Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase didn’t want to say definitively that Monday’s 80-66 victory over the Minnesota Lynx was her team’s top defensive performance of the season. But it was easily among the best, and exactly what the Valkyries needed after consecutive losses.
Golden State dropped one spot in ESPN’s WNBA Power Rankings this week but still made a statement with its first victory against Minnesota since joining the league last season. Golden State was 0-9 against the Lynx, including last year’s first-round playoff sweep by Minnesota.
The Lynx were without starting guard Courtney Williams (foot) for the first time since she came to Minnesota in 2024, and the Valkyries took advantage, forcing 11 turnovers in the first half. Leading 34-32 at halftime, Golden State didn’t let up.
“It’s just nice that we are executing all four quarters,” Nakase said of holding the Lynx to their lowest point total of the season. “They’re No. 1 for a reason. What I liked is there was no dip [for the Valkyries] tonight. A lot of times, we dip, but we kept punching, and we stayed with the mentality of emptying the tank.”
Golden State’s win in Minneapolis on Monday followed a 77-66 loss to the Lynx in San Francisco last Wednesday, then a 73-70 loss at Chicago on Friday. That was the fourth time this season the Valkyries have lost two straight games, but they haven’t lost three in a row.
Consistency is a big part of Golden State’s success, as is its league-best defense. The Valkyries will need both to carry them through the rest of a five-game road trip that started in Chicago and will end Sunday at Portland.
That will be the last day of WNBA action before the schedule breaks for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, which runs Sept. 4-13 in Germany. The regular season then resumes Sept. 17-24. Seven of the eight playoff berths have already been claimed, but seeding is still being determined and might go down to the regular season’s final day.
1. Minnesota Lynx (31-8)
Previous ranking: 1
Next seven days:@ ATL (Aug. 30)
The Lynx could have clinched the league’s best record and No. 1 seed with a victory Monday, but that will wait for another day. The loss to Golden State is a good example of how important Williams is to Minnesota. She had not missed a game since the 2022 season, when she was with Connecticut. The loss ended Minnesota’s six-game winning streak, which included victories against Golden State (77-66) and Washington (94-84) last week. That 77-point outing against Golden State last week was the Lynx’s previous season low before being held to 66 by the Valkyries on Monday.
2. Atlanta Dream (25-13)
Previous ranking: 6
Next seven days: vs. POR (Aug. 28), vs. MIN (Aug. 30)
The Dream had one of their best weeks, going 4-0 on a West Coast road trip and jumping four spots in the Power Rankings. After a disappointing 95-91 overtime loss at home to Indiana Aug. 16, the Dream responded. They beat Las Vegas 97-82 last Tuesday and Phoenix 99-89 on Saturday, plus got two wins at Los Angeles: 124-88 on Thursday and 78-71 on Monday. Angel Reese set a WNBA single-game record with 26 rebounds in Monday’s win and also had a career high in points (31) in the victory against Phoenix.
3. Golden State Valkyries (26-11)
Previous ranking: 2
Next seven days: @ CON (Aug. 26), @ NY (Aug. 27), @ POR (Aug. 30)
The Valkyries had won six in a row before back-to-back losses to the Lynx and Sky. What stood out in Monday’s win at Minnesota was how well the Valkyries shut down the Lynx’s shooting, holding them to just 21-of-59 (36%) overall and 10-of-30 (33%) from behind the arc. Guard Veronica Burton tied a career high with five steals and also had 14 points and nine assists. Forward Cecilia Zandalasini led the way in scoring with 18 points, tied for her second-highest output this season. The Valkyries rank 14th of 15 teams in scoring average (82.5 PPG), but their defense has been more than good enough to keep them near the top of the league.
4. Las Vegas Aces (26-13)
Previous ranking: 4
Next seven days: vs. TOR (Aug. 28)
The Aces went 2-1 last week, falling to Atlanta and then beating Connecticut and Toronto -- A’ja Wilson totaled 74 points, 24 rebounds and 14 assists in the three games. This weekend’s wins weren’t all good news, though: Starting forward NaLyssa Smith left Sunday’s game because of a noncontact knee injury, and the Aces await word of her status.
5. New York Liberty (23-15)
Previous ranking: 5
Next seven days: vs. GS (Aug. 27), vs. CHI (Aug. 29)
After a loss to Chicago last Tuesday, the Liberty got some good news: Forward Leonie Fiebich (left foot) returned to the lineup Saturday for the first time since July 3. She had 20 points (7 of 10 from the field), five rebounds and five assists in New York’s 109-102 victory over Indiana, playing 34 minutes. Fiebich could make a big difference for the Liberty for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.
6. Indiana Fever (25-14)
Previous ranking: 3
Next seven days: vs. CON (Aug. 28)
The Fever split their games last week (2-2), winning at Toronto (101-95) on Tuesday and at Chicago (113-90) on Sunday. In between, they lost to two likely playoff teams: at Dallas (91-85) on Thursday and at New York (109-102) on Saturday. It’s a stretch that keeps them in the hunt for a top-four playoff spot, with the heartbeat of this team still guards Kelsey Mitchell (combined 121 points in her past four games) and Caitlin Clark (92 points, 33 assists in her past four games).
