Because the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend nears, a number of groups shall be glad with the place they stand on the break, whereas others shall be dissatisfied with how they’re trending.
Let’s break down the highest risers and fallers forward of the All-Star break.
WNBA Groups on the Rise
Indiana Fever
2025 Report: (12-11, third in convention, sixth total)Final 10 Video games: 6-4
The Indiana Fever went on a three-game successful streak this week, which ended towards the New York Liberty on Wednesday. Even so, that shouldn’t take away any momentum. Discovering themselves again within the win column after two consecutive losses to the Sparks and Valkyries, Indiana stands at 12-11. Thoughts you, Caitlin Clark has missed 11 video games this season on account of a number of groin and quad accidents. Whereas it’s been a tumultuous season for Indiana, they’ve been hampered by accidents, all whereas creating workforce chemistry beneath a brand new head coach and revamped roster. At present, the Fever appear like they’re discovering a minimum of some kind of identification.
Gamers like Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Natasha Howard have been the primary causes behind the Fever’s victories. Opponents are used to scouting Caitlin Clark, however the Fever have constructed a workforce that has a number of stars to seize robust victories. In every win, the Fever scored above their common of 84.5 factors and shot 46.1 p.c or increased from the sector over their current successful streak.
Though their largest star has missed a big quantity of video games, the Fever have managed to win with out Clark on the ground. The three-game win streak put Indiana over .500, and if the season have been to finish in the present day, Indiana would maintain the sixth seed.
A Day in Indy 🎨#NowYouKnow pic.twitter.com/j0nTPUYBPB
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 14, 2025
Phoenix Mercury
2025 Report: (15-7, 2nd convention, third total).Final 10 Video games: 7-3
The Phoenix Mercury dropped their final recreation to the Minnesota Lynx, 79-66; nevertheless, let’s not neglect they have been with out prime stars Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper towards the very best workforce within the WNBA. The Mercury head into All-Star Weekend with a 7-3 file over their previous 10 video games and maintain the third seed behind the Lynx and Liberty. With a wholesome Alyssa Thomas and the signing of DeWanna Bonner, it’s been subsequent participant up mentality for the Mercury
The Mercury are a gentle workforce, who’s embracing the ‘positionless’ basketball scheme beneath head coach Nate Tibbetts. At one level, Phoenix cruised to a six-game win streak, and they’re nonetheless rising because the league heads into All-Star weekend.
The Mercury are a prime workforce within the league, and a loss to the Lynx shouldn’t sway their momentum proper now. Consistency is essential, and there’s no purpose to doubt them, particularly since they’re coping with accidents. With out their core stars on a nightly foundation, the rookies and function gamers have been important. Actually, the Mercury rank second behind the Valkyries in bench factors per recreation with 25.7.
If something, the All-Star break advantages them much more by giving their gamers extra relaxation. Just lately, Satou Sabally introduced she is going to forgo all All-Star actions this weekend.
Chasing greatness collectively.
The Mercury’s second-best begin ever. pic.twitter.com/1l1IVofvwZ
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) July 16, 2025
Los Angeles Sparks
2025 Report: (8-14, sixth convention, tenth total)Final 10 Video games: 4-6
The Los Angeles Sparks are beginning to choose up steam heading into All-Star weekend. The Sparks are at the moment on a two-game successful streak, which features a large 99-80 victory over the gritty Washington Mystics on Tuesday. Though they maintain a 4-6 file over their final 10 video games, it’s essential to recollect the Sparks are in rebuild mode beneath new head coach Lynne Roberts.
On their first successful steak of this season, this could possibly be the momentum the Sparks have to win persistently. In two of the final three video games, the Sparks have shot over 50 p.c from the sector and exceeded their common of 34.7 p.c from past the arc. Most of their success has come from constant, dominant performances by their core 4—Dearica Hamby, Azurà Stevens, Rickea Jackson, and Kelsey Plum. Whereas this season has been a little bit of a down 12 months for Jackson in a brand new system, she’s averaged 20.5 factors over the past two video games.
Trending upward, the Sparks are simply two video games behind the Golden State Valkyries, and if this streak continues, we might very properly see the Sparks enter playoff conversations. Constructing consistency, the playoff push shall be attention-grabbing because the Valkyries, Fever, Aces, and Mystics all vie for playoff spots. Add Los Angeles within the combine and we could possibly be in for a enjoyable second half to the season.
