Commissioner's Cup 2026

The 2026 WNBA Commissioner&#8217;s Cup presented by Coinbase begins on June 1! Get ready for the action with a look back at the past Cup Champions and MVPs in the history of the WNBA Commissioner&#8217;s Cup
<hr />
<h2>2025</h2>
<h3>Matchup: Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx</h3>
<h3>Results: Fever defeat Lynx (74-59) &#8211; <a href="https://www.wnba.com/game/ind-vs-min-1052500001/box-score">box score</a></h3>
<h3>MVP: Natasha Howard (16 PTS, 12 REB)</h3>
<div id="attachment_261206" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-261206" class="wp-image-261206" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093328.486.png" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093328.486.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093328.486-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093328.486-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093328.486-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093328.486-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Natasha Howard #6 of the Indiana Fever</div>
<hr />
<h2>2024</h2>
<h3>Matchup: Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty</h3>
<h3>Results: Lynx defeat Liberty (94-89) &#8211; <a href="https://www.wnba.com/game/min-vs-nyl-1052400001/box-score">box score</a></h3>
<h3>MVP: Napheesa Collier (21 PTS)</h3>
<div id="attachment_261207" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-261207" class="wp-image-261207" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093658.893.png" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093658.893.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093658.893-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093658.893-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093658.893-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093658.893-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx</div>
<hr />
<h2>2023</h2>
<h3>Matchup: New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces</h3>
<h3>Results: Liberty defeat Aces (82-63) &#8211; <a href="https://www.wnba.com/game/nyl-vs-lva-1052300001/box-score">box score</a></h3>
<h3>MVP: Jonquel Jones (16 PTS, 15 REB)</h3>
<div id="attachment_261209" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-261209" class="wp-image-261209 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093936.554.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093936.554.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093936.554-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093936.554-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093936.554-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T093936.554-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty</div>
<hr />
<h2>2022</h2>
<h3>Matchup: Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky</h3>
<h3>Results: Aces defeat Sky (93-83) &#8211; <a href="https://www.wnba.com/game/lva-vs-chi-1052200001/box-score">box score</a></h3>
<h3>MVP: Chelsea Gray (16 PTS, 12 REB)</h3>
<div id="attachment_261210" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-261210" class="wp-image-261210 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094115.299.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094115.299.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094115.299-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094115.299-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094115.299-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094115.299-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces</div>
<hr />
<h2>2021</h2>
<h3>Matchup: Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun</h3>
<h3>Results: Storm defeat Sun (79-57) &#8211; <a href="https://www.wnba.com/game/con-vs-sea-1052100001/box-score">box score</a></h3>
<h3>MVP: Breanna Stewart (17 PTS, 4 STL)</h3>
<div id="attachment_261211" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-261211" class="wp-image-261211 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094459.535.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094459.535.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094459.535-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094459.535-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094459.535-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-21T094459.535-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />Breanna Stewart #30 of the Seattle Storm</div>

WNBA-CommishCup-Logo_-Primary_RGB_DarkBkgd-1 (1)

The Commissioner’s Cup, held by the WNBA since 2021, has been a sly viewing window into what the postseason field could shape up to be once we hit September and October. 
 
