EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlanta Dream
Awakenings are happening in Atlanta alongside superstar Rhyne Howard (17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game). Drafting Shyanne Sellers was a steal, and you know we’ll always love Jordin Canada. But it’s the additions of Brionna Jones and the one and only Brittney Griner that are huge—especially with Allisha Gray running things next to the biggest Howard since Dwight.
This could be the year ATL make a big run in the W. You can’t spell WNBA without the A.
Chicago Sky
The Sky has been falling for too long since their sole Candace Parker homecoming championship. It’s time to get back. It all started with an Angel. And now they’re set to soar.
They snagged a late top-ten pick with Slovenia’s Ajša Sivka. Then they drafted the next selection on the board, number 11, Hailey Van Lith, who could be a steal and a game changer. The addition of Ariel Atkins, Rebecca Allen, and Canadian Kia Nurse—all these pieces around Reese—solve the puzzle. Oh, and Courtney Vandersloot is back after her championship run with the Liberty. Sometimes they do come home.
Connecticut Sun
The Sun came so close a couple of years ago, yet they got burned. This year, a whole host of rookies—led by the consecutive picks Aneesah Morrow and Saniya Rivers (drafted seventh and eighth, respectively)—spearhead a rebuild around talents like Diamond DeShields and Marina Mabrey.
Connect all these dots, and the Connecticut Sun could reach the promised land even sooner than was expected last time. They’ll need a leader, though. And this is where the legendary Tina Charles comes in.
Indiana Fever
Forget the hate—the Caitlin Clark era is a fever dream for the W. Now, as Paige Bueckers is added to the changing of the guard in Dallas, the WNBA just keeps winning. Clark is in a class of her own, and alongside Aliyah Boston, she forms one of the best one-two combos in the association.
Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Howard, and DeWanna Bonner are household names with All-Star stats, making this first five more than just famous—they’re formidable. Add blonde bombers Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull from downtown, and Indy can keep pace with anyone in this race to first.
New York Liberty
Justice for all in New York came when the Liberty finally brought a championship back to the city that feels like America’s capital. It may actually be D.C., but the Big Apple is the core. Now, the Knicks could follow in their sneaker steps (they really could, with Karl-Anthony Towns’ zest in their voice), but it’s all about Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones—the big three and company.
That includes Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Isabelle Harrison, and a whole host of fresh faces. Sure, the NYKL lost the championship pedigree of Courtney Vandersloot back to Chicago, but they’re all champions now, whatever the weather. And they just added star Natasha Cloud to their forecast of reign. The Fantastic Four really are on their way this summer.
Toronto Tempo
Oh Canada, you now have a WNBA franchise. It has been around thirty years since the Toronto Raptors and the then Vancouver Grizzlies made their NBA debuts. But alas, you will have to wait until 2026 for this team from The Six to join the “Jurassic World” of the Raptors.
Yet, you best believe that ace tennis legend Serena Williams and her ownership group have more moves to serve up than she did against Drake at Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. Stay tuned.
Washington Mystics
The only team that did more than the number one Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft was the Washington Mystics, who drew the third, fourth, and sixth picks—like Uno—in a compelling class. Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron, USC’s Kiki Iriafen, and Georgia Amoore of Kentucky could very well be their new big three.
Elsewhere, you get no rest dealing with the likes of Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Edwards, and our favourite every calendar for “Defensive Player of the Year,” Brittney Sykes. It’s Stefanie Dolson who has big sneakers to fill in the middle, mind you. This year, the great Elena Delle Donne announced her retirement from basketball. Even three top ten picks can’t reach the heights that the legend set for the rafters.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Dallas Wings
First, there was Caitlin, then there was Paige. With the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Dallas Wings select Paige Bueckers from the University of Connecticut. It’s about to be May madness in the W with this former college hero, who is the biggest thing to happen to Dallas since Luka Dončić, and you best believe they won’t let this one go. Just like the Mavericks, who have now also secured the number one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, ready to fly Cooper Flagg from Duke.
They also drafted NC State’s Aziaha James with the twelfth pick to close out the first round, if anyone’s counting. Add former MVP Arike Ogunbowale for a Clark-and-Boston-like tandem in Indiana, along with new additions NaLyssa Smith, Myisha Hines-Allen, DiJonai Carrington, and Tyasha Harris, and Dallas could win now and for as long as their wingspan stretches.
