WNBA Power Rankings: Lynx take the top spot in the last week

ESPN's WNBA Power Rankings for the 2024 season have come to an end. Next stop: the playoffs, which begin on Sunday. But before that, there's still a lot to be won in the final days of the regular season.

These include the eighth and final playoff spot (the Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream and Chicago Sky are still trying to get it) and the No. 1 overall seed (that will be the New York Liberty or Minnesota Lynx). But in our power rankings, the last No. 1 is certain: It is Minnesota, which is 12-1 since the end of the Olympic break and won on Sunday against the previous No. 1 New York.

The Lynx made some key changes to their roster in the offseason, but that meant they entered 2024 with some question marks – at least from the outside looking in. They quickly answered those, however, rising from No. 9 in the preseason to No. 4 in the first regular season power rankings.

Minnesota has fallen out of the top four of the power rankings only once this season: to No. 6 just before the Olympic break. That came after a stretch in the first two weeks of July in which the Lynx lost four of six games. Lynx star Napheesa Collier missed the last two of those losses due to plantar fasciitis.

She was strong again at the Olympics and in the second half of the WNBA season. Had it not been for Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson's incredible season that essentially secured him the MVP title, Collier could have won the honor. By all appearances, she is positioning the Lynx for a deep playoff run.

Minnesota still has a chance to snatch the top playoff spot from New York. The Liberty would need to lose their final two games and the Lynx would need to win both. If that happens, the Lynx would have the tiebreaker after winning the season series against the Liberty.

The No. 6 seed Indiana Fever and No. 7 seed Phoenix Mercury have already clinched their playoff spots. The Fever haven't been to the playoffs since 2016, while the Mercury were absent last year but had reached the postseason 10 years in a row before that.

Previous placements: Preseason | May 20 | May 27 | June 3 | June 10 | June 17 | June 24 | July 1 | July 8 | July 15 | August 19 | August 26 | September 2 | September 9

Previous placement: 2

This week: @ CONN (September 17) vs LA (September 19)

The Lynx went 3-0 last week, with the most impressive victory coming Sunday in Brooklyn, 88-79 against New York. Collier has been great all season, but she would also praise the effectiveness of her supporting cast. The win against the Liberty was a good example, as Bridget Carleton scored 19 points and Courtney Williams 15 points, while Collier had 18 points and 13 rebounds. The acquisition of Myisha Hines-Allen in an August 20 trade with Washington was also great, as she contributed valuable minutes in her 11 games with the Lynx.

Minnesota could still technically be the No. 1, 2, or 3 seed in the WNBA playoffs, but second place seems most likely. In that case, the Lynx would face the Mercury in the first round of the playoffs; they are 3-1 against Phoenix this season.

Previous placement: 1

This week: @ WAS (September 17) vs. ATL (September 19)

The Liberty are closing in on first place, but they're probably worried about losing at home to Minnesota on Sunday, despite Breanna Stewart's great game (38 points, 18 rebounds). New York has a 10-3 record since resuming play after the Olympics. The Liberty are still favorites against every team except Minnesota. But a potential matchup with the Lynx in the WNBA Finals would be difficult. New York doesn't have that in mind; the Liberty just want to win at least one of their final two games to secure first place.

Previous: 3

This week: @ SEA (September 17) vs DAL (September 19)

Don't worry: The Aces are still in the hunt for their third straight division title. They went 3-0 last week, beating Indiana and Connecticut twice, with A'ja Wilson scoring her record-tying 1,000th point of the season in the win over the Sun. A win in Seattle on Tuesday would guarantee the Aces a top-four spot, meaning they would host the first round. Although the Aces have been concerned about their defense for most of this season, it has been effective over the last eight games: Las Vegas has held opponents to 73.0 PPG and posted a 7-1 record.

