The WNBA is finally back after a month-long Olympic break, the trade deadline passed without much action, and folks, it's time to start thinking about the playoffs.

It seems like the postseason is on the entire Indiana Fever roster's mind, at least. Not only is Caitlin Clark continuing to pop off—on Sunday she broke Ticha Penicheiro's rookie assist record established in 1998—but the team around her has been equally impressive lately. The Fever are cleaning it up on defense and making a legit playoff push as some other middling teams need to pick up some steam.

Meanwhile, there's some movement at the top of the league as the best of the best separate themselves with consistency—those Liberty just keep on winning.

Who has come out of the break refreshed and making a statement? Who needs to get it together? Let's dive into our first power rankings of the second half of this already eventful WNBA season.

12. Dallas Wings

Record: 6-21

Net Rating: -10.6

If life wasn't tough enough for the injury-bitten Dallas Wings, they've got the Liberty for the second consecutive game Thursday night. The Wings are flailing around at this point, and despite a stray positive offensive game here and there, the defense as a whole just keeps coming up short.

Some good news? Satou Sabally, Maddy Siegrist and Jaelyn Brown were medically cleared to join the roster. That means letting go of hardship signings Odyssey Sims (who's off to the Sparks) and Monique Billings (who's off to the Mercury). We'll see if the return of these players can get something cooking on defense before it's too late.

11. Los Angeles Sparks

Record: 6-22

Net Rating: -9.1

It's looking like the Los Angeles Sparks will miss the postseason for the fourth season in a row. I'm hesitant to put them at the very bottom, though, because there are at least a few things to be optimistic about when looking at the roster and watching them play. Rickea Jackson is emerging as a huge bright spot, and of course Cameron Brink will be back next season after an unfortunate ACL tear early on in her rookie campaign.

I got to witness saw some heart and flashes of potential at TD Garden on Tuesday as the Sparks eventually fell to the Sun. They aren't there yet, and yeah, they'll probably sit the playoffs out once again. But sometimes the direction you're moving in is more important than the speed, and I see the vision for long-term greatness. We just need a bit more patience.

10. Washington Mystics

Record: 6-22

Net Rating: -6.5

Another severely injured team at the bottom of the power rankings? Color us shocked.

The Washington Mystics have the worst winning percentage in the league and a 6-22 record, but they've had to deal with injuries to three starters throughout the season. Now Shakira Austin, Brittney Sykes and Karlie Samuelson are back and you can already see a bit of a shift in play, but they're still losing games and points in the standings.

The next few weeks will be huge for the Mystics as they look to spoil the playoff field.

9. Chicago Sky

Record: 11-16

Net Rating: -3.8

The Chicago Sky play such a sound defensive game that it almost distracts you from the glaring lack of offense. It became impossible to ignore without Marina Mabrey, though, and now the team is paying in its first few games back from break.

The Mercury easily beat the Sky in a pair of games, and the Sky had to pull off a dramatic comeback to beat the flailing Sparks. Why? A simple lack of offense. Angel Reese's almost nightly double-doubles are great, but she needs some help with a specific offensive specialist.

At least the Sky know exactly what they need to be truly competitive and to complement Reese next season.

8. Atlanta Dream

Record: 10-17

Net Rating: -5.5

The Atlanta Dream were in serious trouble headed into the break, losing eight in a row and 11 of their last 12 before the month-long reset.

Looks like they took advantage of the break, because they've mustered up three impressive wins against the Sun, the Storm and the Mercury post-break. Jordin Canada's return has obviously done wonders on the scoreboard. Where the Sky are trending down, the Dream are trending up, and these two teams will be battling it out for a playoff spot down the stretch.

7. Seattle Storm

Record: 18-10

Net Rating: 6.9

The Seattle Storm have got to figure it out if they don't want to slip out of a playoff spot. It's been a slew of close calls and half-hearted losses recently. Management clearly recognized this and brought back Gabby Williams in the biggest move of the trade deadline this week (ironically, a signing!).

Williams led France to an Olympic silver medal and was named best defensive player of the Olympics, and whew, do the Storm need some defense.

Let's see if she's the piece that can make it all work. This roster is too talented to flail around, so look out for a strong second half if the effort is there.

