Jesse Kuczynski

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				Lisa Leslie (9) and other WNBA stars pose for a portrait during the 1997 Brazil Tour on Corcovado Mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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				Lisa Leslie skies for a rebound during her rookie season in the WNBA.
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				Lisa Leslie posts up during the 1999 Western Conference Finals.
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				Lisa Leslie accepts her first MVP award at 2001 WNBA Western Conference Finals.
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				Lisa Leslie records the WNBA’s first dunk during a game against the Miami Sol on July 30, 2002 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
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				Leslie gives an interview while holding the 2002 WNBA Finals trophy – her second WNBA championship.
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				Los Angeles Sparks star Lisa Leslie poses for a photo with NBA rookie LeBron James in 2003.
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				Lisa Leslie celebrates during 2004 Olympic gold medal match. She won her third of four gold medals in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.
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				Lisa Leslie accepts her third WNBA MVP award in 2006.
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				Lisa Leslie talks to Sparks forward Candace Parker on the bench of a game during the 2008 WNBA season.
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				<a href='https://www-qa.nba.com/photo_gallery/lisa-leslie-through-the-years/leslie-gallery-11/'><img width="150" height="120" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2015/05/leslie-gallery-11.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" aria-describedby="gallery-526-1536" /></a>
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				Lisa Leslie walks to the bench during her “farewell game” in Los Angeles in 2009. Leslie retired after the 2009 WNBA season.
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				<a href='https://www-qa.nba.com/photo_gallery/lisa-leslie-through-the-years/leslie-gallery-12/'><img width="150" height="120" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2015/05/leslie-gallery-12.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" aria-describedby="gallery-526-1535" /></a>
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				Lisa Leslie with members of the Sparks front office at her jersey retirement ceremony.
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				Lisa Leslie was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame at an announcement ceremony at the NCAA Final Four on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Before the first-ever WNBA Rivals Week tips off on Saturday, we’ll break down one must-see nationally-televised matchup over the next seven days.
Sky at Fever | Saturday, Aug. 9 | 8 ET, CBS
Rivals Week begins in Indiana with the Fever hosting the Sky in a matchup that would usually feature the college-to-pro rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. However, with those two All-Stars currently out due to injury, let’s focus on the matchup in the middle between Indiana’s Aliyah Boston (No. 1 pick in 2023) and Chicago’s Kamilla Cardoso (No. 3 pick in 2024) – who are both ranked in the top five in double-doubles this season.
Indiana is 3-0 against Chicago this season and has won four straight games overall in the rivalry. After dropping two straight to end their West Coast road trip, can the Fever get back on track at home? Or can Chicago – which is 3-2 in its last five games with Ariel Aktins in the lineup – pull off the road win?
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Dream at Mercury | Sunday, Aug. 10 | 6 ET, NBA TV
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201536" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The Dream and Mercury enter their final regular-season matchup tied in the standings at 19-11, with Atlanta holding the head-to-head tiebreaker for third place in the W. The Dream enter Sunday having won six of their last seven games – with two of those wins coming against the Mercury – with All-Star Allisha Gray leading the way (20.0 ppg, 50% FG, 51.3% 3P). 
Meanwhile, Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas just became the first player in WNBA history to record three straight triple-doubles and can extend that record streak on Sunday against one of the three teams she has yet to post a triple-double against (ATL, GSV, WAS).
This game marks the potential second game for former Mercury star Brittney Griner back in Phoenix. Griner is listed as day-to-day after missing Thursday’s game due to a neck injury. She had 17 points and eight rebounds in her first visiting game in the Valley on July 23.
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Liberty at Sparks | Tuesday, Aug. 12 | 10 ET, NBA TV
