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The 2024 WNBA season delivered record-breaking growth across attendance and broadcast ratings, fueled in part by the arrival of guard Caitlin Clark and the spotlight on the Indiana Fever.
In the 2025 WNBA GM Survey, Clark was the top choice among general managers as the player they’d most want to sign if starting a franchise today. Not coincidentally, the Fever were selected as the most fun team to watch and most improved team as the 2025 season begins.
The WNBA is riding the momentum surrounding women’s basketball, highlighted by a historic 2024 Finals matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty in the most-watched WNBA Finals in 25 years. While the Liberty ultimately won the Championship, their Finals opponent enters 2025 as the title favorites. In the survey, 60% of respondents picked Minnesota to win it all this season, with its defensive dominance as a big reason why. The Lynx are heavily favored as the top defensive team, with Napheesa Collier once again recognized as the WNBA’s best defender. The reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year is also the leading pick to win the 2025 Kia WNBA MVP award.
WNBA GMs responded to 40 different questions about the best teams, players, coaches and offseason moves. General managers were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel. Percentages are based on the pool of respondents to that particular question, rather than all 13 GMs.
>>The results of last year’s GM Survey are available here.
PREDICTIONS
Which team will win the 2025 WNBA Finals?
1. Minnesota – 60%2. New York – 20%T-3. Indiana – 10%T-3. Las Vegas – 10%
PLAYERS
Who will win 2025 Kia WNBA MVP?
1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota – 67%2. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 25%3. Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 8%
If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the WNBA, who would it be? Â
1. Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 50%2. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 33%>> Also receiving votes: Napheesa Collier (MIN); Dominique Malonga (SEA)
Which player forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments?
1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 33%T-2. Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 25%T-2. Breanna Stewart, New York – 25%>> Also receiving votes: Alyssa Thomas (PHX); Napheesa Collier (MIN)
Which player is most likely to have a breakout season?
1. Satou Sabally, Phoenix – 20%>> Also receiving votes: Maddy Siegrist (DAL), Marina Mabrey (CON); Kelsey Plum (LAS) Gabby Williams (SEA); Aliyah Boston (IND); Rickea Jackson (LAS); Rhyne Howard (ATL); Brittney Griner (ATL)
Who is the best point guard in the WNBA?
T-1. Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 50%T-1. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas – 50%
Who is the best shooting guard in the WNBA?
1. Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 33%T-2. Kayla McBride, Minnesota – 25%T-2. Sabrina Ionescu, New York –25%>> Also receiving votes: Arike Ogunbowale (DAL); Jackie Young (LVA)
Who is the best forward in the WNBA?
T-1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota – 33%T-1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 33%3. Breanna Stewart, New York – 25%4. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix – 8%
Who is the best center in the WNBA?
1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 50%2. Jonquel Jones, New York – 33%3. Brittney Griner, Atlanta – 17%
OFFSEASON
Which team made the best overall moves this offseason? (via free agency, trades and Draft)
1. Indiana – 64%2. Dallas – 18%>> Also receiving votes: Phoenix; Chicago
Which player acquisition will make the biggest impact?
1. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix – 50%2. Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles – 30%3. Satou Sabally, Phoenix – 20%
What will turn out to be the most underrated player acquisition?
T-1. Sophie Cunningham, Indiana – 17%T-1. Ariel Atkins, Chicago – 17%T-1. DiJonai Carrington, Dallas – 17%
>> Also receiving votes: DeWanna Bonner (IND); Natasha Cloud (NYL); Sami Whitcomb (PHX); Courtney Vandersloot (CHI); Kayla Thornton (GSW); Alyssa Thomas (PHX)
What was the most surprising move of the offseason?
1. DeWanna Bonner, Indiana – 33%T-2. Brittney Griner, Atlanta – 17%T-2. Brionna Jones, Atlanta – 17%>> Also receiving votes:  Natasha Howard (IND); Satou Sabally (PHX); Kelsey Plum (LAS); Natasha Cloud (NYL)
Which team will be most improved in 2025? Â
1. Indiana – 42%2. Chicago – 33%3. Atlanta – 17%4. Los Angeles – 8%
ROOKIES + INTERNATIONAL
Who will win 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year? Â
1. Paige Bueckers, Dallas – 73%2. Dominique Malonga, Seattle – 18%3. Sonia Citron, Washington – 9%
Which rookie will be the best player in five years?
1. Dominique Malonga, Seattle – 60%2. Paige Bueckers, Dallas – 40%
 Which rookie was the biggest steal at where she was selected in the Draft?
T-1. Dominique Malonga, Seattle – 20%T-1. Aaliyah Nye, Las Vegas – 20%T-1. Makayla Timpson, Indiana – 20%>> Also receiving votes: Sarah Ashlee Barker (LAS); Anastasiia Kosu (MIN); Hailey Van Lith (CHI); Aziaha James (DAL)
Who is the best international player in the WNBA?
