2026 WNBA Season Preview

After another exciting offseason and draft process, the 2026 WNBA season is upon us!  In this post, I included predictions for the standings, playoffs, and awards (I included top-3 for each award, though most only have one vote per award instead of 3), while also including an analysis of each team.  In the analysis, I also included an X-Factor who is a role player who could make a big impact for the team.  As a note, I discussed players who might have been waived from teams since I wrote most of these predictions and analyses prior to the final wave of cuts that occurred; my apologies about any confusion upon reading these and not seeing any players in the roster.

 

 

Predicted Standings

1. Las Vegas Aces
2. New York Liberty
3. Atlanta Dream
4. Indiana Fever
5. Los Angeles Sparks
6. Minnesota Lynx
7. Phoenix Mercury
8. Dallas Wings
9. Golden State Valkyries
10. Chicago Sky
11. Washington Mystics
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Connecticut Sun
14. Seattle Storm
15. Portland Fire

 

Finals Prediction

1 Las Vegas Aces beats 2 New York Liberty 4-2

I have no idea, so let’s just go with the top two teams.

 

 

Awards

MVP

1. A’ja Wilson, LVA
2. Breanna Stewart, NYK
3. Nneka Ogwumike, LAS

 

Rookie of the Year

1. Olivia Miles, MIN
2. Georgia Amoore, WAS
3. Azzi Fudd, DAL

 

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Alyssa Thomas, PHX
2. Gabby Williams, GSV
3. A’ja Wilson, LVA

 

Sixth Woman of the Year

1. Jewell Loyd, LVA
2. Sophie Cunningham, IND
3. Maddy Siegrist, DAL

 

Most Improved Player

1. Rickea Jackson, CHI
2. Haley Jones, POR
3. Dorka Juhasz, MIN

 

Coach of the Year

1. Karl Smesko, ATL
2. Lynne Roberts, LAS
3. Cheryl Reeve, MIN

 

All-WNBA

1. A’ja Wilson, LVA
2. Breanna Stewart, NYK
3. Nneka Ogwumike, LAS
4. Caitlin Clark, IND
5. Alyssa Thomas, CON
6. Angel Reese, ATL
7. Paige Bueckers, DAL
8. Jackie Young, LVA
9. Allisha Gray, ATL
10. Jonquel Jones, NYL

 

All-Defense

1. Alyssa Thomas, PHX
2. Gabby Williams, GSV
3. A’ja Wilson, LVA
4. Alanna Smith, DAL
5. Saniya Rivers, CON
6. Ariel Atkins, LAS
7. Natasha Mack, PHX
8. Veronica Burton, GSV
9. Jordin Canada, ATL
10. Breanna Stewart, NYL

 

All-Rookie

1. Olivia Miles, MIN
2. Georgia Amoore, WAS
3. Azzi Fudd, DAL
4. Flau’jae Johnson, SEA
5. Madina Okut, ATL

 

 

Analysis

1: Las Vegas Aces

I think Vegas will be better this year after taking a while to figure out their team.  They returned their starting lineup and top-2 players off the bench from last season and still managed to get deeper, which is absolutely insane.  A’ja Wilson is one of the best players in the WNBA who can do everything on the court at a high level, including defending, finishing, shooting, passing, rebounding, and shot blocking; she is so much fun to watch and is absolutely dominant.  After succeeding as the third option for most of her prime, Jackie Young thrived as a second option last year, as she especially had success as a playmaker and efficient scorer; I think it’s possible that she has a huge year this year.  I’m not sure what Chelsea Gray is at this point, as she has thrived in 3x3 leagues, but yet hasn’t been as good during her last two seasons; that said, she is still a good shooter and playmaker while being a good defender.  They also have Jewell Loyd (an aggressive scorer who thrived in a sixth woman role), NaLyssa Smith (a great finisher and cutter who has thrived as a 4 for them), Dana Evans (an aggressive guard who has developed a nice jumper), Kierstan Bell (a solid defender who started a bunch for them), Stephanie Talbot (a solid shooting forward), and Brianna Turner (an amazing defender who hasn’t gotten as much playing time over the last two seasons).  I am really excited to see this team since I think they will be better, especially after figuring out how everyone fits.