In a moment where the WNBA is growing at an exciting pace – set to reach 16 teams by 2030 – we can’t forget where it all started. On June 21, 1997 in Los Angeles, the first-ever WNBA game tipped off between the Liberty and Sparks. Now, 28 years later, these two OG franchises meet in the league’s first-ever Rivals Week.
How close has this matchup been historically? The Liberty hold a 34-33 lead in regular season games. But, if we include the postseason, the advantage flips to the Sparks – who swept NY in the 2002 WNBA Finals – for a 35-34 edge in all head-to-head matchups.
The 2025 edition of this rivalry features the league’s top two scoring guards – LA’s Kelsey Plum (20.4 ppg, 3rd in WNBA) and NY’s Sabrina Ionescu (20.0 ppg, 4th in WNBA) – meeting for the final time this regular season after splitting their first two games. Over their careers, Plum and Ionescu are 7-7 against each other in regular season meetings and 4-4 in playoff meetings. Who will get the edge on Tuesday?
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Liberty at Aces | Wednesday, Aug. 13 | 9:30 ET, ESPN
Many of the top rivalries in sports are forged in the playoffs – when players and teams face each other with the stakes at their highest. For these two teams – the winners of the past three WNBA titles – their paths have crossed on the way to the mountaintop.
They met in the 2023 WNBA Finals, when the Aces defeated the Liberty in four games to become the first WNBA team in over two decades to win back-to-back titles. They met again in the 2024 Semifinals, when the Liberty got their revenge by defeating the Aces in four games to return to the Finals for the sixth time in franchise history, while also ending Las Vegas’ bid for a three-peat. After ousting the Aces, the Liberty defeated the Lynx in five games to win their first WNBA title.
While Breanna Stewart will miss this Rivals Week meeting (bone bruise in knee), the past two WNBA Finals MVPs – A’ja Wilson and Jonquel Jones – will take center stage.
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Storm at Dream | Friday, Aug. 15 | 10 ET, ION
The WNBA’s first regular-season in Canada comes in the middle of Rivals Week and features two teams that have a historic connection as well as a current back-and-forth.
Back in 2010, a Storm team led by Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson swept the upstart Dream in the WNBA Finals after Atlanta reached the championship series in only its third year of existence.
Fast forward to today, and these two teams have traded wins for 10 straight games – dating back to July 2022 – including each of the past four games decided by seven points or less. This will be the fourth and final meeting of the regular season between these teams, who are separated by just three games in the standings, as both eye a return to the playoffs.
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Liberty at Lynx | Saturday, Aug. 16 | 2 ET, CBS
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201538" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-2.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-2.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-2-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-2-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Rivals Week wouldn’t be complete without a rematch of last year’s WNBA Finals between Minnesota and New York – who enter this week ranked 1st and 2nd in the league standings, respectively. 
After New York defeated Minnesota in a classic five-game Finals last October, the Lynx won the first rematch on July 30 at home. Powered by Napheesa Collier’s 30 points and Kayla McBride’s 24 points and five 3s, the Lynx overcame Sabrina Ionescu’s game-high 31 points in a 100-93 win.
NY was without Breanna Stewart in that game and will be once again as she recovers from a bone bruise in her knee. Minnesota will be without Collier, who suffered an ankle injury last week. The Lynx are 3-1 this season without the league’s leading scorer, while the Liberty are 2-3 without Stewart.
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Wings at Aces | Sunday, Aug. 17 | 3:30 ET, ABC
We close out the first Rivals Week with the first pick in the most recent WNBA Draft – Dallas’ Paige Bueckers, who is just beginning to establish rivals in her debut WNBA season. This matchup with Las Vegas sees Bueckers have to face three other former No. 1 picks – Jewell Loyd (2015), A’ja Wilson (2018) and Jackie Young (2019) – for the fourth and final time this season.
While the Wings are still looking for their first win over the Aces this season, the two games that Bueckers played came down to clutch time, with Vegas prevailing by four points each time. Bueckers is averaging team highs of 18.0 points and 6.5 assists against the Aces this season, while Wilson has paced Vegas at 25.5 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
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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.

