In a couple of brief days, the WNBA will kick off the 2025 marketing campaign. Because the league continues to develop in viewership and recognition, there are numerous gamers and groups price holding a detailed eye on.
Regardless of how issues unfold, the WNBA will likely be making historical past this yr, with the Golden State Valkyries kicking off the primary season within the franchise’s historical past.
Following a busy offseason that noticed quite a few notable gamers change groups, the league’s panorama has undergone some adjustments. Earlier than issues formally get underway, listed here are some storylines to look at within the coming months.
1) Can the new-look Las Vegas Aces get again within the title hunt?
Among the many groups to undergo an enormous change this offseason was the Las Vegas Aces. Their greatest swing was buying and selling guard Kelsey Plum to usher in All-Star guard Jewell Loyd.
Led by arguably the league’s prime expertise in A’ja Wilson, the Aces have had a vice grip on the league. They entered the 2024 marketing campaign seeking to turn into simply the second group in league historical past to finish a three-peat. Vegas ended up falling wanting this purpose, being eradicated by the eventual champion New York Liberty within the postseason.
With the addition of Loyd, the Aces have a brand new high-level scorer within the backcourt. If she and Wilson can set up a practical two-woman sport, Vegas will likely be a tricky group to defend.
Nonetheless armed with a star-studded roster, Vegas has the expertise to contend for a title. The street forward will likely be robust, as a handful of groups received higher. That stated, how the new-look roster can coexist is one thing price monitoring.
2) How will the Chicago Sky’s core look following their newest addition?
Within the 2024 draft, the Chicago Sky solidified their frontcourt for the long run with Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. A yr later, they managed to safe one other touted prospect by drafting Hailey Van Lith.
With Van Lith getting into the fold, the Sky now have one of many WNBA’s most fun younger cores. Reese was an All-Star who put up historic rebounding numbers, and Cardoso confirmed loads of promise in the direction of the tip of the 2024 marketing campaign. Now, the 2 bigs have a dynamic guard who can set the desk for them whereas opening up the ground offensively.
Earlier than Reese suffered a season-ending damage, the Sky had been on the cusp of creating the playoffs. Given her historical past with Van Lith (teammates for one season at LSU), the 2 ought to have the ability to thrive alongside each other rapidly. Now with a complementary core of promising younger expertise, Chicago has turn into a darkish horse group to regulate in 2025 and past.
3) Kelsey Plum taking up a management position on a younger, up-and-coming L.A. Sparks group
To accumulate Jewell Loyd, the Aces needed to half with one other All-Star in Kelsey Plum. She was routed to the L.A. Sparks, the place she’s going to embark on a brand new journey in her WNBA profession.
Just like the Sky, the Sparks have spent the previous two years stockpiling younger expertise. They nabbed Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson within the 2024 draft, although the previous ended up struggling a season-ending ACL damage. With their prime 10 decide this yr, L.A. introduced in Alabama guard Sarah Ashlee Barker to bolster its backcourt depth.
Now surrounded by teammates within the early levels of their careers, Plum finds herself in a veteran management position with the Sparks. As an All-Star with championship expertise, she understands what it takes to win on the highest degree. Given her new scenario, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see what sort of influence Plum can have in L.A. on and off the ground.
4) Can Paige Bueckers ship a powerful rookie marketing campaign?
One of the crucial talked-about gamers this WNBA offseason was Paige Bueckers. Following a powerful school profession at UConn, the highly-touted guard now finds herself on the Dallas Wings.
Final season, Caitlin Clark managed to ship a powerful rookie marketing campaign regardless of the huge expectations set for her. Popping out of faculty with virtually as a lot hype, the strain is now on Bueckers. Although it’s a barely unfair comparability, many will likely be watching to see if she will be able to hit the bottom operating equally to how Clark did final yr.
Along with her capability to do nearly all the pieces on the basketball court docket, Bueckers has the talent set to rise to prominence within the WNBA. After years of ready, followers will lastly get to see her in motion on the professional degree.
5) How huge of a leap will Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever make in 2025?
Heading into this season, by far the largest storyline within the WNBA is Clark and the Fever. Following a busy offseason, this new-look roster has an opportunity to climb the ranks and enter the title dialog in 2025.
Over the previous yr, Clark has turn into one of many greatest mainstream athletes in all of sports activities. Coming off a rookie season the place she shattered a number of information, the star guard may have countless eyes on her to see how she seems to be in yr two.
As for the Fever total, they’ve a bolstered supporting solid round their cornerstone prospect. The entrance workplace sought out dependable veterans like Natasha Howard and DeWanna Bonner to play alongside Indiana’s younger core. Sophie Cunningham is one other notable addition who ought to present a lift for the Fever off the bench.
With extra weapons round her, Clark has what she must proceed her fast ascension to superstardom within the WNBA. If the reigning Rookie of the 12 months can preserve her present trajectory, the Fever might very effectively turn into a bona fide contender this season.
