The WNBA season solely ended a number of days in the past, but it surely’s not too quickly to look forward into what subsequent season would possibly seem like — and the place every of the league’s 13 (!) groups would possibly find yourself.
1. New York Liberty
2024 common season report: 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 a lot of the core locked down going into the offseason, with Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, Sabrina Ionescu, Nyara Sabally, and Kayla Thornton are all underneath contract. Breanna Stewart, in the meantime, is an unrestricted free agent, however is extensively anticipated to resign with New York. Fiebich is poised to make one other leap in her second season within the WNBA.
The massive query is who the Liberty would possibly lose within the growth draft — certainly one of both Sabally or Thornton may very well be in danger. Regardless, this group appears poised to guide the pack once more subsequent season because it has all yr.
2. Minnesota Lynx
2024 common season report: 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 underneath 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 had been within the playoff rotation, so this group could have an identical look however yet one more yr of expertise underneath their belt.
3. Las Vegas Aces
2024 common season report: 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 report. 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 season, and re-signing Plum is more likely to be a precedence.
Las Vegas must 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 rivalry.
4. Indiana Fever
2024 common season report: 20-20
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in first spherical (fell to Solar 2-0)
The Fever had been the league’s sixth-best group final season, and so they had been considerably higher after the Olympic break. Indiana might be nonetheless a number of years away from official championship rivalry, however Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston will probably be one yr older, and have yet one more yr of constructing chemistry underneath their belt.
Clark and Boston each had excellent particular person seasons final yr, and are poised for one more leap. As well as, the Fever are unlikely to begin 1-8 once more.
The massive query is: will Kelsey Mitchell return? Mitchell had a wonderful season final yr, and the Fever will need to prioritize re-signing her.
5. Connecticut Solar
2024 common season report: 28-12
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in semifinals (to Lynx, 3-2)
The Solar completed third final season, and had been one sport away from one other journey to the WNBA Finals. However, Connecticut fell quick but once more, and now head into an offseason that would see the group overhauled. The whole core of Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones is headed towards free company, and this time,
it’s very potential that the franchise will head into a distinct route and that this veteran core will head in numerous instructions. If that’s the case, this group will doubtless take a step again subsequent yr — although it’s exhausting to rely 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 report: 25-15
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in first spherical (to Aces, 2-0)
The Storm completed with the fifth-best report final season, and supplied 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 easy crusing for a new-look roster with excessive expectations. There have been second had 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 report: 7-31
Finish-of-season end result: Didn’t make playoffs
This would possibly find yourself being be too excessive of a spot for the Sparks subsequent season. However, Cameron Brink will probably be again, Rickea Jackson will probably be one yr higher… and so they get Paige Bueckers in the event that they win the Draft Lottery in November.
That younger core will probably be aggressive alongside veteran Dearica Hamby, who had one of the best season of her profession final yr. It actually comes right down to who they will get within the draft, and the way all the things will come collectively. The Sparks are additionally certainly one of 5 groups with a head coach emptiness heading into the offseason.
8. Phoenix Mercury
2024 common season report: 19-21
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in first spherical (to Lynx, 2-0)
There are loads of questions surrounding the Mercury this offseason. Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi are each free agent, and whereas Griner is predicted to re-sign, Taurasi continues to be mulling retirement. Whereas this was a postseason group, they had been inconsistent all yr and fell wanting expectations set after they traded for Kahleah Copper.
9. Washington Mystics
2024 common season report: 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’ common supervisor and coach Eric Thibault. This can be a group that would make a large leap subsequent season, with all starters returning and rookie Aliyah Edwards set to proceed bettering.
The massive 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 purpose 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 report: 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 predicted to go away this offseason, and Sabally’s standing is unsure on condition that she’s an unrestricted free agent. Her loss can be detrimental to this squad, which has been led by Arike Ogunbowale these previous few years.
11. Atlanta Dream
2024 common season report: 15-25
Finish-of-season end result: Misplaced in first spherical (to Liberty, 2-0)
The Dream squeezed their approach right into a playoff berth, however completed 5 video games beneath .500 and struggled early on. Tina Charles was a vivid spot, and although the 36-year-old is a free agent this summer season, Atlanta will doubtless 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 report: 13-27
Finish-of-season end result: Didn’t make playoffs
The Sky appeared 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 certainly one of a handful of groups with out their very own apply facility, and, in flip, drawing free brokers will doubtless be a problem.
13. Golden State Valkyries
We don’t but know who will probably be on the Valkyries roster. However, the league’s earlier two growth groups completed with the league’s worst report of their respective season — Chicago was 5-29 in 2006 and Atlanta was 4-30 in 2008. So, it’s solely honest the league’s latest group is projected final. Head coach Natalie Nakasie is convey three years of expertise underneath Becky Hammon, and appears to return in extremely regarded. However, till the growth draft, we simply gained’t know what this group will seem like.