1. Jonquel Jones, New York – 50%T-2. Ezi Magbegor, Seattle – 17%T-2. Dominique Malonga, Seattle – 17%>> Also receiving votes: Leonie Fiebich, (NYL); Satou Sabally (PHX)
Which country (outside of the U.S.) is producing the best WNBA talent right now?
1. France – 92%2. Germany – 8%
DEFENSE
Who is the best defensive player in the WNBA?
1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota – 33%2. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix– 25%3. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 17%>> Also receiving votes: Brittney Sykes (WAS); Ezi Magbegor (SEA); Breanna Stewart (NYL)
Who is the best interior defender in the WNBA?
1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 67%T-2. Ezi Magbegor, Seattle – 17%T-2. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota – 17%
Who is the best perimeter defender in the WNBA?
1. DiJonai Carrington, Dallas – 27%T-2. Jackie Young, Las Vegas – 18%T-2. Brittney Sykes, Washington – 18%>> Also receiving votes: Alyssa Thomas (PHX); Jordin Canada (ATL); Bridget Carleton (MIN); Natasha Cloud (NYL)Â
Which team will be the best defensive team in the WNBA?
1. Minnesota – 73%>> Also receiving votes: Seattle; Las Vegas; New York
COACHES
Who is the best head coach in the WNBA?
1. Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota – 83%2. Becky Hammon, Las Vegas – 17%
Which head coach is the best manager/motivator of people? Â
1. Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota – 36%T-2. Becky Hammon, Las Vegas – 27%T-2. Stephanie White, Indiana – 27%4. Sandy Brondello, New York – 9%
Which head coach makes the best in-game adjustments?
1. Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota – 50%2. Becky Hammon, Las Vegas – 33%3. Sandy Brondello, New York – 17%
Which head coach runs the best offense? Â
T-1. Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota – 45%T-1. Becky Hammon, Las Vegas – 45%3. Karl Smesko, Atlanta – 10%
Which new or relocated head coach will make the biggest impact on his/her new team? Â Â
1. Stephanie White, Indiana – 50%2.Tyler Marsh, Chicago – 40%3. Karl Smesko, Atlanta – 10%
Which active player will make the best head coach someday? Â
1. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas– 36%2. Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago – 18%>> Also receiving votes: Bridget Carleton (MIN); Georgia Amoore (WAS); Rachel Banham (CHI); Lindsay Alle (CON); Alysha Clark (SEA)
Which retired player who isn’t already coaching in the W should be? Â
T-1. Dawn Staley – 18%T-1. Lisa Leslie – 18%T-1. Candice Dupree – 18%T-1. Sue Bird – 18%>> Also receiving votes: Maya Moore; Candace Parker; Katie Smith
MISCELLANEOUS
Which 2 teams will lead their conference in the Commissioner’s Cup to reach the championship game? Â
1. Minnesota (West) vs. New York (East) – 50%2. Las Vegas (West) vs. New York (East) – 25%3. Minnesota (West) vs. Indiana (East) – 17%4. Las Vegas (West) vs. Indiana (East) – 8%
Which team will be the most fun to watch?
1. Indiana – 75%>> Also receiving votes: Phoenix; Las Vegas; Dallas
Which team has the best home-court advantage?
1. New York – 50%2. Indiana – 42%3. Las Vegas – 8%
Which team has the most promising young core?
1. Indiana – 50%2. Los Angeles – 30%>> Also receiving votes: Las Vegas; Dallas
Which player is the most athletic?
1. Kahleah Copper, Phoenix – 36%2. Brittney Sykes, Washington – 27%3. Dominique Malonga, Seattle – 18%>> Also receiving votes:  Napheesa Collier (MIN); A’ja Wilson (LVA)
Which player is the best passer? Â
1. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas – 75%2. Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 25%
Which player is the best leader? Â
T-1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota – 42%T-1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 42%>> Also receiving votes: Breanna Stewart (NYL); Natasha Cloud (NYL)
Who is the most versatile player in the WNBA? Â
1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota– 42%2. Breanna Stewart, New York – 25%>> Also receiving votes:  Jackie Young (LVA); Gabby Williams (SEA); Satou Sabally (PHX);Arike Ogunbowale (DAL)
Which player has the best basketball IQ?
1. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas – 36%T-2. Caitlin Clark, Indiana – 18%T-2. Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago – 18%>> Also receiving votes: Napheesa Collier (MIN); Alyssa Thomas (PHX); Breanna Stewart (NYL)
Which player would you want taking a shot with the game on the line?
1. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas – 25%T-2. Sabrina Ionescu, New York – 17%T-2. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas – 17%T-2. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota– 17%>> Also receiving votes:  Caitlin Clark (IND); Courtney Williams (MIN); Breanna Stewart (NYL)
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