 Maya Moore, Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles pose for portraits during 2025 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Celebration & Awards Gala as part of the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 5, 2025 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut

Maya Moore, Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles

Sylvia Fowles shows the inside of her Hall of Fame jacket for portraits during 2025 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Celebration & Awards Gala as part of the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 5, 2025 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. 

Sylvia Fowles

Maya Moore shows the inside of her Hall of Fame jacket for portraits during 2025 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Celebration & Awards Gala as part of the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 5, 2025 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. 

Maya Moore

Sue Bird shows the inside of her Hall of Fame jacket for portraits during 2025 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Celebration & Awards Gala as part of the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 5, 2025 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Sue Bird

Sylvia Fowles poses for a portrait during the the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement tip-off celebration and awards gala at Mohegan Sun on September 5, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Maya Moore poses for a portrait during the the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement tip-off celebration and awards gala at Mohegan Sun on September 5, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut

Sue Bird poses for a portrait during the the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement tip-off celebration and awards gala at Mohegan Sun on September 5, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Maya Moore arrives to the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 06, 2025 in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Sylvia Fowles arrives to the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe arrive to the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 06, 2025 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Tamika Catchings and Sylvia Fowles pose for a photo during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Tamika Catchings and Sylvia Fowles

Geno Auriemma, Sue Bird and Chris Dailey pose for a photo during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Geno Auriemma, Sue Bird and Chris Dailey

Maya Moore, Geno Auriemma and Sue Bird pose for a photo during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Maya Moore, Geno Auriemma and Sue Bird

Sylvia Fowles talks during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sylvia Fowles speaks during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Sylvia Fowles addresses the crowd during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 06, 2025 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sylvia Fowles poses for a photo during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Maya Moore speaks during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts

Maya Moore speaks during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Maya Moore smiles on stage during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sue Bird gives a speech during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sue Bird smiles speaking during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sue Bird addresses the crowd during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 06, 2025 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sue Bird smiles during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird and Maya Moore pose for a photo during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on September 6, 2025 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird and Maya Moore

Team News

<div>
		<h2>Gallery Block</h2>
	</div>

Awards

NEW YORK, September 10, 2025 – The WNBA today announced Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles has been named the recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, recognizing her extraordinary commitment to service, social justice, and creating lasting impact in the communities she serves.
Named for WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, the award honors a current WNBA player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in the community where they work or live. The award’s recipient embodies Staley’s spirit, leadership, charitable efforts, love for the game, and inspirational presence in their community.
This marks the second time Charles has earned the award – first in 2012 as a rising star, and now as a veteran leader whose impact and dedication have only deepened over time.
This year, Charles will reach a powerful milestone in her community work, placing the 500th Automated External Defibrillator (AED) through her Hopey’s Heart Foundation. What began as a personal mission has grown into a life-saving legacy, fueled by her determination to ensure schools, recreation centers, and communities across the country have access to critical resources. Charles founded the Hopey’s Heart Foundation in 2013 in honor of her late aunt, Maureen “Hopey” Vaz, to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and provide AEDs to organizations in need.
Hopey’s Heart remains a family-run foundation, with Charles and her loved ones dedicating countless hours to outreach, research, education, and fundraising. This year, Yale New Haven Health pledged $20,000 to support AED distribution, enabling the foundation to reach the 500-device milestone.
Charles has also engaged fans through team-based initiatives, including a rebounding challenge that allowed supporters to pledge donations tied to her on-court performance. Beyond fundraising, she has been a visible ambassador for heart health, speaking at community events, health fairs, and awareness campaigns such as the American Heart Health Month.
“In every aspect of her game and character, Tina stands as a representation of the ideals and spirit of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Throughout her remarkable career, Tina has consistently used her platform to raise awareness and drive meaningful change. Her dedication to service, advocacy, and giving back to the community reflects the values that define our league. Tina continues to build a legacy that will inspire generations to come.”
Charles’ impact extends beyond Hopey’s Heart. In 2012, she personally funded the construction of a school in Mali, opening educational opportunities for hundreds of children. In New York City, Charles launched Hopey’s Week, a series of sports safety clinics focused on concussion prevention and injury awareness. She has also been a vocal advocate for racial and social justice, using her platform to elevate community voices and push for systemic change.
“Tina Charles exemplifies what it means to be a leader both on and off the court. We are thrilled to recognize her tireless efforts beyond the game over the course of her career, creating a profound and permanent impact within the entire sports community,” said Dawn Staley. “This award signifies the lasting legacy that leadership leaves behind. Tina embodies the values and hard work that continue to inspire her teammates, fellow athletes, fans, and members of her community.”
“Through my mother at a young age, I learned the importance of being a servant unto others, and receiving the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is truly special for me — especially for Hopey’s Heart Foundation to receive this honor through its work in raising awareness for sudden cardiac arrest,” said Tina Charles. “I started the foundation in April of 2013 and never thought its impact would cast as wide as it has. I’m thankful to everyone who has supported the foundation along the way. Thank you.”
A designated committee selected Charles as the winner of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to Charles’ charitable foundation, Hopey’s Heart Foundation.
###