Several recent cup winners or runners-up in those championship games have gone on to appear in the WNBA Finals. Most recently, the Indiana Fever, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, and Minnesota Lynx have dominated the Commissioner’s Cup and have either made deep postseason runs or reached the Finals. 
It makes the in-season tournament all the more exciting, as it’s an excellent way for teams to differentiate themselves as contenders months before the postseason even kicks off. Plus, it’s for a great cause &#8211; each team dedicates a portion of their winnings after each game of the tournament to a charity of their choice. 
Players keep the rest of those earnings, with the Cup winners receiving a prize pool for the championship team&#8217;s entire active roster. 
There’s an unbelievable amount of parity in the league headed into the first games of the tournament, so the competitiveness for this year’s Cup, in its sixth year, should be off the charts. Here are just a few things fans should expect from this year’s go-around. 
<hr />
<h2>High-scoring games</h2>
With the Commissioner’s Cup, point differential matters. The old-school rule of not running it up on your opponent does not apply to these contests. This differential helps teams to escape their respective “conferences,” which are divided by the East and West. Last year, the Lynx went on an absolute tear in the Western Conference with a +77 point differential, while the New York Liberty finished with a differential of +66. 
Point differential is used as a tiebreaker, followed by the head-to-head record during the Cup itself. Despite the Liberty having the larger point differential in the Eastern Conference in 2025, the Fever had beaten them during Cup play, so they earned the opportunity to face the Lynx in the final game. 
So, points matter throughout the Cup, but winning is the primary goal for teams seeking to represent their respective conference. 
<hr />
<h2>Threats to the status quo</h2>
<div id="attachment_261323" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-261323" class="wp-image-261323" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2222400686-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2222400686-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2222400686-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2222400686-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2222400686-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2222400686-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2222400686-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />The Indiana Fever pose for a photo after wining the 2025 WNBA Commissioner&#8217;s Cup Game</div>
While it’s expected that teams like the Liberty, Fever, Dream, and Aces will be the most competitive this year during Cup play, there are a few sleepers that could give these squads trouble. The Dallas Wings are hitting their stride offensively, though their defense remains a question mark as we careen towards the kickoff of Cup games. 
The Golden State Valkyries could also present some issues in the Western Conference, as Janelle Salaun and Veronica Burton have developed into a formidable duo on both ends of the floor. The Chicago Sky, despite some offensive woes to begin the year, are one of the best defensive teams in the league so far. That could be challenging for teams looking to run up the score against Chicago during Cup play. 
The Phoenix Mercury, despite losing Satou Sabally in free agency, also looks like the kind of deep, veteran-led team that could push to clinch the Western Conference during the Cup. They’ve been one of the best offenses to begin the season, with rookie Jovana Nogic, who is hitting 66.7 percent of her threes, being a huge surprise off the bench for them. 
Just as we saw last year with the Fever’s surprising victory over the Lynx to win the Commissioner’s Cup, anything can happen over the 17-day stretch in which Cup games take place. 
<hr />
<h2>Key matchups</h2>
The Wings will kick off Cup play on June 1, when they travel to Seattle to face the Storm. Seattle’s bench has been white-hot to kick off the year (averaging 34.7 points per game through their first three games), and they could be difficult for Dallas to contain as they figure out how to plug their defensive issues. 
The Lynx will travel to Phoenix on June 1 to try to establish some dominance over the Mercury. This could mean more than just an initial stab at winning a tiebreaker for this year’s Cup, but rather, a preview of another postseason series featuring these two teams. 
Indiana will be headed to New York to try and repeat their 2025 magic on June 6. A win would go a long way towards establishing a solid footing in the Eastern Conference Cup standings and would also serve as a nice test for a healthy Fever squad against a contender like the Liberty. 
One of the last games of the Cup is an Aces-Mercury Finals rematch on June 17. Phoenix dominated in their season opener against Las Vegas, so A’ja Wilson and the Aces are likely seeking some two-fold revenge against their Western Conference foes. 
 
This could come down to how well the Mercury can stick to their guns defensively to keep the score low, as well as a battle of the benches &#8211; one led by the rookie Nogic, and the other led by guard Chennedy Carter for the Aces. As of now, the Aces have the edge with an average of 32 points coming from their second unit compared to the Mercury’s output of 18 points per game through three games. 
On June 9, we’ll also get a look at the No. 1 overall pick, Azzi Fudd, versus the No. 2 overall pick, Olivia Miles. It’s too soon to say how this year’s Rookie of the Year or All-Rookie race is shaping up, but Miles seems firmly in control of that race. Fudd, who isn’t utilized as much by Dallas because of how deep their guard room is, might not be too big a factor in this contest. But, it’ll still be a fun contest for potential bragging rights, in addition to it mattering towards Cup standings.

