The 2025 WNBA season kicked off just over one month ago. In order of the current standings, here’s one question each team still needs to answer.
Jump to your team: Las Vegas, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas
[image credit: John McClellan]
8. Las Vegas Aces (5-6, Last Game: LOST TO PHOENIX 70-76)
Q: Will these games without A’ja Wilson help the Aces in the long run?
Expectations for the Las Vegas Aces are perennially high: they have three-time MVP A’ja Wilson, plus All-Stars Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd.
But they lost a lot in the off-season: Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, Alysha Clark, Kate Martin, Sydney Colson, and assistant coaches Tyler Marsh and Natalie Nakase. It took years to build the Aces into a championship juggernaut and one rule of the game is that the wheel keeps turning: to stay elite, you must evolve.
Getting thumped by Nakase’s Golden State Valkyries wounded the Aces’ dignity. Since A’ja Wilson entered concussion protocol, the other Aces have come to life. Jackie Young has been tremendous and Jewell Loyd’s shooting is improving (although her 2pt FG% of 26.1% is still bottom 1 percentile in the league).
The Aces have two tough games ahead against Seattle and Indiana, then two must-wins against Connecticut and Washington. Wilson has been upgraded to “questionable” for today’s game against Seattle. Whenever she’s able to return, will the Aces integrate her into a more dangerous, more motivated, more cohesive unit?
Next game: Home against #5 Seattle on Friday, 6/20.
9. Washington MYstics (5-7, Last Game: Beat Chicago, 79-72)
Q: Which veteran player can help Sykes and the rookies power the Mystics?
The 2024 Washington Mystics started the season 0-12, losing a host of close, hard-fought games. The 2025 Mystics already have 5 wins, thanks to outstanding play from Brittney Sykes and mature rookie seasons from Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. They drafted brilliantly and new coach Sydney Johnson seems to have the players’ trust and belief.
Iriafen, who is averaging 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds (5th in the league), is an early front-runner in the Rookie of the Year conversation. Citron is also averaging 13.3ppg. Production on the offensive end drops off steeply after these three, however, with no other player averaging more than 7.8ppg.
The Mystics are dead last in 3-pointers made (only 5.6 a game on a league-low 16.9 attempts). More consistent 3-point shooting would open things up in the paint, but it’s hard to see who can provide this on the roster.
Shakira Austin is looking strong in her return from injury, but she is 0-5 from 3 on the season and Aaliyah Edwards is 0-4. Stef Dolson is struggling so far, shooting 23.1% from distance (after shooting 46.5% from range last year). Maybe the answer is more minutes for Jade Melbourne, who is shooting a team-best 42.4% from 3, while only shooting 46.4% from the free throw line — wild!
The Mystics will need improvement from one of these players, or someone else in Washington’s backcourt, if they want to compete for a playoff spot.
Next game: Away at #4 Atlanta on Friday, 6/20.
[image credit: John McClellan]
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10. Los Angeles Sparks (4-9, last game: LOst to Seattle 67-98)
Q: Will the Sparks ever get healthy?
It’s another season in Los Angeles defined by injuries: Rickea Jackson missed time, Rae Burrell is out, Odyssey Sims is away from the team, Cam Brink hasn’t returned from last season’s ACL injury, Julie Allemand is away for EuroBasket, etc. etc.
Kelsey Plum was out for the Sparks in their last game and Seattle took advantage, drubbing LA by thirty points.
The Sparks have signed veteran Shey Peddy and third-year guard Grace Berger. They’re searching for answers.
The good news is: Kelsey Plum is top-five in the W in scoring. Dearica Hamby is doing Dearica Hamby things. Rickea Jackson is back and looking dangerous, averaging 21.7ppg in her last 3 games (including 30 points in a win over Vegas). Azurá Stevens is channelling her success in Unrivaled into a career year, putting up personal bests in scoring, rebounding, and steals. Rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker has arrived league-ready and Sania Feagin should stick on this roster.
This is a chaotic season in the W: lots of winnable games out there, but you could lose to anyone any night, too. Will the Sparks being able to get—and stay—healthy, in order to compete for playoff position?
Maybe more important: will this year’s players (and league free agents) believe in first-year coach Lynne Roberts enough to resign with Los Angeles under next year’s new CBA?