2025-dawn-staley-community-leadership-award

Connecticut Sun's Tina Charles Earns Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

Power Rankings

With only four days remaining in the regular season, this is our final power rankings of the 2025 campaign.
Over the past week, the playoff picture has continued to come into focus, with seven of the eight spots secured. However, the final 11 games on the regular-season schedule will be important to deciding seeding as well as the final playoff berth.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s In: Lynx, Aces, Dream, Mercury, Liberty, Valkyries, Fever</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s Out: Mystics, Sun, Sky, Wings</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s In The Mix: Storm, Sparks</li>
</ul>
As the regular season wraps and the playoffs draw near, we take a look at each team’s season as a whole and how we got to this final snapshot of the league rankings.
<hr />
✅ Who’s In: Clinched Playoff Berth
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-203367" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-86.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-86.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-86-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-86-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-86-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
1. Minnesota Lynx (33-9)
Last Week: 1 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at IND, Thur. vs. GSV
The Lynx are 33-9 with two games to play, meaning they are guaranteed to finish with a win percentage of at least .750 (33-11). Why is that significant? All six times the Lynx have finished the regular season with a win percentage of .750 or better they have gone on to make the WNBA Finals (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2024). Can Napheesa Collier and Co. make it seven-for-seven as they enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed?
2. Las Vegas Aces (28-14)
Last Week: 2 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. CHI, Thur. at LAS
A search for the phrase “peaking at the right time” should show A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces as the top results. The Aces enter their final two games of the regular season looking to extend a franchise-record 14-game win streak that has vaulted them to No. 2 in the standings – via a tiebreaker over the Atlanta (3-0 season series lead) – and looking as dangerous as any team entering the postseason.
3. Atlanta Dream (28-14)
Last Week: 3 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Mon. vs. CON, Wed. at CON
Riding a four-game win streak, Atlanta closes the regular season with a home-and-home with Connecticut. Sweeping those two games would see the Dream finish 30-14, cementing the best regular season (.681 win percentage) in franchise history – surpassing the 23-11 (.676) by the 2018 squad and doubling last season’s win total (15-25). The next challenge is the postseason, where Atlanta looks to win a series for the first time since 2016.
4. Phoenix Mercury (27-15)
Last Week: 4 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. LAS, Thur. at DAL
The Mercury completely overhauled their roster last offseason – returning only two players from the 2024 squad. The culmination of those moves is a squad that has locked up home-court advantage in the opening round (PHX holds tiebreaker over NY) and is two wins away from matching the franchise record for wins in a season (29 in 2014) with two games to play. Prior to this season, Phoenix has won 23 or more games three times in a season – they won the Finals all three times.
5. New York Liberty (25-17)
Last Week: 5 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. WAS, Thur. at CHI
The Liberty will open their title defense on the road as they are locked into the 5-seed – New York does not have tiebreaker over only team they can catch (1-3 vs. Phoenix), but does hold the tiebreaker over the only team that can match them (3-1 vs. Golden State). But a key question entering their championship defense is health. Breanna Stewart has averaged a team-high 17.6 ppg, 6.4 reb and 1.4 bpg in five games since returning from a knee injury. However, Sabrina Ionescu has missed the past four games (toe) and Nyara Sabally has not played since mid-July (knee). 
6. Golden State Valkyries (23-19)
Last Week: 6 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at SEA, Thur. at MIN
The Valkyries made history with Thursday’s win over Dallas, becoming the first expansion team to clinch a playoff berth in their inaugural season. Although a loss to the Lynx on Saturday snapped a five-game win streak, Golden State is guaranteed a winning record in its debut season – setting a foundation to build upon in the years to come as well as the present in the Valkyries’s first postseason.
7. Indiana Fever (23-20)
Last Week: 8 ⬆️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. MIN
