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WTA Power Rankings

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WTA Power Rankings

Wimbledon has been the most unpredictable Grand Slam event on the women’s side for the last few years. The last time a player seeded in the Top 16 won the title was 2021. The last two editions of The Championships were won by players outside the Top 30.

With the way Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and other big names have largely dominated so far in 2025, it feels like this is a year where some form of normalcy will resume at the All-England Club. But as soon as you think that, something crazy will happen.

Trying to predict Wimbledon results in this day and age may be a fools errand, but the National Bank Open Power Rankings panel is going to give it a shot anyway.

(Brackets indicate change in position since the last edition of the Power Rankings from the before Roland-Garros.)

1) Aryna Sabalenka (-)

  • Actual Ranking: 1
  • 2025 Record: 42-8
  • Notable Recent Result: WTA 500 Berlin SF
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Semifinal (Two times)

Falling short in two Grand Slam finals this year, Sabalenka still has a pair of opportunities to secure her first major title of 2025 with her next chance coming at Wimbledon. 

However, a finals appearance would be the world No. 1’s first at the All-England Club. Sabalenka reached the semifinal twice in the last three years, having to withdraw in 2024 due to a shoulder injury. 

The 27-year-old has looked sharp on grass as she prepares for her return to the All-England Club, defeating former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the Berlin quarter-final before losing to another former champion and the eventual champion Marketa Vondrousova.

– Francesco

2) Coco Gauff (-)

  • Actual Ranking: 2
  • 2025 Record: 31-9
  • Notable Recent Result: Berlin round of 16
  • Best Wimbledon Result: 4R (Three times)

Gauff hasn’t had much to show for on the lawn so far this year, losing her opening match in Berlin to eventual finalist Xinyu Wang. But, coming off her second major title at Roland-Garros, there is no doubt she is still a favourite at Wimbledon. 

Read Also: American Tennis is Thriving with French Open Champion Coco Gauff at the Helm

The American No. 1 reached the fourth round at the All-England Club in her maiden Grand Slam main draw appearance in 2019. Add on another two fourth round finishes and six more years’ experience, Gauff’s first WTA grass final could be on the biggest stage.

– Francesco

3) Iga Swiatek (+1)

  • Actual Ranking: 8
  • 2025 Record: 32-10
  • Notable Recent Result: Bad Homburg QF*
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Quarter-final (2023)

The same as Gauff can really be said about Swiatek. So often referred to as the Queen of Clay, the world No. 8 has yet to be crowned a WTA champion on grass but does have a Wimbledon junior title to her name.

Swiatek’s first match on the lawn this year was in the Bad Homburg round of 16, where she breezed by two-time Wimbledon semifinalist Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.

As her junior days suggest, the Pole certainly has the potential for a run at the All-England Club, the only major where Swiatek has not reached the semifinal as a pro.

– Francesco

4) Madison Keys (+5)

  • Actual Ranking: 6
  • 2025 record: 30-9
  • Notable Recent Results: WTA 500 London SF
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Quarter-Final (Twice)

Will 2025 be the year when Madison Keys takes the next step at the All-England Club? Given everything she has accomplished so far this season, there is no reason to doubt her.

Wimbledon is the only major where Keys has never reached the semifinals, but she has also been very consistent in SW19, reaching at least the fourth round in her last three appearances. Her big ball striking is well-suited to the lawns of London.

Read Also: Vondrousova wins first title since 2023 Wimbledon

Keys has had a bit of bad luck lately, having lost to the eventual champion in her last three tournaments, including both of her warm-up events on grass (London to Tatjana Maria, Berlin to Marketa Vondrousova).

– Pete

5) Elena Rybakina (New)

  • Actual Ranking: 11
  • 2025 Record: 29-12
  • Notable Recent Result: Berlin and London QF
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Champion (2022)

The only former Wimbledon champion on the list, Rybakina seems to always be in the mix at the All-England Club. The Kazakhstani has made at least the Wimbledon quarter-final three-straight years, reaching the semifinal in 2024 where she lost to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Rybakina has three wins from five matches to begin the grass season but there shouldn’t be much surprise if she triples that win tally for back-to-back Wimbledon semifinals.

