By nearly every measure, last year's WNBA season was a tremendous success. Attendance figures soared, and television ratings reached new heights. While much of the excitement centered around rookie phenom Caitlin Clark, the WNBA Finals showcased thrilling matchups, particularly between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. The Finals averaged over a million viewers, peaking at an impressive 3.3 million for the exhilarating Game 5 finale, surpassing many NBA games. As the league prepares to kick off its regular season this weekend, the focus will be on maintaining this momentum.
This weekend marks the start of the regular season, featuring several high-stakes matchups. Fans are eagerly anticipating the first regular season appearance of the hyped rookie Paige Bueckers. Additionally, there’s a potential playoff preview between the Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces, along with a Saturday afternoon showdown on network TV between Clark's Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, led by Angel Reese.
Caitlin Clark's inaugural season with the Fever was nothing short of sensational. The rookie finished the season ranking fifth in points and leading in assists across the league. She also made her mark ranking in the top 20 in several other major statistical categories, including rebounds, steals, and even blocks. It was no surprise that she was awarded the Rookie of the Year title.
In her debut season, Clark played the second-most total minutes in the WNBA, only behind Dallas' Arike Ogunbowale. However, her high playing time also led to some challenges, including averaging 5.6 turnovers per game. Compounding this, the Fever struggled defensively, ranking as one of the worst teams in that department. Recognizing these issues, the Fever took decisive action during the offseason by parting ways with their head coach and hiring veteran Stephanie White, who previously led the Fever to the WNBA Finals in 2015.
To bolster their roster, the Fever also signed six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner, who averaged 15 points per game last season with the Connecticut Sun. They further shored up their defense by adding former Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard. With these changes, the Fever currently boast the third-best odds to win the title, suggesting they could be stronger contenders than last year. This is an exciting time for Indiana basketball fans, especially with the Pacers making a splash in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Paige Bueckers, who dominated her college career at UConn, enters the WNBA under immense pressure to turn around the fortunes of the Dallas Wings. In her four seasons at UConn, she lost just 13 games, while the Wings have struggled with consistent losses since their relocation to Texas in 2016. Bueckers, selected as the top overall pick in the recent WNBA Draft, is undoubtedly a talented player, but transforming a franchise that has won only one playoff series in the past 15 years will be a tall order.
Bueckers acknowledged the adjustment she must make to cope with the challenges of the WNBA, stating, "I've come to the realization that I've been extremely blessed and fortunate to be in great situations in high school and college. It's different in the W." Last season, the Wings finished with a dismal 9-31 record. However, Bueckers brings hope and excitement, as she is expected to be a Day 1 starter and is already a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award. In a recent preseason game against the Aces, she scored 10 points, although the Wings faced a significant defeat.
Looking at the Aces, A'ja Wilson continues to be a dominant force in the league. Having won the MVP award in three of the past five seasons, she remains a frontrunner for the title again this year. Last season, Wilson became only the fourth player in WNBA history to achieve three MVP titles, joining legends like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson. Unlike those legends, Wilson’s achievements come in a highly competitive era, which makes her unanimous MVP vote last season all the more remarkable.
Recent surveys among WNBA general managers indicate that Napheesa Collier of the Lynx is predicted to be this year's MVP, with Wilson and Clark also in contention. For the Aces, leveraging Wilson's exceptional performance is crucial, especially after a slightly disappointing season following their championship wins in 2022 and 2023. The challenge now lies in proving that they have continued to improve and are ready to compete at the highest level.
This season marks a significant milestone for the WNBA with the debut of the Golden State Valkyries, the league's first new expansion team since 2008. With more teams set to join the league next season—one in Toronto and another in Portland—the WNBA is on a path to expand to 16 teams by 2028. League commissioner Cathy Engelbert remarked on the growth, stating, "This growth is another testament to the strength of our league and the demand we're seeing from our fans."
While expansion teams often face challenges in their inaugural season, with only one of the last ten finishing with a winning record, the Valkyries can still achieve success by engaging fans, providing a great game experience, and building a loyal following. Success will be measured not just by wins but by fostering community support and excitement around the new franchise.
As the WNBA season unfolds, all eyes will be on these teams and players. With a blend of seasoned stars and promising rookies, the anticipation is palpable as fans gear up for another thrilling season of women's basketball.
