WNBA defensive – As the WNBA season moves deeper into May, defensive ratings and standout stoppers are moving teams up and down. The Atlanta Dream have the league’s top defensive rating at 97.3, the Las Vegas Aces still own the No. 1 spot despite a defensive lapse against the
For the second time this week, the numbers told a story—defense either held, or it didn’t. On Monday. May 25. teams around the WNBA were already recalibrating what their stops could look like when bodies were in and out of lineups. and who had to step up when the other team needed just one extra possession.
In this week’s league power rankings, defense sits at the center of the movement. Las Vegas still leads the league at the top of the rankings. but its own defender. A’ja Wilson. pointed directly at a breakdown after a 101-95 loss to the Sparks on Saturday. The Atlanta Dream, meanwhile, have surged to second place with a league-best defensive rating of 97.3, anchored by Rhyne Howard.
All records and stats in the rankings are through games played on Monday, May 25. Power rankings are provided every Tuesday this season.
Las Vegas Aces remain No. 1 as questions follow one bad defensive night
The Las Vegas Aces stayed at the top at 4-2, holding onto their No. 1 ranking despite their sole outing this week ending in a 101-95 loss to the Sparks on Saturday.
Wilson—still the reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year—said after that game that the Aces’ defense was “nonexistent” against the Sparks. She expressed confidence the team will improve as the season goes on, emphasizing the need to raise the “want-to” factor on defense.
The Aces’ earlier losses were also linked in the rankings to pregame ceremonies, including a 99-66 loss to Phoenix on May 9 after a ring ceremony, and Saturday’s banner raising.
Atlanta Dream climb with league-leading defense and steel
The Atlanta Dream moved up to 4-1 and the No. 2 spot after going 2-0 this week.
They beat the Dallas Wings 86-69 on Friday, then used another late surge to defeat Phoenix 82-80 on Sunday.
Angel Reese joined her teammates on stage at a music festival in Atlanta on Sunday night and declared the Dream the “No. 1 team right now in the W!”
The Dream’s defensive identity is reflected in the standings and the numbers: the rankings say Atlanta has the best win percentage in the league and a 97.3 defensive rating that leads the WNBA. Rhyne Howard is described as the anchor.
The Dream also lead on ball pressure, with Jordin Canada and Howard averaging the No. 1 and No. 3 most steals in the league this season with 2.8 and 2.3 steals per game, respectively. Reese is league’s top rebounder with 11.4 per game.
Indiana Fever rise on defensive stability while stitching rotations together
The Indiana Fever jumped from a previous ranking of 9 to 3rd after going 2-0 this week and finishing at 4-2.
They handled the Portland Fire with Caitlin Clark sidelined on Wednesday, then beat the Golden State Valkyries 90-82 in Clark’s return on Friday.
Despite the roster adjustments, the Fever’s defense is producing results. The rankings cite an overall 101.2 defensive rating, described as the fourth-best in the league. The report also stresses cohesion building as players rotate in and out of the lineup.
Aliyah Boston—named second-team All-Defense last season—leads Indiana in two categories with 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game this season. Boston also made her return on Wednesday after missing the first game of her career.
The Fever are also said to benefit from Lexie Hull, described as a reliable disrupter.
Golden State’s defense stays elite, but tension leaks through
The Golden State Valkyries stayed at 4-2, ranked No. 4, with a key defender listed as Gabby Williams.
They earned an 87-70 win over the New York Liberty on Thursday, but their week ended with a 90-82 loss to the Fever on Friday in a matchup described as testy.
Golden State’s defense remains the reason opponents struggle: the rankings list the league’s top scoring defense at 77.6 points allowed per game and a WBA’s third-best defensive rating of 100.8.
To beat the Liberty, Golden State contained a Marine Johanes who came in previously hot-handed, holding her to a scoreless night on 0-of-5 shooting.
