We’re 10 days into the new season and each team has played at least three games. Yes, that’s still a small sample size, but it’s enough to give us a first impression of each team.

Last year’s two finalists have gotten out of the gates strong – both have yet to drop a game – while three other teams are still searching for their first wins of the season.

One team that did get its first wins – not just of the season, but in franchise history – is the Golden State Valkyries. Let’s get into the rankings to see where they stand.

(Note: *Commissioner’s Cup Game, which opens on Sunday, June 1) 

↔️ 1. New York Liberty (3-0)

Last Week: 1 

This Week: vs. GSV, vs. GSV, at WAS, vs. CON*

The Liberty capped off a 2-0 week with a thrilling win over the Fever on Saturday. Jonquel Jones caught fire late – scoring 14 of her 26 points in the 4th quarter – while Natasha Cloud had the game-sealing steal on the game’s final possession.

Cloud has been a steal for the Liberty since coming over from Connecticut in an offseason trade, leading the squad in points (18.7), assists (7.7) and steals (2.7) in her first three games in the seafoam green and black.

↔️ 2. Minnesota Lynx (4-0)

Last Week: 2 

This Week: vs. SEA, at PHX, at GSV*

The Lynx are the first team to four wins this season thanks in large part to the play of Napheesa Collier – who is averaging a league-high 29.5 ppg.

Only three other players in WNBA history have averaged at least 29.5 ppg in a season’s first four games – Maya Moore (33.8 in 2014), Elena Delle Donne (30.5 in 2015) and Arike Ogunbowale (31.0 in 2024) – with Moore and EDD winning MVP in that season.

⬆️ 3. Seattle Storm (3-1)

Last Week: 6 

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

The Storm completed a perfect 3-0 week on Sunday with a 102-82 win over the Aces with Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler combining for 44 points on 69.2% shooting to spoil Jewell Loyd’s first return to Seattle.

Seattle posted the most points (102) and highest field goal percentage (60%) by a team in any game so far this season. Only one game topped those marks all of last season. 

⬆️ 4. Phoenix Mercury (3-1)

Last Week: 5 

This Week: vs. CHI, vs. MIN, at LAS*

Phoenix finished off its 2-1 week with a clutch win over Washington on Sunday that saw rookie Monique Akoa Makani hit the go-ahead triple with 1:11 to play.

Satou Sabally (19.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Alyssa Thomas (16.5 ppg, 7.8 apg, 6.3 apg) continue to lead the new-look Mercury, who have hung their hat on defense early in the season, posting a league-best 89.3 defensive rating through four games.

⬇️ 5. Indiana Fever (2-2)

Last Week: 4 

This Week: at WAS, vs. CON

The Fever went 1-2 this week with both losses coming by a combined three points. In a one-point loss to the Dream on Tuesday, Indy’s 4th-quarter rally and Caitlin Clark’s season-high 27 points were not enough to complete the comeback win.

In a two-point loss to the Liberty, the Fever stormed back after trailing by as many as 15 to lead by 12, but were unable to withstand a late push by the defending champs. However, the Fever still rank top three in both offensive (105.1) and defensive efficiency (93.2) early in the season.

⬇️ 6. Las Vegas Aces (2-2)

Last Week: 3 

This Week: vs. LAS, at SEA*

After two championships and six All-Star seasons in her decade with the Storm, Jewell Loyd returned to Seattle for the first time since being traded to Vegas in the offseason. Loyd scored the Aces’ first nine points and finished with 14 in a 102-82 loss.

The loss dropped Vegas to 2-1 on the week after wins over Connecticut and Washington. The Aces are off until Friday and return to Seattle on Sunday  to give Loyd another shot against her former team in the Commissioner’s Cup opener for both teams.

⬆️ 7. Atlanta Dream (3-2)

Last Week: 9 

This Week: at LAS, at SEA

The Dream finished up a 3-1 week with a win over Connecticut on Sunday despite being hit by the injury bug early in the season. Brittney Griner (left knee) and Te-Hina Paopao (face) missed their first games of the season, while Jordin Canada (knee) remains out after suffering a preseason knee injury that is expected to keep her out until mid-June.

