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Michael Voebel is a senior writer at ESPN
After 28 seasons, the New York Liberty finally won the WNBA title. And they’ll start ESPN’s early look at next season up front as well.
While the champagne corks are still popping for the Liberty, let’s look at how things could play out in 2025, which would include the league’s first expansion team since 2008.
New York should get the bulk of its core back next season. Freshmen Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu and Betnija Laney Hamilton are under contract through 2025. Breanna Stewart is an unrestricted free agent but said last week she would sign a one-year contract with New York. Courtney Vandersloot is also a free agent, so we’ll have to see how that plays out.
“Continuity helps in this league,” said coach Sandy Brondello, who finished her third season with Liberty. “The league is constantly improving, and moving to a new team, it takes time to put your philosophy on the team. Every team changes somewhat every year, but I think we have a really good basic base.”
It’s going to be a busy WNBA season. The lottery draft is November 17, and the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft is December 6. Both will be televised on ESPN. Free agency in early 2025, as well as four coaching vacancies: Dallas, as of Friday, is the latest, joining Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Teams that have already secured key parts of their rosters are given weight in the rankings. (Also, since players will likely be able to opt out of their collective bargaining agreement after the 2025 season, you won’t see many contracts after 2025 until a new CBA is in place.)
A lot will happen between now and next spring, but the top two teams will likely remain where they are in ESPN’s very early power rankings.
2024 rankings: Pre-season | May 20 | May 27 | June 3 | June 10 | June 17 | June 24 | July 1 | July 8 | July 15 | August 19 | August 26 | September 2 | September 9 | September 16
End of 2024: He won the WNBA Championship
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 2
The Liberty’s goal under new ownership in 2019 was to finally win a WNBA title — and they did just that on Sunday. They have the best regular season record and are expected to keep their core together through 2025. Last year’s ace team was the first team to win back-to-back WNBA championships since Los Angeles did it in 2001 and 2002. So it will be a challenge to repeat, but New York It hopes to build on a historic 2024 season.
End of 2024: Lost in the WNBA Finals to New York
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 1
This season has been a huge success for the Lynx. They ranked ninth in our preseason power rankings, jumped to fourth after the first week of games and were then one of four teams to spend time at No. 1 — along with Las Vegas, New York and Connecticut. All five of the Lynx’ starting players are under contract for next season. “What we built this year was really special,” Lynx guard Kayla McBride said. “I’m excited to get to spend more time with this amazing group.”
End of 2024: Lost in the semifinals to New York
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 3
Winning back-to-back titles was hard enough. Trying to get a three-peat proved to be a bridge too far for the Aces, who were the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. A’ja Wilson was named unanimous MVP, and she, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young are all under contract for next season. Kelsey Plum is the Aces’ other key player, and keeping her could make a big difference. The Aces also need another scoring threat inside to help Wilson.
2:29
A’ja Wilson receives her third WNBA MVP award
Aces star A’ja Wilson delivers a speech after accepting the Most Valuable Player Award from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
End of 2024: Lost in the first round to Connecticut
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 6
The Fever returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and were the biggest attendance draw in the WNBA, powered by Rookie of the Year sensation Kaitlin Clark. She was also a first-team all-WNBA selection. Clark and fellow No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston return for 2025. Will free agent Kelsey Mitchell stay in Indiana? She meshed well with Clark in the Fever’s backcourt. With Kelly Krauskopf returning as team president and Amber Cox coming in as the new general manager, expect the Fever to be aggressive in meeting their needs in free agency and trades.
1:55
How Caitlin Clark paved her way as the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year
Chiney Ogwumike looks back on Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking season that led her to become the WNBA Rookie of the Year.
End of 2024: Lost in the first round to Las Vegas
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 5
The Storm seemed to have some chemistry questions by the end of the playoffs, based on coach Noel Quinn’s comments about the effort. They had some really good moments last season but face some uncertainty with All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike hitting free agency after one season in Seattle. If she returns, the Storm can build on the best they did in 2024.