6. Indiana Fever

Record: 13-15

Net Rating: -5.4

I don't want to rattle the Caitlin Clark hot-take nest any further, although I'm not sure there are any bees left in it. But Clark told us she was embracing the Olympic break in the midst of her whirlwind rookie season, and her play and demeanor post-break shows us she wasn't just being diplomatic about not making the USA roster.

She'd entered the break already leading the league in assists and really rounding into generational form, and she's doing the same with some added pep post-break.

Don't look now, but the Fever are almost breaking even at 13-15 after a bleak start, Clark is exceeding our wild expectations, and she's not the only one—Aliyah Boston is contributing to the defensive improvement with her rebounding, and Kelsey Mitchell is stepping up on offense with 27-plus points in both post-break games.

The Fever are gaining confidence with every tough team they find themselves now beating.

5. Phoenix Mercury

Record: 15-14

Net Rating: -1.8

Look, these are my personal power rankings, and I will allow "vibes" to weigh in as I deem appropriate. And who on Earth is vibing harder than Kahleah Copper at the moment?

Between the Olympic gold-medal-saving performance that had A'ja Wilson swearing on international television, and Copper returning to Chicago wearing her old jersey and then proceeding to drop 29 points on her old team, the woman is unstoppable. She's currently No. 2 leaguewide with 23.1 points per game, and the Mercury are above .500 with a 15-13 record.

Phoenix cannot seem to solve Indiana, which is a huge problem especially as the Fever are trending up. But they're more consistent and have a more convincing shot selection and accuracy, so for now they stay a spot above the Fever. But Clark and Co. are inching their way into the top five, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them there next time.

4. Connecticut Sun

Record: 20-7

Net Rating: 8.2

The Connecticut Sun and the Sparks gave those of us lucky enough to witness history in the sold-out TD Garden crowd one heck of a show Tuesday, but it shouldn't have been so close for the 20-7 Sun.

They've been slipping a little bit with a 6-4 record in their last 10 and need to put together a solid win streak to really convince us they can make a legit playoff run. The acquisition of Marina Mabrey is already paying off, so she'll be a key part of this push.

3. Las Vegas Aces

Record: 17-10

Net Rating: 5.6

Despite A'ja Wilson's ridiculous season, the back-to-back champion Las Vegas Aces have taken their foot off the gas a bit at times throughout the year. This was at its worst in the beginning of the season (a bit of champion fatigue?), but like the elite team they are, all they needed was a hot streak to get back to the top.

Problem is, they're in the company of two other elite teams—the Liberty and the Lynx. Both of these teams have more to prove and a lot of motivation to do so. Will veteran experience or desperation win out when it really matters?

2. Minnesota Lynx

Record: 20-8

Net Rating: 8.5

The Minnesota Lynx and Coach of the Year front-runner Cheryl Reeve are doing exhilarating things this season following up their Commissioner Cup win.

Napheesa Collier is back from Team USA action, and the team started the second half with a trio of wins, highlighted by a 98-87 statement win over the Aces Wednesday night. With all the confidence and Gold Medal-winning coach Reeve's knack for getting the most out of her players, it's really starting to feel like the Lynx are going to spoil everyone else's fun come the playoffs.

1. New York Liberty

Record: 24-4

Net Rating: 13.5

The Aces and New York Liberty have followed up last season's Finals meeting neck-and-neck at the top of the league once again. The Aces struggled early on, though, and they've relied heavily on A'ja Wilson's potentially historic individual season. They also haven't been able to solve the Liberty, who beat them again 79-67 over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Liberty have been more consistent and have been able to rely on their full squad all season. New York has no individual players in the top five in points, but they rank in the top five in every major teamwide stat. They've shown no signs of letting up, and they're undefeated post-Olympic break with a trio of wins that extended their win streak to seven.

Now, the Liberty are the standalone No. 1 team in the standings with a 24-4 record and .857 win percentage. Sabrina Ionescu's becoming the player we knew she'd be before our eyes, and Breanna Stewart's all-around game is basically a microcosm of what makes the whole team click.

All there's left to do for the Liberty is defeat the Aces where it counts and win their first WNBA championship.