Williams is listed as tied with Los Angeles Sparks guard Ariel Atkins for fourth-most steals per game, and the report ties a shift in momentum to tensions against the Fever, after Tiffany Hayes called it out.
Hayes said after the loss, while leading the team with 19 points, “Defense is our bread and butter, and 90 points is just too much for any team to score on us.”
Minnesota Lynx hold the line with another undefeated week
The Minnesota Lynx climbed to 4-2 and the No. 5 ranking after an undefeated week. They beat the Tempo 100-72 on Thursday and defeated the Sky 85-75 on Saturday.
Their defensive rating—100.4—is cited as the second-best in the league. Veteran forward Natasha Howard is credited with keeping the team steady, including a performance against the Sky with 26 points and 14 rebounds that served as crucial interior presence.
Courtney Williams leads Minnesota in steals at 1.7 per game, while rookie guard Olivia Miles and Kayla McBride are close behind at 1.5 steals per game each.
Dallas Wings face a defensive question as Alanna Smith is quiet
The Dallas Wings sit at 4-3 and No. 6. The report describes the week as a crossroads: they recorded wins over the Sky and Liberty and took a loss to the Dream.
Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick, scored a career-high 24 points off the bench against New York.
Coach Jose Fernandez is quoted in the rankings as saying that while Fudd. Paige Bueckers. and Arike Ogunbowale are an effective offensive trio. they might not be the best defensively. Bueckers is described as arguably the strongest defender of the three. but the report also says Fernandez may need to “toy with his rotations.”.
The Wings have Alanna Smith, the reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year, but the rankings note she’s been quiet on both sides of the ball.
New York Liberty drop after a rough start and injury disruptions
The New York Liberty are 3-4 and ranked No. 7, down from No. 2 previously.
The report says the Liberty’s 3-4 start is their worst through the first seven games since 2022. It also points to injury issues, including Sabrina Ionescu coming in and out of the rotation due to injury.
Breanna Stewart, listed as leading the team with 20.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, is described as blunt but optimistic about the defense.
“We have to communicate better, it’s a work in progress,” Stewart told reporters. “We just need to continue to kind of grow and learn.”
Los Angeles Sparks trend up with Brink stepping in
The Los Angeles Sparks improved to 3-3 and rose to No. 8 after a week that included key wins.
They beat the Aces behind Kelsey Plum’s monster scoring night, then followed with a 97-88 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday.
The report says Sparks coach Lynne Roberts expected early that the team would need more from Cameron Brink, and it points to Brink stepping up against the Aces as Nneka Ogwumike was sidelined.
Brink’s 1.7 blocks per game are cited as the fifth-most in the league this season.
Chicago Sky’s defense is strong, but Rickea Jackson is out for the season
The Chicago Sky are 3-3 and ranked No. 9 after taking two losses this week, falling 99-89 to the Wings and coming 10 points short against the Lynx.
Their defense still rates well in the rankings: the report lists the fifth best defensive rating in the league at 101.6.
But the week included a major blow on the injury side. Rickea Jackson is now out for the season with a torn ACL in her left knee, and the report says she was a big part of Chicago’s defensive identity.
The Sky will need more defensively from Natasha Cloud and Skylar Diggins.
On the offensive side, Kamilla Cardoso is described as doing a little bit of everything, leading the Sky in points (14.8), rebounds (9.8), and blocks (1.3) per game. Jacy Sheldon is listed as averaging a team-high 1.7 steals per game.
Portland Fire lean on steals and Carleton’s dual impact
The Portland Fire are 4-3 and ranked No. 10, up from No. 12.
The report describes their results against the Fever, Tempo, and Liberty as mixed. Still, Portland’s collective defense shows through at the turnover line: the rankings say the Fire rank third in the league with 7.8 steals per game.
Bridget Carleton averages 2.3 steals and leads the team in scoring (16.5 ppg). Emily Engstler is also helping the group’s defensive identity, averaging two blocks per game.
