Atlanta Dream Reclaim No. 1 Spot as WNBA Power Rankings Shift Midseason

ESPN’s latest WNBA Power Rankings place the Atlanta Dream at No. 1, a position they briefly held in late May. The Las Vegas Aces sit at No. 2 after posting a 6-1 record in Commissioner's Cup play, while the Washington Mystics rise to No. 7 following a three-game road winning streak. The New York Liberty, previously No. 1 with an eight-game winning streak, fall after consecutive losses to Washington (86-83) and Los Angeles (98-97). The rankings now reflect a tightly contested midseason landscape, with multiple teams moving several spots after recent results.

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The Dream posted four straight victories, improving to 7-2 in June. Guard Rhyne Howard contributed 60 points, Allisha Gray added 57, forward Angel Reese grabbed 28 rebounds, and guard Jordin Canada recorded 30 assists across the streak. The Mystics, the league’s youngest roster (average age 23.4), earned three consecutive road wins—their first such streak of the season. The Aces rebounded from a 30-point loss at Dallas with wins at Phoenix (86-76) and Golden State (92-73); center A’ja Wilson tallied 52 points, 19 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals in two games, while guard Jackie Young added 41 points and 14 assists. The Liberty’s eight-game run ended with an 86-83 loss at Washington and a 98-97 defeat in Los Angeles, the latter decided by Nneka Ogwumike’s last-second three-pointer.

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Washington’s forward Kiki Iriafen returned from an ankle injury to score 20 points, including the game-clinching layup against New York. Rookie guard Kiki Rice remains sidelined after an ankle sprain on June 3. Guard Marina Mabrey has shouldered additional scoring duties for Washington, posting 37 points against Connecticut and tying a league record with nine three-pointers versus the Sun. The Connecticut Sun ended a seven-game skid with a 92-63 win over Chicago, highlighted by Brittney Griner’s 14 points and her 878th career block, establishing a new all-time record. Seattle’s Dominique Malonga, at 20 years and 218 days, recorded a 37-point, 12-rebound game, becoming the youngest player with a 30-point, 10-rebound effort.

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Washington head coach Sydney Johnson praised the Mystics’ development, noting visible growth and the need for continued patience. He also cautioned that the team had not yet faced Minnesota, underscoring an upcoming test.

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• “It's huge signs of growth, things that we've talked about with the team,” — Sydney Johnson, Washington Mystics head coach

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• “I'm just really proud of them. There's a whole lot of goodness, but they need their time to grow.” — Sydney Johnson, Washington Mystics head coach

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• “We haven't played Minnesota yet.” — Sydney Johnson, Washington Mystics head coach

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The Dream’s ascent positions them as a leading contender for the Commissioner's Cup final on June 30, where they will host New York. The Aces’ Cup final berth and the Mystics’ upward movement suggest a deeper playoff field, while the Liberty’s recent setbacks raise questions about their seeding prospects.

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• Atlanta Dream: vs. New York (June 23), vs. Dallas (June 25), @ Chicago (June 28)

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• Washington Mystics: vs. Phoenix (June 24), vs. Los Angeles (June 27)

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• Las Vegas Aces: @ Washington (June 24), @ Dallas (June 28)

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• New York Liberty: @ Minnesota (June 24), @ Connecticut (June 26), vs. Portland (June 28)

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