On Thursday, Caitlin Clark announced that she would miss the remainder of the season after being limited to 13 games in her sophomore season. However, three days later, the Fever defeated the Mystics to clinch a playoff berth for the second straight year following a seven-season playoff drought. Indiana has overcome multiple injuries – particularly in their backcourt –to not only stay in the playoff hunt, but lock up a top-seven finish.
<hr />
👀 In The Hunt: Two Teams Competing For One Spot
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-203368" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-87.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-87.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-87-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-87-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
8. Seattle Storm (22-21)
Last Week: 7 ⬇️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. GSV
The Storm have a magic number of one with one game remaining in the regular season, meaning one Storm win or one Sparks loss will clinch a playoff berth for Seattle. With a veteran-laden roster led by Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins, this team has been built to make a playoff run now, but may need to do so from the 8-seed. At the All-Star break, the Storm (14-9) were in fourth place, but an 8-12 run post All-Star has dropped them into a battle for the final playoff spot.
9. Los Angeles Sparks (20-22)
Last Week: 9 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at PHX, Thur. vs. LVA
L.A. must win its final two games (at Phoenix, vs. red-hot Vegas) and have Seattle lose its regular-season finale (vs. Golden State) in order to secure the final playoff spot. While the Sparks may fall short of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2020, they have already made a 12-win improvement over last season when they won a franchise-low eight games. That’s the season’s second-highest wins leap behind only Atlanta’s 13-win jump from 2024 to 2025.
<hr />
🚫 Who’s Out: Eliminated From Playoffs
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-203369" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-88.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-88.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-88-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-88-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
10. Washington Mystics (16-27)
Last Week: 10 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at NYL
After an offseason of change – Elena Delle Donne retired, Ariel Atkins traded, new head coach and general manager and three top-six picks in the 2025 Draft – the Mystics exceeded projections early in the season, entering the All-Star break in seventh place at .500 (11-11) – sending Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen to Indy as the league’s first All-Star rookie teammates since 1999. However, after trading leading scorer Brittney Sykes to Seattle at the deadline for more future assets, the Mystics have gone 5-16 since the break to fall out of the playoff picture.
11. Connecticut Sun (11-31)
Last Week: 11 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Mon. at ATL, Wed. vs. ATL
The Sun knocked on the championship door for eight straight seasons from 2017-2024 – racking up a league-high 181 regular-season wins during that span, but never breaking through to win the franchise’s first championship. The core of that team was broken up in the offseason as the Sun began a rebuild. With a new-look roster featuring five rookies, the Sun struggled early, entering the All-Star break at 3-19. However, they have gone 8-12 since the break thanks to key contributions from veterans Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles and the development of their young talent.
12. Chicago Sky (10-32)
Last Week: 12 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at LVA, Thur. vs. NYL
The Sky will cap off a challenging season with a challenging final two games, facing two teams that won the past three WNBA titles – Las Vegas (2022 &amp; 2023 champs) and New York (2024 champs) to conclude the 2025 campaign. Chicago struggled with consistency (they won consecutive games only two times all year) and offensive production (currently last at 75.9 points per game). Key injuries to Courtney Vandersloot (torn ACL after seven games) and Angel Reese (Sky went 1-9 in her 10 games missed with a back injury) played a key role as Chicago has its fewest wins since its inaugural season in 2006.
13. Dallas Wings (9-34)
Last Week: 13 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Thur. vs. PHX
The Wings close out their season on Thursday against the Mercury looking to snap a 10-game losing streak and earn their 10th win of the season. Dallas’ season has featured a mix of highs and lows. No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers has shined, ranked in the top eight in the league in scoring (5th, 19.1), assists (8th, 5.3), steals (5th, 1.6) and minutes (4th, 33.4). However, the team struggled on defense (last in points allowed at 88.3 per game) and through injuries (only three players have appeared in 30+ games). Outside of a seven-game stretch from June 17-July 3 when the Wings went 5-2 with wins over three playoff teams, Dallas has gone 4-32 while enduring five losing streaks of 4+ games.