Seattle Storm’s loss came against the league’s worst team; Malonga misses again
The Seattle Storm are 3-4 and ranked No. 11 after going 2-1 this week. Their one loss was against the Connecticut Sun, described as the league’s worst team.
The bright spot was an 87-85 win over the Mystics on Sunday, which the report says saw Awa Fam, the No. 3 overall draft pick, make her WNBA debut. Fam is listed as a 6-foot-4 center who finished with 10 points in 20 minutes and is described as set to be a key interior defender as she acclimates.
Dominique Malonga, who leads the Storm in scoring (16.0 points per game) and rebounds (7.3), missed her fourth consecutive game while in concussion protocol. The report ties the timing to the need for her return.
Toronto Tempo defense isn’t great, but fastbreak points and steals keep them climbing
The Toronto Tempo are 3-4 and ranked No. 12.
The report says this week the Tempo beat Phoenix but lost to Minnesota and Portland. Their defense is described as not great, with a 110.8 defensive rating, but they rank third in WNBA fastbreak points with 11.4 per game.
Brittney Sykes leads the team in scoring (20.6), assists (4.7), and steals (1.7). The report also notes that the Tempo and Storm are tied for fourth-most steals per game in the league at 7.7.
Phoenix Mercury slide as Thomas points to defensive answers
The Phoenix Mercury are 2-5 and ranked No. 13 after three straight losses this week to the Tempo, Sparks, and Dream.
Alyssa Thomas described the situation in the rankings as sliding into depths that are “uncharted territory.” Thomas averages 1.7 steals per game.
The report says her view is direct: it all comes down to defense.
“We keep harping on it, and we’re just going to keep trying to find people that can play defense,” Thomas said after the loss to Atlanta. “We’ve just got to continue to grow, continue to pick people up. It’s a long season, there’s a lot more basketball to play.”
Washington Mystics are prioritizing patience as youth develops
The Washington Mystics sit at 2-3 and ranked No. 14.
The report says there’s not much to say right now, with youth bringing a requirement for patience as the team works out the kinks.
Sonia Citron leads the team with 19.2 points and 1.6 steals per game. The rankings call her an example of guard talent the organization should try to emulate as it continues to shape its roster.
Connecticut Sun remain last with the league’s worst record, but have steals
The Connecticut Sun are 1-7 and ranked No. 15.
The report says there’s no need to pile on with the league’s worst record, but it adds that the Sun could benefit from veteran center Brittney Griner, who has played in three games this season due to a right rib injury.
On the bright side, the report says the Sun don’t have the league’s worst defensive rating; that title belongs to the Sparks. The Sun do lead the league with 8.1 steals per game, and the rankings say the stat has come by committee.
Aaliyah Edwards has a team-high 1.5 steals per game this season.
What the week’s defensive rankings made unavoidable
The same theme appears across multiple matchups: defense isn’t just a label in the standings; it’s a moving target affected by injury timing, rotation changes, and whether teams can keep their identity when pressure builds.
Las Vegas can be dominant and still have a night Wilson called “nonexistent.” Atlanta can climb with a 97.3 defensive rating. while Indiana tries to keep structure even when Clark sits. Chicago’s defense can stay strong at 101.6 even as Rickea Jackson’s torn ACL reshapes what “their identity” looks like. And as Phoenix slides, Alyssa Thomas keeps pointing back to defense as the only answer.
By the time the next set of Tuesday power rankings arrives, the league’s defenders—on every roster and in every injury narrative—will likely be measured again with the same hard math: points allowed, steals created, and stops that show up when it matters.
WNBA power rankings defensive rating Las Vegas Aces Atlanta Dream Indiana Fever Golden State Valkyries Minnesota Lynx Chicago Sky New York Liberty Los Angeles Sparks injuries Caitlin Clark A'ja Wilson Rhyne Howard Aliyah Boston Rickea Jackson torn ACL