Winsidr Power Rankings: Volume 5 » Winsidr

The arrival of September means we are just weeks away from the start of the WNBA Playoffs. As we get closer to the final day of the regular season on Sept. 19, the postseason picture is taking shape as teams continue to fight for seeding for the playoffs when they tip off on Sept. 22. 

With just a few games remaining in the regular season, it’s time for another edition of our Winsidr Power Rankings, where our staff got together to update our ranking of all 12 teams in the WNBA.

As of this Power Rankings, seven teams have clinched postseason spots, with one spot left in the eight-team playoff picture. Before the playoffs begin, however, those teams will continue their attempt to better their seeding with a handful of games left. 

Let’s jump into our latest Winsidr Power Rankings.

Biggest Increase – Washington Mystics (+2)

The team that made the biggest leap in our latest Power Rankings is the Washington Mystics, who moved up two spots from our previous rankings. The only other team to increase their spot in our ranking is the Indiana Fever, who leaped one position. 

Washington has had a disappointing season to this point, looking to be one of the four teams on the outside looking in when the playoff field is set. Once again, the Mystics have dealt with injury issues all season long which has resulted in having trouble finding their footing in 2024.

However, Washington has played better out of the Olympic Break and has improved from the first portion of the regular season before the hiatus. As a result, the Mystics have gone 5-5 in the 10 games out of the break and either topped some postseason teams or narrowly fell to playoff caliber squads. 

Over its last 10 games, Washington has been led by its strong defensive play, ranking fifth in the WNBA in defensive rating over that span. The Mystics, who carried the ninth-ranked offensive rating over that same stretch, had five different leading scorers pacing the way offensively. 

Though Washington will likely miss the postseason, it is playing better down the stretch and could have some positives to build off of moving into 2025. 

Biggest Decrease – Seattle Storm, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks (-1)

Three teams tied for the biggest decrease in our latest Power Rankings, although all three of them fell just one spot. Those squads are the Seattle Storm, Dallas Wings and Los Angeles Sparks.

Seattle has hit a bit of a bump in the road as of late, dropping down to fifth in the WNBA standings while going just 4-6 over its last 10 games. The Storm have played some tough opponents during that span, notably the likes of New York and Connecticut (twice each) and Phoenix. Good news for the Storm is, according to Tankathon, they have the easiest remaining schedule in the WNBA. 

See Also

Dallas and Los Angeles have been in a battle for the bottom spot in the league standings nearly all season, and that has continued down the stretch. Both squads are officially eliminated from postseason contention as they start to look ahead to 2025. The Wings, who are 3-7 over the last 10 games, and the Sparks, who are 1-9 over their last 10, both own a league-long four-game losing streak entering games on Sept. 10. 

Out of these three teams, Seattle is a squad that should be able to turn things around leading up to the playoffs. As for the other two teams, the end of the season is nearing as they start to plan for the future. 

Team to Watch

There are a few teams worth watching down the stretch of the regular season, three of which are still in contention for the eighth and final playoff spot.

As of now, the Chicago Sky hold the eighth spot in WNBA standings, but are just one game ahead of the Atlanta Dream and two games ahead of Washington with five games remaining. 

The Sky have started to turn things around over the last two games, but have gone 3-7 over their last 10 and have made the race for the eighth seed much more interesting. The Dream could make a late-season push into the playoffs and they could make the leap on Sept. 17 when Chicago and Atlanta face off in Atlanta. And don’t forget about the Mystics, who are still right in the mix of things thanks to a late-season push. Washington has one game against Chicago and two games against Atlanta left on the schedule, so a late dash into the postseason isn’t out of the question.

We are entering one of the best times of the year — the final weeks of the regular season with the playoffs nearing. Enjoy the rest of the regular season!