Just a handful of regular season games remain in this WNBA season before the playoffs begin on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The eight teams not in the postseason are likely already thinking about 2027 and how they can improve their franchises as they turn the page. Teams in the playoffs, or at least the people in the front office, are also likely thinking about the offseason.
Who needs to be signed and re-signed, how can we improve in an area of weakness and who will lead it all?
With that, in USA TODAY Sports’ final edition of WNBA Power Rankings in the regular season, we look ahead and build wishlists for each team’s offseason.
Here’s every team’s biggest need heading into 2027:
1. Golden State Valkyries (31-11)
Previous rank: 1 (⬌)
Biggest
offseason need: An elite go-to scorer
The Valkyries are, of course, doing just fine with this type of offensive firepower, but the name of the game is to score more points than your opponent. So while Golden State’s defense is incredible, the fact that they score 82.3 points per game — the third lowest mark in the league — is worrisome. The Valkyries are also one of two teams in the league this season — the other being the Connecticut Sun — that don’t have at least one player averaging more than 14.5 points per game.
2. Las Vegas Aces (29-13)
Previous rank: 4 (⬆2)
Biggest offseason need: An offensive rebounder
The Aces grab 7.6 offensive rebounds per game, which is the third lowest in the league. Las Vegas also allows its opponents an average defensive rebounding rate of 76.7%, the fourth worst in the league. Putting an expert offensive glass-cleaner next to A’ja Wilson could make the Aces even more dangerous.
3. Atlanta Dream (29-14)
Previous rank: 3 (⬌)
Biggest offseason need: A rim protector
Angel Reese grabs a whole lot of rebounds, but she’s not really an expert shot blocker. In fact, Atlanta is second-worst in the league in blocked shots per game with 3.3. Moreover, Atlanta allows opponents to make 53.5% of their 2-point shots, which is the fourth worst in the league. The Dream could use more defensive presence in the post to play alongside Reese or back her up.
4. Minnesota Lynx (32-10)
Previous rank: 2 (⬇2)
Biggest offseason need: Depth
The Lynx have a great starting five and one really solid bench player in Nia Coffey. Outside of that, no other player on the roster averages more than 15 minutes per game or scores more than four points per game. Minnesota managed to weather the storm when Napheesa Collier was sidelined for the first few months of the season, but one has to wonder what this team would’ve looked like had another starter gone down.
5. Dallas Wings (26-16)
Previous rank: 6 (⬆1)
Biggest offseason need: A consistent shooter
It’s odd to say this about a team coached by Jose Fernandez that features Azzi Fudd, Arike Ogunbowale, Paige Bueckers and Maddi Siegrist, but the Wings could use another player who knocks down free throws and 3-pointers with consistency. Siegrist is the only player on the team shooting north of 40% from 3-point land and there’s three players playing significant minutes shooting below 70% from the free-throw line. Dallas ranks second worst in free throw rate, fourth worst in 3-point rate, and are middle of the pack in free-throw and 3-point shooting percentage.
6. Indiana Fever (27-15)
Previous rank: 5 (⬇1)
Biggest offseason need: Defense
The Fever score in bunches with Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston leading the way, but there’s a lot to be desired on the other end of the floor. Indiana gives up the fourth-most points per game, have the third-worst steal rate, the fourth-worst block rate and commit the third-most fouls per game.
7. Washington Mystics (26-16)
Previous rank: 8 (⬆1)
Biggest offseason need: A veteran guard
The Mystics are playoff-bound with the youngest team in the league — an average age of 23.5. Washington also commits the most turnovers in the WNBA with 14.9 per game. The Mystics also are last in the league in 3-point rate (25.7), percentage of points from 3-point range (22.4) and fourth worst in overall shooting percentage from behind the arc (31.9).
8. New York Liberty (26-17)
Previous rank: 7 (⬇1)
Biggest offseason need: Perimeter defense
Health and depth could’ve been another choice here for the Liberty, but let’s focus on the controllable stats. New York allows opponents to score 31.2% of their points from 3-point land, which is fourth worst in the league. The Liberty also allow their opponents to average 21.4 assists per game — also the fourth worst in the league — and they force the least amount of turnovers per game with 11.3. New York could use an ace defender on the outside to stifle some of that 3-point shooting and grab some steals.
9. Los Angeles Sparks (16-26)
Previous rank: 11 (⬆2)
Biggest offseason need: A new direction
The Sparks have already made a change at general manager and Lynne Roberts is 37-49 in two seasons as a head coach. Los Angeles has had four different head coaches since last making the playoffs in 2020 and the team’s top scorer this season — Nneka Ogwumike — is about to retire. The Sparks should figure out how to get the most out of Rae Burrell and Cameron Brink, and decide what other young players are worth keeping, as they head toward another rebuild.
10. Phoenix Mercury (15-27)
Previous rank: 12 (⬆2)
Biggest offseason need: Youth and an infusion of fresh talent
The three leaders in minutes-played per game for the Mercury this season were Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner. Phoenix is the oldest team in the league with an average age of 30.5. Thomas can’t do this forever, Copper isn’t getting any younger and Bonner is already gone. The Mercury need some young talent that they can lean on to help them win games in 2027 and beyond.
11. Portland Fire (16-27)
Previous rank: 9 (⬇2)
Biggest offseason need: A strong inside presence
Two stats jump out for the Portland Fire after their debut season in the WNBA: They rank last in rebounds per game with 30.1, and they rank second to last in 2-point shot attempts made with 20.3 per game. The Fire have 3-point shooting figured out, but their offense needs some balance with a post scorer and someone who can keep the other team off the glass.
12. Chicago Sky (15-27)
Previous rank: 10 (⬇2)
Biggest offseason need: Rebounding
The Chicago Sky previously had a formidable frontcourt combination in Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, but they shipped Reese to Atlanta in a preseason trade and Cardoso’s frontcourt mate, Rickea Jackson, was lost for the season to injury. Cardoso is averaging 8.6 boards per game this season, but the Sky give up the most rebounds per game at 36.9 — with 27.9 of those being defensive boards.
13. Toronto Tempo (11-31)
Previous rank: 13 (⬌)
Biggest offseason need: Defense
In addition to struggling with injuries to key players in their inaugural WNBA season, the Tempo failed to find consistency on defense. Toronto allowed the most points per game this season with 94.3 and the most 3-pointers per game with 9.8. In the offseason, Sandy Brondello and her staff need to find players that will close out and put a hand up.
14. Connecticut Sun (10-32)
Previous rank: 14 (⬌)
Biggest offseason need: A clean slate
The final season for the Connecticut Sun went as many had expected. The roster filled with youth, an aging star in Brittney Griner and without a go-to designated scorer struggled to win games and were the only team that averaged below 80 points per game. The Sun need a hard reset and they’re going to get that with a move to Houston where they will become the Comets. What remains to be seen is how much of the front office, coaching staff and current players are coming with them. As currently constructed, this franchise does not have a winning formula.
15. Seattle Storm (8-35)
Previous rank: 15 (⬌)
Biggest offseason need: Offensive firepower
The Storm are last in the league in field goal percentage at 42.2%. Sonia Raman is completing her first season as head coach and Seattle seems to have a young trio it can build around for the long-term in Dominique Malonga, Awa Fam and Flau’Jae Johnson. When choosing which complementary pieces to surround those players, Seattle should put an emphasis on offensive talent and efficiency.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA Power Rankings: Each team’s biggest offseason need