Golden State Valkyries
Welcome to the brand-new WNBA franchise ready to tip off this season. In the Bay Area, the Valkyries are set to put Golden State on the basketball map like Steph Curry and his team, drawing San Francisco’s attention from the other side of the bridge.
Fifth pick Justė Jocytė from Lyon, France, leads the way like Wemby has the French Revolution of new basketball talent in America. An expansion draft and free agency will take care of the rest for a valiant franchise that wants to play like Kyrie. But at first, they may stumble out of the gates like their Tessa Thompson Marvel superhero namesake in ‘Thor: Ragnarok.’ Yet she ended up leading a nation.
Las Vegas Aces
Becky Hammon’s Las Vegas Aces are still on a high, despite losing Kelsey Plum to the Sparks, just as they did with Dearica Hamby a year prior. Who needs purple when you have Jewell Loyd, the “Gold Mamba,” joining the likes of Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray?
Adding Tiffany Mitchell, Queen Egbo (both from the Suns), Dana Evans, and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus revamps the roster with a couple of rooks. They’ll need it to get past the new champion, Liberty, in this super-team race for the title of best over the rest. Oh yeah, and they still have A’ja Wilson, armed with her own signature shoe. M-V-SHE!
Los Angeles Sparks
Lisa Leslie. Candace Parker. Nneka Ogwumike. No matter which legend the Los Angeles Sparks lose, they always make another one in Hollywood. It’s kind of like the Lakers bringing in Luka for the day that LeBron eventually retires. Even though they missed out on Caitlin Clark, they still drafted Cameron Brink. Then they passed up on “Barbie” Angel Reese for Rickea Jackson, who went on a tear after Killa Cam went down.
In another outstanding offseason, they traded for ace star Kelsey Plum and still got to keep Dearica Hamby. They’ll miss Lexie Brown, Zia Cooke, Kia Nurse, Li Yueru, and retired Layshia Clarendon, but adding Mercedes Russell, ninth pick Sarah Ashlee Barker, and offering a full contract to relief player Odyssey Sims helps. Keeping a role-playing core of Rae Burrell, Aari McDonald, and Azurá Stevens gives this big picture the supporting cast that could turn the red carpet purple.
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx used to be queens of the WNBA, with Minneapolis’s own Prince watching from the sidelines. They have more jerseys retired to their rafters (Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles) than the legendary Timberwolves of Kevin Garnett. However, one day, King-slayer Anthony Edwards will change all that.
Now, the Lynx are still built for this. Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Alanna Smith link up nicely, much like Karlie Samuelson from downtown. If Napheesa Collier (20.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists) becomes one of the best players in the league, then Minny will be one of the top teams.
Phoenix Mercury
Are the Mercury falling? The GOAT, Diana Taurasi, has hung up her horns, and the big Brittney Griner has joined Skylar Diggins on the next desert highway out of town. Ditto for Natasha Cloud. It’s time to retool the roster around one star that still shines bright from the embers of the ashes—former Chicago champion Kahleah Copper.
Unicorn Satou Sabally and the great Alyssa Thomas give Phoenix a new Big Three. Meanwhile, Sami Whitcomb heads a proven supporting cast with potential across the board. Yet the Suns’ sister franchise longs for the depth of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. But then again, look where that got them. Heating up after cooling down, the Mercury are ready to rise again.
Seattle Storm
Last season, Seattle sought your super-team consideration; this time, they come in glittering yet without their gold. Jewell Loyd will ring up the slots out in Las Vegas. Even so, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins are still a dynamic duo in the town that was once Sue’s. They could even form another holy trinity with the second pick in the 2025 draft, Dominique Malonga. Sure, she’s not Paige Bueckers, but the Lyon star could be Seattle’s best big since Aussie Lauren Jackson.
The fellow Frenchwoman will surprise, like Gabby Williams, who earned her way back to the WNBA after almost toppling Team USA by herself in the Gold Medal Game of the Paris 2024 Olympics. They also swiped Lexie Brown, Zia Cooke, and Li Yueru from LA to go along with former Sparks stars Erica Wheeler and Katie Lou Samuelson. This year’s Storm team seems more complete. Umbrellas right back up! The Storm is not over now.
