The Eight Best WNBA Teams Face Off in the 2025 Playoffs
On Sunday, the eight most outstanding WNBA teams will take to the court to kick off the first round series of the 2025 playoffs. The current season has witnessed impressive performances by MVP candidates such as A’ja Wilson, of the Las Vegas Aces, Napheesa Collier, of the Minnesota Lynx, and Alyssa Thomas, of the Phoenix Mercury, as well as players who have shown significant growth since last season, including Veronica Burton, of the Golden State Valkyries, and Gabby Williams, of the Seattle Storm.
However, injuries have considerably impacted the 2025 season. New York Liberty’s Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones, along with Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper, have been absent for significant periods. Furthermore, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was ruled out for the remainder of the season earlier this month. The next five weeks promise to be a testament to the talent that abounds on the court, rather than being relegated to the sidelines.
Here’s an analysis of the 25 most outstanding players who will participate in the playoffs, from Wilson, who has regained her position at the top of the list, to Naz Hillmon of the Atlanta Dream, a favorite for the Sixth Player of the Year award.
- A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Center | 6 feet 4 inches
Mid-season ranking: 2
Regular season stats: 23.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.3 BPG
Wilson had a solid regular season from start to finish, but she really stood out in August. She fueled the Aces’ long winning streak and became a top MVP candidate once again. Her 13 games with 30 or more points are a WNBA single-season record. Her 22 three-pointers and 39.3% shooting from beyond the arc were similar to her 2022 MVP season, when the Aces won their first title. Although Wilson is always the primary scorer, she has become an even stronger player. In addition, she remains one of the league’s most outstanding defensive players.
- Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Forward | 6 feet 1 inch
Mid-season ranking: 1
Regular season stats: 22.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG
The Lynx have been the best team in the WNBA and Collier has been their best player, presenting a strong case for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She averages the second-most points (22.9) in the league, behind Wilson, and is in the top five in blocks (1.5) and steals (1.6). On Thursday, she became the second player in WNBA history to record a 50/40/90 season, with 53.1% field goal shooting, 40.3% from three-pointers, and 90.6% from the free-throw line. However, she missed three weeks in August due to an ankle injury, which cooled her momentum in the MVP race.
- Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
Forward | 6 feet 2 inches
Mid-season ranking: 3
Regular season stats: 15.4 PPG, 9.2 APG, 8.8 RPG
Although her Mercury teammate, Satou Sabally, has the nickname “Unicorn”, Thomas continues to prove she is a unique force in WNBA history. Thomas had twice as many triple-doubles this season (eight) as any other player in her career (Sabrina Ionescu is second with four). And while Thomas was far from the only change on both sides, Phoenix jumping into the top four during her first season in the desert, while her former team, the Connecticut Sun, fell near the end of the standings, was a reminder that Thomas is a franchise-altering force.
- Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Forward | 6 feet 4 inches
Mid-season ranking: 4
Regular season stats: 18.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.5 APG
Being a superstar since college, it might seem strange to say that Stewart is underrated. But her absence from 13 games due to a bone contusion demonstrated how much she does for the Liberty, both big and small. Her energy and defense set the tone for New York, qualities she used, for example, to drive a key victory over the Storm last week, when she finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 assists.
- Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
Base | 6 ft
Mid-season ranking: 6
Regular season stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.5 APG
It’s not often that a player who is already a multiple-time All-Star takes such a remarkable step forward, as Gray did this year, at age 30 or older. She led the Dream to a franchise record of 30 wins and had career highs in points, rebounds, assists, three-pointers per game (2.3), win shares (7.7), and effective field goal percentage (54.0). She adapted easily to a new coach and offensive system, as well as being second on the team in defensive win shares (2.5).
- Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
Base | 6 ft
Mid-season ranking: 14
Regular season stats: 16.5 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.4 RPG
Young has been one of the most durable and reliable players in the WNBA since she was selected No. 1 overall in 2019. She remained composed, as always, through the difficulties of the Aces’ first half. Las Vegas’ rise began in August, and Young improved her effective field goal percentage to 55.7 that month. During the Aces’ winning streak, she scored 20 or more points six times and had five or more assists 12 times.
- Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Base | 5 feet 11 inches
Mid-season rating: 5
Regular season stats: 18.2 PPG, 5.7 APG, 4.9 RPG
Ionescu was in the conversation for MVP earlier this season, but things got tougher for her and the Liberty in August, during which she missed time due to a toe injury. Still, with her clutch shooting and playmaking, Ionescu is a major force for a Liberty team that dominates the frontcourt and has a knack for rising to the occasion. She’s coming off a points-assists double-double (11/11) in the Liberty’s regular season finale.
- Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
Base | 5 feet 8 inches
Mid-season ranking: 15
Regular season stats: 20.2 PPG; 39.4 3FG%; 3.4 APG
One of the biggest climbers on our list, Mitchell will likely appear on MVP ballots after a sensational run that helped propel the Fever, without Clark, to the postseason. With so many injuries in Indiana’s backcourt, Mitchell took on much of the scoring load. She was also often asked to be the primary playmaker and defend opponents’ top perimeter players. Mitchell broke the franchise record for PPG in a season, surpassing Tamika Catchings’ 19.7 mark from 2003, and did so with efficient shooting (45.6% from the field and 39.4% from three).
- Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
Center | 6 feet 6 inches
Mid-season classification: NR (does not qualify due to injury)
Regular season stats: 13.6 PPG, 42.4 3P%, 8.1 RPG
The 2024 Finals MVP proved her worth when the Liberty struggled without her due to an ankle injury in June and July. The Liberty are undefeated in the regular season over the last three years (34-0) when Jones records a double-double, including a dominant performance of 22 points and 10 rebounds to propel them to their only victory over the top-seeded Lynx in four attempts this season. Jones gives the Liberty a significant size advantage inside while shooting 42.4% from three-point range.
- Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
Forward | 6 feet 2 inches
Mid-season ranking: 10
Regular season stats: 18.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 37% 3FG
Calling Ogwumike’s performance metronomic might underestimate how she continues to evolve at 35. Starting all 44 games, Ogwumike nearly doubled her previous career high with 1.5 three-pointers per game, shooting 58% inside the arc, her best mark since 2017. Don’t blame Ogwumike for the Storm’s late-season slump. She increased her average to 19.6 points in August and September, ranking sixth in the league per game and fourth in total points in that span.
- Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
Forward/Center | 6 feet 5 inches
Mid-season rating: 8
Regular season stats: 15.0 PPG. 8.2 RPG, 3.7 APG
Boston has been the second most impactful player on the injury-riddled Fever this season. There were some questions about how she would fare without her pick-and-roll partner, Clark, but Boston hasn’t missed a beat: she’s averaging 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in her last 10 games. Her rebounding has been key to Indiana protecting the paint, and her continued growth in the mid-range will be important for the Fever in the postseason.
- Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury
Forward | 6 feet 4 inches
Mid-season rating: 7
Regular season stats: 16.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG
During her first season in Phoenix, Sabally’s versatility has allowed her to thrive in Nate Tibbetts’ positionless system. Her scoring (16.3 PPG) and rebounding (5.9 RPG) make her an elite player on both sides of the court and a nightmare for opponents. She is shooting 32.1% from three-pointers, but also uses her size and speed to cut and make the most of her teammates’ facilitation.
- Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Base | 6 feet 2 inches
Mid-season ranking: 16
Regular season stats: 17.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.6 APG
Howard, 25, has been one of the most consistent young cornerstones since entering the league as the No. 1 pick of 2022 and Rookie of the Year. Two things stood out this season: career highs in assists and three-pointers per game (3.1). Twice she tied the WNBA record in a single game with nine three-pointers this season. Howard missed 11 games due to injury, including a 10-game stretch that also included the All-Star game, but has returned strongly since August 10 and kept the Dream on course, as they won twice as many games this season as in 2024.
- Emma Meesseman, New York Liberty
Center | 6 feet 4 inches
Mid-season classification: NR (re-entered the league mid-season)
Regular season stats: 13.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.2 APG
Meesseman was not in our mid-season rankings because she had not yet played for the Liberty, but she arrived with the frontcourt depth decimated in the second half of the season, as injuries sidelined Stewart and others. The Belgian star has acclimated to the New York system during her 17 games, standing out for her versatility, efficiency (57.2% FG and 14 of 21 from 3) and facilitation (3.2 APG). Her positional size makes the Liberty a tougher matchup.
- Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream
Forward | 6 feet 3 inches
Mid-season ranking: 21
Regular season stats: 12.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.2 APG
After eight seasons in Connecticut, where she was named Most Improved Player of 2021 and Sixth Player of the Year in 2022, Jones stood out after joining the Dream via free agency. She was the only Atlanta player to start all 44 games, leading the team in rebounds, field goal percentage (52.7%), and defensive win shares (2.6). Only former Phoenix center Brittney Griner (47) has played in more playoff games than Jones (38) on Atlanta’s roster.
- Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx
Base | 5 feet 11 inches
Mid-season ranking: 17
Regular season stats: 14.2 PPG, 3.5 APG, 39.5% 3FG
McBride’s two-way game has been a big part of the Lynx’s dominance, with the guard shooting 39.5% from three and forcing 1.3 steals per game. She played a key role in extending Minnesota’s winning streak while Collier was out with an ankle injury, averaging 15.7 points during that seven-game stretch in August. As the Lynx begin their quest to return to the WNBA Finals, they will rely on McBride’s contributions on both ends of the court.
- Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx
Base | 5 feet 8 inches
Mid-season ranking: 25
Regular season stats: 13.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.9 RPG
Williams presented a case as the second-best player on the best team in the WNBA, recording her highest scoring average since 2021 while making a career-high 1.3 three-pointers per game. Williams will always feel more comfortable in the mid-range: her 125 2-point jump shots outside the paint were 27 more than runner-up Paige Bueckers, according to GeniusIQ, but she must be respected beyond the arc. And pick-and-rolls with Williams produced a point per opportunity, the second-best among ball-handlers who ran at least 500, according to GeniusIQ tracking.
- Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm
Base | 5 feet 9 inches
Mid-season ranking: 11
Regular season stats: 15.5 PPG, 6.0 APG, 2.83 A/TO ratio
Named an All-Star for the first time since giving birth in 2023, Diggins recorded the best assist-to-turnover ratio of her career. Although Diggins’ scoring efficiency was the best since 2021, she saw it fall during the season. After shooting 42% from three in May and June, Diggins fell to 33% from July and 39% from the field. Rest before the playoffs could help: Diggins averaged 17.8 points and 6.5 assists with three or more days of rest, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
- Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
Forward | 6 feet 4 inches
Mid-season ranking: NR
Regular season stats: 9.6 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.9 BPG
ESPN’s consensus selection for Defensive Player of the Year, Smith anchored the league’s top-ranked defense by possession by averaging a career-high 1.9 blocks. According to GeniusIQ tracking, opponents shot 51% in the restricted area when Smith was the closest defender, the third-lowest among players who defended at least 100 attempts. On the other end, Smith compensated for the 32.9% drop in three-pointers, albeit with the highest volume of her career, by shooting 64% inside the arc.
- Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces
Base | 5 feet 11 inches
Mid-season ranking: NR
Regular season stats: 11.2 PPG, 5.4 APG, 3.9 RPG
The Finals MVP when the Aces won their first title in 2022, Gray is known for her clutch postseason play. She missed the decisive Game 4 of the 2023 Finals after suffering a left foot injury in Game 3, then was limited to 27 regular season games last year while recovering. This season, the 32-year-old Gray has played in all but one game, averaging 31.1 minutes. She has had at least five assists in eight of the Aces’ last 10 games.
- Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
Base | 6 feet 1 inch
Mid-season ranking: NR
Regular season stats: 15.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 37.7% 3FG
Copper worked hard during the offseason to get Sabally and Thomas to Phoenix to form a Big 3, and it has paid off. Copper didn’t appear in our mid-season rankings because she missed the Mercury’s first 11 games due to injury. But since she’s been healthy, Copper is Phoenix’s second-leading scorer, averaging 15.6 points on 42.4% field goal shooting. Like Sabally, Copper’s cutting has combined well with Thomas’s playmaking.
- Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries
Base | 5 feet 9 inches
Mid-season ranking: NR
Regular season stats: 11.9 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.4 RPG
Burton’s growth and development have been a revelation for the Valkyries, as they became the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. When Kayla Thornton suffered a season-ending knee injury in July, many wondered if Golden State would stay afloat. But Burton is averaging 11.9 points and 6.0 assists while remaining a top-tier perimeter defender. She is the favorite for Most Improved Player and has the opportunity to lead the Valkyries to their first postseason victory.
- Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
Forward | 5 feet 11 inches
Mid-season ranking: 20
Regular season stats: 11.6 PPG, 4.2 APG, 2.3 SPG
Williams was one steal away from joining Teresa Weatherspoon (100 in 1998) as the second player in WNBA history with three-digit steals. Although Williams’ per-game average was less historic, only her French national teammate Leila Lacan (2.2) averaged more than 1.7 steals this year. Williams is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, and improved offensively, averaging career highs in points and assists. She was one of nine players in the league to average at least four rebounds and four assists.
- Natasha Howard, Indiana Fever
Forward | 6 feet 3 inches
Mid-season ranking: NR
Regular season stats: 11.4 PPG; 6.6 RPG; 55.2%
Three-time WNBA champion, the Fever signed Howard, in large part, for her veteran experience, a quality that became even more critical after they parted ways with DeWanna Bonner and saw several players suffer season-ending injuries. The Fever will need the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year to get going offensively in the playoffs: they are 11-3 when she scores at least 15 points this season, including twice in the final week of the regular season.
- Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream
Forward | 6 feet 2 inches
Mid-season ranking: NR
Regular season stats: 8.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.4 APG
One of the favorites for the Sixth Woman of the Year, Hillmon has made a good transition to the starting lineup since August 1st. She averages career highs in scoring (8.6), rebounds (6.2), assists (2.4), and minutes played (25.5). She has transformed her offensive game with a dramatic improvement in 3-point shooting, scoring 53 shots from long distance after not scoring any in her four seasons at Michigan and only one (in 2024) in her previous three seasons in the WNBA.