2025-wnba-power-rankings-week-14

2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Week 14

Uncategorized

The 2025 WNBA regular season has officially entered its final week, with the playoff picture still simmering. Only Minnesota has locked in their spot at the top, while the race for the remaining seven remains wide open.
The postseason tips off on September 14, and two teams are heating up at exactly the right time: the Las Vegas Aces have surged to clinch a playoff berth behind an incredible 13-game winning streak, while the Phoenix Mercury are keeping pace, riding momentum into the postseason.
Let’s take a look at the latest <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA odds</a> for the WNBA Finals, give a weekend preview, and I’ll share my best bets for Friday and Saturday&#8217;s games on DraftKings Sportsbook You can also find more WNBA previews, picks, and daily content on <a href="https://dknetwork.com/?source=WNBAArticlebyMeghan">DraftKings Network.</a>
<hr />
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=team-futures&amp;subcategory=champion">2025 WNBA Finals Odds</a>
The Favorite: MIN Lynx (+120)
<hr />
There hasn’t been much shake-up in the WNBA Finals market. Minnesota holds steady as the favorite at +120, leading the league at 32–9 with a comfortable cushion in the standings. Backed by the league’s top offensive and defensive ratings, the Lynx secured the No. 1 seed with authority and continue to prove their dominance by winning seven of their last 10 contests.
With Napheesa Collier anchoring their attack, a defense capable of shutting down any opponent, and the depth to wear teams down, Minnesota stands as the undeniable frontrunner to capture the championship.
WNBA Best Bets and Weekend Preview
Los Angeles Sparks at Atlanta Dream — Friday, September 5th, 7:30 PM ET
With the Atlanta Dream already locked into the postseason, all the pressure shifts to the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday. The Sparks have dropped five of their last 10 — including an 86–75 loss to Atlanta in their last matchup — and find themselves scrambling on the playoff bubble. In that game, Dearica Hamby dropped 21 points and nine boards while Kelsey Plum added 18 points and seven assists, but the Sparks couldn’t match the Dream’s depth. Rhyne Howard poured in 19, Brionna Jones notched her 12th double-double, and five Atlanta players finished in double figures.
Atlanta brings the league’s second-best offensive rating into a matchup with Los Angeles’ shaky defense, ranked fourth-worst overall and prone to giving up clean looks from deep. Unless the Sparks find defensive consistency in a hurry, the Dream are poised to make it two straight, and I&#8217;m liking Howard to lead the charge from beyond the arc.
Lean: ATL -6.5
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=player-threes&amp;subcategory=threes-o-u">PICK: Rhyne Howard Over 3.5 Three-Pointers Made (+135)</a>
New York Liberty at Seattle Storm — Friday, September 5th, 10:00 PM ET
It’s been anything but smooth sailing for the Liberty this season, with injuries derailing the reigning champions and stars missing extended stretches — the latest setback being Sabrina Ionescu’s absence. Without her steady scoring presence, New York has dropped two straight, including a rough 66–58 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. While they&#8217;ve still officially clinched a playoff spot, the Liberty have their work cut out for them as the playoffs near.
Up next is Seattle, a team that’s been wildly inconsistent down the stretch, beating Finals favorite Minnesota 93–79 one night, then coughing up a 17-point lead to fall 91–85 against Los Angeles two games later. If the Storm can close the season with back-to-back wins, they’ll hit the postseason at .500 and with momentum. However, to knock off New York, they’ll need a locked-in defensive effort and big outings from Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike to overcome the Liberty’s still-lethal attack, which ranks third in the league in offensive rating (105.6).
Lean: NY +2
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=player-points&amp;subcategory=points-o-u">PICK: Nneka Ogwumike Over 17.5 Points (-120)</a>
Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun — Saturday, September 6th, 1:00 PM
The Mercury are scorching right now. Winners of six straight, Phoenix finally has its big three, Satou Sabally, Kahleah Copper, and Alyssa Thomas, all healthy and rolling at the same time. Thomas has been nothing short of electric, racking up a league-record seven triple-doubles while stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis, and the Mercury’s surge has pushed them into the top three in the standings. Fresh off a 75–69 win over the Mystics, they head into Saturday with a prime chance to keep the streak alive against a fading Connecticut team. 
The Sun are already out of the playoff picture, stuck near the bottom of the standings with the league’s worst offensive rating (96.2) and third-worst defensive rating (108.8). This is exactly the kind of matchup Phoenix should dominate, and with a playoff spot already locked up, I expect the Mercury to treat the rest of the season as chemistry and momentum building reps.
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=game-lines&amp;subcategory=game">PICK: PHO -10.5 (-110)</a>
<hr />
All season long, I’ll be tracking the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA Odds</a> for MVP, Finals Winner and more right here!
<hr />
All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
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weekend-preview-and-wnba-champion-odds-september-5

