WNBA Tiers 2025: Ranking All 13 Teams

I’m back. After taking some time off to get married and do a sports-free honeymoon (at my wife’s request), it’s time to get back to work.

For my first post as a married man, I thought it’d be fun to take stock of the league. Each team has played between seven and 10 games, providing plenty of data points on where they stand among the WNBA’s hierarchy for the 2025 season.

While the order remains in flux, I’m confident in the tiers that have started to form at this point in the year.

Here’s my WNBA tiers list for 2025:

WNBA Tiers 2025: Ranking All 13 Teams

Tier 1: Championship Favorites

No. 1: New York Liberty (8-0)

No. 2: Minnesota Lynx (9-0)

The two teams that met in the 2024 WNBA Finals have established themselves as the championship favorites in 2025. I promise the takes will get hotter.

Both the Liberty and the Lynx are undefeated to start the season, ranking them among the best starts in WNBA history. Of the seven teams to start 9-0 or better, six of them have reached the WNBA Finals:

• 2016 Lynx, 13-0 (Lost Finals)

• 2016 Sparks, 11-0 (Won Finals)

• 2012 Lynx, 10-0 (Lost Finals)

• 2001 Sparks, 9-0 (Won Finals)

• 2003 Sparks, 9-0 (Lost Finals)

• 2017 Lynx, 9-0 (Won Finals)

• 2024 Sun, 9-0 (Lost Semis)

We should get a WNBA Finals rematch (this time a seven-game series) in the fall.

Tier 2: Playoff Teams, but Good Luck Predicting Where They End Up

No. 3: Atlanta Dream (5-3)

No. 4: Indiana Fever (4-4)

No. 5: Seattle Storm (5-4)

No. 6: Phoenix Mercury (6-4)

No. 7: Las Vegas Aces (4-3)

The primary takeaway from the early stages of the WNBA season (and the origin of this post) is that the middle class of the league is a mess. The only thing I’m confident in is that these five teams will make the playoffs.

On the right night, any of these five squads could have a claim as the third-best team in the league. I could also see them fall to the No. 7 seed or show they are capable of being upset by a non-playoff team.

The Dream, for example, suffered a shocking loss to the Connecticut Sun last Friday. Still, I like what first-year head coach Karl Smesko is doing with this team, as Atlanta’s shot diet consists of post-ups and 3-pointers.

The Aces, who are seventh on this current list, rank eighth in the league in offensive rating. They have been first or second in offensive rating for five straight seasons. Read this post by Andy Tulin to better understand some of the Aces’ offensive woes.

Indiana has plenty of upside when Caitlin Clark is in the lineup. Phoenix’s depth has also been tested with Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, and Natasha Mack all sidelined. Seattle is the only team with three different players in the top 20 in scoring.

I’m sure we will get a better idea of which teams from this tier are genuine contenders over the next several weeks. For now, I’m comfortable lumping them all together as playoff-bound squads.

Tier 3: The Fun Rebuilding Teams

No. 8: Golden State Valkyries (4-5)

No. 9 Washington Mystics (4-6)

No. 10: Los Angeles Sparks (3-7)

These three teams are likely competing for the final playoff spot. A postseason berth is a bonus, as this group is focused on its long-term outlook.

Of the three, the Sparks had the highest expectations after trading for Kelsey Plum. They have ranked fifth in offensive rating, but their defensive issues have led to a slow start. Still, with Cameron Brink’s return looming, it’s hard to feel like there is much pressure in Los Angeles.

The Mystics and Valkyries have exceeded expectations to start their respective rebuilds and might have found some gems in this rookie class.

Kiki Iriafen became the first Mystics players ever to win Rookie of the Month, averaging 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in May. Golden State rookie Janelle Salaün is coming off a 21-point, eight-rebound performance on Monday.

This tier features some of the more fun teams to watch on WNBA League Pass this season.

Tier 4: The Less-Fun Rebuilding Teams

No. 11: Dallas Wings (1-9)

No. 12: Chicago Sky (2-5)

No. 13: Connecticut Sun (2-7)

One could argue that the Wings deserve to be last with the worst record, though I prefer this team moving forward with Paige Bueckers nearing a return from a concussion. Dallas should start to see better results.

The same can’t be said for the Sky or the Sun. Chicago lost veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot for the year, which could be a significant blow for a team that ranks 12th in offensive rating. The Sun, meanwhile, are last in the league with a -22.6 net rating.

It’s still early, so things could change. But I have a hard time envisioning a world where these three teams are in a playoff hunt this year.