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Key Games to Watch: WNBA Rivals Week Presented by Ally

Get ready for the inaugural WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally.
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What is WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally?
WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally is a time when the league’s superstars and rising stars are in the spotlight, when teams compete for statement wins and playoff positioning, and fans rally for bragging rights. WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally will highlight both classic and emerging rivalries between teams and players, as some of the league’s superstars will go head-to-head in marquee matchups that define the intensity and passion of the league.
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When is WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally?
WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally is slated for August 9 through August 17, 2025.
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What are the matchups for WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally?
All times eastern
Saturday, August 9
Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever (8 pm, CBS) 
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Golden State Valkyries (8:30 pm, League Pass)
Sunday, August 10
Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty (12:30 pm, ABC) 
Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings (4 pm, CBS Sports Network) 
Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury (6 pm, NBA TV) 
Seattle Storm vs. Los Angels Sparks (8 pm, League Pass) 
Connecticut Sun vs. Las Vegas Aces (9 pm, NBA TV) 

Monday, August 11
Connecticut Sun vs. Golden State Valkyries (10 pm, League Pass)
Tuesday, August 12
Dallas Wings vs.  Indiana Fever (7:30 pm, ESPN) 
New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks (10 pm, NBA TV)
Wednesday, August 13
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun (7 pm, League Pass) 
Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics (7:30 pm, League Pass) 
New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces (9:30 pm, ESPN) 
Atlanta Dream vs. Seattle Storm (10 pm, League Pass)
Friday, August 15
Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever (7:30 pm, ION) 
Golden State Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky (7:30 pm, ION) 
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings (7:30 pm, ION) 
Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream (10 pm, ION) 
Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury (10 pm, ION)
Saturday, August 16
New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx (2 pm, CBS)
Sunday, August 17
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun (1 pm, NBA TV) 
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Washington Mystics (3 pm, League Pass) 
Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces (3:30 pm, ABC) 
Phoenix Mercury vs.  Seattle Storm (6 pm, League Pass) 
Atlanta Dream vs. Golden State Valkyries (8:30 pm, NBA TV)
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WNBA Rivals Week Presented by Ally: FAQ and Things to Know

We’re a day removed from the WNBA trade deadline, and the moves mattered — contenders leveled up! The league-best Lynx bolstered their roster with DiJonai Carrington, last year’s Most Improved Player, while Seattle grabbed Brittney Sykes to tighten up a playoff-bound rotation. With just over a month left in the regular season, August’s where things get real — for teams chasing seeding, players grinding for postseason form, and fans (and bettors) locking in. Also, there’s been some shakeup on the WNBA Champion Odds at DraftKings Sportsbook!
Let’s take a look at the latest <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA odds</a> for WNBA Champion, give a weekend preview, and I’ll share my WNBA best bets for Friday&#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 Champion Odds</a>
The Favorite: NY Liberty (+170)
I&#8217;ll say it again: we have movement, people! Just a week ago, the Minnesota Lynx were holding steady as the favorites to win the 2025 WNBA Championship at +180, with the Liberty close behind at +190. Fast forward to August 8th, and it’s the reigning champs who’ve jumped ahead — New York is now sitting at +170 to go back-to-back. If you&#8217;re just box score watching, that might not make much sense. Minnesota leads the league with 25 wins, while New York is 5.5 games back at 19. And yeah, the Lynx will be without MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier for a couple weeks (ankle sprain), but the Liberty aren’t exactly healthy either. They dropped four straight before picking up back-to-back wins — so what’s driving this odds shift?
Well, even without Breanna Stewart, who’s missed five games with a bone bruise, New York’s been illustrating their depth. Sabrina Ionescu took over for a stretch, dropping 31 in a Finals rematch vs. Minnesota and 36 against Connecticut, and when she cooled off Tuesday (just 9 points), the rest of the squad stepped up. Leonie Fiebich, Jonquel Jones, Natasha Cloud, and new-comer Emma Meesseman all put up 12+ to power another win. It&#8217;s worth noting, Meesseman isn’t just another depth piece — she’s a former Finals MVP, and her late-season addition gives New York a boost on both ends of the floor. This team’s bench showed up in a big way this week, but we probably won’t see full championship form until Stewie is back in the mix.
 