Next game: At the #1 Minnesota on Saturday, 6/21.
11. Chicago Sky (3-8, Last Game: Lost to Washington, 72-79)
Q: Can Chicago—players and management—stop turning it over?
Chicago was trying to put together their 2nd winning streak of the season against the Mystics last game. They leapt out to a dominant first quarter lead, 26-11, and then didn’t manage to score 20 points in a quarter for the rest of the game.
Chicago is in a painful place. They’ve lost the heart of the team, point guard Courtney Vandersloot, to injury. They’re averaging a league-worst 18.7 turnovers a game. They don’t hold the rights to their 2026 First Round draft pick—likely to be a lottery pick—because they traded it to Minnesota for the 11th pick in this year’s draft (they selected guard Hailey Van Lith).
If the Sky don’t make the playoffs, and they have an uphill battle to get there, Chicago will watch current-#1 Minnesota Lynx walk away with a future star who would have been coming to the Windy City.
Chicago’s management is known for these head-scratching decisions and fans are already frustrated.
To salvage this year, Chicago will need to put their trust in the assets they traded for in the off-season: 11th pick Hailey Van Lith and veteran guard Ariel Atkins (acquired from Washington for the 3rd overall pick, which the Mystics used to select Sonia Citron).
If the players can limit turnovers on the court, and if management can limit front office miscues, Sky fans may be able to relax and cheer for the bright side of this franchise: exciting young stars Angel Reese, and Kamilla Cardoso, and steady vets like Atkins, Rebecca Allen, and Elizabeth Williams.
Next game: Home against #3 Phoenix on Saturday, 6/21.
[image credit: John McClellan]
12. Connecticut sun (2-10, Last Game: lost to phoenix, 75-83)
Q: Will Rachid Meziane let the young core keep balling out?
Everything is up in the air in Connecticut. Last year’s head coach and the veteran core dispersed in the off-season. There are rumors the Sun franchise may be sold or may move to a bigger market. Unlike the Chicago Sky, Connecticut’s management seems to have acknowledged they’re not contending for a championship in 2025.
Whether or not this is the franchise’s last year in Mohegan Sun Casino, the Sun should act like they’re playing with house money.
In their last game against the Mercury, new coach Rachid Meziane gave his young players the reins and they led an energetic effort against a Mercury squad led by former Sun star Alyssa Thomas.
Aneesah Morrow had a breakout game, racking up a team-high 16 points, along with 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and an assist in 23 minutes. Saniya Rivers is a defensive game-changer with offensive fluidity that just fits in the W. Olivia Nelson-Ododa pulled down 14 rebounds, scored 10 points, and looked for her shot the way the Sun need her to if they want to win games.
Rivers, Morrow, and Sheldon are all under contract with the Sun for 2026. Nelson-Ododa is a restricted free agent. If Meziane keeps developing his core, the Sun may have more questions answered entering next season than other teams transitioning into the new CBA era.
Next game: home against #13 Dallas on Friday, 6/20.
[image credit: John McClellan]
13. Dallas Wings (2-11 Last game: Beat Golden State 80-71)*
Q: Is redemption possible for the Dallas Wings (and coach Chris Koclanes)?
The Dallas Wings have a chance to go on a winning streak for just the second time this season.
In their favor? Paige Bueckers is back from concussion protocol and playing with signature maturity; she has never lost in Mohegan Sun Arena, including Dallas’s first win of the season against the Sun back in May, when the Wings scored over 100 points. Her scoring has picked up, but her defense stands out: she’s 2nd in the league in steals (2.1pg) behind fellow Husky alum Gabby Williams.
Dallas is coming off their first home win over Golden State. As the Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, and Indiana Fever can attest, beating the Valkyries is no easy feat. Center Li Yueru, just arrived by trade from Seattle, brings needed size, skill, and physicality in the post, and overall Dallas has more than enough talent to compete with any team in this league.
But Dallas’s record has been the most disappointing in the league this season. The players have been visibly frustrated with first-year coach Chris Koclanes. Koclanes has looked frustrated, and, at points, lost on the sidelines.
Across the board, Dallas is feeling the pressure of underachieving.
If they’re going to turn things around this season, tonight’s game at Connecticut is an absolute must-win.
Next game: At #12 Connecticut on Friday, 5/20.
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