The WNBA Prepares for an Exciting 2025 Season
After a 2024 campaign full of emotions and history, the WNBA continues to generate headlines during the offseason. A new expansion team, a series of layoffs and head coach hirings, and an unpredictable free agency with surprising player movements, have shaped what promises to be an unforgettable 2025 season.
All this interest culminates this Friday, when the 2025 WNBA season, the 29th in the league’s history, begins. Training camps opened at the end of April and exhibition games began on May 2, but now we will have the opportunity to see what the 13 teams look like when it really matters.
Alofoke Deportes brings you the most important stories for the start of the season. Will the New York Liberty, after winning their first title in franchise history, be able to repeat the feat? Will the Minnesota Lynx manage to return to the WNBA Finals, perhaps with a different ending in 2025? Will the Las Vegas Aces and current MVP A’ja Wilson win their third championship in four years? Will Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever improve their exit from the first round of last season’s playoffs? And which eight teams will reach the postseason?
From rebuilt templates to championship aspirations, we have everything you need to know about the league’s 13 teams, including Alofoke Deportes’ preseason rankings.
- 1. New York Liberty
Overall Ranking of Alofoke Deportes: 1
Playoff chances: >99.9%
Projected Wins: 31.2
Analysis: After a history full of stumbles, the Liberty (32-8 in the regular season, seeded number 1 in the playoffs) won the franchise’s first WNBA championship in 2024, after a best-of-five Finals series against Minnesota. Jonquel Jones was named Finals MVP, making New York the last original WNBA franchise to win a title.
Greatest Strength: New York returns a lot of championship experience from last season, a group led by Breanna Stewart, Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu, each of whom ranked in the top seven in Alofoke Deportes’ preseason player rankings. This team had few weaknesses last year, ranking first in the league in offensive efficiency and rebounding rate, as well as third in defensive efficiency, assist percentage, and true shooting percentage. The Liberty could be even deeper this year with larger roles for Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally, in addition to the additions of Natasha Cloud, Marine Johannes, and Rebekah Gardner.
Biggest concern: Will Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Kayla Thornton prove to be irreplaceable? Thornton was selected by the Valkyries in the expansion draft, while Laney-Hamilton will miss the season while recovering from an offseason knee injury. Both players’ grit and perimeter defense were key to New York’s championship run, and the Liberty will need other players to step up to make up for their absences.
What will be talked about most this season: The additions of Cloud and Johannes. The backcourt surrounding Ionescu looks very different this season: the Liberty traded a couple of first-round picks for Cloud and re-signed Johannes, who missed last season while training with France before the Paris Olympics. Both fan favorites, Cloud is known for her perimeter defense, facilitation, and vocal leadership, while Johannes, a living highlight reel, plays with style as a shooter and can also create offense for others.
Number to watch: Fiebich’s net rating. Fiebich’s emergence during the playoffs was pivotal to the Liberty’s title run, particularly her length on the defensive end and her ability to knock down shots. While she’s likely to play in EuroBasket with the German national team this summer, the 25-year-old is expected to take an even bigger step forward this year with Laney-Hamilton gone. Fiebich’s net rating last postseason (a staggering plus-31.3), when she became a full-time starter, was the best of any player in the Liberty’s rotation.
A bold (realistic) prediction: Ionescu will have his strongest season yet and establish himself in the MVP race.
How will a successful season look? The Liberty are contenders for the third consecutive year and, although it’s always difficult to repeat, they don’t see a post-championship slip. Best case scenario: they become the fourth WNBA franchise to repeat, joining the Aces (2022-23), Sparks (2001-02), and Houston Comets (1997-2000).
- 2. Minnesota Lynx
Overall Ranking of Alofoke Deportes: 2
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Projected Wins: 29.4
Analysis: Minnesota exceeded initial expectations in 2024 by posting a 30-10 record and earning the second seed in the playoffs, but fell short in the quest for the WNBA title, losing to New York in a Game 5 of the Finals. In the process, star Napheesa Collier cemented herself as one of the top two or three players in the world.
Key Strength: The Lynx return their five starters and 85.4% of their scoring production, the highest in the league. The group has defended its chemistry on and off the court, as demonstrated by last season’s 76.4% assist rate, a WNBA record. But defensively, Minnesota has also been strong, holding opponents to 41.0% field goal shooting, the best in the league. Coach Cheryl Reeve hopes the team’s bench will be more impactful after rebuilding it in the offseason, so watch if young players Diamond Miller and Alissa Pili can take significant steps this summer.
Major concern: Minnesota’s frontcourt was a bit thin and lacked size last year, a problem exacerbated during the Finals when Alanna Smith was dealing with a back injury. The team sought to address that concern by signing Marieme Badiane and bringing back Jessica Shepard, although the Lynx will not have Dorka Juhasz for the entire season (personal reasons). Will Badiane and Shepard be the missing pieces for the Lynx?