WNBA Best Bets and Weekend Preview
New York Liberty at Dallas Wings — Friday, August 8, 7:30 PM ET
These two teams square off again after New York’s 85-76 home win on Tuesday, a balanced showing from a squad that’s navigating games without their second-leading points scorer. In that game, Paige Bueckers did Paige Bueckers things — 21 points, 8 rebounds — but struggled from deep (1-5) and reportedly tweaked her back. She’s considered day-to-day, though she’s expected to play on Friday. On the bright side, Dallas did get Maddy Siegrist back after an 18-game absence (knee). She came off the bench and dropped 13 points in Tuesday’s loss — solid return.
With New York in control from tip to buzzer last time out and building a bit of momentum, I’m leaning toward a similar outcome tonight. But to keep things spicy, I’m eyeing the under. Neither team has cracked 90+ in their last three games, and both are dealing with key injuries — Stewart for the Liberty, and a possibly limited Bueckers for the Wings. Under 172 is the play.
Lean: NY -8.5
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/ny-liberty-%40-dal-wings/32617721?category=odds&amp;subcategory=popular">PICK: Total Under 172 (-110)</a>
 
Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces — Friday, August 8, 10:00 PM ET
The Storm enter Friday’s matchup fresh off a trade deadline pickup, acquiring guard Brittney Sykes from the Mystics. It’s a move that won’t fix their middling three-point shooting (currently 7th in the league at 33.4%), but it does give Seattle a proven two-way contributor. Sykes is averaging 15.4 PPG and brings elite defensive presence, adding to a Storm squad that already ranks 2nd in defensive rating (98.5). With Sykes and Gabby Williams sharing the floor, Seattle now boasts two All-Defensive-caliber perimeter stoppers.
Meanwhile, the Aces are heating up, winning 7 of their last 10. They beat Golden State 78-72 on Wednesday behind A’ja Wilson’s 27-point performance, and she added two blocks to become just the 10th player in WNBA history to hit 500 career blocks.
Seattle’s dropped three straight and just slipped behind the Fever in the standings, making this feel like a must-win. The Aces have the league’s top shot blocker in Wilson (2.3 BPG), but Seattle holds the defensive edge overall — 2nd in defensive rating, 4th in opponent PPG, and loaded with disruptors: Gabby Williams leads the WNBA in steals (2.6), and Ezi Magbegor is second in blocks (2.2), just behind Wilson. The issue? Offense. The Storm have dipped to 9th in points per possession and 9th in offensive rating (101.6). That said, this game should be tight, and Sykes could be the X-factor to spark a Seattle squad that needs momentum.
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/sea-storm-%40-lv-aces/32617723">PICK: SEA Storm +1</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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WNBA Best Bets for August 8: Weekend Preview and WNBA Champion Odds

