The confetti has barely settled on the New York Liberty’s long-awaited first WNBA championship, but it’s never too early to look ahead to how the league’s power dynamics could shift in 2025. After a thrilling postseason that saw the Liberty dethrone the reigning champ Las Vegas Aces and outlast a resurgent Minnesota Lynx in a Finals for the ages, the upcoming free agency period and expansion draft loom large in shaping what promises to be a fascinating 2025 campaign.
Liberty, Lynx Lead the Pack
Fresh off their historic title run, the Liberty open as favorites to repeat in 2025 with much of their core — including superstars Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones — expected to return. Coach Sandy Brondello, who’s long been one of the WNBA’s sharpest minds, pushed all the right buttons in molding this super-team into champions.
But the Lynx showed they’ll be right there challenging New York again after pushing the Liberty to the brink in this year’s Finals. With a healthy Napheesa Collier playing like an MVP alongside the likes of Aerial Powers and Kayla McBride, Minnesota looks poised to contend for years to come under coach Cheryl Reeve.
What we built this year has been really special. I’m excited I get to spend time with this great group even longer.
— Lynx guard Kayla McBride
The Defending Champs Regroup
Supplanted by the Liberty in 2024, the Las Vegas Aces will now face the daunting task of trying to reclaim the throne without two-time Finals MVP Chelsea Gray, who’s an unrestricted free agent. The core of A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young remains formidable, but the Aces need another impact player or two to keep up with the Liberty and Lynx.
The Connecticut Sun also find themselves at a crossroads, with the futures of free agents Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones up in the air. This veteran group has been on the cusp of a title for years now, but has repeatedly fallen just short. GM Stephanie White may need to get creative to finally push Connecticut over the hump.
Intrigue in the Middle of the Pack
This offseason will be absolutely pivotal for the Phoenix Mercury, who face the prospect of life after Diana Taurasi if the GOAT decides to retire after 20 Hall of Fame seasons. Brittney Griner has pledged to stay, but the Mercury will likely need to nail the draft and free agency to rise back into true contender status.
Perhaps the most exciting team to watch will be the Indiana Fever, who rode rookies Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston back to the playoffs in 2024. Clark, in particular, looks like a megastar in the making after winning Rookie of the Year. If the Fever can re-sign Kelsey Mitchell and keep building around their young core, the sky is the limit.
A Fresh Start in Golden State
2025 will also mark a new beginning for the WNBA with the introduction of the league’s 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries. While it remains to be seen what their roster will look like, nabbing a well-respected coach in former Las Vegas assistant Natalie Nakase is an encouraging first step. Recent expansion teams in Chicago and Atlanta struggled mightily out of the gate, but the Valkyries will aim to buck that trend and be competitive from day one.
All in all, the 2025 WNBA landscape promises seismic change and sky-high intrigue. Can the Liberty build a dynasty around their new Big Three? Will the Lynx complete their redemption arc and claim a record fifth title? Or will a contender emerge from the chasing pack to steal the spotlight? As the offseason chess moves unfold, all eyes will be glued to what’s next for a league that somehow keeps leveling up year after year.