In addition, much of Minnesota’s success last season came from several players, such as Kayla McBride, Bridget Carleton, and Smith, who had career or near-career years. Can they replicate that magic individually and collectively?
What will be talked about most this season: Will Collier win his first MVP? Last year’s race would probably have been a sure award if A’ja Wilson hadn’t unleashed with the Aces. It’s hard to imagine that Collier, who finished second in the MVP voting and also won the Defensive Player of the Year award, will be even better in 2025. But now she’s playing with an advantage after the heartbreaking end of the Lynx Finals.
Number to watch: Three-point shooting was a hallmark of the Lynx’s success last season, as they converted 38.0% from beyond the arc, the best in the league and the highest of any team since 2021. Can Minnesota repeat that kind of efficiency?
A bold (realistic) prediction: Collier’s MVP honor in Unrivaled will be a precursor to what she achieves this season in the W, as she wins the league MVP and leads the Lynx to the title.
How will a successful season look? The Lynx demonstrate that their 2024 success was not an isolated event and remain among the best teams in the league. And perhaps this time they will achieve the finish they were so close to achieving last year: after Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said that the 2024 title was “stolen” from the Lynx due to poor refereeing, the team uses that anguish as fuel to secure the franchise’s fifth championship and the first in their post-Maya Moore/Seimone Augustus/Sylvia Fowles/Lindsay Whalen era, completing their revenge tour.
- 3. Las Vegas Aces
Overall Ranking of Alofoke Deportes: 3
Playoff chances: 99.2%
Projected Wins: 27.4
Analysis: The Aces had a 1-6 record last season against New York, the team they beat for the 2023 title. That included a 3-1 loss to the Liberty in the semifinals after a 27-13 regular season. That series ended with a 76-62 loss for the Aces in Las Vegas; center A’ja Wilson had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
Greatest strength: The core of the team that won consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023 remains exceptional despite the loss of point guard Kelsey Plum in a trade. Wilson, a 28-year-old three-time MVP, and 27-year-old point guard Jackie Young are in their prime. 32-year-old point guard Chelsea Gray was returning from a foot injury last season and didn’t play until June 19. She proved during the Unrivaled season earlier this year that she’s back to form. The addition of 31-year-old point guard Jewell Loyd via a trade means the Aces still have a “big four” All-Star/Olympian.
Major concern: The Aces’ chemistry, from Wilson to the end of the bench, was key to their championship teams. Las Vegas needs that to return as much as possible after personnel changes, including the loss of long-time veterans like Sydney Colson and Alysha Clark.
What will be talked about most this season: How Loyd fits into the Aces’ offense. During her career, the 2015 No. 1 draft pick has averaged 16.9 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game. Plum, selected No. 1 in 2017, has averaged 14.3, 2.5, and 4.0 during her career and was at 18.9, 2.6, and 4.6 in her three years playing for coach Becky Hammon. Loyd played successfully with another MVP center before, Breanna Stewart in Seattle, so she should fit in well with Wilson. Each has led the league in scoring for a season: Loyd averaged 24.7 points in 2023 and Wilson a WNBA record 26.9 last year.
Number to watch: The Aces ranked second in net rating in 2022 (plus 7.9) and first in 2023 (plus 15.6) when they won their titles. Last season, they fell to fourth (plus 6.8) behind New York, Connecticut and Minnesota. While the Aces beat the Sun in all three regular season meetings, Las Vegas went a combined 2-9 against the Liberty and Lynx, including the playoffs.
A bold (realistic) prediction: Elizabeth Kitley, who missed last season after tearing her ACL near the end of her college career at Virginia Tech, will help the Aces from the bench in her rookie season.
How will a successful season look? The Aces are still in a championship window and that is the standard they have set. Because a lot could change in the 2026 free agency, Las Vegas will go all out for a third title this year.
- 4. Indiana Fever
Overall Ranking of Alofoke Deportes: 6
Playoff chances: 91.0%
Projected Wins: 23.8
Analysis: Connecticut swept Indiana 2-0 in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. But it was huge for the Fever to return to the postseason for the first time since 2016. Indiana went 1-5 against Connecticut, counting the playoffs, in 2024, but now former Sun coach Stephanie White returns for her second stint as Fever coach. Caitlin Clark was Rookie of the Year, a first-team All-WNBA selection, and led the league in assists (8.4 APG).
Greatest Strength: The Fever ranked first in field goal percentage (45.6) and third in scoring (85.0 PPG) and offensive efficiency (106.1) last season with a rookie backcourt. After a season of experience, Clark is likely to cut down on turnovers and be even more efficient. The addition of DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Sophie Cunningham should further improve the offense, as they join Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston.
Major concern: Indiana’s defense has improved based on what we’ve seen in the preseason. The Fever were second-to-last in points allowed (87.7) and defensive efficiency (109.5) last season. Former Defensive Player of the Year Howard (2019) should help, along with Bonner, whose versatility allows her to defend many types of players.
