WNBA power rankings: Targets for every team as trade deadline nears
WNBA power rankings: Targets for every team as trade deadline nears
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAYTue, July 28, 2026 at 10:07 AM UTC
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The halfway point of the 2026 WNBA season is here. The All-Star Game is over and the trade deadline looms at 3 p.m. ET, Aug. 2. Teams must now decide if they’re going all-in for a championship run or hitting the reset button ahead of next season.
Typically, the WNBA doesn’t see blockbuster deals at the trade deadline, but there have been a few exceptions. The Connecticut Sun acquired Marina Mabrey from the Chicago Sky at the 2024 deadline before advancing to the semifinals in the playoffs. In 2015, the Minnesota Lynx picked up Sylvia Fowles — also from the Sky — on their way to winning what would be their third of four championships in seven seasons.
Will a league-altering trade be made this season? That remains to be seen, but it’s a fun exercise to speculate.
This week’s WNBA power rankings, which publish every Tuesday, are accompanied by trades we think make sense for every team.
1. Minnesota Lynx (22-6)Previous rank: 1 (⬌)
Trade target: Sydney Taylor, G, Chicago Sky
If there is an area where the Lynx could use a boost heading into the second half of the season it's guard depth and 3-point shooting. Louisville product Taylor checks both boxes and has proven in her first full WNBA season she’s capable of playing in this league. Taylor is averaging 14.2 points a game, but perhaps more importantly for the Lynx, is shooting a solid 34% from 3-point land and ranks fifth in the WNBA in 3-pointers made per 40 minutes with 3.9.
2. Golden State Valkyries (19-8)Previous rank: 2 (⬌)
Trade target: Aneesah Morrow, F, Connecticut Sun
The Valkyries have no cap space, so they’re going to have to give up a bit to make this work, but a player like Morrow is worth it. In her second season in the WNBA on one of the worst teams in the league, the LSU product is averaging 10.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. She leads the WNBA in rebounds per 40 minutes (16.4) and rebounding percentage (25.1). A double-double machine, Morrow could do a lot to improve the Valkyries’ mediocre rebounding statistics.
3. Dallas Wings (18-9)Previous rank: 4 (⬆1)
Trade target: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, F, Connecticut Sun
Alanna Smith has dealt with injuries making it challenging to live up to her billing as a big offseason free-agent signing for Dallas. The Wings could use assistance in areas she was expected shore up — rebounding and rim-protecting. Nelson-Ododa could be a fix that provides both. She’s averaging a career-best 5.7 rebounds per game this season and last year ranked ninth in the league in blocked shots. She also ranks ninth in the WNBA this season in shooting percentage with a 57.7% clip. What’s one more former UConn player on this roster?
4. Las Vegas Aces (18-8)Previous rank: 3 (⬇1)
Trade target: Kaitlyn Chen, G, Golden State Valkyries
With Dana Evans battling injuries and the Chennedy Carter experiment flaming out, the Aces could use another playmaking guard off the bench. Chen might fit the bill here. She’s playing 14.7 minutes per game for the Valkyries, but ranks 10th in the league in field-goal percentage with a 57.5% mark. Her effective field-goal percentage is 62.7%, which is fifth-best in the WNBA this season. Chen could provide the punch the Aces need off the bench.
5. Indiana Fever (17-10)Previous rank: 5 (⬌)
Trade target: Cameron Brink, C, Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles hasn't been the best fit for former Stanford star Brink, perhaps a change of scenery could help. The Fever need depth in the frontcourt as they’re not getting much production from Myisha Hines-Allen or Damiris Dantas. Brink could be a pick-and-roll partner for Caitlin Clark or Kelsey Mitchell, and rim-run when the Fever run their offense through point-forward Aliyah Boston. This could be fun, but Brink also won’t be cheap to acquire.
