WNBA Power Rankings: Lynx unseat Liberty at No. 1; Sky climb - ESPN

The Minnesota Lynx are on the move — just in time for the Commissioner's Cup final.

The Lynx went 3-0 last week to take over the No. 1 spot in ESPN's WNBA Power Rankings and edge in front of the New York Liberty, who had been the top team the past two weeks.

New York, which went 3-1 last week, hosts Minnesota on Tuesday in the championship game of the Commissioner's Cup. It's their second meeting this season, but won't count in the regular-season standings.

The Lynx decisively won the first meeting 84-67 in Minnesota on May 25. The 2024 season was only 11 days old, but it was already clear then that most of the preseason projections about the Lynx were off. They look not like just a playoff team, but a championship contender.

There was little doubt forward Napheesa Collier would have a strong 2024 season, and she's averaging 20.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists. But the Lynx made some key moves around her in the offseason — such as bringing in Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith from the Chicago Sky — and they have paid off.

Even without last year's No. 2 draft pick, Diamond Miller (she hasn't played since May 23 because of a knee injury), the Lynx are first in assists (24.0), 3-point percentage (39.8), defensive rating (90.6) and net rating (12.9). They rank second in scoring defense (73.8 PPG) and field goal percentage (45.3) and third in scoring (84.5 PPG).

Kayla McBride, in her 11th season in the WNBA, is averaging 16.1 points and shooting 46.4% behind the arc. She and New York's Sabrina Ionescu are tied for the league lead with 52 3-pointers. Smith (12.0 PPG) and Williams (10.4) are also averaging in double-figures scoring.

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