Zuri Pryor-Graves
Jun 24
7 mins read
The WNBA opened its 30th season on May 8 with 15 teams, two expansion franchises, and a 44-game regular-season schedule. During Week 5, played June 15-21, the Minnesota Lynx continued to look like the league’s standard, the Atlanta Dream strengthened their position in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Mystics delivered one of the week’s biggest surprises, and the New York Liberty secured a trip to the Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
For readers new to the WNBA, the league is divided into Eastern and Western conferences.
Eastern Conference |
Western Conference |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Dream 11-4 | Dallas Wings 10-6 |
| Chicago Sky 4-11 | Golden State Valkyries 10-7 |
| Connecticut Sun 2-15 | Las Vegas Aces 12-4 |
| Indiana Fever 9-7 | Los Angeles Sparks 8-8 |
| New York Liberty 11-6 | Minnesota Lynx 13-4 |
| Toronto Tempo 8-8 | Phoenix Mercury 5-12 |
| Washington Mystics 8-7 | Portland Fire 8-9 |
| Seattle Storm 3-14 |
The Atlanta Dream had one of the strongest weeks in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta swept a home-and-home series against the Indiana Fever, defeating Indiana 108-101 on June 18 and 113-96 on June 20. The second victory became a franchise-record scoring performance, with four starters scoring at least 18 points.
That success aligns with the season Rhyne Howard is having. Howard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, entered Week 6 averaging 19.1 points per game and became the fastest player in league history to reach 400 career 3-pointers. For a Dream team built around spacing, pace, and defensive pressure, her shooting continues to shape opposing game plans.
Atlanta’s performance in Week 5 offered another sign that its roster is beginning to meet expectations after entering the season with significant talent and postseason aspirations.
Washington made its own statement. The Mystics went 3-0, defeating Connecticut, New York, and Minnesota. The victories over the Liberty and Lynx came against two of the league’s top teams and moved Washington further into the playoff conversation.
Sonia Citron was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played June 15-21 after averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Kiki Iriafen also provided key late-game production, helping Washington build momentum around one of the league’s emerging young cores.
Dallas featured the Western Conference Player of the Week. Jessica Shepard earned the honor after averaging 16.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across three games. She opened the week with 15 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in the Wings’ 96-66 victory over Las Vegas before helping Dallas secure a 93-92 win against Chicago.
The Wings also remain one of the league’s most notable youth-focused teams. Paige Bueckers entered the week among the league leaders in scoring and assists, while Azzi Fudd has provided additional perimeter scoring and floor spacing. Together, they have helped establish Dallas as one of the league’s most intriguing developing teams.
That Las Vegas loss was among the week’s biggest surprises. The Aces fell by 30 points to Dallas on June 15, interrupting the momentum built during Commissioner’s Cup play. Las Vegas responded with wins over Phoenix and Golden State later in the week.
A’ja Wilson remains at the center of the Aces’ success. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points earlier this month and entered Week 6 as the league’s leading scorer. NaLyssa Smith also continued her efficient season, leading the WNBA in field-goal percentage at 70.3%.
Still, the Aces’ season has felt less dominant than their record might suggest, particularly because several losses have been lopsided.
Minnesota returned to the top of the league’s hierarchy despite ending Week 5 with a loss. The Lynx defeated Portland by 33 points, Los Angeles by 16, and Golden State by six before falling to Washington on June 21.
Minnesota entered Week 6 with the league’s best record at 13-4 and one of the strongest statistical profiles in the WNBA.
The Lynx are doing so while Napheesa Collier continues working her way back from offseason surgery on both ankles. Even without her at full strength, Minnesota leads the league in offensive rating, defensive rating, and net rating. Rookie guard Olivia Miles has also emerged as one of the league’s most impactful first-year players.
The New York Liberty experienced one of the week’s more unusual stretches. New York opened with a 96-95 victory over Chicago and completed a perfect 6-0 Commissioner’s Cup record. The Commissioner’s Cup serves as the WNBA’s in-season tournament, with this year’s championship scheduled for June 30 between New York and Las Vegas.
The Liberty then dropped consecutive games to Washington and Los Angeles.
The loss to Los Angeles carried historical significance. The WNBA celebrated the 30th anniversary of its inaugural game with the same matchup that opened league play in 1997: Liberty vs. Sparks. Los Angeles erased a 17-point deficit before a buzzer-beating 3-pointer secured a 98-97 victory.
The Liberty remains one of the league’s most visible franchises in terms of queer representation. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are publicly out athletes on a team with championship aspirations, and New York’s appearance in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game places that visibility on one of the league’s biggest stages.
Toronto also produced a record-setting performance. Marina Mabrey scored a career-high 37 points and connected on nine 3-pointers in the Tempo’s 101-97 victory over Connecticut. The performance helped Toronto snap a three-game losing streak.
Golden State continued to demonstrate that expansion success can happen quickly. The Valkyries defeated Los Angeles and Dallas before losses to Minnesota and Las Vegas. Their 10-7 record through Week 5 kept them firmly in the playoff picture.
Gabby Williams has also emerged as one of Golden State’s most recognizable players, ranking among the leaders in early All-Star fan voting.
Portland split its week, losing to Minnesota before defeating Seattle 94-89. At 8-9, Portland remained within striking distance of a playoff position, though its road record remains a concern.
Indiana remained one of the league’s most explosive offensive teams. The Fever scored 113 points in a victory over Toronto on June 16 before allowing 108 and 113 points in consecutive losses to Atlanta.
Caitlin Clark entered Week 6 among the league leaders in scoring, while Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston continued to provide offensive support.
Chicago continued to come up short in close games. The Sky lost by one point to New York and by one point to Dallas after an overtime loss the previous week.
Rickea Jackson and Kamilla Cardoso remain central to Chicago’s long-term plans, making their development a significant storyline regardless of the team’s record.
Phoenix snapped a four-game losing streak with a 93-73 victory over Seattle behind double-doubles from Valeriane Ayayi, Natasha Mack, and Noemie Brochant.
Alyssa Thomas continued to be one of the league’s most versatile players, but Phoenix will need more consistent offensive production to climb the standings.
Connecticut and Seattle endured difficult weeks. Connecticut dropped two additional close games and entered Week 6 at 2-15, while Seattle’s losses to Portland and Phoenix extended its losing streak to 10 games.
All times are Eastern. League Pass games may be subject to local blackouts.
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