That gives opportunities for others to step up. On Sunday, it was Nia Coffey who showed out in her first start of the season, dropping a double-double in the win.

⬇️ 8. Los Angeles Sparks (2-3)

Last Week: 7 

This Week: vs. ATL, at LVA, vs. PHX*

The Sparks avoided an 0-3 week with a win over the Sky on  Sunday behind a combined 54 points from Kelsey Plum (28 pts, 8 ast, 6 3pm) and Azurá Stevens (24 pts). 

Through her first five games in L.A., Plum is the WNBA’s 2nd-leading scorer (24.8 ppg) and leader in 3-pointers made (3.8 per game on 43.8% shooting). Her 28.7% usage rate is a career-high, edging out former teammate A’ja Wilson for 4th-highest in the league.

⬆️ 9. Golden State Valkyries (2-1)

Last Week: 13 ⬆️

This Week: at NYL, at NYL, vs. MIN*

On Wednesday, the Valkyries defeated the Mystics to earn their first win in franchise history as Veronica Burton hit the go-ahead 3 with 1:38 to play. Two days later, the Valkyries avenged their season-opening loss to the Sparks to improve to 2-1. 

How impressive is Golden State getting its 2nd win in only the 3rd game of its inaugural season? The last two expansion teams – Atlanta in 2008 and Chicago in 2006 – didn’t get their 2nd wins until games 19 and 15, respectively.

As the Valkyries go for win No. 3, they’ll face last year’s two finalists – the undefeated Liberty and Lynx – this week.

⬇️ 10. Washington Mystics (2-3)

Last Week: 8 

This Week: vs. IND, vs. NYL

The Mystics played five games and all five have come down to clutch time. After opening the season 2-0, Washington has dropped three straight – by a combined 11 points. In what many (myself included) expected to be a rebuilding season, Washington has been in every game late and has two rookies gaining valuable experience.

Sonia Citron (15.4 ppg) and Kiki Iriafen (13.8 ppg) rank 1st and 3rd, respectively, among rookie scorers. Iriafen (11.2 rpg) not only leads all rookies in rebounding, she’s 3rd in the WNBA.

⬇️ 11. Dallas Wings (0-4)

Last Week: 10 

This Week: at CON, at CHI, vs. CHI

The new-look Wings are still searching for their first win of the season, after going 0-3 this week with all three losses coming by single digits. Paige Bueckers not only leads all rookies in assists (6.3 apg), she’s tied with Alyssa Thomas for 5th in the league.

One player Dallas must get going in order to break into the win column is Ogunbowale. The former scoring champ holds the 4th-highest career scoring average in WNBA history (20.4 ppg), but is off to a cold start – averaging 12.5 ppg on 28.6 shooting.

↔️ 12. Connecticut Sun (0-4)

Last Week: 12 ↔️

This Week: vs. DAL, at IND, at NYL*

The Sun host the Wings on Tuesday with both teams going for their first win of the season. For Connecticut, its 0-4 start is tied to its struggles on offense this season, as evidenced by its 55 points in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta.

The Sun average the fewest points (68.0 ppg) and 3-pointers made (5.0) and have the lowest effective field goal percentage (41.4%) in the league. Meanwhile, on defense, the Sun have allowed the 3rd-most points (83.0 ppg) so far this season.

⬇️ 13. Chicago Sky (0-3)

Last Week: 11 ⬇️

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

The Sky have struggled to find their way in the first three games with a new head coach and a new-look backcourt. Chicago ranks last in both offensive (84.3) and defensive (114.1 ) efficiency. The Sky hold the 2nd-lowest effective field goal percentage (41.7%) while allowing the highest eFG% to its opponents (59.0%).

This week, the Sky visit the Mercury before a home-and-home with the Wings as they try to turn things around.