comissioners-cup-2026-primer

Commissioner’s Cup 2026 Primer: What to Expect

Betting + Odds

After just a few weeks of WNBA action, team identities are already beginning to take shape. The Las Vegas Aces sit atop the standings with four wins, while the Chicago Sky and Toronto Tempo have emerged as early surprises, each opening the season with three victories and a couple losses.
Let’s go over the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=game-lines&amp;subcategory=game">WNBA odds</a> for Friday and Saturday’s games and I’ll provide my best bets on DraftKings Sportsbook!
Stay locked into the WNBA’s 30th season with game previews, player props, betting splits and more on <a href="https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/draftkings-sportsbook-betting-splits/?tb_eg=94682&amp;tb_edate=n7days&amp;tb_emt=0">DraftKingsNetwork.com!</a>
<hr />
<h1>Friday, May 22</h1>
Dallas Wings vs. Atlanta Dream (7:30 p.m. ET) — ATL -5.5, O/U 172.5
Golden State Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever (7:30 p.m. ET) — IND -6.5, O/U 169.5
Connecticut Sun vs. Seattle Storm (10:00 p.m. ET) — SEA -1.5, O/U 165.5
Best Bets
Angel Reese 14+ Rebounds (-105): Reese has settled nicely into her new home with the Atlanta Dream, averaging 10.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game through her first three contests. While her shooting efficiency remains low at just 33.3% from the field, that’s not why Atlanta traded for her. Reese has built her reputation by dominating the glass and making opponents pay with her physicality in the paint, leading the league in rebounds per game over the past two seasons.
Tonight, she’ll face a Dallas Wings team that ranks 11th in the league in rebounds per game (30.8) and prefers to play with pace and floor spacing rather than putting pressure in the paint. Reese has already recorded 14+ rebounds twice this season, and there’s a clear path for her to hit that mark again tonight.
Golden State Valkyries +6.5 (-115): This matchup features a clash of styles between the league’s fastest-paced team in Indiana and the slowest-paced team in Golden State — so which identity is going to give? The Fever currently lead the league in scoring at 94.4 points per game while shooting 46.0% from the field (7th). Meanwhile, the Valkyries average just 84.0 points per game (10th) and are shooting only 39.7% from the field. So, it’s easy to understand why Indiana enters this matchup as the favorite. However, Golden State doesn’t win with explosive offense, it wins with defense.
The Valkyries currently lead the league in defensive rating (98.7) while also taking care of the basketball, averaging a league-best 9.3 turnovers per game. They’ve consistently protected the rim and disrupted opposing offenses with physicality and pressure. We just watched them take down the high-powered Liberty offense, holding New York to only 70 points despite the return of three-time All-Star Satou Sabally. Golden State is also shooting 36.6% from beyond the arc (2nd in the league), so if those perimeter shots are falling and the Valkyries continue using their press to slow Indiana’s tempo, this matchup could end up being much closer than the line suggests.
<hr />
<h1>Saturday, May 23</h1>
Minnesota Lynx vs. Chicago Sky (1:00 p.m. ET) — MIN -1.5, O/U 166.5
Portland Fire vs. Toronto Tempo (6:0 p.m. ET) — TOR -5.5, O/U 175.5
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Las Vegas Aces (8:00 p.m. ET) — lines not available as of Friday morning
Minnesota Lynx -1.5 (-120): Minnesota is coming off an impressive performance — or more accurately, a complete routing of Toronto — defeating the Tempo 100-72 behind an efficient 55% shooting night from the field. The Lynx dominated nearly every statistical category, outrebounding Toronto 46-25 while nearly doubling its points in the paint. Even without star Napheesa Collier, Minnesota has started to settle into a strong offensive rhythm. Five players scored in double figures in the win, and the team is now averaging 89.4 points per game (6th in the league). Olivia Miles has quickly emerged as an early star running the offense, averaging 15.2 points per game on an efficient 50% shooting clip while also leading the team in assists.
Chicago, on the other hand, opened the season with an impressive 3-1 start despite preseason doubts, but the Sky recently lost versatile two-way weapon Rickea Jackson to a torn ACL. Chicago fell to Dallas 99-89 in its last outing, though it still managed to score 85+ points despite missing a major offensive contributor.
While the Sky already got the better of Minnesota once this season, the circumstances feel different this time around. Chicago enters short-handed, while the Lynx are beginning to build momentum offensively. I like Minnesota to bounce back and take this one.
Fire vs. Tempo Under 175.5: Tonight features a matchup between the WNBA’s two newest franchises. Toronto enters this game on the heels of a blowout loss to the Lynx, where the team shot a disappointing 34% from the field and just 29% from beyond the arc. Unfortunately for the Tempo, that inefficiency hasn’t been a one-game issue. Through the early part of the 2026 season, Toronto ranks third-to-last in field-goal percentage at 40.4%.
The Fire, meanwhile, are shooting a respectable 44.7% from the field (8th in the league) through their first five games, but they still sit near the bottom tier of the WNBA in scoring output. Both expansion franchises are clearly dealing with the growing pains that come with building chemistry and identity on both ends of the floor. With inconsistent offensive production and two teams still trying to establish rhythm, I’m leaning toward a lower-scoring matchup tonight.
&nbsp;
All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAIMBLER, (800) 327-5050 OR VISIT GAMBLINGHELPLINEMA.ORG (MA), CALL 877-8-HOPENY/TEXT HOPENY (467369) (NY).
PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. 888-789-7777/VISIT CCPG.ORG (CT), OR VISIT WWW.MDGAMBLINGHELP.ORG (MD).
21+ AND PRESENT IN MOST STATES. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY. VOID IN ONT. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS APPLY.
TERMS: DRAFTKINGS.COM/SPORTSBOOK. ON BEHALF OF BOOT HILL CASINO &amp; RESORT (KS). PASS-THRU OF PER WAGER TAX MAY APPLY IN IL.