X-Factor: Up until the end of last season, Vegas often deployed another big alongside Wilson, usually going with Kiah Stokes, who was a good defender though poor offensive player.  If they wanted to play two bigs with defensive ability, Brianna Turner is the natural fit.  Turner is an elite defender who was a good finisher in the paint with Phoenix, although she doesn’t take a ton of shots.  Another way of wording all of this is that Turner is a better version of Stokes, which I think can make her an easy fit.  Something I am intrigued by is the fact that her playing time was limited the last two seasons; while Chicago had a bunch of bigs, I’m surprised that Indiana couldn’t find more minutes for her.

 

2: New York Liberty

New York has another season where they went all out on top-level talent while also still having some nice depth pieces.  As long as she is there and in her prime, Breanna Stewart is going to be their superstar, as she is elite at everything on the court; one thing to monitor is that her 3 has fallen off a cliff over the last two seasons, though she is still such an elite talent that I’m not worried about this.  Despite struggles with efficiency over her last couple seasons, Sabrina Ionescu is an elite offensive talent who is a great scorer and playmaker, making her a great second option; it is worth monitoring that she is already injured.  After a bit of a down year for New York, they signed Satou Sabally, who is such a skilled forward on offense that should play really well alongside their stars; the biggest questions I have are her injuries and struggles from 2.  Jonquel Jones has embraced her role as a third or fourth option on this team, which is insane because she is a star; she has thrived as a center for them while dominating in the paint on both ends, which is even more enhanced when she stretches the floor.  They also have Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (a 3-and-D wing returning from injury who is a sneaky playmaker), Leonie Fiebich (a sharpshooter off the ball), Marine Johannes (an efficient scorer and solid shooter), and Rebecca Allen (a solid but streaky shooter with nice size).  The only issue I have with this team (if they are healthy) is their playmaking; while they have multiple stars who can be playmakers, Ionescu has played at her best when playing alongside a traditional point guard, which they don’t have at this time who is a guarantee to make the roster.

X-Factor: This will sound like a strange thing to nitpick at first, but I have concerns about their playmaking around Sabrina Ionescu.  While they have a lot of forwards who can handle the ball, Ionescu struggled over when she didn’t have a traditional point guard in the starting lineup with her.  Out of their players who are going to make a roster spot who have WNBA experience, is Betnijah Laney-Hamilton their best option when not accounting for star forwards like Breanna Stewart?  That’s not ideal since she has been more of an off-ball player over the last few years, but she is was more on-ball in 2020 and 2021.  I’m not sure this is the best idea since she is coming off an injury, but they need to do something to help Ionescu with her efficiency.

 

3: Atlanta Dream

I am really high on Atlanta this year, though health can dictate a lot; that said, I think their new additions can help.  Rhyne Howard has been their top offensive option for a few years, and while her efficiency and shot selection have left a lot to be desired, she is a great athlete with amazing size who is able to get to her spots easily; she has also improved dramatically as a playmaker and defender.  I’m not sure if Allisha Gray leading Atlanta in scoring was a fluke, but she is a great shooter and scorer who can do a lot on offense, including some sneaky playmaking.  I know that Angel Reese is polarizing due to the efficiency, but she is an amazing rebounder who is also a good playmaker when going downhill; while she had a lot of turnovers in Chicago, I think she can be so much better this year when playing on an offense that is actually competent, especially since I’m sure coach Karl Smesko will know how to utilize her.  They also have Jordin Canada (an excellent defender and playmaker despite struggles with efficiency), Brionna Jones (an All-Star who is a great defender and finisher, though she will likely miss most of the year due to an injury), Naz Hillmon (an aggressive 4 who is a great defender and had a breakout year offensively), Te-Hina PaoPao (a combo guard who found instant success as a shooter and secondary playmaker with some defensive chops), Madina Okut (a rookie who is raw but a great rebounder and rim protector), and Isobel Borlase (a solid rookie point guard who is still a little raw but is improving rapidly).  It’s possible that this doesn’t work, but they were awesome last year and I think are better this year; it’s possible they even end up at the top of the standings.