6. Atlanta Dream (16-10)Previous rank: 6 (⬌)
Trade target: Emily Engstler, G/F, Portland Fire
The Dream could use a boost in shot-blocking and 3-pointers. There’s not many players in the WNBA that excel at both of those things, but the versatile Engstler is one of them. The Louisville product — who is on her fourth WNBA team in five seasons — is having a bit of a breakout year for the Fire, averaging a career-high 9.2 points per game. She and Aces star A’ja Wilson are the only players in the league this season averaging at least one made 3-pointer and 1.5 blocked shots per game.
7. New York Liberty (15-12)Previous rank: 7 (⬌)
Trade target: Aziaha James, G, Dallas Wings
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The Liberty rank last in the WNBA in turnovers forced per game and are second to last in steals per game. They could also use another playmaking guard off the bench. Enter James, the second-year guard out of NC State who is coming off the bench for the Dallas Wings. Not only has James garnered a reputation as a microwave scorer — she’s able to heat up and score in bunches — but she also leads the league in steals per-40 minutes with 3.0.
8. Washington Mystics (14-2)Previous rank: 8 (⬌)
Trade target: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, G/F, New York Liberty
Laney-Hamilton has seen her role reduced under Liberty coach Chris DeMarco and might be more valued by another team that needs a versatile veteran that is a career 80% free-throw shooter. A franchise that could be a fit is the Mystics, who have a young core with aspirations of making the playoffs. Laney-Hamilton could play a variety of positions and should help Washington improve its 73% free-throw shooting, which ranks second to last in the league.
9. Portland Fire (11-16)Previous rank: 9 (⬌)
Trade targets: Dearica Hamby, F, Los Angeles Sparks
If the Sparks are going to do a fire sale and go into tank mode, the Fire could be a landing spot for Hamby. For starters, they have the cap space to absorb her contract. Second, she fits their style and some of their needs as a versatile player who can rebound, score and defend multiple positions. Hamby is averaging 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
10. Phoenix Mercury (10-18)Previous rank: 13 (⬆1)
Trade target: Ezi Magbegor, C, Seattle Storm
Statistically, the Mercury are not very good at defending or rebounding this season. If she’s healthy, someone like Magbegor could help. At her best, the 6-4 center is a player who averages about 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game. She doesn’t seem like a long-term fit for the Storm as their future frontcourt seems to be in place with Awa Fam and Dominique Malonga. Magbegor is Seattle’s highest-paid player and it would make sense for them to try and move her off their books.
11. Toronto Tempo (10-16)Previous rank: 10 (⬇1)
Trade target: Natasha Mack, F, Phoenix Mercury
While the Mercury have struggled, Mack is enjoying her best season as a pro, averaging 9.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. She could help the Tempo, who need improved rebounding, better rim protection and a reliable low-post scorer.
12. Los Angeles Sparks (10-16)Previous rank: 11 (⬇1)
Trade target: Skylar Diggins, G, Chicago Sky
It’s just not working out for Diggins in Chicago. Can she talk the organization into shipping her to Hollywood for a reunion with Nneka Ogwumike?
13. Chicago Sky (9-18)Previous rank: 12 (⬇1)
Trade target: Kate Martin, G, Los Angeles Sparks
If the Sky are going to continue to have an abysmal season, one way to win over some fans is to bring in one of the most universally liked players in the WNBA who just happens to be from Illinois. Bring Kate Martin back to Big Ten country.
14. Connecticut Sun (7-20)Previous rank: 14 (⬌)
Trade target: Zia Cooke, G, Seattle Storm
The Sun’s guard play has been a mixed bag this season and Cooke is having a solid year coming off the bench in Seattle. Could she be even better in a starting role for a team like the Sun? Cooke is averaging 20.1 points per 40 minutes this season.
15. Seattle Storm (6-23)Previous rank: 15 (⬌)
Trade target: Saniya Rivers, G, Connecticut Sun
The Storm seem to have an incubator going for raw project players with high ceilings. Rivers has always flashed the potential to be a great player but seems to have regressed a bit in her second season with the Sun. A change of scenery could be good for the NC State product.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA power rankings: Targets for every team as trade deadline nears
Source: “AOL Sports”