may-22-23-2026-odds-best-bets

WNBA Best Bets, Predictions for May 22-23 on DraftKings Sportsbook

Press Release

CHICAGO (May 19, 2026) — Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson underwent an MRI that revealed a left torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an injury she sustained in the May 17 game against Minnesota. Jackson will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season and undergo surgery to repair the injury.
“We’re devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery,” General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “Rickea was playing at an All-Star and All-Defensive level early in the season. We are certain she was primed for a career year. Our world-class medical staff will work hard with Rickea, who is one of the toughest players in the league, to get her back on the court.”

rickea-jackson-injury-update

Rickea Jackson Injury Update

Analysis

We’re officially into the swing of this WNBA season, and there haven’t been too many surprises to start off. The Las Vegas Aces continue to look like a powerhouse, while teams like the Connecticut Sun, Seattle Storm, Portland Fire, and others keep trying to find ways to get going amid a strong overall league and tough start to the year. 
This past week, we saw a rookie milestone, an incredible buzzer-beater, a potential Finals preview, and the continued steady rise of one young team. Let’s get into those moments from these last few days in the WNBA, as we careen quickly towards the kick-off to Commissioner’s Cup play on June 1. 
<hr />
<h2>Olivia Miles’ Early Rookie of the Year campaign </h2>
<div id="attachment_260933" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260933" class="wp-image-260933 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115012.428.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115012.428.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115012.428-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115012.428-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115012.428-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115012.428-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />Olivia Miles #5 of the Minnesota Lynx</div>
Olivia Miles, the second-overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft, has been a key cog for the Minnesota Lynx’s offense so far this season. Veteran Courtney Williams said as much in a recent interview, saying of Miles that she’s the “captain of the ship.”
“For her to be a rookie and coming in and doing it the way she doing it, that girl gonna be a problem. I’ve been saying that,” <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYXl0HsiVED/">continued Williams.  </a>
She’s not wrong about Miles’ leadership on the court: the rookie is averaging seven assists per game, along with 16.3 points and 3.7 rebounds. She also recently became the first player in WNBA history to record 30+ points and 15+ assists through her first two games.  
You can’t catch a Lynx game as of late without catching an unbelievably slick pass from Miles at the top of the arc to a streaking Minnesota player. She’s also a threat in transition, which makes defending her difficult: either you bite on her shot, and she takes advantage of a weaker defense with her passing, or she forces a defense to hone in on defending other Lynx shooters around Miles, opening up multiple lanes for her. 
Miles is, by a long shot, the current Rookie of the Year favorite. It’s far too early to say whether anyone else from the class will catch up to her in terms of impact, but she’s looking ready to firmly take the reins on that race. 
<hr />
<h2>Portland Fire Finally Get First W</h2>
In one of the coolest moments so far this season, the Portland Fire managed to push the New York Liberty into a tie-game situation during their May 12 contest, and Bridget Carleton was forced to chuck up a three to try and win the game for the Fire &#8211; their first for the franchise since coming back to the city. 
Carleton’s shot was off, but Sarah Ashlee Barker had a heads-up rebound after New York failed to box out, and she hit a buzzer-beating layup to secure Portland’s first win of the season at home. The crowd was raucous, and head coach Alex Sarama could only describe the electric victory &#8211; gotten off a second-chance opportunity &#8211;<a href="https://www.rosegardenreport.com/sarah-ashlee-barkers-buzzer-beater-was-portland-fire-101/"> “Portland Fire 101.”</a>
The Fire have struggled this season, and it’s not surprising: with so many new pieces added to an entirely new franchise, in addition to a new coach, they’re bound to have some serious growing pains. While the Golden State Valkyries’ success in 2025 was a great blueprint to follow for Portland and the Toronto Tempo, there’s only so much you can do to recreate that magic. 
Portland’s not too worse for wear as of late. They’re averaging 37.5 percent from three-point range between May 10 and May 17, and have upped their points per game average to 90. They’re on a good path towards improving, and this buzzer-beater should’ve injected some major confidence into them. 
<hr />
<h2>Potential Finals Preview</h2>