End of 2024: He missed the playoffs
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 8
The Mystics started out 0-12 but surged into contention for a playoff spot once their health began to improve. We don’t know if Elena Delle Donne, who missed the 2024 tournament, will one day return to the WNBA, but with most of the starters returning in 2024 and rookie Aliyah Edwards having a year under her belt, the Mystics could make a good jump after that. season.
End of 2024: Lost in the semifinals to Minnesota
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 4
Somehow, the Sun always seems to get things done, so it’s hard to put it this low. However, it’s also somewhat tempting to cut it since there are so many personnel questions for 2025. Will The Sun’s big three — Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Breonna Jones, all unrestricted free agents — return? Could coach Stephanie White be tempted by another franchise?
End of 2024: Lost in the first round to Minnesota
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 7
The Mercury never lived up to their promise in 2024, but they did make the playoffs under first-year coach Nate Tibbetts. Future Hall of Famer Diana Taurasi has defined the franchise since she was ranked No. 1 in 2004. Will she retire after 20 seasons? We don’t know yet. Taurasi and Brittney Griner are unrestricted free agents. Greiner, who turned 34 on Friday, has said multiple times that she has no intention of leaving Phoenix and believes she has plenty of basketball left.
End of 2024: He missed the playoffs
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 12
The Sparks are still in rebuilding mode and are now also looking for a coach, as Kurt Miller was fired after just two seasons. A season-ending injury to No. 2 pick Cameron Brink in June took a toll on the team, as the Sparks had the worst record in the league and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season. But No. 4 pick Rekia Jackson still had a good rookie year. Another big addition could come in the 2025 draft if the Sparks win the lottery and land the No. 1 pick, which is expected to be UConn guard Paige Bueckers.
End of 2024: Lost in the first round to New York
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 9
Tina Charles, who turns 36 in December, told ESPN in September that she hopes to return to the WNBA in 2025. It seems likely that the Dream would want her to stay, considering everything she brought to Atlanta this season. The franchise’s young star Rhyne Howard has been consistent through all three WNBA seasons, and that should continue. But the Dream are one of four franchises that currently do not have a coach, as Tanesha Wright was fired after the season despite the Dream making the playoffs.
End of 2024: He missed the playoffs
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 11
After reaching the WNBA Semifinals in 2023 and having their best record since the franchise was still in Detroit, things haven’t gone right for the Wings in 2024. Sato Sabally missed 25 games while recovering from a shoulder injury and playing With the German national team. Fellow forwards Natasha Howard and Maddie Siegrist each missed 13 games due to injuries. Guard Arika Ogunbowale had another scoring year (22.2 points per game), but the wings’ struggles cost coach Latricia Trammell her job after just two seasons, as she was fired on Friday. The Wings will now turn to their fifth coach since moving to Dallas in 2016.
End of 2024: He missed the playoffs
Final standings for the 2024 regular season: 10
Post players Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso were on the WNBA’s rookie squad, guard Chennedy Carter made a strong return to the league after missing the 2023 season, and the Sky were in the playoff race for the remainder of the season. But with Reese’s season cut short by a wrist injury – she missed the final six games – the Sky haven’t played well. However, it came as a surprise when coach Teresa Witherspoon was fired after one season, a move to which Reese responded with great dismay on social media.
13. Golden State Valkyrie
An expansion team that begins WNBA competition in 2025
The Valkyries don’t have a player yet, but they do have a new coach in Natalie Nakase, who spent the past three seasons as Becky Hammon’s assistant with the Aces and also has extensive NBA experience. With nothing else to go on, the Valkyries are in last place in the power rankings. For comparison’s sake, the two previous WNBA expansion teams had the worst records in the league in their first seasons: Chicago was 5-29 in 2006, and Atlanta was 4-30 in 2008.
