1 Word to Describe Every WNBA Team Before 2025 Season Tips Off

The 2025 WNBA season is nearly here, and it's hard not to be excited about it.

There was quite a bit of roster turnover during the offseason, which seems like a fitting precursor to whatever next offseason is about to turn into. Remember, virtually the entire league will be available in free agency on top of the league expanding once again.

But let's not skip too far ahead. This season projects to be a wild one. Ridiculous talent at the top, some high-variance teams in the middle, and some entertaining young teams that I'm sure will annoy some of the favorites.

Today's bout of Word Association will serve as part one of our season preview series. I'll have deeper X's and O's thoughts moving forward—we have win/loss projections and a power ranking coming next week—so these will be more surface-level quick-hitters.

Let's dig in, shall we?

New York Liberty: Favorites

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We have to start here, right?

The Liberty were the only team to rank in the top three in offensive (107.0) and defensive rating (95.3). They were the best rebounding team in the league, grabbing 52.5 percent of all available rebounds. Their efficiency, in terms of True Shooting (56.1), was only eclipsed by the Las Vegas Aces (56.7)—and that largely didn't matter when they faced off in the second round last season.

The star triumvirate of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones are back. Natasha Cloud, an elite defender and strong downhill playmaker, was acquired to complement and accentuate what that trio does well.

We likely won't see much (or any) Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (meniscus surgery) this season, a big blow in a vacuum that may be muted by internal growth from Leonie Fiebich (star in her role) and Kennedy Burke. The versatile Nyara Sabally remains as valuable frontcourt depth, while Marine Johannes is back to dazzle with wild pull-ups and even crazier passes off the bench.

There's a blend of size, skill and versatility on the roster that continues to excite me. The contender class is a good one—it's certainly no guarantee that the Liberty repeat—but they've earned the right as the favorites heading into the year.

Minnesota Lynx: Evolving

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Based on last season, a more apt descriptor may be "automatic" or "machine-like."

The Lynx were an incredibly pleasing watch offensively; though they "only" ranked fourth in offensive rating (102.8), they registered an assist on 76.4 percent of their made baskets—a WNBA record.

The ball moved incredibly well, of course, but the way they generated their advantages was the real story. Napheesa Collier was moved and utilized all over the place: setting and initiating ball screens, setting and receiving off-ball screens for/from smaller players, posting up, grabbing rebounds and leading the break. Teams couldn't really get a bead on where Collier would be, how she'd be used, and who she'd be used with.

The next step, as head coach Cheryl Reeve recently acknowledged ahead of a preseason matchup with the Chicago Sky, is staying ahead of the curve. Preparing for potential counters. Evolving, so to speak.

Through that lens, I'm excited to see what tweaks the Lynx attempt to make. On the player side, I'm fascinated by how Diamond Miller slots into this. The third-year forward has some real downhill juice that could add another dimension to the offense.

Connecticut Sun: Rebuilding

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To say this is going to look different would be a massive understatement.

You've likely heard or read this before, but in case you haven't: The Sun became the first team in WNBA history to lose their entire starting five in the same offseason. Their head coach, Stephanie White, also left to return to her old stomping grounds in Indiana. Somehow, it's even more dire than that.

Of the 15 players to log minutes for the Sun last season, only three of them—Marina Mabrey (for now), Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Astou Ndour-Fall—remain on the roster.

High-Usage, Unquestioned Top Dawg Marina Mabrey is of intrigue, as is the return of professional bucket-getter Tina Charles. But ultimately, this season should be defined by the youth.

I'm excited for the heightened workload for Nelson-Ododa (an early Most Improved favorite), and am ready to see how versatile first-rounders Aneesah Morrow and Saniya Rivers are utilized. Jacy Sheldon and Leila Lacan (when she arrives in the States) should be able to spread their wings in the backcourt.

New-but-experienced head coach Rachid Meziane has an interesting challenge on his hands in Year 1, but I wouldn't be too surprised by them being a pesky group.

Las Vegas Aces: Determined

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As cliche as it sounds, this is a team on a mission to return to the mountaintop.

Both Becky Hammon and A'ja Wilson alluded to their championship "vibe" being a bit off entering the year, setting the stage for a historic, uneven and ultimately disappointing quest for a three-peat.

"Nobody was happy with the way we played," Hammon said during Aces media day Thursday. "Not even [A'ja Wilson] with the year she had. The goal is to win championships, and when you aren't able to do that, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth."

With defeat came a lot of change: key pieces like Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, Alysha Clark and Sydney Colson all reside elsewhere. Top assistants Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh took head coaching jobs with the Golden State Valkyries and Chicago Sky, respectively.

Jewell Loyd, Tiffany Mitchell, Dana Evans (yet to make her Aces debut due to a knee injury) and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (currently pregnant, will miss a large portion of the season) were brought in as reinforcements—and you could argue all have chips on their shoulders with how their most recent campaigns ended.

