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Michael Voepel
As the WNBA season marches into June 2025, the narrative is becoming increasingly clear. Two teams are excelling and only need to keep their winning streaks alive, while one team appears to be stagnating. Meanwhile, the rest are in a state of flux, vying for improvement.
Currently, the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty are riding high at the top of the standings, alongside the Dallas Wings, who are struggling at the bottom. The other ten teams are fluctuating in the ESPN WNBA Power Rankings.
Injuries are wreaking havoc across the league, notably sidelining Chicago Sky’s veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot for the season due to a right ACL tear. The injury occurred early in their recent game against the Indiana Fever, which cast a shadow over a landmark event—the Sky’s inaugural game at the United Center, attended by the largest crowd in team history. Chicago’s offense was already underwhelming with Vandersloot, who sits second on the all-time assists leaderboard, and it faltered even more in her absence.
On a brighter note, the Indiana Fever found their footing, winning their second consecutive game without their star point guard Caitlin Clark, who’s out due to a quadriceps injury. They’re now back to .500, optimistic about Clark’s impending return.
As we head into the final stretch of the Commissioner’s Cup games, the Lynx and Liberty are on track for a rematch in the tournament final, while other teams scramble to establish a consistent rhythm in their gameplay.
Previous ranking: 1
Upcoming games: @ SEA (June 11), vs. LA (June 14)
Napheesa Collier emerged as the unanimous MVP in the initial installment of our season awards tracker, reflecting her crucial role in Minnesota’s triumphs. Last week, she received solid support from guard Natisha Hiedeman, who contributed significantly off the bench, scoring 27 points at an impressive shooting percentage of 61.1% in victories against Phoenix and Dallas.
Previous ranking: 2
Upcoming games: vs. CHI (June 10), @ IND (June 14)
The Liberty enjoyed a relatively calm week, securing a victory against Washington with an 86-78 scoreline. Breanna Stewart achieved her first double-double of the season with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Much like the Lynx, the Liberty benefit from a strong bench, especially from Kennedy Burke, who is making a strong case for Sixth Player of the Year with outstanding performances.
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Breanna Stewart’s 26-point double-double leads Liberty to victory
Breanna Stewart dominated the Mystics, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in an 86-78 win.
Previous ranking: 7
Upcoming games: vs. MIN (June 11), @ GS (June 14)
The Storm have been inconsistent in the rankings, dropping to seventh last week, but rebounded to third after victories against Dallas and Phoenix. Gabby Williams shone against the Wings, scoring 18 points, while Skylar Diggins had a standout game with a season-high 26 points and seven assists versus the Mercury. Seattle is eager to face the Lynx again after their close prior encounter.
Previous ranking: 4
Upcoming games: vs. DAL (June 11), @ LV (June 15)
Last week, Phoenix claimed a win against Golden State but fell short against Minnesota and Seattle. Guard Lexi Held made her mark by leading the Mercury in scoring for two consecutive games, with 16 points against the Lynx and 24 against the Valkyries. This 25-year-old has overcome a tough road since being undrafted in 2022 to find her place in the WNBA.
Previous ranking: 3
Upcoming games: vs. IND (June 10), vs. CHI (June 13), @ WAS (June 15)
Atlanta had an overall disappointing week, succumbing to a strong Connecticut team that was eager to bounce back from a heavy loss to the Liberty. Although guard Jordin Canada made her season debut after injury, the Dream will need to sharpen their skills to regain winning momentum.
Previous ranking: 9
Upcoming games: @ ATL (June 10), vs. NY (June 14)
The Fever welcomed guard Aari McDonald through an emergency hardship addition with the absences of Clark and Sophie Cunningham due to injury. McDonald made an impact, contributing significantly in both games, while Kelsey Mitchell was the scoring leader for Indiana, racking up a combined 41 points.
Previous ranking: 5
Upcoming games: vs. LA (June 11), vs. DAL (June 13), vs. PHO (June 15)
The two-time champion Aces experienced an unexpected setback following a 95-68 defeat to Golden State, prompting Coach Becky Hammon to vocally criticize her team’s effort. Key players Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd were notably off their game, combining for only nine points during that outing.
Previous ranking: 10
Upcoming games: vs. SEA (June 14)
Golden State has now achieved back-to-back wins for the second time this season. Following a tough loss to Phoenix, they delivered a commanding performance over Las Vegas and narrowly defeated Los Angeles in overtime. Rookie Janelle Salaun showcased her skills, posting a career-high 21 points alongside eight rebounds.
Previous ranking: 6
Upcoming games: vs. ATL (June 15)
The Washington Mystics bounced back impressively after losses to Indiana and New York, achieving their highest scoring game this season with a 104-67 victory against Connecticut. Brittney Sykes stepped up with 28 points, while Kiki Iriafen leads both in rebounds and among the team’s top scorers.
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Watch the highlights from the Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun game, held on June 8, 2025.
Previous ranking: 11
Upcoming games: @ LV (June 11), @ MIN (June 14)
The Los Angeles Sparks managed to overcome Dallas last Friday, but fell short in their quest for consecutive victories during a tight match against Golden State, ultimately losing 89-81 in overtime. The Sparks struggle with rebounding, sitting at 11th in the league.
Previous ranking: 13
Upcoming games: vs. CHI (June 15)
The Connecticut Sun have shown a recent pattern of alternating between high-scoring losses and subsequent victories. After defeating Atlanta, they faced a tough loss against Washington. Scheduled to play against the struggling Sky next, they’ll be looking to break this pattern.
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Marina Mabrey’s 34 points drive the Sun’s second win of the season.
Mabrey’s outstanding performance included 34 points, showcasing her potential as a key player.
Previous ranking: 8
Upcoming games: @ NY (June 10), @ ATL (June 13), @ CON (June 15)
Times are tough for the Chicago Sky, as they suffered a defeat against the Fever. With Vandersloot sidelined for the rest of the season, their challenges amplify. Currently, they average 77.4 points per game while struggling defensively, allowing a league-high of 90.1 points, up from 82.5 last season.
Previous ranking: 12
Upcoming games: @ PHO (June 11), @ LV (June 13)
The Dallas Wings have been dealt a rough hand lately, with their No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers out due to concussion protocols and illness. They’ve lost four straight games with several key players unavailable, including guard Tyasha Harris and center Teaira McCowan, who will soon leave for EuroBasket before returning in July.