2025 WNBA Energy Rankings: Week 9

With All-Star within the rearview, it’s full pace forward because the Playoff push begins.

Only 45 days stay within the common season, which implies each successful streak, each capturing droop, each missed sport takes on added significance as the times tick down towards the regular-season finale on Sept. 11.

With the calendar flipping to August this week – and the commerce deadline simply 10 days away – right here’s a take a look at how the groups stack up getting into the house stretch.

1. Minnesota Lynx (22-5)

Last Week: 1 ↔️

This Week: Wed. vs. NYL, Sat. at LVA

It took 15 tries, however a workforce lastly beat the Lynx in Minnesota this season. Sunday’s 90-86 loss to Atlanta snapped Minnesota’s franchise-record 14-game house win streak.

The Lynx turned the fourth workforce to open a season with 14+ house wins, becoming a member of the 2001 Sparks (16-0) 2010 Storm (17-0) and 2023 Aces (16-0), who all went on to win the championship that very same season.

The subsequent workforce to check the Lynx at house? The defending champion Liberty, who go to Minnesota on Wednesday (8 ET, ESPN).

2. New York Liberty (17-7)

Last Week: 3 ⬆️

In addition to welcoming Kia Skills champion Natasha Cloud and two-time Starry 3-point champ Sabrina Ionescu again from the All-Star break, the Liberty additionally noticed reigning Finals MVP Jonquel Jones return to the court docket after a monthlong absence (ankle).

New York is 10-2 with Jones within the lineup, however that report can be examined because the Liberty open a four-game highway journey tonight in Dallas with out Breanna Stewart, who suffered a decrease leg damage early in Saturday’s loss to Los Angeles. Stewart is predicted to accompany the workforce on the journey as they proceed to watch her progress.

The Liberty are the busiest workforce this week with 4 video games on their plate, highlighted by the Finals rematch with Minnesota on Wednesday.

3. Atlanta Dream (15-10)

Last Week: 6 ⬆️

This Week: Tue. vs. GSV, Wed. at DAL, Fri vs. PHX, Sun. vs. WAS

After falling to Las Vegas of their first sport since All-Star,  the Dream knocked off two of the highest three groups within the standings to shut out the week – defeating the Mercury for the second time in three conferences this season earlier than handing the Lynx their first loss at Target Center this season.

Keep a watch on Brittney Griner, who dropped a season-high 22 factors in Sunday’s win over the Lynx.

4. Phoenix Mercury (16-9)

Last Week: 2 ⬇️

This Week: Wed. at IND, Fri. at ATL, Sun. at CHI

Sunday’s win over the Mystics snapped a season-long three-game shedding streak for the Mercury. But double-digit losses to the 2 groups instantly forward of them within the rankings – Atlanta and New York – drop the Mercury to fourth.

In the win on Sunday, Alyssa Thomas put up numbers (27 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) solely matched by 4 different gamers in WNBA historical past. AT’s season numbers (15.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg. 9.4 apg) have been matched or topped by no participant in league historical past. She is solely a category of 1.

5. Seattle Storm (15-11)

Last Week: 4 ⬇️

This Week: Mon. at CON, Fri. vs. LAS, Sun. vs. IND

The Storm are 1-2 popping out of All-Star. In the 2 losses, Seattle was held to 63 and 58 factors, respectively. Sunday’s 58-point complete marked the third time the Storm have scored fewer than 60 factors this season, and each their offensive ranking and scoring common rank ninth within the league – the bottom amongst all groups taking part in above .500 ball.

6. Indiana Fever (14-12)

Last Week: 5 ⬇️

This Week: Wed. vs. PHX, Fri. at DAL, Sun. at SEA

Kelsey Mitchell dropped a season-high 35 factors with seven 3s to guide the Fever previous the Sky to shut out a 2-1 week for Indiana. With the win, the Fever improved to 6-7 with out Caitlin Clark within the lineup this season (they’re 8-5 when she performs).

On Thursday (July 24), the Fever launched an replace on Clark, saying there was no set timetable for her return as she continues to get well from a groin damage that has saved her out since July 15.