— Trade Jacy Sheldon and Right to Swap 2026 First Round Pick to Washington —
Uncasville, CT (August 7, 2025) – Today, the Connecticut Sun announced that the organization has acquired forward Aaliyah Edwards from the Washington Mystics, in exchange for Jacy Sheldon and the right to swap Washington’s 2026 1st round pick (Minnesota’s) for Connecticut’s 2026 1st round pick (New York’s).
“We are incredibly grateful for everything Jacy has given to the Connecticut Sun,” said Morgan Tuck, Connecticut Sun General Manager. “She brought passion, professionalism, and heart to this organization every time she stepped on the court, and her impact was felt far beyond the box score. While it’s always difficult to say goodbye, we’re excited for what’s ahead for Jacy and wish her nothing but success on her new team.”
Edwards joins the Sun after spending her WNBA career thus far with the Washington Mystics. She was drafted by the Mystics as the sixth pick overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft and averaged 7.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists on 18.5 minutes per game during her time in Washington. The 6-3 forward played four seasons with the University of Connecticut Huskies and averaged 13.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game over 132 career games. Edwards left Storrs with a plethora of honors including WBCA All-American (2024), USBWA Second Team All-America (2024), AP Third Team All-America (2023), All-BIG EAST First Team (2023, 24), BIG EAST Most Improved Player (2023), BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year (2021) and BIG EAST All-Freshman Team (2021). At the time she left Storrs, Edwards also ranked 15th in program history in scoring (1,861), eighth in rebounds (1,020) and sixth in double-doubles (35). Edwards helped lead UConn to four BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championships, along with three NCAA Final Fours and one NCAA National Championship game appearance. The Kingston, Ontario native has also represented her country at the international level, notably being the youngest member of the 2020 Canadian Olympic squad in Tokyo and making a second appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Bringing Aaliyah to the Connecticut Sun is more than just a roster move; it’s a statement about where we’re headed as a franchise. Aaliyah is a transformational talent with the mindset and drive that aligns with our vision of building a championship culture. What truly sets her apart is the way she leads, connects, and competes. Aaliyah is the kind of person and player who can help redefine the future of this organization and we’re ready to build that future together.” – Morgan Tuck, Connecticut Sun General Manager
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Connecticut Sun Acquire Aaliyah Edwards

SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm today announced the team has acquired 2025 All-Star Brittney Sykes in a trade with the Washington Mystics. In exchange, the Mystics will receive 3x WNBA Champion Alysha Clark, guard Zia Cooke and one of Seattle’s 2026 first round draft picks.  
Sykes has averaged 15.4 points, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 31.8% from beyond the arc. This season, she received her first All-Star selection, and has four WNBA All-Defensive Team selections, twice to the First Team (2021, 2023) and twice to the Second Team (2020, 2022). In 2021 and 2022, Sykes was the WNBA leader in steals, and in 2017, she received a selection to the WNBA All-Rookie team after averaging 13.9 points and shooting 40.8% from the field.  
Over the course of her two stints in Seattle (2012-2020, 2025), Clark played 300 games, the fifth most in franchise history. She also played a pivotal role in helping the Storm win two WNBA championships (2018, 2020). This season, Clark has averaged 3.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game. While in Seattle, Clark was just as impactful in the community as she was on the court. She was instrumental in starting the organization’s annual toy drive benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital.    
Cooke has averaged just over 10 minutes of play per game in 2025 and has been shooting a career-high 38.2% from the three. Cooke was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 draft selected by the Los Angeles Sparks. There, she spent two seasons playing a total of 68 games, averaging 11.9 minutes, 4.3 points and shot 30% from the field. Cooke, a former South Carolina Gamecock, won a national championship with the team in 2022 and was a Third-Team All-American in 2023.