– Francesco

6) Qinwen Zheng (-)

  • Actual Ranking: 5
  • 2025 record: 19-10
  • Notable Recent Results: WTA 500 London SF
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Third Round (2022)

Grass has not been a favourite surface in Zheng’s career so far, but she has reason for optimism heading into the 2025 Championships, fresh off a semifinal run at the Queen’s Club where she picked up wins over Emma Raducanu and Mccartney Kessler.

Read Also: Who’s expected to play the 2025 National Bank Open?

The Olympic gold medalist has been dialed-in over the last few months. She has reached at least the quarter-finals in six of her last seven events, including Roland-Garros, Queen’s, and three WTA 1000 events. She also likes the fast hard courts, so if she can treat grass the same way, she should be a big threat.

– Pete

7) Jasmine Paolini (-4)

  • Actual Ranking: 4
  • 2025 Record: 25-10
  • Notable Recent Result: Bad Homburg quarter-final*
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Runner-Up (2024)

Paolini certainly had a career year in 2024, which included a run to the Wimbledon final. The Italian had impressive wins over Keys and Emma Navarro en route to finishing as runner-up but this grass season hasn’t been as fruitful so far. 

Paolini lost in her opening match in Berlin to two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur, only winning four games.

The Tuscany-native responded with a tight opening-match victory against Leylah Annie Fernandez in Bad Homburg as Paolini looks to string together some wins before heading to the All-England Club.

– Francesco

8) Mirra Andreeva (-3)

  • Actual Ranking: 7
  • 2025 record: 31-9
  • Notable Recent Results: WTA 250 Bad Homburg QF*
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Fourth Round (2023)

While she has cooled off a little bit after dominating the early WTA 1000 events, Andreeva has settled into being a rock-solid Top 10 player. Starting with her title run in Dubai in February, the teen reached the quarter-finals or better at five of her last six “big” (WTA 1000 or Grand Slam) events.

One of Andreeva’s early major breakthroughs came at the All-England Club, when she reached the fourth round at age 16. Still just 18, Andreeva is not a player who gets overawed by the occasion and is not someone other players will want to see in their draw.

– Pete

9) Jessica Pegula (-2)

  • Actual Ranking: 3
  • 2025 Record: 31-12
  • Notable Recent Result: Bad Homburg quarter-final
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Quarter-final (2023)

Pegula’s game on the lawn may be picking up at just the right time. The American No. 2 lost in three sets in her Berlin opener but followed that up with a comfortable victory in Bad Homburg, dropping just five games to Katerina Siniakova.

Pegula’s next match is an all-American clash against world No. 10 Navarro and a win for the Buffalo-native will be Pegula’s most notable on grass since her championship run in Berlin last year, where she defeated Gauff.

– Francesco

10) Amanda Anisimova (New)

  • Actual Ranking: 13
  • 2025 Record: 25-12
  • Notable Recent Result: London runner-up
  • Best Wimbledon Result: Quarter-final (2022)

Anisimova’s impressive trip to the final at the Queen’s Club is the reason the American rounds off this list. The 23-year-old earned Top 10 wins over Navarro and Zheng before losing out in the final to Tatjana Maria.

Read Also: WTA Tour goes green

Anisimova took a break from tennis in 2023 and was unable to make it out of qualifying at Wimbledon the following year. However, the world No. 13 is back at her best in 2025 and has the potential to add more Top 10 victories to her resumé at the All-England Club.