X-Factor: Given her playing style and what happened in Chicago, I think it’s clear that Angel Reese operates best with a 4 or 5 who can space the floor; I also think this would benefit Rhyne Howard.  Despite the fact that Naz Hillmon had a breakout season last year (especially as a shooter), she still made fewer than a third of her 3’s, which might not be enough if they start her with Brionna Jones injured (even though Jones isn’t a good shooter, she has a high IQ and has succeeded alongside bigs who weren’t good shooters).  If Hillmon is able to improve her shot a tiny bit, that would make the offense so much better and can help out significantly.  As it is, she is a great finisher who plays very hard on both ends of the court.

 

4: Indiana Fever

After a successful season last year, I think they have a lot they can build on and have the potential to improve dramatically.  After a sensational rookie year where she showcased her elite shooting and playmaking, Caitlin Clark is looking to bounce back from a tough sophomore season where she was injured for most of the year and struggled when she played; the other thing to continue to watch is if she can improve on defense, where she is still bad.  While she has always been a star who I thought was underrated, Kelsey Mitchell had her best season to date last year as she was elite as a shooter and scorer while also demonstrating the playmaking she showcased before Clark was drafted.  While a star, there is a case to be made that Aliyah Boston is the biggest swing of the season; while she had her best season last year and was clearly a star on both ends of the court, the fit between her and Clark during Clark’s rookie year was always awkward and never clean, which is something that I think would have benefited them this season if they had more time to work out their kinks.  They also have Myisha Hines-Allen (a versatile forward who has fit alongside stars well due to her off-ball movement and finishing), Sophie Cunningham (an elite shooter who can score efficiently from anywhere, especially off the catch), Lexie Hull (a good shooter who is also a good off-ball mover), Monique Billings (a solid big who can guard either 4’s or 5’s effectively), Tyasha Harris (a reliable 2-way guard coming off an injury), Raven Johnson (a rookie who will likely succeed as a defender even if her offense doesn’t translate), and Damiris Dantas (a steady backup big who has years of experience).  I’m interested to see what lineup they use and how their defense is, but I still think they will be good.

X-Factor: This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion, but I would love it if Indiana could play Caitlin Clark off the ball a little more.  Despite the fact that she is elite on the ball, I think it’s best for sustainability considering that she is coming off an injury and plays such a draining game that you don’t want her to burn out prior to the playoffs.  This year, their two best bets are Raven Johnson (who I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on as a rookie) and Tyasha Harris, who has proven that she can be a combo guard despite coming off an injury.  She had a breakout season during her last year in Connecticut where she demonstrated a great 2-way ability due to her shooting, secondary playmaking, off-ball movement, and feisty defense.  If she is recovered from her injury and plays like she did in 2024, I think Clark will love playing alongside her because she makes the right plays on offense and will take the tougher matchups on defense.

 

5: Los Angeles Sparks

After just missing the playoffs last season, I think L.A. is primed to take a jump this year.  I know people will argue that this is Kelsey Plum’s team, but Nneka Ogwumike is now their best player once she returned to L.A. after two strange years in Seattle; even at the age of 35, she is an elite forward who can do it all on the court at a high level.  In her first year in L.A., Plum was a superstar, as she continued to showcase her elite scoring ability while also improving her playmaking; I think she will be a great fit with Ogwumike.  Dearica Hamby has always been an underrated talent due to playing a smaller role in Las Vegas, but she has demonstrated her star talent in L.A.; she is an elite finisher, versatile and talented defender, and consistent rebounder who can fit easily alongside other stars.  They also have Ariel Atkins (an amazing 3-and-D shooting guard who is also an underrated playmaker), Cameron Brink (a highly touted big with high upside, though she has struggled with injuries and adjustments to start her career), Erica Wheeler (a talented point guard who can succeed on both ends of the court either as a starter or off the bench), Rae Burrell (a solid off-ball wing with nice size), and Emma Cannon (a combo forward with a solid jumper).  While I wonder if they have a reliable rim protector (unless Brink makes a massive leap), I still think they are such a talented team and should make the playoffs.

