Now that we’ve passed the halfway point of the season, it feels right to pose this question: Can the Las Vegas Aces post the best record in WNBA history?

Through 23 games, the Aces are 21-2 (.913), which puts them ahead of the mark set by the Houston Comets in 1998. In just the second season in league history, the Comets posted a record (27-3, .900) that has not been topped in the 24 seasons that have followed. But is now the time for that mark to finally fall?

Highest Winning Percentages in WNBA History

Remember that in 1998, the Comets had to keep up a 90%-win rate for 30 games, while this year’s Aces will have to do it for an additional ten as the WNBA is playing a record 40 games in 2023. For Las Vegas to establish a new record, they can only afford one more loss to finish the season at 37-3 (.925). Two more losses would result in a 36-4 record (.900), which would tie the Comets’ record.

Now on to this week’s Power Rankings, with all stats and rankings through games played on Sunday, July 23.

1. Las Vegas Aces (21-2)

• Previous Ranking: 1
• Last Week: W at Storm 79-63, W at Lynx 98-81
• This Week: Tuesday at Sky, Sunday vs. Wings
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 114.1 (1); DefRtg: 94.9 (1); NetRtg: 19.2 (1); eFG%: 57.0 (1); Pace/40 Min: 82.11 (3)

The Aces enter this week on a streak that only three other teams have ever achieved in WNBA history – winning five straight games by 15 points or more.

Teams with five straight wins by 15+ points

• 2023: Las Vegas Aces (July 9-22)
• 2021 Phoenix Mercury (Aug. 21-Sept 4)
• 2020 Seattle Storm (Aug. 10-18)
• 2014 Phoenix Mercury (July 17-29)

No team has reached six straight wins by 15 points or more; the Aces have a shot to do it on Tuesday in Chicago. The Aces won in their first meeting with the Sky, but only by 13 points (93-80 on June 11).

2. New York Liberty (16-5) 

• Previous Ranking: 2
• Last Week: L vs. Wings 98-88, W at Mystics 96-87, W vs. Fever 101-83
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Storm, Thursday vs. Dream, Friday vs. Lynx, Sunday at Sparks
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 107.8 (2); DefRtg: 100.4 (5); NetRtg: 7.4 (2); eFG%: 53.9 (2); Pace/40 Min: 81.25 (5)

The Aces aren’t the only team making history in the WNBA. On Sunday against Indiana, the Liberty put together the highest-scoring quarter in WNBA history as they racked up 44 points on their way to a 101-83 win behind Betnijah Laney’s game-high 22 points. The Liberty are the busiest team in the league this week with four games, including a back-to-back and a run of three games in four days.

3. Connecticut Sun (17-6)

• Previous Ranking: 3
• Last Week: L at Mercury 72-66, W vs. Dream 82-71, W at Dream 86-78
• This Week: Tuesday at Wings, Sunday vs. Lynx
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 103.2 (4); DefRtg: 96.8 (2); NetRtg: 6.3 (3); eFG%: 49.8 (4); Pace/40 Min: 80.69 (7)

The Sun slowed down the red-hot Atlanta Dream by sweeping a home-and-home set and snapping the Dream’s seven-game win streak in the process. The wins helped the Sun improve to 7-3 since losing Brionna Jones to a season-ending Achilles’ injury. After ending the Dream streak, the Sun are tasked with trying to end the Dallas Wings’ five-game run as the two meet on Tuesday in Dallas.

4. Dallas Wings (13-9) 

• Previous Ranking: 4
• Last Week: W at Liberty 98-88, W vs. Sparks 98-84
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Sun, Friday vs. Mystics, Sunday at Aces
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 104.5 (3); DefRtg: 100.1 (4); NetRtg: 4.4 (4); eFG%: 47.5 (9); Pace/40 Min: 82.23 (2)

The Wings put up 98 points in a win over the Sparks on Saturday despite having only three players reach double figures in points. That’s because Natasha Howard (28 points on 12-20 FG), Satou Sabally (26 points on 10-16 FG), and Arike Ogunbowale (25 points on 10-20 FG) each went for 25+ points while shooting 50% or better from the field, becoming the first trio ever to do that in a WNBA game. In addition to the win over L.A., the Wings also beat the New York last week and are riding a five-game win streak entering this week, which is a week that will see Dallas face the other three teams in the top five of the standings – Connecticut, Washington, and Las Vegas.

5. Atlanta Dream (12-10) 

• Previous Ranking: 5
• Last Week: W vs. Lynx 82-73, L at Sun 82-71, L vs. Sun 86-78
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Mercury, Thursday at Liberty, Sunday vs. Mystics
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 101.3 (6); DefRtg: 101.5 (7); NetRtg: -0.2 (6); eFG%: 48.3 (7); Pace/40 Min: 83.75 (1)

The Dream saw their seven-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Connecticut Sun. Still, their place in the power rankings remains steady at No. 5. This week, Atlanta faces two teams for the first time this season (hosting Phoenix and Washington) and one team they are facing for the final time in the regular season (at New York, 1-2 in first three meetings).