<div id="attachment_260935" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260935" class="wp-image-260935 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115253.041.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115253.041.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115253.041-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115253.041-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115253.041-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/Thumbnail-2026-05-18T115253.041-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />A&#8217;ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces and Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream</div>
In the WNBA’s first game hosted by NBC, the Atlanta Dream clashed with the Aces in what you have to hope could be a Finals preview.
It was a back-and-forth affair, especially in the 4th quarter. Jordin Canada was doing everything in her power to keep the Dream in the game with timely steals and hit shots in the midrange, while Te-Hina Paopao and rookie Madina Okot were holding their own quite well against such vaunted competition. 
But the Aces simply have a gear that most other teams don’t, and while they couldn’t keep that gear going consistently for the entire second half, it helped them survive a game in which Jackie Young scored 0 points. 
Chennedy Carter and A’ja Wilson were sensational, each scoring 20 points, while Chelsea Gray did what she does best for the entire game: controlled the tempo, hit shots when necessary, and was the most clutch player on the court. It was an extremely entertaining back-and-forth between two talented teams, with plenty of hope that they could push for a Finals appearance this season. 
<hr />
<h2>Hot Offenses, Porous Defenses </h2>
Two teams have seen a lack of team defense lead to disappointing losses: the Dallas Wings and the Indiana Fever. 
Dallas attempted, in earnest, to address their defensive holes in free agency this year. They signed Alanna Smith to a deal, with the forward just coming off a co-DPOY win in 2025. Jess Shepard also has some defensive upside thanks to her size, although Smith is truly the stalwart between the two in the Wings’ frontcourt.
Outside of those signings, the Wings didn&#8217;t lean into acquiring more players known for their defensive skills. Paige Bueckers is a pest thanks to her size and active hands on defense, but Arike Ogunbowale and Odyssey Sims leave a lot to be desired in that department. There was a specific loss from this week, against the Lynx, that should’ve really left a sour taste in the Wings’ mouths. 
They were shooting well enough, but left the rookie Miles open for far too many runaway layups in the 4th quarter due to poor transition defense. Add a lack of rebounding (of which the Wings are only averaging 29 per game as a team, good for 13th in the league), and you’ve got a recipe for a lot of shootouts that end in losses for Dallas. They can’t simply score their way to good defense. A 110.2 defensive rating just isn’t going to cut it for a team that is positioning itself as a potential sleeper in this year’s postseason. 
Another squad struggling mightily to find answers on defense is the Indiana Fever. Caitlin Clark is a terrific offensive presence, a floor general that can stretch the floor, but has limitations on defensive end. Aliyah Boston can only remedy that so much from the post, while the rest of the Fever’s cast &#8211; Lexie Hull, Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell, and Mo Billings &#8211; must step up to make teams pay for putting Clark in actions repeatedly. 
The Fever, who are 9th in the league in defensive rating (104.6), are allowing the 3rd-most fast break points in the league so far (12.8 per game), but are being saved by their rebounding ability and Boston’s presence defensively in the paint. They have a ton of room for improvement if they want to prevent further losses &#8211; especially at home. 
<hr />
<h2>Washington’s Core Still on the Rise </h2>
Anyone who saw Sonia Citron’s and Kiki Iriafen’s rookie seasons in Washington knew that, headed into 2026, we’d be in for a huge leap from both players. Citron has been a lights-out shooter for the Mystics so far this year, averaging 24.3 points per game and shooting 60.5 percent from the field. Her 1.7 steals and one block per game are making her look more and more like the 3-and-D phenom that college scouts figured she could become in the right system. 
As for Iriafen, it simply looks like the hardest task in the world, attempting to box her out. Her 19 points per game, along with 13.7 rebounds and 59 percent shooting from the field, are becoming a tenet for this Mystics team’s system. She makes life difficult for almost any big that dares cross paths with her in the post, which has helped Washington along to a 101.1 defensive rating (4th in the league) and the 2nd-most prolific rebounding team in the league (43.3 per game). 
And, while Shakira Austin isn’t one of the new faces for Washington, she’s only 25 years old and still a huge piece to this team’s identity. Her 17.7 points per game, along with 10 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks, help to easily make her a leader for this young team on the court. Health has always been a huge, and unfortunate, barrier for Austin in her career with the Mystics, so it would be incredible to witness her build a winning squad alongside Iriafen, Citron, and the rest of the neophytes in Washington in 2026. Their 2-1 record through three games does little to speak to just how much momentum and potential they have thanks to this trio.

