Posted 7/29/2026
We're in the playoffs of the 2026 WNBA season, and several teams are ready to assert themselves. The top eight teams are the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkyries, Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Dallas Wings, and Washington Mystics.
The Aces are the defending champions with superstar A'ja Wilson at the forefront. Wilson is perhaps the best player in the league, averaging 26.5 ppg as the reigning MVP. She's going to need help if the Aces expect to make another run at the title. Jackie Young, averaging 17.5 ppg, and Chelsea Gray lead the supporting cast.
The Lynx have put together a complete team game. With Olivia Miles, the sensational rookie out of TCU, and Kayla McBride's 18.2 ppg, Minnesota has established great balance. 6'2" forward Napheesa Collier has returned from injury during the regular season to add to their depth.
Cheryl Reeve is an outstanding coach—a 4-time Coach of the Year with four championships under her belt who recently reached 380 victories; she holds the record for most regular-season wins in league history.
Gabby Williams and the Golden State Valkyries are keeping themselves in the conversation. They may not do much in the way of scoring, but they aren't letting other teams score either. The Valkyries are an elite defensive team, leading the WNBA with a league-best defensive rating of around 100.4 points allowed per 100 possessions and giving up a league-low 76.4 points per game. It is said that defense wins championships.
Shifting gears to the Eastern Conference, the New York Liberty defeated the Aces to take home the Commissioner's Cup, showcasing their star power. Forward Breanna Stewart took home the MVP trophy for the game, putting up 25 points while averaging 21.4 ppg on the season.
Despite having a rebound beast in Angel Reese and a stellar backcourt featuring Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, Atlanta seems to be struggling to find their true identity. The team is loaded with talent and could be dangerous if they can put the pieces together. The acquisition of Dewanna Bonner could be impactful down the stretch.
When you mention the Indiana Fever, you have to bring up Caitlin Clark. Clark has proved that she is not all hype, averaging 21.5 ppg and 7.9 apg (both second-best in the league). She's accompanied by veteran Kelsey Mitchell, who averages 23.5 ppg, making them possible WNBA finalists.
Tthe Dallas Wings are not to be counted out, as they have looked impressive at times. The team centers around Arike Ogunbowale, Paige Bueckers, and Azzi Fudd, whose names you may soon start to hear a lot more as they battle for a chance to hoist the WNBA trophy.
