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The Atlanta Dream/Golden State Valkyries on Thursday claimed their first championship, bringing an end to the longest WNBA Finals on record -- and to the WNBA's 30th season as a whole.
The Dream/Valkyries' historic championship win means they will enter next season as the committee (of one)'s top team. But how does the rest of the WNBA shake out ahead of what promises to be a busy offseason?
Read on for TSN's way-too-early WNBA power rankings for 2027.
2027 WNBA power rankings
1. Golden State Valkyries
What's scary about the defending championValkyries is this isn't even their final form. Golden State will be aggressive in free agency this offseason, with more than $1 million coming off the books. That should put the Valks in position to add someone like Napheesa Collier ahead of a run at a second straight title in 2027.
2. Atlanta Dream
The Dream is retaining practically its entire 2026 team and will be one of the favorites to return to the Finals -- if not win it -- in 2027. Angel Reese is one of the league's best players, and she headlines a stable core that includes Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard.
If All-Star center Bri Jones is healthy after she played just nine games this season, Atlanta will have few obvious weaknesses and should win 30-plus games for the third consecutive year.
3. Las Vegas Aces
The team that has the WNBA's only five-time MVP can't be lower than third. A'ja Wilson is squarely in her prime, and her presence alone will ensure the Aces remain a title contender for the foreseeable future.
However, Chelsea Gray is getting older, and Jackie Young is a pending free agent. Las Vegas' lack of depth contributed to its semifinal exit in the playoffs, and the Aces' brain trust will need to beef up the bench to return to the Finals.
4. Minnesota Lynx
Cheryl Reeve is one of the sharpest minds in basketball; she didn't luck into four championships, though the last one is almost a decade old now.
The Lynx has perhaps the single-best building block in the WNBA in Olivia Miles -- and unless Reeve hits the reset button, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams will remain in Minnesota for 2027. But Napheesa Collier's free-agent decision will be the single largest factor in determining whether the Lynx repeats as The W's best regular-season team, or whether they take a step back and reload around Miles.
5. Indiana Fever
The Fever enters an offseason of uncertainty despite having two of the league's best players in Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. For one, Kelsey Mitchell is hitting free agency again and doesn't seem too convinced about returning. Second, the Fever's front office realignment raises questions about who has the decision-making power in Indiana.
The Fever has to improve defensively while adding cheap shooting around Clark, which is a difficult balance to strike. If Indiana does it though, this could well be a Finals team in 2027.
MORE: Fever predicted to draft 'relentless' rebounder to help Caitlin Clark
6. Washington Mystics
The Mystics have arguably the best young core in the WNBA and gained valuable playoff experience in 2026. Washington is ahead of schedule in its rebuild and has the cap space to make a big splash in free agency if it so chooses. Further growth from Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen is expected as the Mystics push to win a playoff series for the first time since their 2019 championship.
7. Dallas Wings
The Wings, the WNBA's most improved team in 2026, have Azzi Fudd returning from another knee injury, and they will hope for continued growth from Most Improved Player winner Jessica Shepard. Paige Bueckers has an MVP ceiling that she will reach sooner rather than later, but she needs to be more aggressive and less deferential in 2027.
Dallas though is tied to two hefty contracts -- Alanna Smith and Arike Ogunbowale -- that function as team-building millstones. General manager Curt Miller will have to get creative to build a team that can win a playoff series for the first time since 2023.
8. New York Liberty
Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are two of the WNBA's best players, but the consistency of Sabrina Ionescu is probably going to determine whether the Liberty return to the Finals or endure a third straight season without a win outside of the first round.
New York isn't afraid to make a big move and could dangle Satou Sabally -- or even Ionescu -- in a bid to acquire another All-Star who fits next to Jones and Stewart.
9. Phoenix Mercury
Re-signing Kelsey Plum is the number-one priority for a Mercury team that is trying to win now and doesn't care at all about the future. As is Phoenix's prerogative: this is a team that was in the WNBA Finals a year ago and still has Alyssa Thomas playing at a high level.
Depth will continue to be a concern for the Mercury if Plum, Thomas and Kahleah Copper are all on max contracts, but Phoenix's pro scouting -- especially overseas -- has uncovered gems before. And if Plum doesn't re-sign, the Mercury will aggressively pursue Collier or Mitchell to replace her.
10. Portland Fire
The Fire has a youthful roster and flexibility to take a big swing this offseason. That will put Portland in position to take advantage of any slip-up from the eight teams who made the postseason in 2026.
Bringing over dynamic Spanish guard Iyana Martín to partner with Carla Leite could equate to must-see television for WNBA fans.
11. Chicago Sky
The Sky is stuck in the mushy middle, lacking assets to land a star in a trade and picking too low to select a ceiling-raiser in the draft.
Getting a healthy Rickea Jackson back on the court at some point next year will help, and the organization can be excited by the development of Kamilla Cardoso and All-Rookie selection Sydney Taylor -- a great find from a front office that isn't known for great finds.
12. Seattle Storm
The Storm's young core is poised to take a step forward in 2027, though a lot would have to go right for Seattle to return to the playoffs a year after posting an 8-36 record. Dominique Malonga is already an All-Star, while Awa Fam and Flau'jae Johnson have flashed the same potential. There's just the small matter of filling out the rest of the roster.
13. Los Angeles Sparks
The Sparks really have to pick a direction and stick with it. The cupboard isn't necessarily bare in Los Angeles, but Nneka Ogwumike's retirement means the Sparks will lose their two best players months after trading Kelsey Plum to the Mercury.
Fortunately, LA has two top-10 picks in a loaded 2027 draft that can be used to add talent around potential starters Cameron Brink and Monique Akoa Makani. Or, knowing the Sparks, they could trade the picks for another All-Star entering their twilight years. Fifty-fifty!
14. Houston Comets (formerly Connecticut Sun)
The Sun begins life in Houston next season as the second iteration of the iconic Comets franchise. Their rebuild will continue apace. The new Comets are a young group that will experience some growing pains, though ownership has the joint-best odds at the top overall pick in 2027 and the assets to swing a blockbuster trade that would put fans in the seats. Watch out for Leila Lacan.
Inspired by legacy. Created for our future. https://t.co/jPYMmRzJ09
— Houston Comets (@HoustonComets) October 30, 202615. Toronto Tempo
The Tempo has a couple of building blocks in former top-10 picks Aneesah Morrow and Kiki Rice. After a positive start to 2026, injuries saw the Tempo falter badly in the second half of the season. Adding a potential top-two draft pick to a foundation headlined by Rice would point the arrow firmly upward for Canada's WNBA team.
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