X-Factor: Despite Kelsey Plum’s improvement as a playmaker, I still think of her as more of a scoring guard; in my opinion, their only other proven reliable point guard is Erica Wheeler, who is coming off a bounce back season.  Wheeler is a great playmaker and shooter on offense who accepted the fact that she is more reliable from 3 than she is when driving last season, resulting in incredible efficiency.  On defense, her aggressiveness and competitiveness easily outweighs her slight frame, making her a very good defender.  I think she can thrive either off the bench or as a starter; even though she struggled after she was demoted to a bench role in Seattle, I think that was more because Seattle was more focused on getting talent and names without caring about fit, causing Wheeler to be in awkward situations that she couldn’t succeed in.  I think she will be valuable for this team.

 

6: Minnesota Lynx

I’m not entirely sure what this team will look like this season, especially since their star will be out for a good chunk of the year, but I still think their team and coaching are good enough to remain in the playoff race.  Not having Napheesa Collier for significant time due to her ankle surgery is going to sting, especially since she is one of the best players in the W on both ends of the court; hopefully she recovers and can contribute late in the season and be ready for the playoffs.  This year will likely be the Kayla McBride show while Collier is injured, which she hasn’t gotten to showcase fully since she was in Vegas (even in that situation she was still playing with a young A’ja Wilson); she is an elite shooter who I think could thrive if they play a spread and small-ball style, which I think they will with some of their better players.  After being a bit of a nomad for a few years, Courtney Williams has starred in her role in Minnesota, as she has been a great shooter and turned herself into an elite playmaker; this season will allow her to take more shots, which will have it’s ups and downs due to her shot selection, but it could be fun.  They also have Natasha Howard (a versatile 2-way forward who is a strong finisher and great defender and has shown a willingness to be a focus or a supporting cast member), Olivia Miles (a rookie do-it-all guard on offense who could have a lot of fun playing alongside the star power of this team), Dorka Juhasz (a solid stretch big who is coming back to the W after taking the WNBA season off last year), Nia Coffey (a solid backup forward who is a good defender and has moments where she hits her shots), Maya Caldwell (a steady backup 2-guard who is a solid shooter and finisher), and Anastasiia Kosu (a young forward who was raw as a rookie last year, but is oozing with potential and could have a lot of opportunities to audition this year).  While I think they will make the playoffs, it’s not the end of the world if they don’t since this isn’t indicative of their roster; if nothing else, they will compete.

X-Factor: With Napheesa Collier being injured for a good chunk of this year, the clearest path to filling the void is if Dorka Juhasz makes a jump.  While her shot is inconsistent, she has been a nice stretch big who is also a great finisher at the rim.  The biggest thing to watch is how she is as a defender; she’s been okay defensively, but I always found her a little underwhelming on that end, especially since I don’t feel like she has a good grasp on how to utilize her size and height on that end.  I don’t think it’s fair to expect her to magically be an amazing rim protector, but if she can be a steadier presence on that end, I think that will do wonders.  I think she will improve, which is part of why I have them ranked as high as I do, but she needs to prove it.

 

7: Phoenix Mercury

This is the first team that we’ve reached that I just don’t know what to do with; I feel like they should be good again this year, but I think it will be tougher, especially without Satou Sabally and Maddy Westphal (who is out for the year with an injury).  Alyssa Thomas is still one of the best players in the W, as she is an elite defender, playmaker, and rebounding who is great at finishing at the rim when she has space; even while she is not a reliable shooter, she is so good at so many other player.  While Kahleah Copper looked a bit uncomfortable throughout the year due to injuries, she looked like her normal self in the playoffs, which meant that they had an athletic scoring wing who was able to get to her spots with ease; I think that she will be better this year know that she has experience with Thomas.  They also have DeWanna Bonner (a good defender and aggressive shooter who has a boatload of experience and is insanely competitive), Monique Akoa Makani (a talented shooter and secondary playmaker who fit well alongside Alyssa Thomas), Sami Whitcomb (a good shooter and reliable backup guard), Natasha Mack (a great defensive big who is low maintenance), and Kiana Williams (a solid shooting and backup guard).  I’m a little scared to select them here, but I still can’t justify selecting them any lower.  X-Factor: Theoretically, it doesn’t feel like Natasha Mack would be the best fit with a non-shooter like Alyssa Thomas, but she proved that she was a perfect fit.  While she doesn’t do a ton on offense, she is an excellent defender who is surprisingly versatile for a big.  On offense, she has never reached 4 field goal attempts per game, but she is a great finisher and screen setter.  The most important part of Mack’s game is that she is willing to do the little things while not needing a lot of touches.  She fit so well on this team last year, and I hope that she’s even better this year.

