The 2026 WNBA season kicked off with a bang.
The league’s 30th anniversary began with a number of record-breaking performances, including the first season opener to have both teams score at least 100 points in the Dallas Wings’ win over the Indiana Fever. The Las Vegas Aces also suffered the largest margin of defeat by a defending champion in a 33-point loss to the Phoenix Mercury.
Advertisement
Just how far did the Aces fall following their rout? Who is the new No. 1 team?
After the opening weekend of play, but teams are already moving up and down the board (see the arrows). USA TODAY Sports will provide power ranking every Tuesday this season.
-
Breakout player: G Marine Johannes
The shorthanded Liberty coasted in their home opener against the Connecticut Sun, but it took New York an extra five minutes to defeat the Washington Mystics in overtime. Breanna Stewart was sensational in the two-game span with an average of 27 points and 9.5 rebounds, which is to be expected from the two-time league MVP. But Marine Johannès had an equally impressive performance after she sliding into the starting lineup in place of an injured Sabrina Ionescu. Johannes had a career-high 25 points in New York’s 98-98 overtime win over the Mystics, where she went 6-of-13 from the 3-point line. Johannès is the third player in WNBA history to make at least ten 3-pointers in her first two games of a season.
Advertisement
Up next: @ Portland (5/12), @ Portland (5/14)
2. Las Vegas Aces (⬇ 1)
-
Breakout player: G Chennedy Carter
The Aces’ ring night was spoiled by the Phoenix Mercury, but Las Vegas returned to its dominant ways with a blowout win over the Los Angeles Sparks. The Aces experienced the lowest of lows and highest of highs all in the span of 48 hours, but Chennedy Carter was a consistent bright spot. Carter averaged 16 points off the bench in two games, shooting an average of 66.7% from the field in her first WNBA game since September 2024. Aces head coach Becky Hammon said Carter has barely scratched the surface as she integrates into the system. “She’s wired different,” Hammon added. Carter is an early candidate for Sixth Woman of the Year.
Up next: @ Connecticut (5/13), @ Connecticut (5/15)
May 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Chennedy Carter (23) dribbles the ball against Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) during the third quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
-
Breakout player: F Janelle Salaün
Advertisement
Salaün has been explosive off the bench for Golden State, averaging a team-high 20.5 points in the Valkyries two wins. Salaün is shooting 53.8% from the field and a blistering 56.3% from 3-point line. Golden State has the highest offensive rating in the league so far (121.6). “I’m just trying to bring energy whenever I come on the court,” said Salaün, another candidate for Sixth Woman of the Year. Gabby Williams is averaging 13 points and 2.5 steals in her first games in violet and black.
Up next: vs. Chicago (5/13)
4. Dallas Wings (⬆ 4)
Odyssey Sims was pivotal in the Fever’s run to the postseason last year, but she was on the other side of the ball on Saturday. Sims signed with the Wings in the offseason and showed her former team how effective she still is by dropping 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting in Dallas 107-104 win. The Wings are deep and their trio of guards — Arike Ogunbowale (22), Paige Bueckers (20), Odyssey Sims (20) — all finished with at least 20 points. It’s a great sign for Dallas, which finished last in the standings last year and played five games before picking up their first win. There were conversations on whether Azzi Fudd should have started, but you can’t argue with Sims performance.
Advertisement
Up next: vs. Atlanta (5/12), vs. Minnesota (5/14)
Odyssey Sims, shooting over Caitlin Clark, had 20 points in her debut.
The Atlanta Dream called Angel Reese the missing piece needed to get the team over the hump and that’s exactly what she did in her debut against the Lynx on Saturday. Atlanta overcame a 17-point deficit at halftime to take its first lead over Minnesota with 12 seconds remaining. Reese blocked what would have been a game-winning layup as time expired to seal the victory. Reese finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds, marking the 50th double-double of her career. Allisha Gray finished with 24 points in the win.
Up next: @ Dallas (5/12), vs. Las Vegas (5/17)
Advertisement
6. Phoenix Mercury (⬇ 1)
-
Breakout player: G Jovana Nogić
The Phoenix Mercury avenged its 2025 WNBA Finals loss to the Aces with a blowout victory over Las Vegas to open the season. The Mercury not only made a statement, but guard Jovana Nogić put the league on notice. Nogić averaged 17.5 points through her first two games in the WNBA, where she shot 4-of-8 from beyond the arc in consecutive games. Nogić is averaging a staggering 71.4% from the field and 80% from the 3-point line. The Mercury had been labeled preseason the underdogs, but Alyssa Thomas confidently said if everyone was familiar with the players they brought in that would not be the case. She wasn’t lying.
