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The WNBA landscape has shifted drastically over this offseason as some of the biggest names in the league were moved from their longtime homes. Additionally, some teams made significant strides and could be much more dangerous this year.
This is an early WNBA Power Rankings following free agency but ahead of the 2025 Draft, which could prove very impactful this season.
2025 Pre-Draft WNBA Power Rankings
1. New York Liberty
The reigning WNBA champions remain atop the league’s rankings heading into next season as they are the only proven roster going into this year. Unlike many top teams last season, they have managed to keep their core together, undoubtedly giving them a chemistry advantage. Additionally, it’s hard to speculate that any new roster will be able to take down this incredibly talented team without seeing it.
2. Indiana Fever
While this could be presumptuous, the Indiana Fever should be among the most feared teams in the WNBA. The Fever got off to a terrible start last year and made the playoffs as a competitive team.
Considering that, when they’ve also had the best free agency, it’s clear that they are a force to be reckoned with. This doesn’t even account for Caitlin Clark’s development, which, by next season, could put her in legitimate conversations with A’ja Wilson.
3. Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are the easy pick to be second behind the Liberty, but they don’t have quite the same firepower as the Fever now hold. The team remained roughly the same through free agency, which means they didn’t get worse but didn’t get much better.
Indiana made significant roster improvements with DeWanna Bonner and Sophie Cunningham, and their young talent will continue to grow under an improved coaching staff led by Stephanie White. For that reason, it’s hard to put them above Indiana.
4. Las Vegas Aces
The Las Vegas Aces will be one of the most interesting teams in the league this season, and it’s hard to predict how well they’ll do. They lost one of the best players in the WNBA, Kelsey Plum, but they still have easily the best player in the league, Wilson. They also lost Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes to the Golden State Valkyries.
Martin was selected in the expansion draft, and Hayes, the reigning Sixth Woman of the Year, signed to Golden State in free agency. It will be up to Wilson’s ability to lead the team by herself, but she’s proven to be more than capable of dominating the WNBA, so they still have a great chance of competing.
5. Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks are another interesting team. They have a high ceiling and a low floor, which can be said about any team, but it’s especially true with the Sparks. Los Angeles was awful last season, finishing dead last in the WNBA, but their future looks much more promising.
Rickea Jackson shined last season, averaging over 13 PPG in her rookie season, and luckily for her, she’ll be getting some help this year. Along with signing star guard Kelsey Plum in free agency, the Sparks will also get a healthy Cameron Brink back at some point, which will help solidify a very talented big three. If the trio can remain healthy, they could help push the Sparks to compete in the playoffs.
6. Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream significantly improved over the offseason, adding WNBA legend Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, who averaged over 13 PPG and over five rebounds. These two will majorly impact the roster, as the Dream now has a very talented frontcourt.
Defenses will have a nightmare guarding this duo in the paint. Though they lost Tina Charles, who could have been an even better pairing with Griner, they have definitely improved and will have a great shot at the playoffs.
7. Phoenix Mercury
Though the Phoenix Mercury added a lot of talent over the offseason in Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sybally, they lost the heart of their team in Griner. This isn’t to say they won’t be able to compete, but the team will look much different next year, and they’ll have to navigate losing one of the best players in the league.
They also lost legend Diana Taurasi to retirement, which was another huge blow. Even so, they still have star Kaleah Copper, and she could lead this team to the playoffs despite the significant losses.
8. Dallas Wings
Like the Sparks, the Dallas Wings were among the league’s worst teams last year. Fortunately, this enabled them to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, otherwise known as the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes.
Anyone still having doubts that Paige was going to the Wings, go ahead and dead those rn, this all but confirms that she is😌 https://t.co/vSXpGZL9Ui pic.twitter.com/Lv4oT3FD3Z
— J (@JN21666) March 19, 2025
They did lose a star in Sybally, but they should still see a significant improvement next season. Along with adding NaLyssa Smith and DiJonai Carrington, Bueckers will immediately impact her rookie season. Though it may not be as drastic as Clark’s, she will undoubtedly start to turn this franchise around.
9. Chicago Sky
Unfortunately, the Chicago Sky, who lost their leading scorer, Chennedy Carter, didn’t make any significant strides this offseason to be considered a true playoff contender. Last season had its ups and downs for the Sky, but ultimately, they finished last in their conference.
While losing Carter hurts, they surrounded star Angel Reese with players who can make an impact. They’ll certainly do better than last year, but they don’t yet have the talent to compete for a title.
10. Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm’s most significant move this offseason was trading for the No. 2 overall pick. While this could be a franchise player, they likely won’t have the same immediate impact that Clark or even Reese had on their teams last year. It will take many more improvements over the next couple of seasons for them to be considered contenders.
11. Washington Mystics
Last season, the fourth-worst team in the WNBA made no effort to improve their roster, which is somewhat confusing. It’s hard to put them anywhere other than where they finished last year. Had the Connecticut Sun not had as lackluster of an offseason, the Mystics could be in their place at 12.
12. Connecticut Sun
To be fair, the Sun’s offseason wasn’t terrible, but they got significantly worse. That said, they managed to get two high first-round picks in this year’s draft that could be very helpful in the long run.
For what their intention was, this was an excellent offseason for their future. Connecticut is in the middle of a rebuild and isn’t trying to be a contender. Perhaps their first-round picks this year could help them reach that status over the next few seasons.
13. Golden State Valkyries
The Golden State Valkyries’ first season in franchise history likely won’t be the worst in the WNBA, but it’s hard to put a team that was somewhat randomly assembled ahead of any established team in the WNBA.
Granted, they got to select who they wanted in the expansion draft, but they aren’t starting their season with any huge superstars. It will take some time for them to begin competing as a playoff team, but that’s to be expected with a brand-new franchise.