X-Factor: I think Alyssa Thomas’s best offense comes when she is surrounded by shooting, and Monique Akoa Makani was the best shooter on the team.  She was great for Phoenix last year, as her shooting and ball movement was valuable while operating on a low usage rate.  She was also a good defender, which was also a pleasant addition for them, as she could defend either guard position as needed.  She is just the role player that a team could use, and I think she will play a major role for Phoenix again.

 

8: Dallas Wings

I am sure a lot of people would think I am insane for having Dallas so low, but I cannot justify having them higher.  I think they’ll compete for the playoffs, but I have concerns about chemistry, defense, and top-level talent outside of their star, Paige Bueckers.  That said, they are really deep, making it tough to predict who will get playing time.  Bueckers had an amazing rookie year where she showcased that she is a star guard already; while I hope she improves defensively (she was inconsistent on that end, which isn’t shocking for a rookie), she is already one of the best guards in the game, thriving as a scorer and playmaker.  Even before her atrocious season last year, I’m not sold on the fit of Arike Ogunbowale; while an aggressive scorer who has put up monster numbers and has thrived when going one-on-one, she has always had poor shot selection and decision making and often looked lost when playing alongside another playmaker.  If it works, the pairing is great, but I think Ogunbowale needs to improve.  After breaking out in Chicago a few seasons ago, Alanna Smith has become one of the best defenders in the league (is the reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year) and is an awesome rebounder; while she struggled from 3 last year, she is still a great finisher.  They also have Azzi Fudd (an elite shooting rookie who will be a nice low maintenance off-ball player for them), Maddy Siegrist (a skilled scoring forward who had a breakout season last year), Jessica Shepard (a forward/big who is a good finisher and defender), Odyssey Sims (an experienced guard with a really high IQ), Li Yueru (a sharpshooting big who had a breakout season last year), Alysha Clark (a versatile forward who is still a quality role player despite being the oldest player in the league), JJ Quinerly (an aggressive young scoring guard who shot really well from 3 last year), and Aziaha James (an aggressive scoring guard who can improve on efficiency).  Obviously I could be wrong (I have been many times and will be again), but I don’t understand why so many people are acting like they are championship contenders; maybe they heard people mention playoff contenders and got mixed up.

X-Factor: I don’t there is a traditional rim protector on this team, though there are several good defensive forwards.  If they want rim protection, I would suggest they work with Li Yueru on that part of the game.  She had a breakout season last year after being traded to Dallas and thrived as a stretch-5 who was a decent rebounder.  The problem is that she is not a good defender.  The reason why I think that she could become an average rim protector is because she is 6’7 for crying out loud; even just her being in the paint with her long arms should result in her making contact with the ball at least once.  I think improving as a paint defender would really enhance her game and give more options for the team, who I think could struggle defensively at times.

 