Up next: vs. Minnesota (5/12), vs. Chicago (5/15)
7. Indiana Fever (⬇ 4)
Advertisement
Caitlin Clark is back. After being limited to 13 games last season, Clark played her first WNBA game for the Fever since July 15, 2025. Clark got off to a slow start with eight points in the first half, before dropping 12 points in the second half. Clark missed a game-tying 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds remaining, but finished 7-of-18 from the field and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc. Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 1,000-plus points, 250-plus rebounds and 250-plus assists in 54 career games. The Fever‘s Big 3 of Kelsey Mitchell (30), Aliyah Boston (23) and Clark each finished with at least 20 points in the loss, but need their supporting cast to step up.
Up next: @ Los Angeles (5/13), vs. Washington (5/15), vs. Seattle (5/17)
-
Breakout player: C Kamilla Cardoso
The new-look Sky started the season in the win column with a 98-83 victory over the Portland Fire. Kamilla Cardoso, one of four returners from last season, led the way with a 22-point, 14-rebound double-double. Her output marked an 8.4 point increase from her scoring average last season, marking a promising sign as the Sky reloaded with Skylar Diggins (21 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) and Rickea Jackson (19 points, 7 rebounds) following the trade of Angel Reese this offseason.
Advertisement
Up next: @ Golden State (5/13), @ Phoenix (5/15), @ Minnesota (5/17)
-
Breakout player: G Olivia Miles
The Minnesota Lynx came up one point short in their season opener against the Atlanta Dream, but the loss doesn’t take away from Olivia Miles’ sensational WNBA debut. Miles scored a team-high 21 points against the Dream, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and 1-of-2 from the 3-point line. She rounded out her stat line with eight assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks. She’s already on Rookie of the Year watch.
Up next: @ Phoenix (5/12), @ Dallas (5/14), vs. Chicago (5/17)
Seattle lost its five leading scorers last season, but the Storm set its sights on its future with young talent, including returner Dominique Malonga. The French product came off the bench last season in her rookie year, but has moved to the startling lineup and become one of the go-to options. Malonga is averaging 14 points and 7.5 rebounds through two games. Rookie Flau’jae Johnson is also averaging 14 points per game.
Advertisement
Up next: @ Toronto (5/13), @ Indiana (5/17)
11. Washington Mystics (⬌)
Record: 1-1
Breakout player: G Sonia Citron
Sonia Citron is picking up right where she left off. Citron finished second in Rookie of the Year voting last season behind Paige Bueckers, and opened the season with a 26-point performance in Washington’s win over Toronto. Citron is averaging 21.5 points per game so far and is the focal point of the Mystics’ young roster.
Up next: @ Indiana (5/15)
12. Los Angeles Sparks (⬇ 5)
Record: 0-1
Breakout player: G Kelsey Plum
The Sparks ran into a motivated Las Vegas Aces team on its home court, resulting in a blowout loss in their home opener. Kelsey Plum had a team-high 27 points in the loss, shooting 10-of-18 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3. Nneka Ogwumike added 19 points and 10 rebounds in her first game back in Los Angeles. Plum, Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby combined for 58 of the team’s 78 points. Ariel Atkins struggled from the field with eight points, shooting 3-of-12 and 0-of-6 from 3. Up next: vs. Indiana (5/13), vs. Toronto (5/15), vs. Toronto (5/17)
Advertisement
Record: 0-1
Breakout player: G Marina Mabrey
Marina Mabrey is the cornerstone of the Toronto franchise and played like it in the expansion team’s first-ever game. Mabrey scored a game-high 27 points and seven rebounds in the Tempo’s 68-65 loss to the Washington Mystics, which ranks second in the league. Mabrey has the second-highest usage rating in the league (38.4), but she can’t do it alone. The Tempo ranks dead-last in the league in points (65), assists (10) and field goal percentage (27%).
Up next: vs. Seattle (5/13), @ Los Angeles (5/15), @ Los Angeles (5/17)
14. Portland Fire (⬆ 1)
-
Breakout player: G Carla Leite
Advertisement
Carla Leite has prior experience with an expansion franchise. The second-year guard came off the bench in Golden State during the Valkyries’ inaugural season and is in Portland’s starting rotation. Leite had a team-high 18 points in the Fire’s first game, but it wasn’t an efficient outing. She shot 3-of-11 from the field and 1-of-5 from the 3-point line, but Leite’s ability to get to the line added to the box score. Bridget Carleton had a solid 13-point performance. The Fire are in search of their first win and it won’t come easy with two tough matchups ahead against an experienced Liberty team.
Up next: vs. New York (5/12), vs. New York (5/14)
15. Connecticut Sun (⬇ 1)
The Connecticut Sun find themselves back at the bottom of the standings after two consecutive losses to open the season. Aneesah Morrow averaged a team-high 16 points through two games, but the Sun will need more offensive production as they rank in the bottom half in the league in points (78.5) and field-goal percentage (39.1%).
Advertisement
Up next: vs. Las Vegas (5/13), vs. Las Vegas (5/15)
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA power rankings: Breakout players as season begins, teams on the move
