Michael VoepelMay 12, 2026, 08:30 AM ETCloseMichael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.Follow on XMultiple Authors
play0:33Angel Reese gets the winning block for the DreamAngel Reese gets the winning block for the Dream.
play1:39Caitlin Clark’s 20 points not enough in Fever opener lossCaitlin Clark’s 20 points not enough as Fever fall to Wings in opener 107-104.
Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury – Game Highlights (1:07)Watch the Game Highlights from Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury, 05/10/2026 (1:07)
Caitlin Clark’s 20 points not enough in Fever opener lossCaitlin Clark’s 20 points not enough as Fever fall to Wings in opener 107-104.
play1:09Liberty take down the Mystics in overtimeLiberty take down the Mystics in overtime
The Golden State Valkyries were a feel-good story in their 2025 inaugural season as they began a new wave of WNBA expansion. But a year later, as is the nature of professional sports, their personnel moves have been criticized. It’s like a rite of passage for a new franchise in any sport to go from hearing, “Isn’t this awesome?” to “What the heck are you doing?”
These performances helped vault the Valkyries up eight spots from where they were in ESPN’s preseason rankings.
The Power Rankings, which are updated every Tuesday throughout the regular season, attempt to reflect how teams are performing week-to-week, not just where they are in the standings. That said, a team might grab onto No. 1 and stay there, the way the Minnesota Lynx did for much of 2025. Or the top spot might be a little more fluid.
For the next several weeks, don’t be surprised to see a lot of movement in the Power Rankings among teams as they try to establish themselves.
After a 106-75 blowout victory over Connecticut to open the season, the Liberty needed overtime to beat Washington 98-93. In both games, we saw how ready for this season forward Breanna Stewart is, with a combined 54 points, 19 rebounds, six assists and five blocked shots. Even with some key players out, including Sabrina Ionescu (ankle) and Satou Sabally (cyst), New York has had a strong start.
Liberty take down the Mystics in overtimeLiberty take down the Mystics in overtime
Forward Kayla Thornton was the breakout star in the Valkyries’ first year until a knee injury sidelined her after the All-Star Game on July 19. Golden State fans are thrilled to see her back: She had a combined 32 points and 11 rebounds in the opening two victories. The addition of Gabby Williams, one of the WNBA’s top defensive players, already has made an impact: She had a combined 26 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Phoenix defeated defending champion Las Vegas 99-66 in one of the standout victories of opening weekend then lost 95-79 at Golden State on Sunday. The biggest development was the success of Jovana Nogic, a 28-year-old from Serbia with plenty of pro experience who had a combined 35 points in her first two WNBA games. Veteran Alyssa Thomas also had a combined 39 points and 20 rebounds.
The Dream needed a rally for their season-opening victory at Minnesota, outscoring the Lynx 28-19 in the fourth quarter to win 91-90. Allisha Gray picked up right where she left off after a career-best season in 2025, sparking Atlanta with 24 points and eight rebounds. Angel Reese had 11 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in her debut for the team.
Angel Reese gets the winning block for the DreamAngel Reese gets the winning block for the Dream.
The Aces suffered the biggest margin of defeat for a defending champion in a season opener on the heels of their ring ceremony in Las Vegas on Saturday, losing to the Mercury 99-66. They channeled that frustration into a much better performance Sunday at Los Angeles, where they won 105-78. Chennedy Carter, who didn’t play in the WNBA last season, had 10 and 22 points in her first two games with the Aces on 14-of-21 (66.7%) shooting from the field.
The good news for the Fever is that their big three of Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston combined for 73 points. The bad news is that wasn’t enough to evade a 107-104 loss to visiting Dallas, which shot 59% from the field. Indiana will need to show improvement on defense.
Caitlin Clark’s 20 points not enough in Fever opener loss
Caitlin Clark’s 20 points not enough as Fever fall to Wings in opener 107-104.
It’s a new-look Storm team, and rookie Flau’jae Johnson is off to a solid start. She had 12 points in the opening 91-80 loss to Golden State on Friday, then 16 in the 89-82 win at Connecticut on Sunday. She is 6-of-22 so far from the field, but 12-of-13 from the foul line. Last year’s No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga had a combined 27 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks.
Veteran guard Marina Mabrey (27 points, seven rebounds) did all she could to get a win for Toronto in the franchise’s first game Friday, but visiting Washington won 68-65. The game stayed close throughout, but the Tempo shot just 27% from the field.
Still, Golden State is off to a 2-0 start and opens at No. 2 as ESPN’s WNBA Power Rankings debut for the 2026 season. The Valkyries took heat for their draft-day trade of No. 8 pick Flau’jae Johnson to the Seattle Storm for No. 16 Marta Suarez, only to then cut Suarez. Their initial reticence to discuss the reasoning only brought more questions. Ultimately, general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said the trade was done to maintain cap flexibility. Golden State also cut fan favorite Kate Martin, although it was an understandable move from a personnel standpoint.
So from a media and social media perspective, it has been a rockier launch to the Valkyries’ second season. But none of this impacted how they played on opening weekend. They won 91-80 at Seattle on Friday, then cooled down Phoenix 95-79 on Saturday after the Mercury had defeated defending champion Las Vegas the day before. Forward Janelle Salaun led Golden State with 20 and 21 points in those games, shooting a combined 14-of-26 (53.8%). Guard Veronica Burton had a combined 29 points, 18 assists and one turnover.
Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury – Game Highlights (1:07)Watch the Game Highlights from Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury, 05/10/2026 (1:07)
Michael VoepelMay 12, 2026, 08:30 AM ETCloseMichael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseMichael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.Follow on X
Next seven days: @ CON (May 13), @ CON (May 15), @ ATL (May 17)
Next seven days: @ GS (May 13), @ PHO (May 15), @ MIN (May 17)
Next seven days: @ PHO (May 12), @ DAL (May 14), vs. CHI (May 17)
Next seven days: @ LA (May 13), vs. WAS (May 15), vs. SEA (May 17)
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Watch the Game Highlights from Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury, 05/10/2026 (1:07)
Next seven days: vs. ATL (May 12), vs. MIN (May 14), vs. WAS (May 18)
Next seven days: vs. MIN (May 12), vs. CHI (May 15)
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