– Francesco

The National Bank Open Power Rankings are a group collaboration by the Power Rankings Panel which includes:

2025 Wimbledon Predictions

*Note: Predictions were made prior to the start of qualifying

Champion:

  • Pete: Aryna Sabalenka
  • Mel: Aryna Sabalenka
  • Jonathan: Aryna Sabalenka
  • Eddiel Aryna Sabalenka
  • Charlotte: Marketa Vondrousova
  • Pat: Marketa Vondrousova
  • Francesco: Qinwen Zheng
  • Ravi: Madison Keys

Dark Horse:

  • Pete: Diana Shnaider
  • Mel: Marketa Vondrousova
  • Jonathan: Marketa Vondrousova
  • Eddie: Clara Tauson
  • Charlotte: Elina Svitolina
  • Pat: Veronika Kudermetova
  • Francesco: Marketa Vondrousova
  • Ravi: Liudmila Samsonova

Bold Prediction:

  • Pete: A qualifier will reach the quarter-finals.
  • Mel: A player ranked outside the Top 10 in the world will reach the final.
  • Jonathan: Reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova shakes off the injury rust and reaches the round of 16.
  • Eddie: Home-country hopefuls will see Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter both make the quarter-finals.
  • Charlotte: Carson Branstine will beat Roland-Garros semifinalist Lois Boisson in qualifying.*
  • Pat: The final will not feature a Top 10 player.
  • Francesco: A Czech player will make the final.
  • Ravi: Iga Swiatek will make the semifinals.

The WTA’s best return to Montreal this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!

Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak

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Amadi Garners MEAC Weekly Honor

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December 11, 2025

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NORFOLK, Va. – With the first indoor meet completed, the Eagles earned a weekly conference honor, announced by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference on Wednesday afternoon. North Carolina Central’s Zion Amadi was named the MEAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.

Amadi had podium finishes in two races at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off on Dec. 6, while moving up the school record books. He won the men’s 400m seeded race with a time of 47.78 seconds, which moved him up to third all-time at NCCU in the Division I era. Amadi now sits behind Gordon Lewis (47.11 – 2019) and Donnell Carter (47.70 – 2022).  

The sophomore placed second in the 200m seeded race at the JDL Fast Track. Amadi would also break the school record in the event in 21.13 seconds. Lewis held that record since the 2019-20 season (21.27). Amadi broke meet records in both events as well.

The Eagles are back to work after the holiday break, staying local for the Dick Taylor Challenge on Jan. 16-17, hosted by North Carolina at the Eddie Smith Field House in Chapel Hill.        

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.



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Banwo, Lyons Receive MEAC Weekly Accolades

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December 11, 2025

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NORFOLK, Va. (December 10, 2025) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) revealed its women’s track & field weekly accolades where Howard University swept the awards. The announcement came Wednesday afternoon.
 
Senior thrower Temi Banwo (Allen, Texas) won Field Athlete of the Week while junior sprinter Yahnari Lyons (Hampton, Ga.) took home Track Athlete of the Week.
 

At the HBCU & Ivy Challenge (Dec. 5), Banwo placed fourth in the shot put with a MEAC-best mark of 13.88 meters and earned bronze in the weight throw with another conference-leading toss of 16.92 meters.
 
For Lyons, she won the 200-meter dash with a MEAC-leading time of 24.11, which sits 11th in the country.
 
On Dec. 13, HU returns to the Northeast for the Seahawk Shootout, hosted by Wagner College.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the MEAC website at www.MEACSports.com.



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Cincinnati Enquirer names 2025 girls volleyball all-city teams

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December 11, 2025

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Updated Dec. 10, 2025, 8:20 p.m. ET

The 2025 high school girls volleyball season brought two state championships to Cincinnati and a state runner-up to Northern Kentucky.

But more than that, the action on the court each night showcased some of the best talent each state had to offer.

Here are The Enquirer’s 2025 all-city teams for each division in Ohio, plus Northern Kentucky and Indiana.



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Pitt volleyball to host 2026 Opening Spike Classic

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December 11, 2025

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Pitt volleyball will begin the 2026 campaign with two major tests, as the Panthers were announced as hosts for the Opening Spike Classic, featuring matchups against Kansas and Wisconsin.

The two-day event at Petersen Events Center will be televised nationally on ESPN and see Pitt play the Jayhawks Aug. 28 and Badgers on Aug. 30. Stanford and Wisconsin also play on the event’s first day, followed by the Jayhawks vs. the Cardinal on Day 2.

