2025 WNBA: Supercharged WNBA Season Set to Get Underway
by Tyler Doty
2025 Season Power Rankings
WNBA's preseason power rankings have the New York Liberty ranked in first place, and they indicate that the 2024 defending champions need to remain an overpowering presence. The Minnesota Lynx, who gave the Liberty such a challenging rivalry during last season's Finals, are ranked second behind the Liberty and are looking to overcome their disappointment with their core roster intact.
In addition, the league introduced a new postseason format in 2025 where it shifts to a best-of-seven series for the Finals, like professional leagues.
The 2022 and 2023 title-winning Las Vegas Aces are also among the strongest challengers. They will be hoping to reclaim the league's top spot after a surprise playoff loss in a shocking, premature postseason defeat a year ago.
The Seattle Storm, whose big vet signings and new acquisition of dynamic up-and-coming players place them at number four in the standings, and the Indiana Fever, due in large part to the overall buzz about Caitlin Clark and their astute offseason moves, complete the top five.
Valkyries Extend WNBA Reach
The league expands to 13 teams this season with the addition of the Valkyries, the first expansion team since 2008. They make their first regular-season game tonight against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Valkyries are guided by head coach Natalie Nakase, who made WNBA history as its first-ever Asian American head coach. Nakase is a veteran coach with experience as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces, where she assisted in claiming consecutive championships in 2022 and 2023.
Nakase's coaching background also includes time with the Los Angeles Clippers in addition to foreign-based coaching assignments with Japan and Germany.
Most significantly, the Valkyries did some surprising roster adjustments, including waiving UConn star Kaitlyn Chen, the final selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Despite fan favor and promotional efforts, Chen was waived ahead of the season-opening game.
Waived as well was Canadian Olympian Laeticia Amihere after an impressive preseason, leading one to question the roster approach of the team.
Clark Set to Galvanize the League
Clark begins her second season with the Fever after her freshman campaign changed the team into its first postseason team since 2016. Clark was the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year and continues to be a driving force behind the league's growth.
Clark was the choice of the top player to construct a franchise around in the 2025 GM survey (50%) and finished tied as the top point guard and shooting guard. The Fever, with Clark and new addition DeWanna Bonner, should be one of the most improved and exciting teams.
The Fever open the season Saturday with a game versus the Chicago Sky.
Tough Odds Already on the Board
The Liberty (+220 on FanDuel), winners of the 2024 WNBA Finals, received only 20% of the GM vote to repeat as champions. Of note, Breanna Stewart (+1400) and Jonquel Jones (+1300) were essentially snubbed in MVP and Defensive Player of the Year voting, respectively.
The Lynx (+370) are a favorite to win the 2025 title, getting 60% of the vote. Napheesa Collier (+300), the forward, is among the front-runners for MVP with 67% of the vote, following a year in which she led the Lynx to a franchise-high 30 wins and a Finals appearance.
The Aces (+370) also remain in the running, benefitting from the addition of Jewell Loyd.
Paige Bueckers, the 2025 WNBA Draft first overall selection, is projected to capture Rookie of the Year (-370), with 73% of the GMs selecting her as she gets settled in with the Wings.