9: Golden State Valkyries

I’m not sure what to do with Golden State; while I have them missing the playoffs, I still think they will be a competitive team who is fighting for a spot.  If nothing else, they could have one of the best defenses in the game, akin to their strategy last season.  Veronica Burton had a breakout season that I never would have predicted, as she was an excellent defender and playmaker while also shooting well from deep; even if that was a fluke and she isn’t able to replicate this season to the same level, she should still be a very good player.  I think the addition of Gabby Williams is really strong given her elite defensive ability and versatility; even though she is limited offensively (even last season, when she looked stronger offensively, her efficiency faded), she showed dramatic improvement as a playmaker.  Kayla Thornton had a breakout year for Golden State prior to her injury as she was great defensively and was aggressive at scoring (albeit often inefficient); I hope that she is able to rebound well and look close to what she was prior to the injury.  They also have Tiffany Hayes (a talented scoring guard who has developed a great shot), Janelle Salaün (a forward who is a good defender and rebounder with a really smooth jumper), Cecilia Zandalasini (an amazing shooter who is an underrated player for them), Kiah Stokes (a great defensive big who has largely been a negative on offense), Juste Jocyte (a rookie wing who is improving at both ends while oozing with upside), and Kaila Charles (an efficient 3-and-D wing).  It’s easy to see a path where they have struggles due to offensive inconsistencies, but they at least will compete hard on defense.

X-Factor: Now that Iliana Rupert is pregnant, Golden State has a bit of a hole at the center, especially since one of their tallest players is 6’2 Cecilia Zandalasini.  I can’t believe I’m suggesting that it might be best to trot out Kiah Stokes at points, especially since I didn’t love how much Vegas played her during her tenure there.  She is a great defender who is versatile and can hold up on switches, which will be valued in Golden State.  The problem is that she is a negative on offense; when she was with Vegas, I often said that the best defense was to double team A’ja Wilson and leave Stokes wide open, even if she is at the rim.  While she isn’t a bad defender, she started taking a lot more 3’s over the last couple seasons despite the fact that she is a horrible shooter.  While I would recommend playing small a bunch, I still think Stokes can provide value, especially if they optimize her finishing ability.

 

10: Chicago Sky

I’m not sure to what to make of this team, since they could compete and have a good defense, but I also just don’t trust their top-level talent unless multiple young players make a jump.  I also was ready to rip them for blowing everything about the Angel Reese situation, but they also managed to luck out and stumble into acquiring Rickea Jackson.  I was a little surprised to hear that Skylar Diggins signed with Chicago, but I think that she will continue to be a star despite being 35; while her shooting and scoring are not efficient, she is an elite playmaker who is amazing at changing paces.  I believe that Jackson is primed for a breakout year, especially since I think the new environment and skilled playmakers on this team will allow her to get better looks and help her reign in her chaotic style on offense; while there are inconsistencies with her shot selection and scoring, she is such a talented player and athlete who has shown why I was so high on her entering the draft (I had her 2^nd only behind Caitlin Clark in the 2024 Draft, in which I felt lonely at the time since most had Cameron Brink way ahead of her).  I think that Kamilla Cardosa needs to have a breakout year, especially after Chicago traded Reese; so far she has been solid as a finisher and rebounder, and okay as a defender, but it all feels a bit underwhelming given that she was so hyped entering the draft and is 6’7.  They also have Azura Stevens (a versatile forward who is a great shooter, finisher, rebounder, and defender), Natasha Cloud (an amazing defensive guard who is also a great playmaker and is coming off a more efficient season than usual), DiJonai Carrington (a talented defensive wing who is amazing in transition), Courtney Vandersloot (one of the best point guards of all time who is returning from injury), Elizabeth Williams (an amazing defensive big who I think continues to be underrated), Jacy Sheldon (an aggressive defender who was one of the best perimeter defenders in the league last season when healthy), Rachel Banham (a great shooter), and Gabriela Jaquez (a rookie who can do a little bit of everything).  While I think this team is lost for the present and future, I think they have a few players for the future and a few players who will make them competitive enough this year.

X-Factor: One concern I have about Chicago’s offense is that they have a lot of players who are either not good or inconsistent shooters.  The player who I trust the most from deep is Rachel Banham, who has been a great shooter throughout her entire career.  There is a problem with giving her a ton of minutes: that is the only thing she is great at.  On offense, Banham largely stays outside the perimeter, as she struggles to get into the paint and finish within the perimeter; she also is limited at creating shots.  On defense, she is a negative who struggles to hold her own against just about anyone.  She also doesn’t really rebound and isn’t that good in transition unless she’s running to the corner.  It makes for an interesting conundrum because her shot is so valuable, but she struggles at most other aspects; that’s probably why last year was the first time she topped 20 MPG in her 10-year career.