5-things-i-like-week-1-2026

Five Things I Like: Week One 2026

Power Rankings

In the first two editions of the 2026 Power Rankings, from the offseason and preseason, much of the analysis could only be done on paper.
Now that we’re 10 days into the season, we finally have a handful of games to help shape our understanding of how this campaign may unfold.
While the sample size remains extremely small, it’s enough to offer a first impression of each of the league’s 15 teams.
Note: All stats and records are through games played on Sunday, May 17.
<hr />
<h2>1. Las Vegas Aces (4-1) ↔️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 1</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Sat. vs. LAS</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_260922" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260922" class="wp-image-260922" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276216597-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276216597-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276216597-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276216597-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276216597-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276216597-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276216597-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces</div>
The Aces’ title defense didn’t get off to an ideal start, as they suffered a blowout loss to Phoenix on ring night. However, they bounced back with four straight wins, capped by Chelsea Gray’s game-winner against the Dream on Sunday. After playing five games in the season’s first 10 days, the Aces are off until Saturday, when they host the Sparks and raise their third championship banner.
<hr />
<h2>2. New York Liberty (3-1) ↔️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 2</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Thur. vs. GSV, Sun. vs. DAL</li>
</ul>
A last-second loss to the expansion Fire is the lone blemish on the Liberty’s record to open the 2026 season. They quickly avenged that loss to Portland with an 18-point win two days later. Led by Breanna Stewart (23.0 ppg) and the deepest roster of <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/global-game-international-players-rise">global talent</a> in the league, the Liberty are averaging a league-best 100 points per game.
<hr />
<h2>3. Atlanta Dream (2-1) ⬆️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 4</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Fri. vs DAL, Sun. vs. PHX</li>
</ul>
Just three games into the season, the Dream have already been involved in a pair of thrilling one-point contests. In their season opener, the Dream erased an 18-point deficit to defeat the Lynx, with Angel Reese sealing the win with a last-second block in her Atlanta debut. Eight days later, the Dream found themselves on the other end of a last-second loss, courtesy of Chelsea Gray.
<hr />
<h2>4. Chicago Sky (3-1) ⬆️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 10</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Wed. vs. DAL, Sat. vs. MIN</li>
</ul>
The new-look Sky opened the season with four straight road games, including a win in Portland to spoil the Fire’s return to the WNBA. Chicago has been the league’s top defensive team out of the gates, posting league-best marks in defensive rating (97.2) and opponent field goal percentage (38.1%). However, the Sky lost leading scorer Rickea Jackson to a knee injury on Sunday, which could be costly if she misses extended time. 
<hr />
<h2>5. Golden State Valkyries (2-1) ⬆️</h2>
<div id="attachment_260921" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260921" class="wp-image-260921" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276124448-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276124448-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276124448-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276124448-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276124448-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276124448-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276124448-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA &#8211; MAY 13: Kayla Thornton #5 and Kiah Stokes #41 of the Golden State Valkyries</div>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 9</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Thur. at NYL, Fri. at IND</li>
</ul>
After opening the season with double-digit wins over the Storm and Mercury, the Valkyries suffered their first setback against the Sky on Sunday. Golden State owns the league’s second-best net rating through the opening week (+8.3), but will be tested this week with a road back-to-back against New York and Indiana on Thursday and Friday.
<hr />
<h2>6. Phoenix Mercury (2-2) ↔️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 6</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Tue. vs. TOR, Thur. vs. LAS, Sun. at ATL</li>
</ul>
After watching the Aces receive their championship rings before tipping off their Finals rematch, the Mercury responded with a 33-point win in the season opener. However, Phoenix followed that with consecutive losses to Golden State and Minnesota, then bounced back with a win over then-unbeaten Chicago. Rookie Jovana Nogić has been a revelation for Phoenix; she’s averaging 16 points and 3.3 three-pointers on 65% shooting from deep, helping the Mercury shoot a league-best 38.5% from beyond the arc.
<hr />
<h2>7. Washington Mystics (2-1) ⬆️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 12</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Mon. at DAL, Sun. at SEA</li>
</ul>
There have only been two overtime games in the WNBA so far this season, and both have featured the Mystics, who fell to the Liberty 98-93 last Sunday and defeated the Fever 104-102 on Friday. In their only non-OT game, Washington held off Toronto to spoil the Tempo’s franchise opener. After their first three games were all decided by five points or fewer, can the Mystics get a decisive win this week when they visit Dallas and Seattle?
