WNBA Power Rankings: Lynx Lead as Playoff Push Resumes
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- Minnesota Lynx (22-6) sit atop the WNBA standings with star Napheesa Collier returning from ankle surgery on July 22 with 24 points and 10 rebounds in her season debut.
- Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon said defense separates them from elite status — they rank 7th allowing 86.3 points per game, despite A'ja Wilson's 38 points in their last game before the break.
- Dallas Wings (18-9) are on track to return to the playoffs after a two-year absence, with Paige Bueckers saying "I hate how close the games have been constantly for the entire season."
- Connecticut Sun (7-20) are playing their final season in the state before relocating to Houston, and field the league's worst offense at 80 points per game.
- New York Liberty (15-12) saw Jonquel Jones named All-Star Game MVP before the break, with the team's stated priority being getting their big three — Stewart, Ionescu, Jones — clicking together.
- Portland Fire (11-16) lost guard Sarah Ashlee Barker for the season to a torn ACL; she had averaged 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds.
- The WNBA resumes league play Tuesday through Aug. 30, takes a 17-day break for the FIBA World Cup in Germany (Sept. 4-13), and ends the regular season Sept. 17-24.
Why it matters: The article identifies concrete second-half priorities for each contender — Becky Hammon explicitly says defense determines whether the Aces are "the best team in the league" or "very average," while the Lynx must maintain chemistry integrating Collier after five months off. With roughly six weeks of regular season remaining before the FIBA break, these stated priorities double as evaluation criteria for the title race.