7. Las Vegas Aces (13-13)

Last Week: 8 ⬆️

This Week: Tue. at LAS, Sat., vs. MIN, Sun. vs. GSV

No workforce was busier popping out of the break than the Aces, who cut up 4 video games this previous week to stay at .500 ball for the season up to now. In Sunday’s win over the Wings, it was Jackie Young (24 pts, 8 ast, 5 3pm) and Jewell Loyd (20 pts, 4 3pm) that mixed for 44 factors and 9 3s to guide Aces.

With A’ja Wilson main the WNBA in utilization price (30.2%), getting large nights from gamers like Young and Loyd eases among the burden that the three-time MVP brings to the court docket each evening.

8. Los Angeles Sparks (11-14)

Last Week: 11 ⬆️

This Week: Tue. vs. LVA, Fri. at SEA

The Sparks are the most well liked workforce within the league at this very second – making a four-spot  rise on this week’s rankings because of a five-game win streak that was capped by Rickea Jackson’s game-winning layup on the buzzer.

Jackson completed with 22 factors – her third sport with 22+ factors up to now 4 contests — because the sophomore ahead is one in all 4 Sparks averaging 17+ factors throughout their longest win streak since Aug. 2023: Dearica Hamby & Kelsey Plum (20.8 ppg), Jackson (18.2 ppg) and Azurá Stevens (17.0 ppg).

Can L.A. maintain its streak alive after they host the Aces Tuesday and go to the Storm on Friday?

9. Washington Mystics (12-13)

Last Week: 7 ⬇️

This Week: Tue. vs. CHI, Thur. vs. GSV, Sun. at ATL

After successful three straight video games previous to All-Star – all determined in clutch time by 5 factors or much less – the Mystics have dropped three of their final 4 contests to fall again under .500 on the season.

The Mystics are 8-5 at house this season and have two extra house video games this week – Sky on Tuesday and Valkyries on Thursday – as they attempt to get again on observe earlier than hitting the highway for 4 straight. The Mystics are simply 4-8 outdoors of Washington this season

10. Golden State Valkyries (11-13)

Last Week: 9 ⬇️

This Week: Tue. at ATL, Thur. at WAS, Fri. at CHI, Sun. at LVA

On Friday, the Valkyries used a giant second half to rally previous the Wings for his or her eleventh win of the season. However, in addition they introduced a key loss on that very same day – All-Star Kayla Thornton will miss the rest of the season after struggling a knee damage in observe that required surgical procedure.

Two days later, the Valkyries struggled to attain in a loss to the Sun, scoring simply 64 factors (their second lowest output of the season) within the first sport of a five-game highway journey that the squad will shut out this week.

11. Chicago Sky (7-18)

Last Week: 10 ⬇️

This Week: Tue. at WAS, Fri. vs. GSV, Sun. vs. PHX

After defeating the Lynx on July 12 behind a pair of double-doubles from Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the Sky haven’t gained since. Chicago has dropped 5 straight video games by a median of 25.2 factors per sport.

In order to show issues round, Chicago should discover its offense. The Sky rank twelfth in scoring on the season (76.8 ppg), however have averaged practically 11 fewer factors throughout this shedding streak (66.0 ppg).

12. Dallas Wings (7-19)

Last Week: 12 ↔️

This Week: Mon. vs. NYL, Wed. vs. ATL, Fri. vs. IND

Dallas opened its put up All-Star schedule with a 24-point over the Storm in Seattle, however was unable to hold that momentum by way of the rest of the week – falling to Golden State and Las Vegas.

The Wings have misplaced six of their final seven video games, however have 5 of their subsequent six contests at house, starting tonight with the Stewie-less Liberty. It’s the primary of three matchups with New York within the span of 11 days.

13. Connecticut Sun (4-20)

Last Week: 13 ↔️

This Week: Mon. vs. SEA, Fri. vs. NYL, Sun. vs. NYL

The Sun didn’t simply snap a four-game shedding streak with their 95-64 win over the Valkyries on Sunday, they posted their largest win of the season by way of level differential (+31). It was the fifteenth win by 30+ factors in franchise historical past.

This week, the Sun proceed their season-long six-game homestand by welcoming the Storm (15-11) and Liberty twice (17-7) to Mohegan Sun – two groups which can be effectively above .500. So far this season, Connecticut is 2-11 towards successful groups.