seattle-storm-acquire-brittney-sykes

Seattle Storm Acquire Brittney Sykes

With the WNBA trade deadline on Thursday, August 7 at 3 p.m. ET, now is the time for contending teams to bolster their rosters for the stretch run.
The deadline coincides with the season reaching 70% completion, meaning there will be less than a third of the schedule remaining for teams to secure their playoff position and ready their playoff rotations.
The league-leading Lynx were the first team to make a move on Sunday, acquiring guard/forward DiJonai Carrington – the 2024 Most Improved Player and All-Defensive First Team selection – from Dallas for former No. 2 overall pick Diamond Miller, an injured Karlie Samuelson and a 2027 second-round pick.
The Lynx already own the league’s top defense in terms of opponent points allowed (75.4 ppg), defensive rating (95.1) and opponent effective field goal percentage (46.8%). Now, they add a strong on-ball defender to the mix as they eye the top seed in the playoffs (they currently hold a 5.5-game lead) and pursue a record fifth WNBA title.
With Minnesota setting the tone, how will fellow contenders respond before Thursday’s deadline? We’ll dive into that next week. For now, here’s how the field stacks up this week.
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<h2>1. Minnesota Lynx (24-5) ↔️</h2>
Last Week: 1 
This Week: Tue. at SEA, Fri. vs. WAS, Sun. at NYL
While the Lynx are coming off a historic 111-58 win in Las Vegas on Saturday – the 53-point margin of victory is the largest for any road team, the second-largest for any game in WNBA history, a franchise record 17 triples, including eight in the 1st half from Kayla McBride – all eyes are focused on the right ankle of Napheesa Collier. The league’s leading scorer and MVP frontrunner suffered the injury late in the 3rd quarter against the Aces and did not return. No timetable has been set for her return.
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<h2>2. Atlanta Dream (18-11) ⬆️</h2>
Last Week: 3 
This Week: Thur. at CHI, Sun. at PHX
After falling to Golden State in the closing seconds on Tuesday, the Dream won three straight to close the week and have won five of their last six games overall. Allisha Gray leads the WNBA in 3-pointers made (73) and ranks 12th in 3-point percentage (40.8%) for the season. Over the past six games, she’s been on fire, hitting 50% of her triples (17-of-34), while leading five Dream players averaging 12+ points with 19.2 ppg.
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<h2>3. New York Liberty (18-10) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 2 
This Week: Tue. vs. DAL, Fri. at DAL, Sun. vs. MIN
Sunday’s win over Connecticut helped the Liberty snap a four-game losing streak – New York’s longest skid since July 2022. With Breanna Stewart diagnosed with a right knee bone bruise and no timetable for a return, the Liberty added another former Finals MVP to their frontline with 2019 winner Emma Meesseman joining Jonquel Jones (2024) and Stewart (2018, 2020). The defending champs open the week with a home-and-home set with Dallas before hosting the Lynx in the second of four 2024 Finals rematches in the span of three weeks (July 30-Aug. 19).
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<h2>4. Indiana Fever (17-12) ⬆️</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-201377" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Aari McDonald #2 of the Indiana Fever " width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227107833-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Last Week: 6 
This Week: Tue. at LAS, Thur. at PHX, Sat. vs. CHI
The title of “hottest team in the league” entering this week belongs to the Fever, who have won five straight games and eight of their last 10. Tomorrow in L.A., the Fever will look to match their longest win streak in a decade as they visit the Sparks seeking a sixth straight W. This streak has come while Caitlin Clark remains sidelined (groin) as Indiana is now 9-7 without the reigning Rookie of the Year this season.
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<h2>5. Phoenix Mercury (17-11) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 4 
This Week: Tue. vs. CON, Thur. vs. IND, Sun. vs. ATL
Behind 25 points from Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas’ league-record 13th career regular season triple-double (10 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast), the Mercury defeated the Sky on Sunday to avoid an 0-3 week. However, Phoenix is just 2-5 of its last seven games following a 9-2 run that had the Mercury in second place in the league at 15-6 in mid-July. Phoenix opens a four-game homestand on Tuesday, looking to build on a 9-4 home record this season compared to 8-7 on the road.
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<h2>6. Seattle Storm (16-13) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 5 
This Week: Tue. vs. MIN, Fri. at LVA, Sun. at LAS
The Storm are just 2-4 since the All-Star break and are coming off back-to-back close losses – a two-point loss to L.A. in a double-overtime thriller despite a season-high 37 points from Nneka Ogwumike, and a four-point loss to red-hot Indiana. Seattle sits in the middle of a crowded pack from No. 2 New York to No. 10 Los Angeles in the standings – the No. 6 Storm are 2.5 games back of the Liberty and 3.0 games up on the Sparks.