6. Washington Mystics (12-10)

• Previous Ranking: 6
• Last Week: L vs. Fever 82-76, L vs. Liberty 96-87, W vs. Mercury 84-69
• This Week: Wednesday at Lynx, Friday at Wings, Sunday at Dream
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 100.4 (7); DefRtg: 97.8 (3); NetRtg: 2.7 (5); eFG%: 48.6 (6); Pace/40 Min: 80.56 (8)

The Mystics got a much-needed win on Sunday as Natasha Cloud and Brittney Sykes scored 23 apiece in an 84-69 win over Phoenix. The Mystics avoided the third straight loss as the team continues to play shorthanded with Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, Kristi Toliver, and Elena Delle Donne all sidelined. The Mystics are 4-6 in their last ten games after an 8-4 start to the season. Can they remain above .500 while the team continues to mend?

7. Minnesota Lynx (10-13) 

• Previous Ranking: 7
• Last Week: L at Dream 82-73, W vs. Sparks 73-70, L vs. Aces 98-81
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Mystics, Friday at Liberty, Sunday at Sun
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 98.3 (8); DefRtg: 105.9 (11); NetRtg: -7.6 (10); eFG%: 47.4 (10); Pace/40 Min: 80.09 (9)

This week’s schedule sees the Lynx facing the Mystics (12-10), Liberty (16-5), and Sun (17-6) – three teams with winning records. So far this season, the Lynx have just one win in 10 games against teams with winning records. That win came back on June 3 at Washington (80-78) for Minnesota’s first win of the season after an 0-6 start. They open this week by hosting the shorthanded Mystics.

8. Chicago Sky (9-13)

• Previous Ranking: 8
• Last Week: L at Mercury 80-62, W at Storm 90-75
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Aces, Friday vs. Storm, Sunday vs. Mercury
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.7 (T-9); DefRtg: 101.8 (8); NetRtg: -5.1 (T-8); eFG%: 48.0 (8); Pace/40 Min: 79.66 (10)

Saturday’s win over the Storm snapped a four-game losing streak for the Sky. Chicago is in a similar situation as the Lynx, with their last win over a winning team coming back in early June (86-82 over New York on June 4). Since that win, the Sky have lost seven straight games against winning teams.

9. Phoenix Mercury (6-16) 

• Previous Ranking: 10
• Last Week: W vs. Sun 72-66, W vs. Sky 80-62, L at Mystics 84-69
• This Week: Tuesday at Dream; Sunday at Sky
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.7 (T-9); DefRtg: 105.4 (10); NetRtg: -8.8 (11); eFG%: 50.0 (3); Pace/40 Min: 78.76 (12)

The Mercury could not secure their first three-game win streak of the season as they fell to the Mystics on Sunday. Phoenix has won three of its last five games after opening the season at 3-14. Diana Taurasi has missed the past two games for Phoenix as she deals with quad and toe injuries. When she does return to the court, her pursuit of 10,000 points will continue as she is just 71 points shy of the milestone.

10. Indiana Fever (6-16) 

• Previous Ranking: 11
• Last Week: W at Mystics 82-76, L at Liberty 101-83
• This Week: Tuesday at Sparks, Thursday at Sparks, Sunday vs. Storm
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 102.3 (5); DefRtg: 106.8 (12); NetRtg: -4.5 (7); eFG%: 48.9 (5); Pace/40 Min: 79.60 (11)

Wednesday’s win over Washington snapped Indiana’s eight-game losing streak and matched last season’s win total of six. However, the Fever were unable to put consecutive wins together as New York blitzed them in the opening quarter and were unable to challenge the Liberty in a 101-83 loss. This week, the Fever are in L.A. for two games against the Sparks before hosting the Storm, giving Indiana three chances to pick up win No. 7, a mark they have only hit once in the past five seasons.

11. Los Angeles Sparks (7-15)

• Previous Ranking: 9
• Last Week: L at Lynx 73-70, L at Wings 98-84
• This Week: Tuesday vs. Fever, Thursday vs. Fever, Sunday vs. Liberty
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 96.2 (11); DefRtg: 101.2 (6); NetRtg: -5.1 (T-8); eFG%: 46.9 (11); Pace/40 Min: 81.02 (6)

With Saturday’s loss to Dallas, the Sparks losing streak has extended to eight games – making it the longest single-season losing streak in franchise history, and matching the longest-ever losing streak, which spanned two seasons from 2014-15. The Sparks will look to snap that losing streak with three home games on the schedule this week – two vs. Indiana and one vs. New York. The Sparks are 5-6 at home this season compared to 2-9 on the road.

12. Seattle Storm (4-18)

• Previous Ranking: 12
• Last Week: L vs. Aces 79-63, L vs. Sky 90-75
• This Week: Tuesday at Liberty, Friday at Sky, Sunday at Fever
• Team Stats: OffRtg: 95.2 (12); DefRtg: 105.0 (9); NetRtg: -9.9 (12); eFG%: 46.3 (12); Pace/40 Min: 81.58 (4)

The Sparks weren’t the only team to set a franchise record for consecutive losses as the Storm dropped their ninth straight game on Saturday against Chicago. The nine consecutive losses are a new franchise record; the previous high was eight in a row in Seattle’s debut season in 2000. The Storm hit the road this week for three games – first in New York against former teammate Breanna Stewart and the Liberty, before heading to Chicago and Indiana to close the trip.

Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.