Lynx, Valkyries Earn A+ in WNBA Midseason Grades
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- Minnesota Lynx earned the only A+ grades alongside Golden State, posting the league's best record at 21-6 even without injured star Napheesa Collier, with rookie Olivia Miles scoring 32 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists in a win over Seattle
- Golden State Valkyries also received an A+, anchored by the league's best defense (100.9 defensive rating, 76.4 points allowed per game) and Gabby Williams, who is averaging a career-high 14.8 points
- Dallas Wings graded an A at 17-9, a sleeper title contender, with Paige Bueckers averaging 20.9 points and leading the WNBA as the best fourth-quarter scorer
- Las Vegas Aces received an A- as four-time MVP A'ja Wilson leads the league in scoring at 25.6 points per game despite missing three games with an ankle injury
- Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points against the Sparks in June and leads the league in made 3-pointers
- Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, both 2026 expansion teams, earned B and B- grades respectively despite records below .500, with grades weighed against realistic expectations for new franchises
- Indiana Fever earned a B despite Kelsey Mitchell becoming just the seventh player in WNBA history to score 20-plus points in 10 consecutive games, ranking second league-wide at 23.3 points
Why it matters: The report card crystallizes the WNBA's 2026 hierarchy: the 21-6 Lynx and defensively dominant Valkyries separate as championship frontrunners, while the league-highlighting Aces (with Wilson averaging 25.6 points) and surging Wings (17-9) form a credible challenger tier — meaning the second half will likely hinge on whether Collier's return or Valkyries' defensive edge tips the title race.