 

11: Washington Mystics

I think Washington is making progress towards making it back to the playoffs, especially since they hit two slam dunks in the 2025 Draft; that said, I think they are a bit too young to make the playoffs this year.  Sonia Citron is already an All-Star level player while being a great shooter and decision maker; while a solid defender and playmaker, I think she will continue to improve both skillsets.  Kiki Iriafen was much better than I expected as a rookie, as she already is a great defender and rebounder; while she had struggles with finishing, especially outside the restricted area, I think she will improve at that end with more experience, likely making her at least a perennial All-Star.  They also have Shakira Austin (a big with upside on both ends, though she has been a bit inconsistent on offense), Lauren Betts (a rookie big who is amazing in the paint), Georgia Amoore (an aggressive scoring guard with a nice jumper, albeit with inconsistent shot selection and not much height), Michaela Onyenwere (a solid shooter who seems to be more comfortable with her role she gets more experience), Angela Dugalic (a rookie forward willing to do the dirty work), Cotie McMahon (a competitive rookie who might struggle finding her place), and Lucy Olsen (a solid finishing shooting guard who I think can improve her shot).  I don’t think this team is ready to compete yet, but I think they will surprise people given their talent.

X-Factor: Somehow, Washington is at a point in their rebuild where they don’t have any veteran experience; the only players on their team who have played 2 or more seasons in the W are Shakira Austin and Michaela Onyenwere.  It especially feels strange that 26-year-old Onyenwere, who has never played for a team with a winning record and has played 4 playoff games, is a veteran for this team.  Onyenwere has gotten comfortable getting to her spaces and seems willing to play whatever her role is.  If she can help the young players get used to that as well, that would be amazing with establishing the culture going forward.

 

12: Toronto Raptors

Golden State set high expectations for expansion teams last season, but I don’t think Toronto will be able to reach those lofty playoff goals; that said, there will be some interesting things to watch with them.  I have always liked Brittney Sykes, as she is an awesome defender who is a sneaky good playmaker and aggressive scorer; something to watch is that while her efficiency has not been great throughout her career, it fell off a cliff after a hot start last season, which also coincides with her being in a starring role again.  I was very wrong about how Marina Mabrey would play last season, as I predicted that she would lead the league in scoring, yet she had her most inefficient season since her rookie year; she is a talented scorer and solid playmaker who could play really well, though I worry that it will be a similar result in Toronto where she struggles as a primary focus of the offense.  They also have Temi Fagbenle (a traditional big who is a great finisher and defender), Julie Allemand (a great playmaker whose shot is a bit wonky), Kiki Rice (an athletic rookie guard who I think can thrive for them off the bench), Nyara Sabally (a big who has had defensive success in a reserve role as a 4 and 5), Kitija Laksa (a shooting guard with a streaky jumper who was a decent defender as a rookie), Lexi Held (a shooting guard whose shot was streaky as a rookie last year), Kia Nurse (an extremely competitive veteran guard), and Isabelle Harrison (a solid backup forward).  It’s a little bit of an odd lineup, but there are still some things that I think will be fun to watch.

X-Factor: If Toronto decides not to start two bigs, is it crazy to wonder if they would start Isabelle Harrison?  There isn’t anything that she does at an elite level, but she is low maintenance and will compete alongside any stars.  She has also played a role for multiple playoff teams, which is valuable when you’re trying to create a culture.  I think she can end up playing a role for them.

