A dilemma comes with the opening week’s power rankings: How much do you hold onto your preseason expectations for teams vs. how much do you take into account the one (maybe two) games each team has played so far?

With only eight games played across the league, the sample size is too small to make drastic changes. However, a few teams made quite the first impression and climbed a few spots on the rankings ladder below.

↔️ 1. New York Liberty (1-0)

Last Week: 1

This Week: at CHI, at IND

The Liberty opened the week atop the power rankings, then raised their first banner, collected their rings, and defeated the Aces in a clash of the past two WNBA champs in the season opener. That’s a formula to stay atop the rankings this week.

Natasha Cloud stuffed the stat sheet (22 pts, six reb, nine ast, three stl, two blk) in her Liberty debut. She’s one of only four players to ever hit those marks in a game, and the only one to do so in a non-overtime contest.

↔️ 2. Minnesota Lynx (2-0)

Last Week: 2

This Week: vs. DAL, vs. CON

In this year’s WNBA GM Survey, the Lynx were tabbed as the title favorites, with Napheesa Collier as the favorite to win her first MVP. The season’s opening weekend only bolstered those thoughts as the Lynx posted double-digit wins over the Wings (+15) and the Sparks (+14), with Collier scoring 34 and 23 points, respectively, to lead the way.

↔️ 3. Las Vegas Aces (0-1)

Last Week: 3

This Week: at CON, vs. WAS, at SEA

Here’s my first example of not overreacting to a single game. Yes, the Aces dropped their season opener to the Liberty, the same team that ended their 2024 season in the semifinals, but one loss does not shake my faith in A’ja Wilson (31 pts, 16 reb) and the Aces. Jewell Loyd (5 pts, 2-10 FG) had a tough debut as she, Chelsa Gray, and Jackie Young combined to shoot just 26.2% in the opener. I anticipate that trio bouncing back quickly.

⬆️ 4. Indiana Fever (1-0)

Last Week: 5

This Week: vs. ATL at ATL, vs. NYL

Caitlin Clark opened her second WNBA season by dropping her third career triple-double (20 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast, career-high four blk) as she and Aliyah Boston (19 pts, 13 reb, five blk) led the Fever past the Sky. Simultaneously, DeWanna Bonner climbed to 3rd on the WNBA all-time scoring list (7,489) in her Fever debut.

⬆️ 5. Phoenix Mercury (1-0)

Last Week: 6

This Week: vs. LAS, at SEA, vs. WAS

The new-look Mercury, with eight players making their Phoenix debut on Saturday, never trailed as they defeated the Storm behind a combined 47 points from marquee offseason additions Satou Sabally (27 pts, six reb, three 3pm, two blk) and Alyssa Thomas (20 pts, seven reb, six ast, two stl).

The question is whether the Mercury can keep this going without last year’s leading scorer, Kahleah Copper (21.1 ppg, 3rd in WNBA), who is expected to miss 4-6 weeks following knee surgery.

⬇️ 6. Seattle Storm (0-1)

Last Week: 4

This Week: at DAL, vs. PHX, vs. LVA

Like the Aces, a season-opening loss doesn’t completely shake my belief in Seattle. With a veteran core of Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, Alysha Clark, and Erica Wheeler, this team is built to win now while keeping an eye on the future after adding 19-year-old French center Dominique Malonga with the No. 2 pick in the draft.

However, the Storm struggled to score in their season opener, putting up just 59 points. Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor each shot 1-of-9 overall, and the team shot just 3-of-17 from 3-point range. Those marks must improve moving forward.

⬆️ 7. Los Angeles Sparks (1-1)

Last Week: 10

This Week: at PHX, vs. GSV, vs. CHI

The Sparks opened the season by spoiling the franchise debut of the Golden State Valkyries in historic fashion, with Kelsey Plum setting the WNBA record for points in a season opener with 37 in her Sparks debut. Plum followed that performance with 18 points and five dimes in Sunday’s loss to the Lynx, which saw Dearica Hamby and Azurá Stevens combine for 41 points. 

⬆️ 8. Washington Mystics (2-0)

Last Week: 11

This Week: at GSV, at LVA, at PHX

In 2024, the Mystics opened the season with 12 straight losses. In 2025, they opened with two straight wins. Veteran guard Brittney Sykes (24.5 ppg, 6.0 apg) and 2025 first round draft picks Sonia Citron (17.0 ppg, 64.7% FG) and Kiki Iriafen (15.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg) led the way in close wins over Atlanta (+4) and Connecticut (+5) to open the season. For a team focused on building for the future, the start of the 2025 campaign is promising.

⬇️ 9. Atlanta Dream (0-1)

Last Week: 7

This Week: at IND, vs. IND, vs. DAL, vs. CON

Despite the season-opening loss to the Mystics, the Dream have positives to build upon. The new frontline of Brittney Griner (18 pts, eight reb) and Brionna Jones (16 pts, 10 reb, five ast) should be formidable. Plus, Allisha Gray (25 pts, eight reb, seven ast, six 3pm) dropped a stat line only matched by two players ever. They’ll need to get Rhyne Howard going (11 pts on 4-of-14 FG in the opener) and hopefully get Jordin Canada (knee) back soon.

⬇️ 10. Dallas Wings (0-1)

Last Week: 9

This Week: vs. SEA, at MIN, at ATL

No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers scored Dallas’ first points of the season – putting back her own miss on a drive into the paint – but her WNBA debut (10 pts, seven reb, two ast) was spoiled by the Lynx. Arike Ogunbowale opened her seventh season with a team-high 16 points, while DiJonai Carrington had 15 in her Wings debut. With a new GM, new coach, and new point guard, this squad may take time to jell.

⬇️ 11. Chicago Sky (0-1)

Last Week: 8

This Week: vs. NYL, at LAS

The Sky scored 17 points in the first quarter of their season opener, and it was their highest-scoring frame of the game as they put up just 58 points in a loss to the Fever. Chicago was the second-lowest scoring team last season (77.4 ppg) and must generate more offense this year. Angel Reese (12 pts, 17 reb) led the Sky in both categories in the first game of her second season, but she’ll need more help moving forward.

↔️ 12. Connecticut Sun (0-1)

Last Week: 12

This Week: vs. LVA, at MIN, at ATL

The new-look Sun led most of the game in their debut against the Mystics, but Washington took control late to earn the win. Tina Charles (23 pts, 10 reb) played her first game as a Sun since 2013 and dropped a familiar 20/10 game – her 38th as a member of the Sun and the 102nd of her WNBA career. Charles and the Sun will be tested this week, facing two of the top three teams in this week’s rankings.

↔️ 13. Golden State Valkyries (0-1)

Last Week: 13

This Week: vs. WAS, at LAS

The Valkyries may have lost their season opener to the Sparks, but Friday night, in a sold-out Chase Center decked out in Valkyries purple, will long be remembered as a victory in bringing WNBA hoops to the Bay Area.

Kayla Thornton scored the first bucket in Valkyries history, while Tiffany Hayes led the home team with 19 points as Golden State kept the game close until Kelsey Plum and L.A. pulled away in the second half. The Valkyries have two chances to earn their first win this week when they host the Mystics on Wednesday and visit the Sparks on Friday.

Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.