WNBA Best Bets for September 5: Weekend Preview and WNBA Finals Odds

NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2025 – Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has been suspended one game after receiving her eighth technical foul of the 2025 season, the WNBA announced today.
Under WNBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game upon receiving an eighth technical foul during the regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended for an additional game.
Reese incurred her eighth technical foul with 0:46 remaining in the second quarter during Wednesday’s game versus the Connecticut Sun. She will serve her suspension on September 5, when the Sky visits the Indiana Fever.
# # #

angel-reese-technical-foul-suspension

Chicago Sky's Angel Reese Suspended After Reaching Technical Foul Limit

The playoff picture is beginning to come into focus. In the past week, the Lynx clinched the best record in the league, while the Aces, Dream and Mercury all punched their tickets to the playoffs.
That means we have four teams in, we have four teams out and four spots left with five teams still in the mix.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s In: Lynx (clinched No. 1 seed), Aces, Dream, Mercury</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s Out: Mystics, Sun, Sky, Wings</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s In The Mix: Liberty, Storm, Valkyries, Fever, Sparks</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Who’s In: Clinched Playoff Berth</h2>
<h3>1. Minnesota Lynx (31-8) ↔️</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202817" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/GettyImages-2232324175-1.jpg" alt="Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx handles the ball" width="960" height="640" />
Last Week: 1 
This Week: Mon vs. DAL, Thur. at LVA, Sat. at GSV
Minnesota’s win over Connecticut on Saturday not only clinched the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, it also set a Lynx franchise record for wins in a season (31), surpassing the mark they set last year (30) with five games to play. One of those remaining games is a marquee matchup with the red-hot Aces on Thursday. While the game won’t affect Minnesota’s playoff position, it can impact both the scoring title and MVP races between Napheesa Collier (23.41 ppg) and A’ja Wilson (23.36) – who enter the week in a dead heat in scoring average while Minnesota leads the season series 3-0.
&nbsp;
<h3>2. Las Vegas Aces (26-14) ↔️</h3>
Last Week: 2
This Week: Thur. vs. MIN, Sun. vs. CHI
Tiebreakers (Top 4 Race): 3-0 vs. ATL, 3-1 vs. PHX, 1-2 vs. NYL
It was another perfect week for the Aces with road wins at Chicago and Atlanta to extend their win streak to a franchise-record-tying 12 games. Wilson continues to dominate both ends of the court – averaging 26.8 points, on 50.4% FG, 45% 3P, 87.9% FT shooting splits, along with 12.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals. Las Vegas will look to set a new mark in Thursday’s showdown with Minnesota.
&nbsp;
<h3>3. Atlanta Dream (25-14) ↔️</h3>
Last Week: 3 
This Week: Mon at CON, Wed. vs. LAS, Fri. vs. LAS
Tiebreakers (Top 4 Race): 3-0 vs. PHX, 2-2 vs. NYL, 0-3 vs. LVA
At 12-5, the Dream have been the second best team since the All-Star break. However, three of those five losses have come to the Aces, who have passed the Dream in the standings and own the head-to-head tiebreaker should it be needed at season’s end. Atlanta enters the week tied with Phoenix at 25-14, but holds the No. 3 spot in the standings after sweeping the season series with the Mercury (3-0).
&nbsp;
<h3>4. Phoenix Mercury (25-14)</h3>
Last Week: 4 ↔️
This Week: Tue. vs. IND, Thur. at WAS, Sat. at CON
Tiebreakers Top 4 Race: 3-1 vs. NYL, 1-3 vs. LVA, 0-3 vs. ATL