 

13: Connecticut Sun

After several years of very good teams that were never quite good enough to win a championship, Connecticut’s final year prior to moving to Houston will probably not be very good, though there will be things to build on.  Brittney Griner is the most notable name on this roster, as she is one of the best players in WNBA history; while the 35-year-old is nearing the end of her career, she is still a great finisher and defender who can stretch the floor a bit.  That said, I think that Leïla Lacan is their best player after an amazing rookie year; she is a great finisher, an impressive athlete, a good playmaker and a solid playmaker who also has some shooting upside.  They also have Saniya Rivers (an elite defensive guard/wing who had a better rookie year than I expected on both ends and should be a good player), Olivia Nelson-Ododa (a solid 2-way big who likely isn’t a star though should be a good starter), Kennedy Burke (a solid defensive wing who had a breakout season as a shooter), Aneesah Morrow (a great rebounding forward with defensive upside who I want to improve on offense), Aaliyah Edwards (a forward/big who has shown glimpses as a defender, though she’s disappointed on offense), Gianna Kneepkens (a rookie who is a great shooter), Hailey Van Lith (an aggressive scoring guard who struggled as a rookie), Diamond Miller (an athletic forward who has struggled thus far in her young career), Nell Angloma (an athletic young forward who is raw with boatloads up upside).  The season likely won’t be good, but there will be bright spots and excitement for the future with the roster, albeit while they end up in a different city.

X-Factor: A common trend for Connecticut is that they keep building around size and defense without a focus on shooting, making any role players who can shoot very valuable.  Kennedy Burke had a breakout as a shooter last year, as she shot 70 percentage points higher than her previous career high.  She is also a good defender, especially from the perimeter.  If she can shoot even close to what she did last year, she will be really valuable on both ends for this team.

 

14: Seattle Storm

After a few weird years of somewhat competing but not caring about chemistry, they are going to be starting a rebuild by default after losing Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, and Jewell Loyd over a couple years.  One problem that Seattle will run into this year is that Ezi Magbegor is going to miss the start of the year with an injury; while she has been inconsistent with injury (part of that is due to Seattle not fully trusting her for some reason), she is still an elite defender.  Magbegor’s injury will give Dominique Malonga several opportunities to prove herself; she was a good rookie due to her skillset and athleticism, though she is still a bit raw and will need more time to develop.  They also have Awa Fam (a rookie big with all sorts of potential due to her interesting skillset), Natisha Hiedeman (a consistent guard who is a good shooter, decent playmaker, and reliable defender), Jordan Horston (an athletic 2-way forward who is returning from an injury), Stefanie Dolson (a sharpshooting big with a boatload of experience), Flau’jae Johnson (an athletic rookie with a nice jumper who will likely get a lot of opportunities this year), Jade Melbourn (a solid defensive wing who has a streaky jumper), and Katie Lou Samuelson (a good shooter who had a tough year returning from maternity leave).  Their team might be rough, but at least they were forced to go the right direction.

X-Factor: Prior to missing last season due to an injury, Horston had a breakout season where she thrived as a finisher and defender, where she was incredibly versatile.  She has struggled mightily with her jumper, but she is still a great player to be a part of a rebuild, especially since she is turning 25 later in May.  Even if she doesn’t end up being a star, I think she should be a very good role player.

 

15: Portland Fire

I believe that Portland made the right decision by focusing on young talent for the start of the franchise, but that means it could be rough for the short term.  I don’t think they have any stars, but Bridget Carleton likely has the highest floor; she is a great shooter and defender who is a versatile forward and is incredibly reliable.  They also have Haley Jones (an all-around skilled wing who I think could break out this year), Karlie Samuelson (a sharpshooting wing), Sug Sutton (a steady and consistent point guard), Luisa Geiselsöder (a stretch big with some interesting upside), Carla Leite (a young guard who is raw but still has intriguing upside), Megan Gustafson (a stretch big coming off a down year), Sarah Ashlee Barker (a versatile guard who struggled as a rookie)¸Emily Engstler (a solid defensive forward with a streaky jumper), and Nyadiew Puoch (an athletic rookie forward).  I could see it being rough, but I think they’re starting out strong; even if the young players they have don’t pan out, they’ll be able to find others that do.

X-Factor: After jumping around the league for a few years, Sutton proved to be a steady presence for Washington, who needed veteran support.  She was a good playmaker, shooter, and defender who competed like crazy and did all the little work.  She was vital for Washington in that regard and I think she can do the same thing for Portland.  It could be rough for a bit, but having Sutton to help weather the storm could prove to be really valuable, especially with setting a culture.

 

 

Who do you think will be good this year?  Who are you excited to watch?  Let me know in the comments!