2025 WNBA Power Rankings (Final Preseason Edition)

The WNBA preseason was short and sweet. With the start of the 2025 WNBA season tipping off on Friday, May 16, our final 2025 WNBA Power rankings for the preseason are ready for the ladies of the W to test.

Along with each Monday WNBA Power Ranking, we’ll include every piece of injury news and information we can find. Let’s get after it with our 2025 WNBA Power Rankings preseason rankings for Monday, May 12.

How We Compiled the 2025 WNBA Preseason Power Rankings

The Crush and Rush News 2025 WNBA Power Rankings are compiled through a detailed analysis of each team’s roster, offseason moves, and potential for the upcoming season. We evaluate key factors such as:  

• Player Roster: Assessing star power (e.g., A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark), new acquisitions (e.g., Natasha Cloud to the Liberty), and how players complement each other.  
• Team Chemistry and Depth: Consider how returning cores (e.g., Lynx’s defense) and new additions (e.g., Fever’s veterans) add to or diminish a team’s depth.  
• Health: Long-term injuries could destroy a WNBA team in a short, 42-game season.
• Recent Performance: Who’s hot, and who’s not?

1. New York Liberty (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #1: The NY Liberty lost to the Sun, but preseason doesn’t mean much. We’ll find out more when they welcome the Aces to Barclays Center for their Saturday, May 17 afternoon season opener.
• Concern: None.

2. Minnesota Lynx (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #2: The Minnesota Lynx were 1-1 in the preseason, but they should be fine when they have a pair of road games this week, on Friday at Dallas and a Sunday nighter with the LA Sparks.  
• Concern: None.

3. Las Vegas Aces (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #3: The Las Vegas Aces went 2-0 in the preseason and looked good with Jewell Loyd in the new and improved Aces lineup. We’ll find out more on Saturday when they meet the Lady Liberty.
• Concern: Chelsea Gray (foot) is still day-to-day but expected to play limited minutes in the opener.  

4. Indiana Fever (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #4: The Indiana Fever went 3-0 in the preseason. The newly improved Fever looked good, and their season home opener this Saturday against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky will be must-see TV.
• Concern: None.

5. Chicago Sky (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #5: The Chicago Sky went 2-1 during the preseason with the fifth-highest points differential (+9). They face a challenging road test right out of the gate at Indiana, and we’ll see if the offseason acquisitions improve in the WNBA Power Rankings.
• Concern: Last season’s 10th-best WNBA offense needs to improve.

6. Seattle Storm (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #6: The Seattle Storm went 1-0 during the preseason. New additions Erica Wheeler and Alysha Clarke give them the depth they didn’t have last year, which will be on full display in their Saturday night season opener at Phoenix.
• Concerns: None.

7. Atlanta Dream (No Change, Previously #7)

• Why They Stay at #7: The Atlanta Dream went 1-1 this preseason but took a hit with Jordin Canada on the shelf for at least two weeks. Still, the offseason was good for Atlanta, and we’ll see if Atlanta can improve in the WNBA Power Rankings after their season opener Friday night in Washington.
• Concern: They could be in trouble if Canada is out long-term.

8. Dallas Wings (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #8: The Dallas Wings were 1-1 this preseason behind the impressive play of rookie Paige Bueckers. The Wings have health and’ll face a stiff test in their season home opener against Minnesota.
• Concern: Last year’s league-worst defense will improve, but how much it does will determine their postseason future.

9. Los Angeles Sparks (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #9: The Los Angeles Sparks were undefeated during the preseason. The one-two punch of Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum could be lethal, and they are a deep WNBA squad. They open Friday night at Golden State and return home Sunday for their home opener against Minnesota.
• Concern: They could make the postseason if Cameron Brink can return to anywhere near where she was before ACL surgery

10. Phoenix Mercury (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #10: The Phoenix Mercury underwent significant changes this offseason and went 0-2 during the preseason. They have a solid, veteran roster, and we’ll see how quickly they can gel when their season gets underway at home against Seattle on Saturday.
• Concern: Health of Satou Sabally and other Mercury veterans.

11. Connecticut Sun (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #11: The Connecticut Sun went through a significant roster overhaul, but did go an encouraging 1-1 this preseason. They’ll be a fun watch with a solid core of veterans mixed in with rookies like LSU product Aneesah Morrow.
• Concern: None.

12. Washington Mystics (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #12: The Washington Mystics went 0-2 during the preseason, but their mix of rookies alongside a solid core of returnees will make the Mystics a fun watch when they open the season Friday night at home against the Dream.
• Concern: None.

13. Golden State Valkyries (No Change)

• Why They Stay at #13: The Golden State Valkyries will be a scrappy bunch, but their 1-1 preseason mark may be the only time they boast a .500 record this season. They’ll open up their inaugural season Friday night at home against the LA Sparks.
• Concern: None.

Injury List Recap (Updated May 11, 2025)

Injuries can derail a team’s WNBA Power Rankings. We’ll add every minor and significant injury every Monday morning.   

• New York Liberty: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (meniscus, out until late June).  
• Minnesota Lynx: Alanna Smith (quad, out for May 10), Alissa Pili (ankle, expected back for opener).  
• Las Vegas Aces: Chelsea Gray (foot, day-to-day, limited minutes in opener).  
• Indiana Fever: Damiris Dantas (leg, out for May 11).  
• Chicago Sky: Moriah Jefferson (leg, out), Courtney Vandersloot (rib, questionable).  
• Seattle Storm: Katie Lou Samuelson (ACL, out for 2025), Skylar Diggins-Smith (knee, day-to-day).  
• Atlanta Dream: Jordin Canada (right knee, out at least two weeks, re-evaluated after May 23).  
• Dallas Wings: Natasha Harris (unspecified, out for May 11), Luisa Geiselsöder (hamstring, questionable).  
• Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink (ACL, out until midseason), Hinako Allemand (knee, out).  
• Phoenix Mercury: No major injuries (Satou Sabally’s back history noted).  
• Connecticut Sun: Diamond DeShields (ankle, out), Marina Mabrey (calf, out), Aneesah Morrow (knee, out), Amy Okonkwo (hip, questionable).  
• Washington Mystics: Georgia Amoore (ACL, out), Aaliyah Edwards (back, out), Shakira Austin (leg, out), Brittney Sykes (shoulder, day-to-day).  
• Golden State Valkyries: Cecilia Zandalasini (foot, questionable), Stephanie Talbot (quad, questionable).