The Mercury are riding a four-game win streak as they look to secure a top-four finish and home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. Phoenix enters this week tied with Las Vegas and Atlanta in the loss column (14) but does not hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over either team, making a climb to No. 2 or No. 3 more challenging. However, Phoenix does hold a two-loss edge and the tiebreaker over No. 5 New York as the Mercury try to hold off the defending champs.
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<h2>Who’s In The Mix: Race For Playoffs</h2>
<h3>5. New York Liberty (24-16) ↔️</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202818" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/GettyImages-2232368398.jpg" alt="Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty looks on during the game against the Phoenix Mercury" width="960" height="640" />
Last Week: 5 
This Week: Tue. at GSV, Fri. at SEA
Tiebreakers (Top 4 Race): 2-1 vs. LVA, 2-2 vs. ATL, 1-3 vs. PHX
Tiebreakers (Playoff Race): 3-0 vs. GSV (1 left), 3-1 vs. IND, 2-1 vs. LAS,  0-2 vs. SEA (1 left)
The Liberty enter this week in a unique position – they are the only team that is still in contention for a top-four finish while not having clinched a playoff berth. New York enters this week with a magic number of one, meaning they need one win (first chance is Tuesday at Golden State) or one Sparks loss (first chance is Monday at Seattle) to punch their fifth straight postseason ticket. After getting Natasha Cloud back on Saturday, New York hopes to get back to full health with Sabrina Ionescu (toe) and Nyara Sabally (knee) soon.
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<h3>6. Golden State Valkyries (21-18) ⬆️</h3>
Last Week: 7
This Week: Tue. vs. NYL, Thur. vs. DAL, Sat. vs. MIN
Tiebreakers (Playoff Race): 3-0 vs. IND, 3-1 vs. LAS, 2-1 vs. SEA (1 left), 0-3 vs. NYL (1 left) 
A three-game win streak has helped Golden State’s effort to become the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season, but there is still work to be done. Four of the Valkyries’ final five games come against teams that have either clinched a playoff berth (two games vs. Minnesota) or remain in the playoff mix (New York and Seattle). Can Veronica Burton continue dishing dimes &#8212; she has 13+ assists in three of her last five games &#8212; and help Golden State make history?
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<h3>7. Seattle Storm (22-19) ⬇️</h3>
Last Week: 6
This Week: Mon. vs. LAS, Fri. vs. NYL
Tiebreakers (Playoff Race): 2-0 vs. NYL (1 left), 1-2 vs. GSV (1 left), 1-2 vs. LAS (1 left), 0-3 vs. IND
On Thursday in Minnesota, the Storm overcame a 21-point deficit to rally past the league-leading Lynx for a statement road win after Seattle entered the game 0-10 on the season when trailing by 16+ points. That was one of the Storm’s five wins over their last six games as they look to close the season strong and secure their playoff berth. Tonight’s game against Los Angeles is big as a loss would drop Seattle to 20 losses (even with L.A.) and give the Sparks the head-to-head tiebreaker.
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<h3>8. Indiana Fever (21-19) ↔️</h3>
Last Week: 8
This Week: Tue. at PHX, Fri. vs. CHI, Sun. at WAS
Tiebreakers (Playoff Race): 3-0 vs. SEA, 1-3 vs. NYL, 1-3 vs. LAS, 0-3 vs. GSV
After opening the week with wins over Seattle and Los Angeles to climb to sixth place in the standings, the Fever lost Sunday’s game against Golden State to drop back down to eighth. While the Fever hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle, they do not have tiebreakers against the Liberty, Sparks or Valkyries, which are the three teams closest to Indy in the playoff race. This week, the Fever head to Phoenix to face the playoff-bound Mercury before a pair of games against teams that have already been eliminated.
