The WNBA is gearing up for its 30th season following the approval of a significant new collective bargaining agreement in March. With this milestone season, the focus shifts to on-court action, featuring the Las Vegas Aces vying for a fourth championship in five years, the highly anticipated return of Caitlin Clark after missing most of the previous season due to injuries, and the inaugural appearances of expansion teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo.
The Aces retain their core lineup from their recent title triumph, led by the four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson. Wilson, selected as the pre-season AP player of the year by a national media panel, secured a groundbreaking $5 million US supermax contract extension over the next three years, becoming the highest-paid player in WNBA history. Las Vegas has clinched three of the last four championships, with the New York Liberty securing the crown in 2024.
The Liberty, boasting a formidable trio of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu, are poised to challenge the Aces once more. Ionescu, however, will be sidelined for at least the initial weeks of the season due to a foot injury sustained in a pre-season finale. In an effort to bolster their roster, the Liberty signed all-star Satou Sabally in free agency and underwent a coaching change, appointing former Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco as head coach, one of the five new head coaches in the league.
Sandy Brondello, the former Liberty coach, swiftly landed a new coaching role as the head coach of the Tempo, the WNBA’s first team based outside the United States. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, limited to 13 games last season due to injuries, has undertaken a rigorous off-season regimen to regain full fitness and is prepared for the upcoming season.
The imminent season will witness significant free agent movements, with 80% of players exploring new opportunities under the revised collective bargaining agreement. Notable transfers include Nneka Ogwumike returning to Los Angeles, Skylar Diggins joining Chicago to be closer to her hometown, and Sabally relocating to New York, her birthplace.
The Connecticut Sun is set to conclude their tenure in Connecticut this season, with plans to relocate to Houston next year following the franchise’s acquisition by Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. The Sun will pay tribute to their past players and coaches throughout the season, marking the end of a 23-year stint in New England.
Injured star Napheesa Collier of the Lynx, the previous season’s MVP runner-up, will be sidelined until early June as she recuperates from ankle surgery. The Lynx will lean on rookie Olivia Miles, the No. 2 pick in the recent WNBA draft, who has been recognized as the AP pre-season rookie of the year.
The upcoming season will feature a record 216 WNBA regular-season games and events broadcast across various platforms, including ABC/ESPN, CBS, Amazon Prime Video, ION, NBC, USA Sports, and NBA TV. In the AP WNBA power poll, Las Vegas claimed the top spot, followed by the New York Liberty and Atlanta, among others.
This season promises an exciting blend of established stars, rising talents, and new teams, setting the stage for a thrilling 30th year for the WNBA.