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How will Fever, Liberty, Lynx, Aces fare next WNBA season?
The WNBA season only ended a few days ago, but it’s not too soon to look ahead into what next season might look like — and where each of the league’s 13 (!) teams might end up.
1. New York Liberty
2024 regular season record: 32-8
End-of-season outcome: WNBA champions (beat Lynx 3-2)
After winning the 2024 championship, the Liberty earn the top spot on the ladder heading into next season. New York has most of the core locked down going into the offseason, with Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, Sabrina Ionescu, Nyara Sabally, and Kayla Thornton are all under contract. Breanna Stewart, meanwhile, is an unrestricted free agent, but is widely expected to resign with New York. Fiebich is poised to make another leap in her second season in the WNBA.
The big question is who the Liberty might lose in the expansion draft — one of either Sabally or Thornton could be at risk. Regardless, this team seems poised to lead the pack again next season as it has all year.
2. Minnesota Lynx
2024 regular season record: 30-10
End-of-season outcome: Lost in WNBA Finals (fell to Liberty 3-2)
The Lynx were not expected to be championship contenders this season. But, they finished the season just 5 seconds away from a WNBA championship. Minnesota’s entire starting lineup is under contract again next season, and with Napheesa Collier at the helm, this group seems likely to have another superb season. Natisha Hiedeman and Myisha Hines-Allen are the team’s only two unrestricted free agents who were in the playoff rotation, so this team will have a similar look but one more year of experience under their belt.
3. Las Vegas Aces
2024 regular season record: 27-13
End-of-season outcome: Lost in semifinals (fell to Liberty 3-1)
The Aces fell short of a three-peat after finishing with the fourth-best regular season record. A’ja Wilson had a historic season, but guard play was inconsistent and the team’s defense took a dip. Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, and Alysha Clark are all free agents this summer, and re-signing Plum is likely to be a priority.
Las Vegas should be right back in the mix next season with the same roster, but getting a reliable backup big, and more bench scoring, should help them get back to title contention.
4. Indiana Fever
2024 regular season record: 20-20
End-of-season outcome: Lost in first round (fell to Sun 2-0)
The Fever were the league’s sixth-best team last season, and they were significantly better after the Olympic break. Indiana is probably still a few years away from legitimate championship contention, but Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston will be one year older, and have one more year of building chemistry under their belt.
Clark and Boston both had superb individual seasons last year, and are poised for another jump. In addition, the Fever are unlikely to start 1-8 again.
The big question is: will Kelsey Mitchell return? Mitchell had an excellent season last year, and the Fever will want to prioritize re-signing her.
5. Connecticut Sun
2024 regular season record: 28-12
End-of-season outcome: Lost in semifinals (to Lynx, 3-2)
The Sun finished third last season, and were one game away from another trip to the WNBA Finals. But, Connecticut fell short yet again, and now head into an offseason that could see the team overhauled. The entire core of Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones is headed toward free agency, and this time,
it’s very possible that the franchise will head into a different direction and that this veteran core will head in different directions. If that’s the case, this team will likely take a step back next year — though it’s hard to count out the Sun from being competitive. There are also question marks around whether head coach Stephanie White will return, with the Chicago Sun-Times reporting White is in talks with the Fever and the Sky.
6. Seattle Storm
2024 regular season record: 25-15
End-of-season outcome: Lost in first round (to Aces, 2-0)
The Storm finished with the fifth-best record last season, and provided they re-sign Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams — both free agents — they should be right back in the mix. But, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for a new-look roster with high expectations. There were moment were it seemed the team struggled with effort and energy, leading both head coach Noelle Quinn and Skylar Diggins-Smith to air out grievances in postgame pressers. Jewell Loyd also had a challenging season individually.
7. Los Angeles Sparks
2024 regular season record: 7-31
End-of-season outcome: Did not make playoffs
This might end up being be too high of a spot for the Sparks next season. But, Cameron Brink will be back, Rickea Jackson will be one year better… and they get Paige Bueckers if they win the Draft Lottery in November.
That young core will be competitive alongside veteran Dearica Hamby, who had the best season of her career last year. It really comes down to who they can get in the draft, and how everything will come together. The Sparks are also one of five teams with a head coach vacancy heading into the offseason.
8. Phoenix Mercury
2024 regular season record: 19-21
End-of-season outcome: Lost in first round (to Lynx, 2-0)
There are a lot of questions surrounding the Mercury this offseason. Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi are both free agent, and while Griner is expected to re-sign, Taurasi is still mulling retirement. While this was a postseason team, they were inconsistent all year and fell short of expectations set after they traded for Kahleah Copper.
9. Washington Mystics
2024 regular season record: 14-26
End-of-season outcome: Did not make playoffs
There’s a leadership overhaul in Washington, with ownership letting go of the Mystics’ general manager and coach Eric Thibault. This is a team that could make a sizable jump next season, with all starters returning and rookie Aliyah Edwards set to continue improving.
The big question is whether Elena Delle Donne be back. She sat out the 2024 season, and her return would immediately elevate this team. Regardless, there’s reason to be optimistic about this group, which began the season 0-12, but rallied and fell just one win short of a playoff berth.
10. Dallas Wings
2024 regular season record: 9-31
End-of-season outcome: Did not make playoffs
The Wings had a difficult 2024. Satou Sabally missed the first half of the season, and Maddie Siegrist and Natasha Howard both missed considerable time. Howard is expected to leave this offseason, and Sabally’s status is uncertain given that she’s an unrestricted free agent. Her loss would be detrimental to this squad, which has been led by Arike Ogunbowale these past few years.
11. Atlanta Dream
2024 regular season record: 15-25
End-of-season outcome: Lost in first round (to Liberty, 2-0)
The Dream squeezed their way into a playoff berth, but finished 5 games below .500 and struggled early on. Tina Charles was a bright spot, and though the 36-year-old is a free agent this summer, Atlanta will likely want her back. Rhyne Howard has established herself as the franchise player, but where the Dream go from here remains to be seen.
12. Chicago Sky
2024 regular season record: 13-27
End-of-season outcome: Did not make playoffs
The Sky looked good early on, with rookie Angel Reese having a historic regular season and Chennedy Carter finding her groove. But, since letting go of coach Teresa Weatherspoon, it’s unclear what this team’s identity will look like next season, and if Carter, who is a free agent, will return. The Sky are one of a handful of teams without their own practice facility, and, in turn, drawing free agents will likely be a challenge.
13. Golden State Valkyries
We don’t yet know who will be on the Valkyries roster. But, the league’s previous two expansion teams finished with the league’s worst record in their respective season — Chicago was 5-29 in 2006 and Atlanta was 4-30 in 2008. So, it’s only fair the league’s newest team is projected last. Head coach Natalie Nakasie is bring three years of experience under Becky Hammon, and seems to come in highly regarded. But, until the expansion draft, we just won’t know what this team will look like.