<hr />
<h2>8. Indiana Fever (2-2) ⬇️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 3</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Wed. vs. POR, Fri. vs. GSV</li>
</ul>
So far this season, teams are 7-2 when scoring 100 or more points. The only two losses belong to the Fever, who put up triple-digit scores but still fell short, surrendering 104 and a season-high 107 points to the Mystics and Wings, respectively. There’s no questioning Indiana’s firepower, with Caitlin Clark breaking the WNBA record for most career games with 20+ points and 10+ assists just three games into her third season, but the Fever will need to improve their defense, which ranks 12th in opponent points allowed (91.8). 
<hr />
<h2>9. Minnesota Lynx (2-2) ⬇️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 8</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Thur. vs. TOR, Sat. at CHI</li>
</ul>
Already without perennial MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, who is still recovering from offseason ankle surgeries, the Lynx have been dealt another blow as rookie center Emma Čechová has been lost for the season with a torn ACL. After opening the season 2-2 in four games decided by seven points or fewer, the Lynx are off until Thursday when they host Toronto before closing the week in Chicago.
<hr />
<h2>10. Dallas Wings (1-2) ⬇️</h2>
<div id="attachment_260920" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260920" class="wp-image-260920" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276059686-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276059686-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276059686-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276059686-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276059686-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276059686-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/05/GettyImages-2276059686-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings</div>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 5</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Mon vs. WAS, Wed. at CHI, Fri. at ATL, Sun. at NYL</li>
</ul>
Last season, the Wings finished a league-worst 3-15 (.167) in clutch games — defined as games within five points during the final five minutes. All three of their games have come down to the wire this season; after defeating the Fever, the Wings fell to both the Dream and Lynx down the stretch. With four games on the schedule this week, how many will come down to clutch time? And how will Dallas respond?
<hr />
<h2>11. Toronto Tempo (2-2) ⬆️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 14</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Tue. at PHX, Thur. at MIN, Sat. vs. POR</li>
</ul>
After coming up just short in their franchise opener against Washington, the Tempo earned their first-ever win against Seattle on Wednesday behind a combined 44 points from Marina Mabrey (26) and Brittney Sykes (18). Sykes ranks fifth in the WNBA in scoring, averaging 24.3 points over her first four games, thanks in part to her ability to draw fouls, get to the free-throw line (league-high 11 per game) and knock them down at a 90.9% clip. Can she keep it going when the Tempo visit Phoenix and Minnesota before hosting Portland in a clash of expansion squads?
<hr />
<h2>12. Portland Fire (1-2) ⬆️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 15</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Mon vs. CON, Wed. at IND, Sat. at TOR</li>
</ul>
After 24 years, WNBA basketball has returned to the Rose City. In their opening week, the Fire hosted the Sky and the Liberty twice. The Fire earned their first win in thrilling fashion, thanks to a buzzer-beating putback by Sarah Ashlee Barker. However, that remains the Fire’s lone win as the Liberty won a rematch two days later. Portland will host Connecticut on Monday before embarking on its inaugural road trip with stops in Indiana and Toronto to close the week.
<hr />
<h2>13. Los Angeles Sparks (1-3) ⬇️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 7</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Thur. at PHX, Sat. at LVA</li>
</ul>
While the Sparks rank in the middle of the pack on offense (their 107.7 offensive rating ranks eighth), they are dead last on the other end (121.3 defensive rating) through their first four games. L.A.’s lone win came against the expansion Tempo on Friday behind 25 points from Kelsey Plum, who leads the WNBA in scoring at 26.8 points per game. However, if the Sparks want to climb the standings (and these rankings), they’ll need to see major strides defensively.
<hr />
14. Seattle Storm (1-3) ⬇️
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 11</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Wed. vs. CON, Fri. vs. CON, Sun. vs. WAS</li>
</ul>
Already shorthanded in the frontcourt after All-Star Ezi Magbegor sustained a foot injury while competing for Australia in the 2026 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, the Storm were without second-year center Dominique Malonga during Sunday’s loss to Indiana due to a concussion. Malonga is having a breakthrough season in Seattle, averaging 16 points, 7.3 rebounds, two steals and a block through three games. However, Seattle’s lone win so far has come against winless Connecticut.
<hr />
<h2>15. Connecticut Sun (0-4) ⬇️</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Last Week: 13</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">This Week: Mon. at POR, Wed. at SEA, Fri. at SEA</li>
</ul>
On Wednesday, it became official: the WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the Connecticut Sun to Houston. The final season in Connecticut has gotten off to a slow start, with the Sun still searching for their first win after falling to New York, Seattle, and Las Vegas twice. This week, the team from the Northeast will be in the Pacific Northwest, visiting Portland on Monday before a two-game set in Seattle on Wednesday and Friday.

