WNBA Power Rankings: Lynx Lead After Collier Returns
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- Minnesota Lynx (22-6) hold the No. 1 spot in the ESPN Power Rankings after Napheesa Collier returned July 22 from ankle surgery with 24 points and 10 rebounds in her season debut, though the team faces the challenge of maintaining chemistry while reintegrating her.
- Las Vegas Aces (18-8), the defending champions, lost 100-99 to Washington before the break despite 38 points from A'ja Wilson; coach Becky Hammon identified defense (seventh at 86.3 points allowed per game) as the team's biggest second-half need.
- Dallas Wings (18-9) are on track to return to the playoffs after a two-year absence, though Paige Bueckers said "I hate how close the games have been constantly" amid repeated late-game drama this season.
- Indiana Fever (17-10) won eight of their past 11 games and capped the first half with a 123-88 rout of Connecticut, with Aliyah Boston calling it one of their best performances of the season.
- Golden State Valkyries (19-8) boast the league's best defense (76.4 points allowed per game) but need to boost their 81.9 points per game offensively to make a deep playoff run.
- Portland Fire guard Sarah Ashlee Barker is out for the season with a torn ACL after averaging 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds, a major blow to the expansion team's inaugural second half.
- Connecticut Sun (7-20) have the league's worst offense (80 points per game) and are playing out their final season in Connecticut before relocating to Houston.
Why it matters: The Lynx's task of reintegrating Collier mirrors last season's semifinal collapse to Phoenix, while the Aces' middling defense (86.3 allowed, seventh in the league) and the Valkyries' league-best 76.4 points allowed show that defensive execution will separate title contenders before the 17-day FIBA World Cup break in September reshapes rosters.
