The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game is nearly here, and it's time to examine the opening half of the season. We're handing out team grades for the second time this summer.
ESPN's first report card for all 15 teams was June 4, and the Minnesota Lynx -- the squad that was on top then -- remains there. The Lynx and the Golden State Valkyries are at the head of the class as teams play their last games Wednesday before Saturday's All-Star Game (8:30 p.m.
ET, ABC) in Chicago. The New York Liberty are the Commissioner's Cup champions, but their grade reflects a 14-12 record and seventh place in the standings.
By contrast, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are below .500, but considering the expectations for this season's expansion teams, have earned better grades. That's a big part of what goes into grades: what could be reasonably expected vs.
what has been produced. And while some teams might not like their grades, there is still plenty of time to improve them.
The regular-season schedule resumes Tuesday. Jump to: ATL | CHI | CON | DAL | GS | IND | LV | LA | MIN | NY | PHO | POR | SEA | TOR | WAS Minnesota Lynx: A+ Cheryl Reeve became the WNBA's winningest coach this season and is the favorite for Coach of the Year.
Here's why: Even without injured star forward Napheesa Collier , the Lynx have the league's best record at 21-6 and have been the most consistent team. They have lost back-to-back games just once and have eight- and six-game winning streaks.
Returning guards Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams have been dependable veterans, as have free agent signees and forwards Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey . First-half MVP: The front-runner to win Rookie of the Year, Olivia Miles is already one of the league's most exciting players.
The No. 2 draft pick is averaging 19.6 points and 6.0 assists and has scored 20 or more points 11 times.
Monday's performance -- 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 105-102 win over Seattle -- showcased all that Miles can do. -- Voepel Golden State Valkyries: A+ The Valkyries haven't quite taken teams by surprise the way they did last season, but sitting with the second-best record in the WNBA as it enters the All-Star break, Golden State is once again shattering expectations.
The Valkyries have the best defense in the league (100.9 defensive rating) and limit opponents to a league-low 76.4 points per game. They've proved that their defense can overcome any struggles they face on the offensive end, and they won nine consecutive games before falling to the Mystics on Monday.
First-half MVP: Headed to her first All-Star game, Gabby Williams has fit seamlessly with the Valkyries this season. Her impact starts with her defense, of course, as she often takes on the toughest defensive assignment and leads the team in steals (1.7).
But her two-way presence is how Williams truly makes her MVP case. She is averaging a career-high 14.8 points and is often the player the Valkyries' offense goes through.
-- Andrews Dallas Wings : A Based on their offseason moves and second straight No. 1 pick, it seemed inevitable the Wings would improve after last year's paltry 10-win campaign.
It was less certain that they would be a top-four team and sleeper title contender. The Wings' 17-9 record includes their recent six-game win streak, the longest since the team relocated to Dallas, and multiple victories over New York and Las Vegas (though they are a collective 0-5 against Atlanta and Minnesota).
First-half MVP: Jessica Shepard (14.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists) is massively critical to the Wings, but we give the edge to Paige Bueckers (20.9 points, 6.2 assists), who's having her best season as a pro and is keeping herself in the MVP conversation. One of her greatest strengths this season: Her clutch factor has allowed her to be the best fourth-quarter scorer in the WNBA and has helped Dallas to a league-best six double-digit comebacks this year.
-- Philippou Las Vegas Aces : A- The defending champions are in second place in the standings and made the Commissioner's Cup final, where they lost to New York. Admittedly, they have had some of the ugliest losses of the season for a top team -- three by 30 or more points -- but they've managed those well emotionally by bouncing back the next game.
Like the Lynx, they have lost two in a row just once, and that was in May. Guard Chennedy Carter appeared in 13 games before being waived July 7.
The Aces believed she could supplement their perimeter game, but it