What will be talked about the most this season: How the Fever play against the teams that have been the best in the league in recent years. They had a combined record of 3-12 against last season’s semifinalists: Connecticut, Las Vegas, Minnesota, and New York. This year, Indiana hopes to be one of those teams.
Number to follow: Indiana had the second-fewest road wins, with a record of 8-12, among the eight playoff teams. In addition to playing better defensively, the Fever are looking to improve outside of Indianapolis.
A bold (realistic) prediction: The Fever, who were fifth in three-pointers per game (9.2) last season, could be first this year with Cunningham and Bonner joining shooters Clark and Mitchell.
How will a successful season look? The Fever have talked about competing for a championship, and in fact they could have the tools to do so. But reaching the semifinals would still be great progress for a franchise that hasn’t gone that far since playing in the 2015 WNBA Finals, when Indiana fell to Minnesota in five games.
- 5. Atlanta Dream
Overall rating of Alofoke Deportes: 4
Playoff chances: 97.3%
Projected Wins: 25.7
Analysis: The Dream, the eighth seed in the 2024 playoffs, were swept 2-0 by the eventual champion New York. It was the second consecutive first-round loss for Atlanta, who fired coach Tanisha Wright after three seasons. Karl Smesko, longtime coach of Florida Gulf Coast, is now in his first season in the WNBA.
Strongest strength: By adding veterans Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones in free agency, the Dream hope to have improved a good defense. Atlanta ranked sixth in defensive efficiency last year (102.5), which helped the Dream reach the playoffs despite having the worst offense in the league.
Major concern: The Dream were the league’s lowest-scoring team last season, averaging 77.0 PPG and a league-low 18.4 assists per game. Their starting point guard, Jordin Canada, suffered an injury and was limited to 20 games in 2024. She is also out for the start of this season due to injury. Point guard by committee could be the Dream’s plan for a while.
What will be talked about most this season: How Griner performs in a new environment. She spent 11 seasons with Phoenix, the team that drafted her No. 1 overall in 2013. Griner doesn’t block as many shots as she did in her first six seasons, but most of her other stats have been consistent over the years. She has averaged 17.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in her career, and similar numbers will help Atlanta a lot.
Number to watch: Field goal percentage. Guards Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray have been the Dream’s primary scoring threats the past two seasons. But they need more help, and Atlanta as a team must be more efficient on offense. The Dream shot a league-low 40.8% from the field last season. That should improve with Griner (career 56.2% shooter) and Jones (55.6%) in Atlanta.
A bold (realistic) prediction: Howard, the No. 1 pick of 2022, has averaged 17.0 points in his three-season career. He could have his best year yet under Smesko’s system and, for the first time, reach the 40% mark from the field for a season.
How will a successful season look? The Dream haven’t won a playoff series since 2013, when they advanced to the WNBA Finals with series wins over Washington and Indiana. When the WNBA had early single-elimination rounds (2016-21), Atlanta won its first-round game against Seattle and then lost its second-round game against Chicago in 2016. The Dream’s last win in a playoff game was in 2018, when they automatically advanced to the semifinals but lost the series 3-2 to Washington.
In short, the last decade has not been good for Atlanta in the postseason. Reaching the semifinals this year would be a big leap.
- 6. Seattle Storm
Overall rating of Alofoke Deportes: 5
Playoff chances: 96.4%
Projected Wins: 25.3
Analysis: The Storm struggled to score in a 2024 playoff sweep at the hands of the Las Vegas Aces. Seattle improved by 14 games, the most in the league, after adding Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike to a lottery team in free agency, but never got to play at home in the postseason despite a 25-15 record.
Greatest strength: Experience. The Storm re-signed 13-year veteran Ogwumike and added 12-year veteran Alysha Clark and nine-year veteran Erica Wheeler to combine with Diggins, who has played 10 seasons in the WNBA (was absent in 2019 and 2023 after giving birth). No other team has a pair of players with as much experience as Clark and Ogwumike, who have combined to win four WNBA championships.
Major concern: Offense. Seattle subtracted top scorer Jewell Loyd from an offense that started seventh in offensive efficiency, the worst of any team above .500. The Storm’s shooting should improve with Clark’s return and by subtracting Loyd’s career 27% three-point accuracy, but players will be asked to create more offense than they did last season.
What will be talked about most this season: The potential of the number 2 pick Dominique Malonga from France. Seattle moved up seven spots in the Loyd trade and selected Malonga, 19, a 6-foot-6 athletic post player capable of sinking the ball regularly. The Storm do not expect Malonga to play many minutes immediately, as she adapts to a new country and a new league, but she looks like a building block alongside post teammate Ezi Magbegor.
Number to follow: Three-point percentage. Seattle…
