WNBA preseason power rankings: Can anyone dethrone the Las Vegas Aces?
The WNBA enters a new era when its 30th season tips off Friday with the expansion to 15 teams, including one in a new country. A bright spotlight is shining on the league thanks to a landmark collective bargaining agreement. There is a new media landscape with NBC and USA Sports coming as broadcast partners.
A flood of new players have arrived from overseas to fill in the extra roster spots. Amid so much change, there is a constant, and that is the Las Vegas Aces. The defending champions — and the winners of three of the last four WNBA titles — once again start the year atop the pack as the favorites to repeat and extend their dynastic run.
The first edition of the 2026 power rankings begins there. 1. Las Vegas Aces All five starters return for Las Vegas along with rotation players Jewell Loyd, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Dana Evans.
Even though Evans will miss the first part of the season with injury, the Aces have backfilled with Chennedy Carter and Stephanie Talbot. Las Vegas also compensated for the departure of Kiah Stokes by bringing in veteran big Brianna Turner, who offers defensive versatility. The Aces are deeper than they have been in recent years, and they still have the best player and coach in the world in A’ja Wilson and Becky Hammon.
All roads to the 2026 title go through Las Vegas. 2. New York Liberty Whatever questions exist about how the Liberty will perform in the playoffs under a first-year coach don’t really matter for these preseason power rankings.
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