WNBA power rankings: The best player for every franchise - USA Today

What the report says

USA TODAY Sports’ latest WNBA power rankings, published Tuesday during the league’s 30th anniversary season and ahead of the 2026 All-Star break, paired current team form with a look at each franchise’s all-time defining player. Cydney Henderson and Mitchell Northam reported that the Minnesota Lynx moved into the No. 1 spot at 21-6 after beating the Seattle Storm on July 20, while the Golden State Valkyries fell to second at 19-8 after the Washington Mystics ended their nine-game winning streak. The Las Vegas Aces remained third at 18-7.

For Minnesota, USA TODAY selected Maya Moore as the franchise’s greatest player, citing her role in four Lynx championships, her 2014 MVP season, seven All-WNBA selections and franchise marks including career scoring average and steals. The article also noted rookie Olivia Miles’ strong first season under coach Cheryl Reeve, with Miles leading rookies in scoring and assists. For the young Valkyries franchise, the pick was Veronica Burton, described as central to Golden State’s identity in its first two seasons.

The Aces’ all-time choice was A’ja Wilson, who USA TODAY said continued to lead the league in scoring and blocks after a 2025 season in which she won MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP and the scoring title. Other highlighted selections included Arike Ogunbowale for the Dallas Wings, Tamika Catchings for the Indiana Fever, Angel McCoughtry for the Atlanta Dream, Breanna Stewart for the New York Liberty and Elena Delle Donne for the Washington Mystics.

The rankings matter as both a snapshot of the 2026 playoff race and a retrospective on the players who shaped WNBA franchises across three decades.