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<h3>9. Los Angeles Sparks (18-20) ↔️</h3>
Last Week: 9
This Week: Mon. at SEA, Wed. at ATL, Fri. at ATL, Sun. vs. DAL
Tiebreakers (Playoff Race): 3-1 vs. IND, 2-1 vs. SEA (1 left), 1-2 vs. NYL, 1-3 vs. GSV
No team has a busier remaining schedule than the Sparks – who have played in a league-low 38 games and have six games over the season’s final 11 days, including four this week – as L.A. looks to snap a four-year playoff drought. Monday night&#8217;s game at Seattle is crucial as a win will prevent L.A. from dropping further from the pack in the loss column, while tying the season series with the Storm. It is the first of four remaining road games for the Sparks, who have been better away (10-8) than at home (8-12) this season.
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<h2>Who’s Out: Eliminated From Playoffs</h2>
<h3>10. Washington Mystics (16-25) ↔️</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202819" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/GettyImages-2232431372.jpg" alt="Sonia Citron #22 of the Washington Mystics dribbles the ball against the Seattle Storm" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/GettyImages-2232431372.jpg 4570w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/GettyImages-2232431372-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Last Week: 10
This Week: Thur. vs. PHX, Sun. vs. IND
Saturday&#8217;s loss at Golden State not only marked Washington&#8217;s largest margin of defeat (-37) since 2008, it also officially eliminated the Mystics from the playoffs. Sunday’s loss in L.A. made it seven straight for the Mystics, who will finish 10th in the standings regardless of the outcome of all remaining games – they can’t catch any team in the top nine and can’t be caught by any of the teams below them.
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<h3>11. Connecticut Sun (10-29) ↔️</h3>
Last Week: 11
This Week: Mon. vs. ATL, Wed. at CHI, Sat. vs. PHX
Despite Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, the Sun have played their best ball of the season down the stretch – going 5-3 in their last eight games. During this stretch, veterans Tina Charles (17.3 ppg) and Marina Mabrey (15.1 ppg) have led the way, but they are followed in scoring by a trio of rookies &#8212; Leïla Lacan (11.6 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.6 spg), Saniya Rivers (10.0 ppg, 44.8% 3P) and Aneesah Morrow (8.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg).
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<h3>12. Chicago Sky (9-30) ↔️</h3>
Last Week: 12
This Week: Wed. vs. CON, Fri. at IND, Sun. at LVA
Monday’s game against Las Vegas saw the Sky retire Candace Parker’s No. 3 jersey during a halftime ceremony. That game also saw Angel Reese pass Tina Charles (45) for the most double-doubles through a player’s first two seasons in WNBA history. With two more double-doubles last week, Reese is up to 48 and counting. The Sky enter this week looking to snap a four game slide as Chicago has gone just 2-17 in its last 19 games.
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<h3>13, Dallas Wings (9-31) ↔️</h3>
Last Week: 13
This Week: Mon. at MIN, Thur. at GSV, Sun. at LAS
The injuries and the losses continue to climb for Dallas, which has eight players listed on its injury report entering Monday’s game in Minnesota. That includes rookie sensation Paige Bueckers (left calf), who is on pace to finish in the top 10 in scoring (18.9 ppg), assists (5.4 apg) and steals (1.6) in her first season as a pro. The Wings have dropped seven straight and are 3-18 over their last 21 games.