2026-power-rankings-week-1

2026 WNBA Power Rankings: Week One

The 2026 season is off to a hot start, with the reigning champs bouncing back after being routed opening night and young franchises making their mark — I’m looking at you, Golden State. The season is just getting started, but competition is high as four games take place on Friday night.
Let’s go over the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=game-lines&amp;subcategory=game">WNBA odds</a> for Friday’s four game slate and I’ll provide my best prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook!
Stay locked into the WNBA’s 30th season with game previews, player props, betting splits and more on <a href="https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/draftkings-sportsbook-betting-splits/?tb_eg=94682&amp;tb_edate=n7days&amp;tb_emt=0">DraftKingsNetwork.com!</a>
<hr />
<h2>Friday, May 15</h2>
Las Vegas Aces vs. Connecticut Sun (7:30 p.m. ET) — LV -14.5, O/U 171.5
Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever (7:30 p.m. ET) — IND -7.5, O/U 170.5
Toronto Tempo vs. Los Angeles Sparks (10:00 p.m. ET) — LA -7.5, O/U 170.5
Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury (10:00 p.m. ET) — PHO -3.5, O/U 166.5
Best Bets
Kelsey Mitchell Over 21.5 Points (-110): Kelsey Mitchell, the fan I am of you. Through just two games this season, Mitchell has already dropped 53 points while shooting an impressive 51.5% from the field. And while she didn’t record a single rebound or assist in the Fever’s last outing, the 30-year-old still poured in 23 points in just 27 minutes.
With Caitlin Clark back in the mix, Mitchell doesn’t have to worry about being the primary distributor and can focus on what she does best: creating her own offense, thriving in transition, and being an all-around bucket. I’m expecting another 20+ point night from Mitchell, and she only needs one more basket to clear her points line.
Caitlin Clark 3+ Three Pointers Made (-130): Clark was notably cold from deep in her first outing in over 290 days, hitting just 2-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc. Game 2 against the Sparks wasn’t much better, as the 2024 Rookie of the Year went just 1-for-7 from three, dropping her early-season 3-point percentage to 18%.
While that number looks alarming on paper, I’m not too worried. Clark admitted she’s still working through a “mental hurdle” returning to the court, which helps explain why she’s looked sharp as a facilitator but inconsistent as a shooter. With two games now under her belt, tonight against the Mystics feels like a prime get-right spot for the 24-year-old known for pulling up from the logo without hesitation.
Marina Mabrey Over 28.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115): Mabrey finished the 2026 Unrivaled season on an absolute heater, leading the league in points per game at 25.3, and I was very curious to see if that production would carry over to the W. Well, through two games, it absolutely has. The former Sun guard, acquired by Toronto in the Expansion Draft, is averaging 26.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists to start the season.
While the Tempo are still working through the expected growing pains of a new franchise, Mabrey has stepped into a strong veteran role as the team’s primary offensive engine, consistently keeping Toronto competitive. Tonight, she faces a 0-2 Sparks team allowing the third-most points per game in the league at 96.0, and I’m confident Mabrey can capitalize on a weaker defense to clear her PRA line.
<hr />
All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAIMBLER, (800) 327-5050 OR VISIT GAMBLINGHELPLINEMA.ORG (MA), CALL 877-8-HOPENY/TEXT HOPENY (467369) (NY).
PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. 888-789-7777/VISIT CCPG.ORG (CT), OR VISIT WWW.MDGAMBLINGHELP.ORG (MD).
21+ AND PRESENT IN MOST STATES. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY. VOID IN ONT. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS APPLY.
TERMS: DRAFTKINGS.COM/SPORTSBOOK. ON BEHALF OF BOOT HILL CASINO &amp; RESORT (KS). PASS-THRU OF PER WAGER TAX MAY APPLY IN IL.

may-15-2026-odds-best-bets

WNBA Predictions, Best Bets for Friday, May 15 on DraftKings Sportsbook

commissioners-cup-history-2026

History: WNBA Commissioner's Cup

Ally-Wordmark_Offwhite

att2

CarMax+Logo-White

DEL_PRI_ALL_WHT

google-logo-transparent

Nike-Logo-PNG

Get a courtside seat. Every week. With WNBA League Pass, watch live games across the league.

History: WNBA Commissioner's Cup

2025

Matchup: Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx

Results: Fever defeat Lynx (74-59) – box score

MVP: Natasha Howard (16 PTS, 12 REB)

2024

Matchup: Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty

Results: Lynx defeat Liberty (94-89) – box score

MVP: Napheesa Collier (21 PTS)

2023

Matchup: New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces

Results: Liberty defeat Aces (82-63) – box score

MVP: Jonquel Jones (16 PTS, 15 REB)

2022

Matchup: Las Vegas Aces vs. Chicago Sky

Results: Aces defeat Sky (93-83) – box score

MVP: Chelsea Gray (16 PTS, 12 REB)

2021

Matchup: Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun

Results: Storm defeat Sun (79-57) – box score

MVP: Breanna Stewart (17 PTS, 4 STL)

Continue Reading

Related News

Commissioner’s Cup 2026 Primer: What to Expect

The Commissioner’s Cup’s Impact on Social Justice in the W

WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship Presented by Coinbase to be Played June 25 at 8 pm ET From UBS Arena on Prime Video

X's & O's: Commissioner's Cup Edition