The 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup break has arrived, marking a pause in the WNBA season as top talents prepare to compete in Berlin for global supremacy. Rising stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are set to make their tournament debuts, joining seasoned players like Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier in the quest for a fifth consecutive gold medal for Team USA.

As the WNBA resumes on September 17, the playoff picture is nearly complete. Following the Dallas Wings' recent victory over the Portland Fire, all eight playoff spots have been secured, but significant battles remain.

In the standings:

• The Minnesota Lynx hold a precarious two-game lead over the Golden State Valkyries for the No. 1 seed, with the tiebreaker in their favor. A collapse from the Lynx seems unlikely with only four games left.
• The Valkyries are on a four-game winning streak, keeping their No. 1 seed aspirations alive while fending off the Las Vegas Aces, who possess the tiebreaker over Golden State.

The teams ranked 3-5 are tightly contested:

• Las Vegas Aces (No. 3)
• Atlanta Dream (No. 4)
• Indiana Fever (No. 5)

These teams are separated by just one game, with complex tiebreakers at play among them.

Meanwhile, the New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, and Dallas Wings are in a tight race for playoff positioning, all holding identical 24-16 records. The Liberty currently lead this trio based on tiebreakers.

At the bottom of the standings, the competition intensifies as teams vie for the best odds in the 2027 WNBA Draft. The Connecticut Sun and Toronto Tempo are in a close race for the top pick, with their two-year records impacting their chances.

Fans will have to wait nearly a month for the final playoff seeds and lottery odds, but for now, the WNBA Power Rankings reflect the evolving landscape of this thrilling season.