On Sunday, the eight best WNBA teams will take the court to kick off the 2025 playoffs with the start of the four first-round series. The season has witnessed incredible performances from MVP candidates, including A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, and Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury. In addition, players like Veronica Burton of the Golden State Valkyries and Gabby Williams of the Seattle Storm have shown significant growth. However, injuries have marked the 2025 season. Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty, as well as Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury, have missed a considerable amount of time. In addition, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was ruled out for the rest 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 stands. Here’s the analysis of the 25 best players participating in the playoffs, according to Alofoke Deportes’ ranking, from Wilson, who has regained his place at the top of the list, to Naz Hillmon of the Atlanta Dream, a candidate for Player of the Year.
Contents
1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces2. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx3. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury4. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty5. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream6. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces7. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty8. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever9. Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty10. Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm11. Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever12. Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury13. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream14. Emma Meesseman, New York Liberty15. Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream16. Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx17. Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx18. Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm19. Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx20. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces21. Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury22. Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries23. Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm24. Natasha Howard, Indiana Fever25. Naz Hillmon, Atlanta Dream
1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Center | 6 feet 4 inchesMid-season ranking: 2Regular Season Stats: 23.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.3 BPGWilson had an outstanding regular season from start to finish, but she truly shined in August. She fueled the Aces’ extensive winning streak and became one of the leading MVP contenders once again. Her 13 games with 30 or more points set a WNBA record in a single season. Her 22 three-pointers and 39.3% effectiveness from beyond the arc were similar to her MVP season in 2022, when the Aces won their first title. Although Wilson is always the main scorer, she has become an even stronger player. In addition, she remains one of the most outstanding defensive players in the league.2. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Forward | 6 feet 1 inchMid-season ranking: 1Regular Season Stats: 22.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.6 SPGThe 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 the 3-point line, 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.3. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
Forward | 6 feet 2 inchesMid-season ranking: 3Regular Season Stats: 15.4 PPG, 9.2 APG, 8.8 RPGAlthough 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 bottom of the standings, was a reminder that Thomas is a franchise-altering force.4. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Forward | 6 feet 4 inchesMid-season ranking: 4Regular Season Stats: 18.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.5 APGA 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 fuel a significant comeback against the Storm last week, when she finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 assists.5. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
Guard | 6 feetMid-season ranking: 6Regular Season Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.5 APGIt’s not often that a player who is already a multiple All-Star makes the remarkable step that Gray took 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, while also being second on the team in defensive win shares (2.5).6. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
Guard | 6 feet
Mid-season ranking: 14Regular Season Stats: 16.5 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.4 RPGYoung has been one of the most enduring and reliable players in the WNBA since being selected No. 1 overall in 2019. She remained calm, as always, during the Aces’ first-half struggles. Las Vegas’ surge 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.7. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Guard | 5 feet 11 inchesMid-season ranking: 5Regular Season Stats: 18.2 PPG, 5.7 APG, 4.9 RPGIonescu was in the MVP conversation 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 shooting and teamwork, Ionescu is a major force for a Liberty team that dominates the front line and has a knack for rising to the occasion. She’s coming off a double-double of points and assists (11/11) in the Liberty’s regular season finale.8. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
Guard | 5 feet 8 inchesMid-season ranking: 15Regular Season Stats: 20.2 PPG; 39.4 3FG%; 3.4 APGOne of the biggest risers on our list, Mitchell will likely appear on voters’ 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 3).9. Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
Center | 6 feet 6 inchesMid-season ranking: NR (not qualified due to injury)Regular Season Stats: 13.6 PPG, 42.4 3P%, 8.1 RPGThe 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 for the past 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-ranked Lynx in four attempts this season. Jones gives the Liberty a significant size advantage inside while shooting 42.4% from three-pointers.10. Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
Forward | 6 feet 2 inchesMid-season ranking: 10Regular Season Stats: 18.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 37% 3FGCalling Ogwumike’s performance metronomic might downplay how she continues to evolve at age 35. Starting all 44 games, Ogwumike nearly doubled her previous career high with 1.5 three-pointers per game, while 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.11. Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
Forward/Center | 6 feet 5 inchesMid-season rating: 8Regular Season Stats: 15.0 PPG. 8.2 RPG, 3.7 APGBoston 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 for Indiana to protect the paint, and her continued growth in the mid-range will be important for the Fever in the postseason.12. Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury
Forward | 6 feet 4 inchesMid-season rating: 7Regular Season Stats: 16.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.3 SPGDuring 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 two-way player and a nightmare for opponents. She is shooting 32.1% from 3, but also uses her size and speed to cut and make the most of her teammates’ facilitation.13. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Guard | 6 feet 2 inchesMid-season ranking: 16Regular Season Stats: 17.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.6 APGHoward, 25, has been one of the most consistent young guards since entering the league as the number 1 pick of 2022 and Rookie of the Year. Two things stood out this season: career highs in average 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 2024.14. Emma Meesseman, New York Liberty
Center | 6 feet 4 inchesMid-season classification: NR (re-joined the league mid-season)Regular Season Stats: 13.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.2 APGMeesseman was not in our mid-season rankings because she had not yet played for the Liberty, but she arrived when the frontcourt depth was decimated in the second half of the season, as injuries sidelined Stewart and others. The Belgian star has adapted 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 more difficult matchup.15. Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream
Forward | 6 feet 3 inchesMid-season ranking: 21Regular Season Stats: 12.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.2 APGAfter 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.16. Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx
Guard | 5 feet 11 inchesMid-season ranking: 17Regular Season Stats: 14.2 PPG, 3.5 APG, 39.5% 3FGMcBride’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 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.
17. Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx
Guard | 5 feet 8 inchesMid-season ranking: 25Regular Season Stats: 13.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.9 RPGWilliams presented a case as the second-best player on the best team in the WNBA, posting her highest scoring average since 2021, while making a career-high 1.3 three-pointers per game. Williams will always be 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 from 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.18. Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm
Guard | 5 feet 9 inches
Mid-season ranking: 11Regular Season Stats: 15.5 PPG, 6.0 APG, 2.83 A/TO ratioNamed 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% on three-pointers 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.19. Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
Forward | 6 feet 4 inches
Mid-season ranking: NRRegular Season Stats: 9.6 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.9 BPGESPN’s consensus choice for Defensive Player of the Year, Smith, anchored the league’s top-ranked defense by possession by averaging a career-high 1.9 blocks. Per 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 by falling to 32.9% on three-pointers, albeit with the highest volume of her career, by shooting a career-best 64% inside the arc.
