Fan Rankings Home » WNBA » Top 10 Best WNBA Teams 2026 Rankings

The Best WNBA Team Right Now!

The W is entering the home stretch of the season, and the playoff picture is finally beginning to take shape. The Lynx have dominated the regular season on the back of rookie sensation Olivia Miles, while the Aces and Aja Wilson have once again looked prime for another serious run at a ring. New powers like the Golden State Valkyries, along with emerging contenders like the Fever and Dream, are also looking to build on deep runs last year and elite regular seasons this year.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Best WNBA Teams 2026 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Los Angeles Sparks

The Sparks came into this season hoping to make the playoffs after a half-decade-long drought. The duo of Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby was something to watch as a potential centerpiece for what this team could accomplish.

The return of franchise legend Nneka Ogwumike also added intrigue to what fans were tabbed as a possible resurgence of one of the league’s most storied franchises. Fast forward to late August, the Sparks have floundered back to league mediocrity.

The trade of Kelsey Plum and the impending retirement of Ogwumike now puts this team in a position where they will most likely be looking to rebuild this offseason. They are out of the playoffs and should be looking to their future. 

Top 10 WNBA Teams 2026 Rankings

10. Chicago Sky

Opening the top 10 is the Chicago Sky. The Sky have somewhat rebounded from the horrible start to the year, losing Rickea Jackson and obvious locker room issues starting from last season.

They have played some great ball as of late, beating playoff teams, and Kamilla Cardoso is playing her best ball in year 3. They have their veteran guards doing a great job facilitating a much improved offense, and although they will miss the playoffs, this Sky team has some things to be positive about heading into the offseason. 

9. Portland Fire

Portland had a really solid inaugural season, and even though they sank their playoff chances in the past week, they still have some positives to take away from their roster.

The main one is 22-year-old guard Carla Leite. Carla has been outstanding since coming from Golden State, and I think she is the player this franchise should build around.

I think this is a pretty average team right now in a lot of ways, which, for it being their first year as a franchise, is something they should be enthusiastic to build upon.

8. Dallas Wings

I was debating putting Dallas a little higher on this list, but with the recent injury to Azzi Fudd, I feel 8 is a good spot for them. The Wings have been a team I have found to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing to watch in the league.

Their style of play mixed with the generational scoring bag that Paige Bueckers has makes this team a must-watch. Jessica Shepard has been a revelation, and when healthy, Azzi Fudd has proved to fit this system well.

This team’s defense is much improved but still shaky, and with one less weapon, with Fudd being out, it places them at the bottom of the playoff field for me.

7. Washington Mystics

The Washington Mystics are really ahead of schedule this season, and I can’t help but look at this roster and wonder what they will look like just a few years down the road.

Sonia Citron has been superb consistently throughout her young career, and over the past month, not many players have been playing better than Shakira Austin.

There is a load of talent in their frontcourt, and Georgia Amoore has clearly shown the kind of impact she can have in her return from last year’s ACL injury. I don’t see this team making a serious run this season, but it’s only a matter of time before they threaten the league’s best.

6. New York Liberty

I think this is where we start to see the teams that have a legitimate shot at winning a ring. New York has dealt with injuries this year, and it feels like we have not seen them at their absolute best.

This front court is as formidable as any with Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, but it would be even more unstoppable if Satou Sybally is able to stay on the court. Although she is picking it up, Sabrina Ionescu has had a down year as well, partly because of injury. This team has some of, if not the best, top-end talent in the league; it’s just a question of whether they can put it together. 

5. Indiana Fever

5 and 4 were really interchangeable for me, but I ultimately landed on the Indiana Fever at 5. Caitlin Clark is playing the best ball of her career and finally looking every bit of the generational and league-altering player she was when she came in.

Kelsey Mitchell is again tearing through the league as one of the best scorers in the sport, and Aaliyah Boston is still a big-time presence inside.

My worry with the Fever is on the defensive side of the ball and some of the issues they have turning the ball over. I also think, for many reasons, this team deals with a lot of off-the-court issues and unwanted attention that is never helpful for any team. It feels like this team is a change or two away from capturing a title to me, and although it’s possible, I don’t see it as likely.

4. Atlanta Dream

What this team does well always travels and shows up come playoff time, and they are going to be a tough team to beat. Say what you want about Angel Reese’s lack of interior efficiency; she is proving to be one of the most impactful bigs in the league. I feel confident saying she is the best rebounder in this league’s history, and she adds a lot on defense and as a passer.

Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard are great players that give you consistent scoring options while also playing elite defense. Allisha Gray is a superstar that I don’t think always gets the love she deserves, and I could see her leading this team to a finals appearance.

The Dream’s only real issue to me is that I don’t know if they have the level of elite shot creation and half-court scoring as some of the league’s other best teams. Nonetheless, they are right there with the best and could make a run heading into the fall.

3. Golden State Valkyries

Golden State cooled down last week after a dominant few-week stretch. This team’s stifling defense and three-point shooting put them in a spot that I don’t think many people thought they would be in.

The Valkyries get contributions from so many different players, and it is a really refreshing thing to see. Veronica Burton is running this team’s offense excellently, while Gabby Williams has been a consistent piece of their offense while also being elite on defense.

Janelle Salaun is heading towards a 6th Women of the Year award, and there is real belief that this team can make a serious run.

My lone worry with the Valkyries is that I don’t know if this team truly has the go-to scoring in the half-court to win it all. It’s the same reason I am concerned about the Atlanta Dream; these two teams don’t have the go-to scoring capabilities the other 4 teams in my top 6 do.

The Valkyries will need their 3-point shooting to be on if they want to make a deep run, and even though I am not sure if I buy it as a reliable enough way of offense, this team will be a tough out either way.

2. Las Vegas Aces

Even with the Aces at 2, I don’t know if I would trust any team to beat them in a series right now. As long as Aja Wilson is doing Aja Wilson things, I will have immense confidence in this team winning it all.

Jackie Young has rebounded from a tough start and is playing some high-level ball right now, while Chelsea Gray is still proving to be a pivotal piece. Losing Nalyssa Smith is a sizeable blow, and it made me consider moving this team down a peg, but there is too much experience, high-end talent, and championship pedigree to not have them at 2.

Aja Wilson is leading the league in points and blocks, and I don’t care who you are; there is very little that can be done to stop her. 

1. Minnesota Lynx

Securing the top spot early into 2026 for the Top 10 Best WNBA Teams is the Minnesota Lynx.

The Lynx have been the model of consistency all year. Olivia Miles is having one of the best rookie seasons ever and has led a Napheesa Collier-less Lynx squad to the best record in the league.

Collier is back somewhat and an addition to a team that was running through the rest of the league anyway. Kayla McBride is still one of the best shooters in the sport, best exemplified by her 43-point explosion a few weeks ago. Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard are about as high-end as you can get as part of your supporting cast and play their roles excellently.

I feel confident in saying this is the best roster in the sport, and what was supposed to be somewhat of a feel-out process for a team that lost a lot of players has turned into a year with genuine championship aspirations.