Now that’s a option to finish the primary half of the season. 🔥
Highlights from final night time’s WIN over the Mystics. pic.twitter.com/oTt1ZUAcDc
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) July 16, 2025
WNBA Groups on the Decline
Atlanta Dream
2025 Report: (13-9, 2nd convention, fifth total)Final 10 Video games: 5-5
The Atlanta Dream didn’t look forward to finding themselves in a two recreation dropping skid earlier than All-Star break—nevertheless they managed to snap it with a dominant 86-49 victory towards the Chicago Sky On Wednesday. With a 5-5 file of their final 10 video games, Atlanta took essential losses to the Fever and Liberty. Whereas field scores alone, the quantity of shut video games the Dream have been in exhibits they’re proper there, they only can’t capitalize. Now, star Rhyne Howard will miss the remainder of July with a knee damage.
Superb win for Atlanta in the present day.
Requested Dream coach Karl Smesko his one phrase to explain his workforce heading into the All-Star break.
Smesko, jokingly: “Is determined by what day you ask me for the phrase.”
Adopted up with: “It’s been a bit of uneven.”
🧵(1/2)
— Meghan L. Corridor (@ItsMeghanLHall) July 16, 2025
Head Coach Karl Smesko acknowledged the Dream’s inconsistencies all through the season.
“The problem for us is to get to the very best degree extra usually and for an prolonged time frame,” mentioned Smesko—”Which simply confirms that the Atlanta Dream may be inconsistent at occasions. The Dream’s offense may be inconsistent as the 2 losses they’d prior to now week they scored lower than their common of 83.8 factors. That is an Atlanta workforce that began off sturdy to start the season, however they’ve fallen into the entice of being on a small successful streak, then dropping video games. There was no constant stability simply but, and it continues to be that manner heading into the All-Star weekend.”
Golden State Valkyries
2025 Report: (10-12, fifth convention, ninth total)Final 10 Video games: 4-6
The Golden State Valkyries are simply slipping and are at the moment on a three-game dropping streak. Holding a 4-6 file over their final 10 video games, it is a Valkyries squad that went on a formidable 7-2 run in June.
Currently, the Valkyries have been in two shut video games, however finally suffered a coronary heart breaker towards the Phoenix Mercury and a tricky uphill battle towards the Las Vegas Aces. This isn’t the best scenario for Golden State; nevertheless when a workforce averages 30.4 3-point makes an attempt per recreation however solely makes 31.1 p.c on common, it is going to be robust to win video games.
The Valkyries are a gritty workforce that can all the time keep in a recreation; nevertheless they raised expectations from followers once they began successful towards heavy hitting groups. With these current losses , ought to we be frightened concerning the Valkyries? In any case, that is an enlargement workforce making it’s inaugural WNBA season debut. All issues thought of (accidents, Eurobasket), head coach Natalie Nakase is within the Coach of the Yr conversations.
We regularly see each workforce’s identification begin to type after the All-Star break, because it signifies the second half of the season is underway. Right now, the Valkyries will enter the again half of their season on a down be aware. Will they be capable of regain momentum?
Dallas Wings
2025 Report: (6-17, seventh convention, twelfth total)Final 10 Video games: 4-6
The Dallas Wings are again to sq. one once more this season. Despite the fact that rookie Paige Bueckers is producing at a excessive degree, the Wings discover themselves in a 4 recreation dropping streak proper earlier than the All-Star weekend. Though the Wings did handle to go 4-6 of their final 10 video games, the protection has been dreadful. Ranked No. 11 in defensive ranking (107.7), opponents have scored a mean of 102 towards Dallas over the past 4 video games.
With a 6-17 common season file, this present dropping follows a formidable 98-89 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, throughout which the Wings have been driving a three-game successful streak.
It’s fairly clear that the Wings nonetheless lack an identification heading into the All-Star Weekend, which highlights inconsistent on all sides of the courtroom.
Led by former UConn standout Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 total choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft is averaging 18.3 factors, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. Like a number of different groups within the league, the Wings have been hit with vital accidents to stars Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington.
Many marvel if the Wings ought to have simply waited for convey Ogunbowale again till after the break. Proper now, the Wings have leaned closely on their rookies to guide them they usually have been displaying progress from every recreation. Whereas progress is nice, it’s not translating into sufficient victories. Plus, the workforce has handled a number of shifting components, together with hardship contracts, signings, and trades—equivalent to Li Yueru, NaLyssa Smith, and Hayley Jones.
Proper now, there’s quite a lot of uncertainty surrounding Dallas, as they aren’t playoff contenders except they begin gaining momentum and synergy. With a revamped roster, a brand new GM in Curt Miller, and a brand new head coach in Chris Koclanes, it’s clear this whole rebuild will take time.