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Bridget Carleton scores a goal and draws the foul

Bridget Carleton scores and draws the foul, 15.09.2024

Previous placement: 4

This week: against MIN (17 September), against CHI (19 September)

The Sun went 2-1 in the West last week, with wins over Los Angeles and Phoenix before losing to Las Vegas on Sunday. Now Connecticut is back home for its final two games. The Sun still have a shot at the No. 2 spot, but could also slip to No. 4. If they stay in third place, they will face the Fever in the first round of the playoffs. Connecticut has a 3-1 record against Indiana this season.

Previous placement: 6

This week: vs LV (17 September), @ PHO (19 September)

The Storm stayed in the race for a top-four spot and a chance to host the first round with a 3-0 victory last week, with two wins over Los Angeles and one over Dallas. Granted, these aren't playoff teams, but the Storm have still managed to avoid upsets, winning five of their last six games overall. Fifth-place Seattle has a 1-2 record against fourth-place Las Vegas this season heading into Tuesday's clash.

Previous placement: 5

This week: @ WAS (September 19)

The Fever haven't been able to crack the code against the Aces this season, losing all four games against the defending champions, including two last week in Indianapolis. But the Fever finished their regular season on a positive note, beating Dallas 110-109 on Sunday for the most points in franchise history. Caitlin Clark scored a season-high 35 points against the Wings. She set the WNBA's rookie season scoring record, and Clark and Kelsey Mitchell continue to form one of the league's most offensive backcourts.

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A'ja Wilson's historic game helps Aces defeat Sun

A'ja Wilson becomes the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a season, recording her 33rd 20-point game of the season in the Aces' win over the Sun.

Previous placement: 7

This week: @ LA (September 17th) vs. SEA (September 19th)

The Mercury played 1-1 last week, losing to Connecticut and beating Chicago. This week they are fighting for playoff momentum rather than a spot as they are locked in at No. 7. It has not been an impressive post-Olympic season for Phoenix, they are 5-8 since play resumed after the Paris Games. Phoenix is ​​in the postseason, however, and we wait to see if Diana Taurasi, who has played 20 seasons, announces if this will be her last trip to the playoffs.

Previous placement: 9

This week: against NY (September 17), against IND (September 19)

The team that started this season 0-12 is now fighting for a playoff spot until the end. This week, the Mystics will face two teams that are already in the postseason. Washington, meanwhile, is tied with Atlanta and Chicago in record time and is trying to grab the final spot. The Mystics beat both teams last week, but also lost to the Dream in overtime. Washington has a 7-3 record in their last 10 games, putting the Mystics in this race for eighth place.

Previous placement: 10

This week: vs. CHI (September 17th), @ NY (September 19th)

The Dream were on the brink of elimination from the playoffs on Sunday, but they beat Washington 76-73 in overtime thanks to Tina Charles' 20 points and 10 rebounds. It was the second overtime game Atlanta has won in September. Charles, 35, hopes to play in the WNBA again next year, whether or not the Dream make the 2024 playoffs. She has been a key factor for Atlanta all season.

Previous placement: 8

This week: @ATL (September 17th), @CONN (September 19th)

Of the three teams still fighting for the final playoff spot, the Sky have the biggest problems. They lost Angel Reese for the rest of the season on September 7. Then on Sunday, in a loss to Phoenix, fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso was only able to play nine minutes because of shoulder soreness. Chicago has a 3-11 record since the WNBA resumed play after the Olympic break. If the Sky want to clinch a playoff spot, they'll have to do it the hard way: with two road wins this week.

Previous placement: 11

This week: @ LV (19 September)

After reaching the WNBA semifinals in 2023, this just wasn't the Wings' year. They looked like they could get into the playoffs with three wins in August. But Dallas lost all eight of its games in September. Sunday was the end of an 0-4 week and the perfect example of how frustrating this season has been for the Wings: They scored 109 points against Indiana and still lost.

Previous placement: 12

This week: vs PHO (17 September), @ MIN (19 September)

The good news for the Sparks is that rookie Rickea Jackson continues to play well and they will be back in the draft lottery next year. But this season is slowly coming to an end. Los Angeles lost 3-0 last week and has won just once since the end of the Olympic break.