkyries have achieved 10 wins on the season, which is unprecedented for an expansion squad. But Golden State lost three of four on the road, all to top‑eight opponents. The Valkyries do seem to have the Fever's number, though, taking care of Indiana handily and shutting down Clark for the second time this campaign.

However, Golden State also gave up 90 and 104 points to the Dream and struggling Aces, respectively, threatening its reputation of possessing a smothering defense, and sits at just 3-7 away from home. How the Valkyries respond to this rough patch will define their season trajectory.

10. Chicago Sky (7‑15, +1)

Angel Reese has been a much-needed powerhouse for the Sky, averaging 17.6 points, 15.5 boards, and 4.3 assists on 48.6% shooting from the field to this point in the campaign. Reese put up her eighth-straight double-double in an impressive 87-81 upset of the Lynx, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

The shocking victory marked the Sky's first back-to-back win since May and the first time all season that they topped a higher-ranked team, previously only beating the Wings, Sun, and LA Sparks. This week won't change the path their season is going down by any means, but incremental improvement puts the Sky back on the radar as a potential late-season surprise.

11. Los Angeles Sparks (8‑14, +1)

The Sparks had an expected week last week, beating the Sun but falling to the Lynx. Powered by Kelsey Plum, Rickea Jackson, Azurá Stevens, and Dearica Hamby, LA is within striking distance of Dallas and Chicago. On top of their changing fortune, the Sparks are also anticipating getting Cameron Brink back from a year-long torn ACL recovery. If LA stays on this rebuilding track, the Sparks might even be able to contend for a playoff spot.

12. Dallas Wings (6‑16, -2)

After a meteoric bounce-back from a 1‑11 start, the Wings have dropped three straight and 102 points to both the Mercury and Fever. Arike Ogunbowale returned from a two-week absence due to a thumb injury but made almost no impact in Dallas' loss to Indiana, going 0-for-10 from the field.

Star rookie Paige Bueckers earned Rookie of the Month and All-Star honors, but it hasn't been enough to stop the rollercoaster that the Wings have been on this campaign. They’re young and promising, but gaps in roster and experience leave the Wings in a rebuilding phase.

13. Connecticut Sun (3‑19, =)

The Sun are perpetually at the bottom of these WNBA power rankings for a reason. Connecticut lost 12 of its past 13 games, managing to snap the 10-game losing streak against the up-and-down Storm before immediately losing the rematch in Seattle.

The Sun have already suffered a franchise-worst slump, and with just three wins, they sit dead last in the league. Offseason upheaval and potential franchise sale have destabilized them. Connecticut is in desperate need of a turnaround, but unless something dramatic happens, the rest of the season may serve as damage control.

The state of the WNBA is as exciting as ever heading into the midseason All-Star break. Teams like the Mercury are hitting their stride at the perfect time, while others like the Valkyries may need a breather to keep their postseason hopes from slipping away. Either way, if this week's WNBA power rankings are any indication, the second half of the season should be even more gripping than the first.