WNBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
In this edition, we're celebrating those who have taken their game to the next level by identifying the most improved player on each team.
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ATL | CHI | CON | DAL | GSV | IND | LV | LA | MIN | NY | PHX | SEA | WSH
1. Minnesota Lynx (28-6)
Previous: 1
Natisha Hiedeman: The seventh-year guard has given Minnesota's second unit a steady presence at the point. She's shooting a career-best 48.2% from the field and leads all WNBA reserves in total points (255), assists (93), and plus-minus rating (plus-176). Hiedeman's strong play has earned her consideration for Sixth Player of the Year.
2. Atlanta Dream (22-13)
Previous: 2
Allisha Gray: On the surface, Gray's improvements may be more subtle than others on this list, but there's no denying the three-time All-Star's been the driving force behind an elite Dream side. Her career highs in points (18.8), rebounds (5.5), assists (3.7), and effective field goal percentage (53.9%) are symbols of a player at her peak powers.
3. Las Vegas Aces (22-14)
Previous: 9
Jewell Loyd: Loyd's debut Aces season hasn't been perfect, but the former first overall pick has improved dramatically since moving to a bench role in late July. Across Las Vegas' eight-game winning streak, she's averaged 14.1 points while shooting 47.3% from beyond the arc on 6.9 attempts per contest. Those numbers represent significant jumps from her 10.8 points and 35.1% 3-point shooting last year.
4. New York Liberty (22-13)
Previous: 4
Kennedy Burke: The 6-foot-1 wing's role has grown for the Liberty with Betnijah Laney-Hamilton out for the season and Kayla Thornton's selection by the Valkyries in the expansion draft. Burke is averaging a career-high 8.5 points and shooting 46% from deep, the fourth-best mark in the league. "What a difference a year makes," Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said recently about Burke.
5. Phoenix Mercury (21-13)
Previous: 5
Sami Whitcomb: At 37, the veteran guard is proving that age is just a number. Whitcomb's having one of her best offensive seasons, which includes a career-high 36-point performance against the Wings last July. The two-time WNBA champ ranks ninth in the league with 65 triples this campaign.
6. Golden State Valkyries (18-17)
Previous: 7
Veronica Burton: The fourth-year guard has transitioned from a role player with the Wings and Sun to a star-in-the-making with the Valkyries, posting career highs in points (12.8), rebounds (4.3), assists (5.4), and steals (1.1). A 30-point display in an early-August win over the Mystics was a well-deserved coming-out party for Burton.
7. Indiana Fever (19-16)
Previous: 3
Kelsey Mitchell: The Fever vet has hit another gear in the second half, carrying Indiana with Caitlin Clark out. In 12 games since the break, Mitchell has averaged 22.8 points with a 41.5% 3-point clip. She's also dropped 34-plus points in three of those outings, a mark she never hit in the first 23 contests of the year.
8. Seattle Storm (18-18)
Previous: 6
Erica Wheeler: Although the Storm reverted Wheeler to the bench after acquiring Brittney Sykes earlier in August, her starting stint marked a noticeable improvement from her 2024 season with Indiana. In 24 starts with Seattle, Wheeler has averaged 12 points, 3.8 assists, and three rebounds per contest, a drastic jump from the 3.6 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 boards she posted in 39 Fever appearances.
9. Washington Mystics (16-19)
Previous: 10
Sug Sutton: The Texas product has been much more productive in her second go-around with the Mystics. After not factoring much into last year's rotation, Sutton emerged out of training camp this season as the team's starting point guard. She's providing Washington with responsible ball-handling, efficient outside shooting, and impactful defense.
10. Los Angeles Sparks (16-18)
Previous: 8
Azura Stevens: The veteran forward's emergence this season has been a rare bright spot for the Sparks. Posting career bests in nearly every statistical category, including minutes played and usage, Stevens embodies the impact of a reliable player on a team lacking consistency and steadfast contributions.
11. Dallas Wings (9-26)
Previous: 11
Haley Jones: The low-pressure environment in Dallas has afforded Jones more opportunities than she received in her first two years in Atlanta and a brief four-game spell with Phoenix earlier this season. At 7.8 points per game, Jones has not only doubled her scoring average from Year 2, but she's improved her efficiency, nabbing career bests in effective field-goal percentage (47.9%) and true shooting (50.8%).
12. Connecticut Sun (7-27)
Previous: 13
Olivia Nelson-Ododa: It's been hard to find some positives in the Sun's campaign, but Nelson-Ododa's emergence could make her a key part of the team's frontcourt moving forward. Now in her fourth WNBA campaign, the UConn product ranks in the league's top 12 for both blocks (1.3 per contest) and field-goal percentage (53.5%).
13. Chicago Sky (8-26)
Previous: 12
Kamilla Cardoso: Bloated contracts, no first-round pick in 2026, and arguably the worst vibes in the WNBA - that's the Sky's predicament. If we're searching for positives, though it's a stretch, Cardoso has made marginal gains. The second-year centre has improved her shooting and is fifth in the WNBA in total offensive boards (86).