It was expected that last year's finalists, the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty, would be among the contenders again. The Las Vegas Aces were expected to contend, but at 11-11, they have disappointed. The Indiana Fever have managed grand expectations, but their 12-11 record reflects a bumpy road to this point.
WNBA Midterm Grades: Assessing Key Players, Teams After the All-Star Break originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
We are approximately at the midway point of another exciting WNBA season.
The on-court action has been surprising so far. It was expected that last year's finalists, the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty, would be among the contenders again. However, their dominant starts (Lynx 20-4, Liberty 15-6) were not necessarily expected. The Las Vegas Aces were expected to contend, but at 11-11, they have disappointed. The Indiana Fever have managed grand expectations, but their 12-11 record reflects a bumpy road to this point.
These midterm grades focus on a mix of prominent teams and players and even a critique about commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Without further ado, here are our grades.
Napheesa Collier
Lynx forward Napheesa Collier appears determined to avenge every L she took last season and has been playing like a woman possessed.
She’s been dominant on both ends of the floor this season, leading the league in scoring at 23.2 points per game and ranking fourth in blocks (1.6 per game). She’s also led the Lynx squad to the best record in the league at 20-4.
There’s a real opportunity for ’Phee to rack up the hardware this season. The opportunity for the WNBA championship, league MVP, and Finals MVP is there for the taking. Grade: A.
Minnesota Lynx
If teams take their identity from their coach or leading player, it’s safe to say Minnesota also has been on a revenge tour all season long. At 20-4, the Lynx boast a 3 1/2-game lead over second-place New York. With Collier leading the way, the Lynx rank among the league leaders in points (second at 84.7 per game), blocks (first at 5.2 per game), steals (fourth at 8.3 per game), and field goal percentage (first at .458).
The thing that’s been especially impressive about this team, in addition to all the statistical superlatives, has been its poise. The Lynx have suffered a couple of surprising losses, but they don’t get rattled. Instead, they quietly adjust and affirm their dominance. Grade: A.
A'ja Wilson
With all the buzz surrounding 'Phee and the Lynx, it’s been easy to forget that Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson is enjoying another excellent individual season despite the struggles of her team.
A reminder came in Vegas’ 104-102 overtime win over the Golden State Valkyries on July 12. Wilson scored 22 of her game-high 34 points in the first half. This game was a microcosm of the season so far for the Aces: Wilson did everything she could offensively and defensively to put her team in a better position to win, but the Aces wouldn't have won without Jackie Young's 30-point performance.
The Aces will be better positioned to make noise in the playoffs if their role players can compete more consistently. Still, Vegas' 11-11 record aside, Wilson remains dominant, and that dominance warrants better roster construction in 2026. Grade: A.
Caitlin Clark
So far, Fever superstar Caitlin Clark’s second pro season has been riddled by injuries, but she has played enough in the first half to evaluate.
Early this season, Clark seemed to pick up right where she left off in her dazzling rookie season. In her first six games of 2025, Clark was averaging 21.3 points per game with 44/38/77 shooting splits.
At one point, she led the league in assists, too. But Clark’s season started to turn in her first matchup with the Golden State Valkyries on June 19. The Valks held Clark to 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field with no 3-pointers. Golden State was physical and took away Clark's go-to sidestep 3.
Since that game, Clark has spiraled into a shooting slump while struggling with injuries and the style Fever head coach Stephanie White wants to play. Clark is averaging 12.1 points per game and shooting just 29.4% from the field — including 14.3% from deep — during that span. Overall, Clark’s performance in the first half hasn’t aligned with the lofty expectations that follow her. Grade: C.
Indiana Fever
In Athlon's 2025 WNBA preview magazine, we boldly projected the Fever to post the best record in the league and win the Finals over the Lynx. At the All-Star break, the Fever are just 12-11. Critics might say they won the Commissioner's Cup only because the Lynx had an off night.
The Fever used the offseason to hire a new coach in Stephanie White and surround Clark with players who were thought to mesh well with her. So far, the results have been mixed.
A healthy Clark opens the floor and gets her teammates involved with her passing. The chemistry she shares with Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell is becoming formidable in their minutes together.
When Clark is out, the Fever at times experience Bill Simmons' famous "Ewing Theory," which occurs when role players perform better when the star is out. The theory can be true for a few games because the role players aren’t confined to a system while the star is out. Instead, they can thrive and play with nothing to lose. That said, the Fever can survive a few games without Clark, but they are a much better team with her.
White is trying to play Clark primarily off the ball in a 0.5-seconds-or-less offense. The vision is understandable, but I believe Clark should play on the ball more, because she is a highly effective facilitator. For the second half of the season, White should be more uniform in her approach — whether Clark is in the lineup or not. Grade: C.
Angel Reese
Two-time All Star Angel Reese endured a tumultuous start of the season, when she struggled mightily with her shot. The Chicago Sky star's offensive woes were subject of great scrutiny, but as the first half progressed, she began to improve offensively. She assumed the role of point-forward in the Sky’s offense, and it has paid off.
In Reese's past eight games, she has been on a tear — averaging 19.1 points and 14.4 rebounds per game while shooting 52.7% from the floor. Defensively, Reese has been solid as well. Her defense on Collier in a recent win over Minnesota was noteworthy.
Reese is the league’s leading rebounder by a wide margin at 12.6 per game. (Wilson ranks second at 9.2 per game. The Sky is struggling at 7-15, but Reese should be one of the front-runners for Most Improved Player. Grade: B.
New York Liberty
It seems as though the defending-champion Liberty and Lynx are on a collision course for a Finals rematch. The Liberty appear to be just as balanced as the Lynx, as they lead the league in scoring (86.9 points per game) and rank second to Minnesota in blocks (4.9 per game) and assists (21.6 per game). Just like Minnesota, the Liberty enjoyed a hot start. However, there have been a few flaws for the 15-6 Libs.
“The games that we’ve lost, a lot of those have been in the third quarter,” All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu said after a recent game. “And it’s just a lapse of about five to six minutes in the third where we come out a little bit lax, and teams are able to take the lead.”
Despite that shortcoming, New York is still a prime contender. This team boasts depth and consistency as advantages, and the Libs have a solid chance to repeat. Grade: A.
Golden State Valkyries
Expansion teams aren't supposed to win right out of the chute, but the Golden State Valkyries are an outlier. They’ve enjoyed statement wins against Vegas and Indiana, and even in most of their losses, they’ve been competitive. Their roster is full of hustlers who are tenacious on defense, and coach Natalie Nakase has instilled defensive principles that are helping them contend and win.
The Valks can shoot too many 3-pointers at times, but if the shot is open, why not take it? On the other hand, they have to know when to get their offense going elsewhere if the 3s aren’t falling. At 10-12, they are firmly in the mix for a playoff berth. Not bad for an expansion team. Grade: B.
Cathy Engelbert
Although commish Cathy Englebert has led a solid expansion effort, her biggest task still lies ahead. Against a backdrop of growth and momentum for the league, collective bargaining negotiations and the possibility of a work stoppage loom after the season. The union held negotiations during All-Star weekend with no progress.
Englebert also has been criticized for the inconsistency of some referees. To her credit, she has not ignored the issue. She said during All-Star weekend that all plays are reviewed, and consistency is something that the league is working on. She hears the concerns, and she addresses them. However, more action is needed. Grade: Incomplete.
Related: 25 Best WNBA Players of All Time
Related: Lynx’s Napheesa Collier Is Out for Revenge
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
