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For the first month of the 2025 WNBA campaign, the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty sat firmly atop the league as the top two teams. Now, as the midseason break approaches, the Liberty are nearly unrecognizable as defending champions. It may not be time to sound the alarm yet, but it is surprising to see which squads that started the year with no expectations have now surpassed the Liberty in this week's WNBA power rankings. Without spoiling anything further, let's take a look at where each team lands in Week 7.
1. Minnesota Lynx (17-2, =)
At the top of the W this week sit the Lynx, who have continued to dominate outside of their 74-59 loss to the Fever in the Commissioner's Cup Final. Luckily for them, that game doesn't count toward their regular-season record, and the Lynx have bounced back well since then.
Minnesota finished out the week at home with victories over the Washington Mystics, Golden State Valkyries, and Chicago Sky. Napheesa Collier is making an MVP case with stellar all‑around numbers, while Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride have been huge in playmaking and shooting roles. Despite the slight stumble, the Lynx's chemistry, coaching, and resilience have kept them in a tier above the rest.
2. Phoenix Mercury (13-6, =)
Besides their 98-89 loss to the Dallas Wings, the Mercury bounced back quickly and returned to form in the next game against the Wings, winning 102-72 off of 36 points from Sami Whitcomb and an Alyssa Thomas triple-double of 15 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds. Phoenix won easily even while missing Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper, who were out with an ankle and hamstring injury, respectively.
Then the Mercury managed to steal a win over the Lynx at home, showing off their improving roster depth. Now, the Mercury are expecting to get longtime franchise player DeWanna Bonner back after she asked to be waived by the Fever, which could only mean their season will keep looking up from here as they prepare to face down the Valkyries.
3. Atlanta Dream (12-7, +1)
The Dream have jumped into the power rankings' top five thanks to strong offensive output. Atlanta suffered a cruel 80-79 defeat in the closing seconds to the Storm and narrowly avoided another home loss on Monday to the Valkyries. However, the Dream's 15-2 fourth-quarter run gave them a 90-81 victory behind 24 points from Allisha Gray, who's an All-Star along with Rhyne Howard, and Naz Hillmon's 16. Atlanta's upward trajectory and consistency bode well for a team that's set to face the Fever and Liberty in the next two contests.
4. Seattle Storm (12-7, +4)
The Storm have been bouncing around in the WNBA power rankings from week to week, but it's honestly just a reflection of their journey so far this season. Seattle is on the rise again after taking down the Dream, with Skylar Diggins getting the winning layup, and the Liberty on the road last week.
With three players heading to the All-Star Game in Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, and Gabby Williams, and the next three games coming against lower-ranked teams — including the perpetually last-place Connecticut Sun twice — the Storm are in a good position to enter the midseason break on a high note.
5. New York Liberty (12-6, -2)
The Liberty are in the middle of a frustrating slump, especially with WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones on the sideline for an extended period of time due to an ankle injury. New York clearly failed to make up for her absence during Sunday's 79-70 loss to the Storm, but the Liberty will need to find an inside presence if they want any shot at beating both the Aces and Dream this upcoming week. Playing the next six games in Brooklyn should help the Liberty stop sliding down in the WNBA power rankings.
6. Golden State Valkyries (9-9, -1)
The Valkyries have dropped back down to Earth a bit after winning four of their previous five. Losses to the Lynx and Dream leave Golden State at a .500 record and down one spot in the power rankings, but the Valkyries still have plenty to be proud of as a first-year squad that's been shockingly more consistent than so many of the WNBA's established teams. Golden State also has its first-ever All-Star representing the franchise in Kayla Thornton, but the club has meetings on the road against the middling Fever and Aces and a homestand versus the Mercury to face before reaching the exhibition weekend.
7. Indiana Fever (9-9, +2)
🏆 For the FIRST TIME in franchise history, the @indianafever are your 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Champions!
Commissioner’s Cup presented by @coinbase 🏆#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/B5XahgztU5
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 2, 2025
The Fever are still solidly in the middle of the league through seven weeks, and like the rest of the teams in this range of the power rankings, they started to gain momentum before slipping again.
