Welcome to All-Star week!

In addition to this weekend’s festivities being a celebration of the game and its brightest stars, All-Star gives us a chance to reflect on the season thus far.

With each team set to reach or pass the midway point of the season (22 games) this week, let’s take a look at how the teams stack up against one another and see how they compare to the preseason expectations

When we see the disparities from the preseason until the midway point, just remember there’s a whole other half of the season that can continue to shake up these races post All-Star.

1. Minnesota Lynx (18-4)

Last Week: 1 ↔️

This Week: Mon. at CHI, Wed. vs. PHX

With losses at Phoenix and Chicago, the Lynx have dropped two games in a three-game span for the first time this season. After a rematch with the Sky in Chicago this tonight, the Lynx play their next five games at home, where they are a perfect 11-0 this season.

2. Phoenix Mercury (14-6)

Last Week: 2 ↔️

This Week: Mon. at GSV, Wed. at MIN

After dropping two straight games for the first time all season, Phoenix bounced back with consecutive home wins over Dallas and Minnesota this past week – the latter of which featured the return of longtime Mercury DeWana Boner. The Mercury own the second-best road record this season (5-3), which will be put to the test with seven of their next eight games outside of Phoenix.

3. New York Liberty (14-6)

Last Week: 5 ⬆️

This Week: Wed. vs. IND

When reigning Finals MVP Jonquel Jones went down with an ankle injury on June 19, the Liberty lost that game and three of the next four that followed. Since then, they’ve rebounded, winning three of four, including victories over Las Vegas and Atlanta this past week. Can they keep it going against Indy to close out the pre All-Star schedule?

4. Seattle Storm (13-9)

Last Week: 3 ⬇️

This Week: Wed. vs. GSV

Since a run of six wins in seven games, the Storm have gone just 4-4 in their last eight, including a 1-2 mark this week. Seattle split a home-and-home with Connecticut before falling to Washington on Sunday, allowing the Mystics to overcome a 10-point 4th-quarter deficit.

5. Indiana Fever (11-10)

Last Week: 7 ⬆️

This Week: Tue. at CON, Wed. at NYL

After falling to Golden State in Caitlin Clark’s first game back from a five-game absence (groin injury), Indiana – and particularly its offense – got back on track. The Fever posted back-to-back games with 99 and 102 points – two of their three highest-scoring games of the season – with their floor general back in the mix.

6. Atlanta Dream (12-9)

Last Week: 4 ⬇️

This Week: Wed. at CHI

The Dream opened the week with a home win against Golden State before dropping consecutive road games to Indiana and New York. Overall, Atlanta has lost five of its last seven games, with only one game – Wed, at Charlotte — remaining before All-Star, which will see Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard head to Indy

7. Washington Mystics (11-10)

Last Week: 9 ⬆️

This Week: Tue. at LAS

The Mystics swept the past week, with their three wins coming against Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle by a combined nine points, including two that came down to a single bucket. Washington is now 8-6 in clutch games this season.

8. Las Vegas Aces (10-11)

Last Week: 8 ↔️

This Week: Wed. at DAL

After a pair of single-digit road losses to the Liberty and Mystics, the Aces eked out a home win over the Valkyries behind another historic performance from A’ja Wilson. The three-time MVP finished with 34 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 0 turnovers. How many players have put together such a game in WNBA history? Just A’ja

9. Golden State Valkyries (10-10)

Last Week: 6 ⬇️

This Week: Mon. vs. PHX, Wed. at SEA

The Valkyries enter this week having lost three of their last four games, with all three losses coming against teams above them in this week’s rankings. Golden State has already reached double-digit wins – something an expansion team has not done in its inaugural season in the 2000s.

10. Chicago Sky (7-13)

Last Week: 11 ⬆️

This Week: Mon vs. MIN, Wed vs. ATL

The Sky have gone 4-3 in their last seven games as they try to climb out of the 3-10 hole they dug for themselves over the season’s first five weeks. The two most recent wins – over the Wings and the league-leading Lynx – came since Kamilla Cardoso returned from playing in the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup with the Brazilian National Team on July 9.

11. Los Angeles Sparks (7-14)

Last Week: 12 ⬆️

This Week: Tue. vs. WAS

The Sparks have won two of their last three games – at Indiana and home against Connecticut – with Kelsey Plum and Azurá Stevens both scoring 20+ in both wins. L.A. is one win shy of matching last season’s total (8-32). Can they get it in their final game before the All-Star break on Sunday against the Mystics?

12. Dallas Wings (6-16)

Last Week: 10 ⬇️

This Week: Wed. vs. LVA

The first half of Dallas’ season has been a roller coaster. It began with a 1-11 start to the season, followed by a stretch of winning five times in a seven-game span. However, since that winning burst, the Wings have dropped three straight and all by double digits. On the bright side, rookie Paige Bueckers will represent the Wings at this week’s All-Star.

13. Connecticut Sun (3-18)

Last Week: 13 ↔️

This Week: Tue vs. IND

Despite this week’s win over Seattle as the team split a home-and-home set, the Sun have dropped 12 of their last 13 games. Since joining the league in 1999 as the Orlando Miracle (and relocating to Connecticut as the Sun in 2003), this franchise has reached 10+ wins each season. Can the Sun rally in the second half of the season to extend that streak to 27 straight seasons?