The Opening Spike Classic debuted last season with the Badgers playing host to matches featuring Kansas, Creighton and Texas.

“We’re excited to kick off opening weekend by hosting three of the best teams in the country,” Pitt coach Dan Fisher said in statement. “Fans can look forward to high-level volleyball right here in Pittsburgh. If we want to be the best, we have to play the best, and we’re doing that right away.”

The No. 1-seeded Panthers (28-4, 18-2 ACC) host No. 4 Minnesota at 7 p.m. Thursday in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals.

A win over the Gophers would propel the Panthers, who have advanced to the Final Four for the last four consecutive seasons, to the Elite 8, where they’d face the winner of the regional semifinal match between No. 2 SMU and No. 3 Purdue.

Next year’s Opening Spike Classic participants — Stanford, Kansas and Wisconsin — are all also currently competing for a national title.

No. 4 Kansas faces No. 1 Nebraska on Friday night, while No. 2 Stanford and No. 3 Wisconsin square off in the afternoon.

The Opening Spike Classic is organized by PlayFly Sports in collaboration with JMI Sports, exclusive multimedia rights holder for Pitt Athletics.

“We are thrilled to be bringing this event back for a second year and to build on the momentum we created with the event launch last year,” said Michael Neuman, co-head of Playfly Sports Consulting. “The Opening Spike Classic is a celebration of women’s achievements in sports, and there is no better way to recognize that than by bringing together these top college volleyball teams to compete.”

Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.





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Nebraska Huskers Dominate All-Region Volleyball Honors

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December 11, 2025

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Nebraska is once again taking the collegiate volleyball world by storm, entering the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. So it’s no surprise the Huskers dominated some of the sport’s top honors announced on Tuesday.

AVCA West All-Region Team

Bergen Reilly

Bergen Reilly sets the ball to a slide attack.

Bergen Reilly sets the ball to a slide attack. | Amarillo Mullen

Junior setter Bergen Reilly showcased Nebraska’s excellence on multiple levels. She was one of five Huskers named to the AVCA West All-Region Team, which is an impressive accomplishment on its own. This marks her third straight year earning All-Region recognition, and she has continued her high-level play this season. Thanks in part to Reilly’s elite setting, Nebraska is on track to break the single-season school record with a .353 team hitting percentage. That mark leads the nation and is the best posted by any Big Ten team since Penn State in 2009.

Reilly’s standout season did not end there. She was also named the AVCA West Region Player of the Year, becoming the fourth Husker and the third in a row to earn the honor, joining Kelly Hunter (2017), Merritt Beason (2023) and Lexi Rodriguez (2024). She continues to collect accolades this season as the 2025 Big Ten Setter of the Year and a First-Team All-Big Ten selection. She also earned the 2025 Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Year, the first time she has received that award.

Rebekah Allick

Rebekah Allick (5) celebrates a Husker point in set two.

Rebekah Allick (5) celebrates a Husker point in set two. | Amarillo Mullen

Senior middle blocker Rebekah Allick is putting together one of the strongest seasons of her Husker career. She continues to be a reliable presence on both sides of the net, contributing efficient offense while anchoring Nebraska’s front-row defense. Her play earned her All-Big Ten First Team honors for the first time, a deserved recognition after years of consistent contributions.

Allick has also climbed into rare company in the program’s rally-scoring era. With 536 career blocks, she now ranks fifth all-time at Nebraska, a mark that also places her fifth among active Division I players. Her presence at the net has been a integral part of Nebraska’s identity this season, and she continues to rise to the moment when it matters most.

Laney Choboy

Laney Choboy receives a Michigan serve.

Laney Choboy receives a Michigan serve. | Amarillo Mullen

Junior libero Laney Choboy has been the steady heartbeat of Nebraska’s backcourt all season. She’s the one holding things down defensively, reading attacks and keeping rallies alive with the kind of confidence and toughness every championship team needs. Her efforts earned her a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.

Choboy has already totaled 276 digs on the year and counting, a testament to just how reliable she is in big moments. She’s delivered several standout performances, including a career-best 20 digs against Illinois and another strong night with 15 at Minnesota. When the Huskers need a spark on defense, she’s almost always the one providing it.