Indiana won the Commissioner's Cup Final over Minnesota and took down the Aces, holding both foes under 60 points and boosting the team up in the rankings, but then the Fever lost at home to the LA Sparks once again. Caitlin Clark's groin injury is still keeping her out, so Indiana is still trying to re-establish its identity without its star player. There's enough depth on their roster for the Fever to pull it off, but they'll be tested first against the Valkyries and Dream.
8. Las Vegas Aces (9-9, -2)
The Aces and Fever are essentially in the same position but potentially heading in the opposite direction. Las Vegas' inconsistency seems to be more severe, with really low lows and high highs coming in back-to-back games.
After the Fever blew out the Aces 81-54 on Thursday, head coach Becky Hammon said her squad lacked “professionalism” and called out their poor performance. Vegas managed to right the ship again on Sunday, beating the Sun 86-68 as expected. But it remains to be seen if the Aces can keep that going — especially against the likes of the Liberty, Valkyries, and still-improving Mystics.
9. Washington Mystics (8-10, -2)
The Mystics fell only once last week, and that was to a Lynx team two days removed from losing the Commissioner's Cup Final to the Fever — there was no slowing Minnesota down. But since that was also the squad's sole contest, Washington will look to get back on track versus manageable opponents in the Sky and Aces before closing out the season's first half in Seattle.
10. Dallas Wings (6-14, =)
Fans would've expected the Wings to stand no chance against the Mercury with Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington both out with a thumb and rib injury, respectively. But the rookie trio of Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, and JJ Quinerly put the team on their backs to combine for 44 points.
Even though they dropped that game 102-72 in Phoenix on Monday, the Wings gave an impressive performance a few days before in their shocking 98-89 victory over the Mercury, and they have a decent chance of following that up with more wins against the Sky and Fever on the road.
11. Chicago Sky (5-12, =)
The Sky lost their only game of the week 80-75 to the Lynx, which you can't blame them too much for, leaving Angel Reese's historic production as the main highlight. Reese pulled in 17 rebounds against Minnesota, marking her fifth consecutive game with at least 16 boards and proving why she's an All-Star for the second straight campaign.
Chicago has a ton of ground to make up and a packed schedule before All-Star Weekend, and it won't be an easy stretch for the young rebuilding club. The Sky will have to face off against other improving young squads in the Mystics and Wings before taking on the Lynx twice in Minnesota. The midseason break can't come fast enough for Chicago.
12. Los Angeles Sparks (6-13, =)
If there's one team the Sparks can beat, it's the Fever. LA has only beaten Indiana in its past eight games, including a 89-87 victory on Saturday. After losing earlier in the week to New York, the Sparks now have to take on the W's other biggest test in the Lynx. Luckily, forward Azurá Stevens is continuing to shine alongside Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby through her career-best season, putting up 21 points and 12 rebounds against the Fever. Despite the team's overall rough start, Stevens shows no sign of slowing down.
13. Connecticut Sun (2-16, =)
The Sun have dropped 10 in a row, making them the team everyone can't wait to play against. Connecticut has a talented rookie class in Saniya Rivers and Aneesah Morrow, but they haven't taken over the team's rebuild the way Bueckers, Citron, and Iriafen have for their respective teams.
Injuries to stars like Marina Mabrey have derailed any momentum the team may have been building, and outside of legendary veteran Tina Charles, there haven't been many memorable moments to speak of. The Sun are the epitome of a rebuilding squad, and upcoming matchups with the Storm twice and the Sparks likely won't get them out of the bottom of the WNBA power rankings.
As All-Star Weekend approaches, it's getting easier to tell which teams are separating themselves in the league's elite tier. The Lynx, Dream, Storm, Mercury, and Liberty have essentially locked in their playoff positions, while the Mystics, Aces, Fever, and Valkyries fight to find consistency so their postseason hopes can stay alive. Even the bottom-ranked teams have interesting storylines going on, as clubs like the Wings battle back from abysmal starts. All of this makes for a more parity down the stretch, creating a more competitive and entertaining second half of the 2025 WNBA season.