2025-power-rankings-week-13

2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Week 13

The 2025 WNBA regular season is in its final stretch, and the competition is HOT. The expansion Golden State Valkyries are chasing history as they fight to clinch a postseason berth in their inaugural year, while Indiana’s Caitlin Clark inches closer to a long-awaited return. Meanwhile, Alyssa Thomas continues to redefine versatility with a record-breaking seventh triple-double, fueling Phoenix’s late push.
With the playoff picture tightening and sportsbooks adjusting daily, this weekend offers bettors compelling angles tied directly to the league’s biggest headlines
Let’s take a look at the latest <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA odds</a> for the WNBA Finals, give a weekend preview, and I’ll share my best bets for Friday and Saturday&#8217;s games on DraftKings Sportsbook You can also find more WNBA previews, picks, and daily content on <a href="https://dknetwork.com/?source=WNBAArticlebyMeghan">DraftKings Network.</a>
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<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=team-futures&amp;subcategory=champion">2025 WNBA Finals Odds</a>
The Favorite: MIN Lynx (+135)
Minnesota remains the Finals favorite at +135, and for good reason. The Lynx sit atop the league at 30-7 with a six-game cushion, having beaten the defending champion Liberty three times this season and held down the best defense and offense in the league.
Napheesa Collier’s return only strengthens their case, dropping 32 points and nine rebounds in her first game back, reasserting her MVP status. With a playoff berth locked and depth pieces like Jessica Shepard and Courtney Williams delivering in big spots, Minnesota’s mix of elite scoring, defense, and veteran leadership makes them the clear team to beat.
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WNBA Best Bets and Weekend Preview
Dallas Wings at Atlanta Dream — Friday, August 29, 7:30 PM ET
The Atlanta Dream enter the weekend looking to rebound after falling to the red-hot Las Vegas Aces, who have ripped off 12 straight wins. Rhyne Howard and Brionna Jones each dropped 19 points in that loss, but Atlanta has now failed to crack 80 points in five straight contests despite still owning the third-best offensive rating in the league (106.4).
The Dallas Wings, meanwhile, are trending in the opposite direction, dropping six in a row and 11 of their last 12, sliding to the bottom of the standings. Scoring hasn’t been their issue, but their second-worst defense — especially in transition — continues to sink them. That’s a suboptimal matchup against an Atlanta team that thrives when they can get out and run.
From a betting perspective, this feels like a spot where the Dream should control the pace and cover. Look for Allisha Gray (18.8 PPG, 38.8% from three) to shine in a revenge game against her former team, making her scoring props an intriguing angle alongside a play on Atlanta against the spread.
Lean: ATL -13
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=player-points&amp;subcategory=points-o-u">PICK: Allisha Gray Over 16.5 Points (-115)</a>
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Indiana Fever at Los Angeles Sparks — Friday, August 29, 10:00 PM ET
The Indiana Fever are in must-win mode to stay in the playoff picture, but injuries have taken a toll. They’ve gone 10–11 without Caitlin Clark and just 3–6 in their last nine, though Clark’s recent return to non-contact drills hints she could be back soon. The Los Angeles Sparks, meanwhile, sit ninth in the standings but have already swept the season series 3-0, including a 100–91 win on Aug. 5. With Kelsey Plum averaging 20.4 PPG (23.1 over her last six), L.A. has the momentum and matchup edge. From a betting standpoint, even with Indiana’s desperation factor, the Sparks on the moneyline remain the play I&#8217;m eyeing.
Lean: LA ML
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=player-threes&amp;subcategory=threes-o-u">PICK: Kelsey Plum Under 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-140)</a>
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Washington Mystics at Golden State Valkyries — Saturday, August 30, 8:30 PM ET
The Golden State Valkyries are closing in on history, sitting seventh in their inaugural WNBA season and looking to become the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in Year 1. They’ll lean heavily on Veronica Burton, who’s already delivered two of the only eight games in league history with 24+ points and 13+ assists, as they try to lock in that postseason spot down the stretch.
The Washington Mystics, meanwhile, are reeling after an 89–63 blowout loss to the Liberty on Thursday, their fifth straight defeat. With a bottom-third offense (10th in rating) and only average defense (7th), they’ll need big nights from rookie standouts like Sonia Citron (15.2 PPG) and Kiki Iriafen to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
From a betting lens, momentum leans heavily toward Golden State. The Valks’ depth and Burton’s elite playmaking make them a strong pick against a struggling Mystics squad.
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/was-mystics-%40-gs-valkyries/32720915">PICK: GS -5.5 (-105)</a>
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All season long, I’ll be tracking the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA Odds</a> for MVP, Finals Winner and more right here!
All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
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