7. Washington Mystics (22-15)
Previous ranking: 7
Next seven days: @ PHO (Aug. 25), @ PHO (Aug. 27), @ LA (Aug. 28)
The Mystics have a busy final week before the World Cup break, with three games on the road. Last week, they beat expansion teams Toronto (93-82 on Wednesday) and Portland (105-100 on Sunday). In between, they lost at home to league-leading Minnesota 94-84 on Friday. Washington’s win over the Fire clinched the Mystics’ first playoff berth since 2023 and marked their highest point total in a regulation game this season, led by center Shakira Austin’s career-high 31 points. The only game in which Washington scored more this season was a 124-123 four-overtime win over Portland on June 28.
8. Dallas Wings (22-16)
Previous ranking: 8
Next seven days: vs. POR (Aug. 25), vs. CON (Aug. 30)
The Wings went 2-0 this week, a needed boost after losing seven of their previous nine games. They beat visiting Indiana 91-85 on Thursday, with Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale leading the way with 32 points. It was also just the second time since July 17 that the Fever have been held below 90 points. That was followed by a 92-70 win at home over Seattle on Sunday in which guard Paige Bueckers scored 32 points (18 in the first quarter). The Wings are closing in on the eighth and final playoff spot.
9. Chicago Sky (15-23)
Previous ranking: 10
Next seven days: @ CON (Aug. 25), @ NY (Aug. 29)
This weekend, the Sky were eliminated from the playoffs and will miss the postseason for the third year in a row. But their victories last week over playoff teams New York (93-86 on Tuesday) and Golden State (73-70 on Friday) showed that Chicago can still impact playoff positioning. The Sky, who also lost 113-90 to Indiana on Sunday, have four games remaining against playoff teams.
10. Portland Fire (15-22)
Previous ranking: 9
Next seven days: @ DAL (Aug. 25), @ ATL (Aug. 28), vs. GS (Aug. 30)
The Fire’s slim playoff hopes all but ended after Portland went 0-2 this weekend, losing to Toronto on Friday and Washington on Sunday. A highlight this season is guard Carla Leite, who had a combined 34 points and 17 assists in the two games.
11. Phoenix Mercury (13-24)
Previous ranking: 11
Next seven days: vs. WAS (Aug. 25), vs. WAS (Aug. 27), vs. TOR (Aug. 29)
After the Mercury fell 99-89 to visiting Atlanta on Saturday -- despite Kahleah Copper’s 38 points -- they will officially miss the playoffs this year. It’s a disappointing season for a team that made the WNBA Finals last season and has made the postseason in all but two other seasons since 2009. The Mercury could still impact playoff positioning because five of their last seven games are against teams that are in, or expected to be in, the playoffs.
12. Los Angeles Sparks (13-25)
Previous ranking: 12
Next seven days: vs. WAS (Aug. 28), @ SEA (Aug. 30)
It was an emotional week for the Sparks, with longtime star Nneka Ogwumike announcing last Wednesday that she will retire from the WNBA at season’s end. Los Angeles will miss the playoffs for the sixth season in a row, and the franchise that has won three titles needs a reset. The Sparks went 1-3 in the past week, falling to Connecticut 85-77 on Tuesday, and Atlanta 124-88 on Thursday and 78-71 on Monday. Their lone victory came against Connecticut, 77-68 on Saturday. But at this point, young players’ development and draft position are more important than wins for the Sparks.
13. Connecticut Sun (9-27)
Previous ranking: 13
Next seven days: vs. CHI (Aug. 25), vs. GS (Aug. 26), @ IND (Aug. 28), @ DAL (Aug. 30)
The Sun have the busiest week of any team, with four games before the World Cup break begins. Two are against playoff teams, and another is against a team likely to clinch its spot soon. So, with a big week, the Sun could reach double-digit victories, which would be an achievement, and have an impact on playoff position.
14. Toronto Tempo (11-26)
Previous ranking: 15
Next seven days: @ SEA (Aug. 26), @ LV (Aug. 28), @ PHO (Aug. 29)
The Tempo’s losing streak hit 12 games after they lost 101-95 to Indiana on Tuesday and 93-82 to Washington on Wednesday. Then, playing in Vancouver on Friday as “Canada’s team,” the Tempo finally stopped the skid with an 82-79 win over Portland. That was followed by a double-dose of bad news: an 88-78 loss to Las Vegas on Sunday, then the announcement that guard Brittney Sykes (foot) and forward Aneesah Morrow (knees) are out with season-ending injuries.
15. Seattle Storm (7-31)
Previous ranking: 14
Next seven days: vs. TOR (Aug. 26), vs. LA (Aug. 30)
The Storm lost their only game last week, 92-70 at Dallas on Sunday. It’s looking very possible that this could be the second time the Storm fall short of double-digit victories in a season. At least this team won’t have the fewest victories in Storm history -- that was the 2000 squad that finished 6-26 when the regular season was 32 games.
