The WNBA season solely ended a couple of days in the past, nevertheless it’s not too quickly to look forward into what subsequent season may seem like — and the place every of the league’s 13 (!) groups may find yourself.
1. New York Liberty
2024 common season file: 32-8
Finish-of-season end result: WNBA champions (beat Lynx 3-2)
After successful the 2024 championship, the Liberty earn the highest spot on the ladder heading into subsequent season. New York has many of the core locked down going into the offseason, with Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, Sabrina Ionescu, Nyara Sabally, and Kayla Thornton are all beneath contract. Breanna Stewart, in the meantime, is an unrestricted free agent, however is broadly anticipated to resign with New York. Fiebich is poised to make one other leap in her second season within the WNBA.
The large query is who the Liberty may lose within the growth draft — one in every of both Sabally or Thornton could possibly be in danger. Regardless, this group appears poised to guide the pack once more subsequent season because it has all 12 months.
2. Minnesota Lynx
2024 common season file: 30-10
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in WNBA Finals (fell to Liberty 3-2)
The Lynx weren’t anticipated to be championship contenders this season. However, they completed the season simply 5 seconds away from a WNBA championship. Minnesota’s whole beginning lineup is beneath contract once more subsequent season, and with Napheesa Collier on the helm, this group appears more likely to have one other excellent season. Natisha Hiedeman and Myisha Hines-Allen are the group’s solely two unrestricted free brokers who have been within the playoff rotation, so this group can have the same look however yet another 12 months of expertise beneath their belt.
3. Las Vegas Aces
2024 common season file: 27-13
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in semifinals (fell to Liberty 3-1)
The Aces fell wanting a three-peat after ending with the fourth-best common season file. A’ja Wilson had a historic season, however guard play was inconsistent and the group’s protection took a dip. Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, and Alysha Clark are all free brokers this summer time, and re-signing Plum is more likely to be a precedence.
Las Vegas ought to be proper again within the combine subsequent season with the identical roster, however getting a dependable backup huge, and extra bench scoring, ought to assist them get again to title competition.
4. Indiana Fever
2024 common season file: 20-20
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in first spherical (fell to Solar 2-0)
The Fever have been the league’s sixth-best group final season, they usually have been considerably higher after the Olympic break. Indiana might be nonetheless a couple of years away from reputable championship competition, however Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston can be one 12 months older, and have yet another 12 months of constructing chemistry beneath their belt.
Clark and Boston each had excellent particular person seasons final 12 months, and are poised for an additional bounce. As well as, the Fever are unlikely to start out 1-8 once more.
The large query is: will Kelsey Mitchell return? Mitchell had a superb season final 12 months, and the Fever will need to prioritize re-signing her.
5. Connecticut Solar
2024 common season file: 28-12
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in semifinals (to Lynx, 3-2)
The Solar completed third final season, and have been one sport away from one other journey to the WNBA Finals. However, Connecticut fell brief but once more, and now head into an offseason that would see the group overhauled. The complete core of Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones is headed towards free company, and this time,
it’s very attainable that the franchise will head into a distinct path and that this veteran core will head in several instructions. If that’s the case, this group will probably take a step again subsequent 12 months — although it’s arduous to depend out the Solar from being aggressive. There are additionally query marks round whether or not head coach Stephanie White will return, with the Chicago Solar-Instances reporting White is in talks with the Fever and the Sky.
6. Seattle Storm
2024 common season file: 25-15
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in first spherical (to Aces, 2-0)
The Storm completed with the fifth-best file final season, and offered they re-sign Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams — each free brokers — they need to be proper again within the combine. However, it wasn’t all clean crusing for a new-look roster with excessive expectations. There have been second have been it appeared the group struggled with effort and vitality, main each head coach Noelle Quinn and Skylar Diggins-Smith to air out grievances in postgame pressers. Jewell Loyd additionally had a difficult season individually.
7. Los Angeles Sparks
2024 common season file: 7-31
Finish-of-season end result: Didn’t make playoffs
This may find yourself being be too excessive of a spot for the Sparks subsequent season. However, Cameron Brink can be again, Rickea Jackson can be one 12 months higher… they usually get Paige Bueckers in the event that they win the Draft Lottery in November.
That younger core can be aggressive alongside veteran Dearica Hamby, who had the very best season of her profession final 12 months. It actually comes all the way down to who they’ll get within the draft, and the way every little thing will come collectively. The Sparks are additionally one in every of 5 groups with a head coach emptiness heading into the offseason.
8. Phoenix Mercury
2024 common season file: 19-21
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in first spherical (to Lynx, 2-0)
There are a whole lot of questions surrounding the Mercury this offseason. Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi are each free agent, and whereas Griner is anticipated to re-sign, Taurasi continues to be mulling retirement. Whereas this was a postseason group, they have been inconsistent all 12 months and fell wanting expectations set after they traded for Kahleah Copper.
9. Washington Mystics
2024 common season file: 14-26
Finish-of-season end result: Didn’t make playoffs
There’s a management overhaul in Washington, with possession letting go of the Mystics’ basic supervisor and coach Eric Thibault. It is a group that would make a large bounce subsequent season, with all starters returning and rookie Aliyah Edwards set to proceed enhancing.
The large query is whether or not Elena Delle Donne be again. She sat out the 2024 season, and her return would instantly elevate this group. Regardless, there’s cause to be optimistic about this group, which started the season 0-12, however rallied and fell only one win wanting a playoff berth.
10. Dallas Wings
2024 common season file: 9-31
Finish-of-season end result: Didn’t make playoffs
The Wings had a tough 2024. Satou Sabally missed the primary half of the season, and Maddie Siegrist and Natasha Howard each missed appreciable time. Howard is anticipated to depart this offseason, and Sabally’s standing is unsure provided that she’s an unrestricted free agent. Her loss could be detrimental to this squad, which has been led by Arike Ogunbowale these previous few years.
11. Atlanta Dream
2024 common season file: 15-25
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in first spherical (to Liberty, 2-0)
The Dream squeezed their method right into a playoff berth, however completed 5 video games beneath .500 and struggled early on. Tina Charles was a vibrant spot, and although the 36-year-old is a free agent this summer time, Atlanta will probably need her again. Rhyne Howard has established herself because the franchise participant, however the place the Dream go from right here stays to be seen.
12. Chicago Sky
2024 common season file: 13-27
Finish-of-season end result: Didn’t make playoffs
The Sky seemed good early on, with rookie Angel Reese having a historic common season and Chennedy Carter discovering her groove. However, since letting go of coach Teresa Weatherspoon, it’s unclear what this group’s identification will seem like subsequent season, and if Carter, who’s a free agent, will return. The Sky are one in every of a handful of groups with out their very own follow facility, and, in flip, drawing free brokers will probably be a problem.
13. Golden State Valkyries
We don’t but know who can be on the Valkyries roster. However, the league’s earlier two growth groups completed with the league’s worst file of their respective season — Chicago was 5-29 in 2006 and Atlanta was 4-30 in 2008. So, it’s solely truthful the league’s latest group is projected final. Head coach Natalie Nakasie is carry three years of expertise beneath Becky Hammon, and appears to return in extremely regarded. However, till the growth draft, we simply received’t know what this group will seem like.