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<h2>7. Las Vegas Aces (15-14) ↔️</h2>
Last Week: 7 ↔️
This Week: Wed. at GSV, Fri. vs. SEA, Sun. vs. CON
The Aces had a rollercoaster week. They began with a 15-point win over L.A., snapping the Sparks’ five-game win streak behind Jackie Young’s first triple-double and A’ja Wilson’s 34 points. They followed that with the second-largest loss in league history (-53) to Minnesota. Then, they rebounded with a 24-point win over Golden State to close the week 2-1 despite a minus-14 point differential. Despite the up-and-down week, they maintain their hold on the No. 7 spot in the power rankings.
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<h2>8. Golden State Valkyries (14-14) ⬆️</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-201375" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-scaled.jpg" alt="Tiffany Hayes #15 of the Golden State Valkyries" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227474424-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Last Week: 10 
This Week: Wed. vs. LVA, Sat. vs. LAS
Sunday’s loss to the Aces snapped a three-game win streak for the Valkyries and was the only thing that kept them from leaping Las Vegas in these rankings. After a 3-1 week, the Valkyries are 14-14 on the season – putting them in contention for the best inaugural season by a WNBA expansion team ever. Only three teams have won more than 14 games – the 1999 Lynx and Miracle each went 15-17, while the 1998 Shock went 17-13. That Shock team is the only expansion team to finish above .500, which is in play for the Valkyries.
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<h2>9. Los Angeles Sparks (12-15) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 8 
This Week: Tue. vs. IND, Thur. vs. CON, Sat. at GSV, Sun. vs. SEA
The Sparks had their five-game win streak snapped by Las Vegas, but bounced back with a double-overtime win over the Storm in one of the top games of the season. Dearica Hamby hit the game-winning layup with 4.3 seconds left, but it was L.A.’s balance with four 20+ point scorers that shined in the win. Leading the way with 27 points was Rickea Jackson, who has had four 20+ point games during L.A.’s current hot streak. After going 6-14 in their first 20 games, the Sparks are 6-1 in their last seven.
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<h2>10. Washington Mystics (13-15) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 9 
This Week: Tue. at CHI, Fri. at MIN, Sun. at DAL
After a 6-2 stretch lifted the Mystics over .500 prior to All-Star, Washington has gone 2-5 in its last seven games and – at No. 9 in the standings – is currently the first team on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. Something to watch down the stretch is how the Mystics fare in close games. They have played in a league-high seven games decided by three points or less, and are 3-4 in those games so far.
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<h2>11. Dallas Wings (8-21) ⬆️</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-201378" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-scaled.jpg" alt="Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings" width="960" height="595" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-300x186.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-1024x635.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-768x476.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-1536x952.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2227938248-2048x1270.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Last Week: 12 
This Week: Tue. at NYL, Fri. vs. NYL, Sun. vs. WAS
The Wings have the frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race in No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers – who not only leads all rookies but ranks in the top 10 in the entire league in points (18.5 ppg, 7th), assists (5.5 apg, 9th) and steals (1.8 spg, 3rd). Now, they add another lottery pick to the roster in 2023 No. 2 pick Diamond Miller from Minnesota in the trade for DiJonai Carrington. Will an expanded role in Dallas help Miller showcase her full potential?
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<h2>12. Chicago Sky (7-21) ⬇️</h2>
Last Week: 11 
This Week: Tue. vs. WAS, Thur. vs. ATL, Sat. at IND
The Sky have dropped eight straight games – their longest losing streak since dropping nine straight in 2012. Angel Reese (back) has missed five of Chicago’s last seven games as the Sky are now 0-5 without her on the season and 1-10 without her for her career. Chicago will look to end the slide this week with home games against the Mystics and Dream before heading to Indiana on Saturday to face the Fever.
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<h2>13. Connecticut Sun (5-22) ↔️</h2>
Last Week: 13 
This Week: Tue. at PHX, Thur. at LAS, Sun. at LVA
Since Marina Mabrey returned to the lineup following the All-Star break, the Sun have gone 2-3 with home wins over the Valkyries and Liberty. Now, the Sun hit the road for four straight games and will look to improve on their 1-11 mark away from Mohegan Sun this season.
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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.

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