Andi Jackson

Andi Jackson (15) gets a kill on the slide.

Andi Jackson (15) gets a kill on the slide. | Amarillo Mullen

Junior middle blocker Andi Jackson has been one of Nebraska’s most consistent and explosive attackers this season. She continues to elevate her game year after year, earning All-Big Ten First Team honors for the second consecutive season.

Jackson has also established herself as one of the most efficient hitters in the country. Her hitting percentage not only leads the nation but also stands as the best single-season mark in Nebraska volleyball history. Combined with her reliable performance at the net defensively, Jackson has become a foundational piece of the Huskers’ success.

Harper Murray

Nebraska volleyball player Harper Murray (27) spikes the ball against Penn State.

Nebraska Cornhuskers outside hitter Harper Murray (27) attacks against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the third set. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Junior outside hitter Harper Murray has emerged as one of Nebraska’s top offensive threats this season, setting career highs with 3.51 kills per set and a .299 hitting percentage. Her strong play earned her All-Big Ten First Team honors for the first time.

Murray contributes in every phase of the game. She averages 2.14 digs per set, leads the team with 30 aces, and adds 58 blocks, giving her a team-leading 4.16 points per set. Her all-around skill and steady production make her a key piece of the Huskers’ success.

Honorable Mention

Virginia Adriano

Virginia Adriano (9) starts the match with a kill.

Virginia Adriano (9) starts the match with a kill. | Amarillo Mullen

Freshman opposite hitter Virginia Adriano is already giving a glimpse of Nebraska’s future, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in her debut season. Originally from Turin, Italy, Adriano has quickly made an impact on both sides of the net, averaging 2.20 kills per set with a .284 hitting percentage, along with 0.66 blocks per set and 14 service aces.

She has risen to the occasion in conference matches as well, contributing 2.34 kills per set with a .318 hitting percentage. Beyond her on-court contributions, Adriano’s presence shows the growing opportunities for international athletes in college volleyball, opening doors for future players from around the world. Her all-around play and poise as a freshman indicate she will be a major contributor for the Huskers for years to come.

Taylor Landfair

Taylor Landfair collected seven kills of her own in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Taylor Landfair collected seven kills of her own in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. | Amarillo Mullen

Senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair has been a key player for Nebraska this season, hitting a career-best .316 and averaging 2.09 kills per set, which earned her All-Big Ten Second Team honors.

Landfair’s impact goes beyond this season. She was a 2022 AVCA All-American and has appeared in the most career matches of any active Division I player, with 151 contests. She also ranks 20th among active Division I players with 1,517 career kills, reflecting her consistency and durability throughout her Husker career.

Head Coach

Dani Busboom Kelly is introduced during a break.

Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball head coach Dani Busboom Kelly is introduced during a break in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Pinnacle Bank Arena. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

The players can only go as far as their head coach allows, and Nebraska head coach Kelly Busboom has given them every opportunity to flourish. Busboom was honored as the AVCA West Region Coach of the Year.

In her first year at the helm, Busboom led the Huskers to a perfect 30-0 regular-season record, including a 20-0 mark in Big Ten competition. Her debut earned her AVCA West Region Coach of the Year honors and the Big Ten Coach of the Year award, making her the first coach in program history to capture a conference title in their inaugural season.

Given the dedication and performance of these players, it was clear that Busboom was the coach most deserving of such recognition.

These awards and honors are well-earned, but they also tell a bigger story. The Huskers extended their win streak to 32 with a sweep of Kansas State on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, remaining undefeated. This team is full of talented players who understand what it takes to win.

Week after week, they perform at the highest level, delivering a masterclass in volleyball and making a definitive statement in the collegiate game. Many of these athletes are on their way to becoming Nebraska volleyball legends, leaving a lasting mark on the program.

More From Nebraska On SI

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.





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Pitt volleyball among four elite programs set for 2026 Opening Spike Classic

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December 11, 2025

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