That edge seems to be back, and the standard remains sky high. Case in point: When I asked Wilson to evaluate the team's defense through the first two preseason games, her C-plus grade was immediately countered by Hammon giving it a D instead.

Seattle Storm: Stifling

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I'll call my shot early: If the Storm stay relatively healthy, they're my early favorite to have the league's top-ranked defense.

(The "relatively healthy" portion feels even more key in light of Jordan Horston's absence, as well as the recent ACL tear of Katie Lou Samuelson.)

With Skylar Diggins and Gabby Williams hounding guards, Alysha Clark defending either forward spot, and the duo of Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor up front, there isn't an obvious weak point for teams to attack.

That's before getting into some of the ball pressure that guards like Erica Wheeler or Lexie Brown can provide when they're on the floor, or the collective length and size of Dominique Malonga and Li Yueru.

Most of my big-picture questions for the Storm center around the offense, and we'll get to those on a later date. I don't know if I could be more hyped about this team's defensive ceiling, though.

Indiana Fever: Electric

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If last year's ratings or this year's scheduled national appearances are any indication, the Indiana Fever are the most riveting watch in the WNBA. And if their new pieces jell with their current core, they could be one of the best offenses we've seen in WNBA history.

The Fever finished third in offensive rating (104.2) last season, but they were the league's best offense (107.7) from June 3 onward. Set the date filter for after the All-Star/Olympic break, and the Fever were even deadlier (109.6)—that clip, if extrapolated across a full season, would rank third in WNBA history.

The trio of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston should be difficult enough for teams to deal with. Clark presents an absurd blend of deep pull-up range and how-did-she-see-that passing vision.

Mitchell is an electric (sorry) driver and one of the league's most lethal off-ball options. Boston grew tremendously as a roll threat and passer last season, in addition to her post chops (keeping an eye on the consistency this year).

Adding in the rim running, early seals, drag screens and post proficiency of Natasha Howard should give them another layer. DeWanna Bonner can score from virtually anywhere, and Sophie Cunningham is one of the better shooters we have in the league.

Good luck keeping this offense in check.

Phoenix Mercury: Intriguing

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Between Diana Taurasi's retirement and Brittney Griner's move to the Atlanta Dream (more on that later), it's safe to say it's a new era in Phoenix.

With respect to those two, Phoenix somehow upgraded its top-end talent this offseason, adding MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas and two-time All-Star Satou Sabally as part of a massive four-team trade. Those two plus Kahleah Copper, an All-WNBA talent in her own right, should form one of the best, most versatile trios in the league.

Beyond those three is where things get interesting—and I mean that in a literal sense of the word.

Natasha Mack is one of the league's best screeners and an underrated frontcourt defender. Kalani Brown brings ridiculous size and an underrated shooting touch to the frontcourt. I'm not sure who ultimately lands the starting spot, or if it matters.

The guard room, features the veteran sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb and a hodge podge of young guards with contrasting skill sets. I'm intrigued by the defense and playmaking of Sevgi Uzun, for example, but I'm also not sure if she'll shoot well enough (or if defenses will respect her shot enough) to unlock that playmaking, and thus garner enough playing time for the defense to pop.

And of course, so much of the offense will run through Thomas, Copper and Sabally that a "traditional" point guard may not be needed anyway.

You see my dilemma?

I'm just ready to see this team play some real games so I can fully soak in what they are and can be.

Atlanta Dream: Unique

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When you hire a new head coach who's known for his penchant for pace and threes, then immediately sign two All-Star-level back-to-basket centers to kick off free agency, it's only natural that you wonder, "What the heck is going on here?"

You always have to take preseason results with a grain of salt, but their 80-70 win over the Washington Mystics felt like a very loud answer to that question: We are going to put an unbelievable amount of strain on your defense.

The Dream started both of their star newcomers—Brittney Griner and Bri Jones—in the frontcourt and, for the most part, they did a tremendous job of staying out of each other's way.

Ball screens or post touches involving Griner would lead to Jones being spaced on the wing opposite of the action, with Jones either diving to the basket late or swapping spots with another Dream player on the perimeter to keep those defenders engaged. The same would happen when Jones was directly involved in action and Griner was spaced.

It led to efficient looks for both, mostly because the Mystics couldn't really send double-teams to either. The spread alignment was a rousing success; if that remains consistent, this team is going to be good. Those bigs will be difficult enough to deal with, and that's before getting into the three-level exploits of All-Star wings Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray

Washington Mystics: Turbo-Charged

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The Mystics haven't dealt with Sun-level roster turnover, but it's clear they're also leaning into the youth movement. What I do appreciate, after a pair of preseason games, is the amount of energy this team plays with.

Call it youthful exuberance if you'd like, but they waste no time getting into their actions. Beyond that, virtually anyone on the floor—from Brittney Sykes to Jade Melbourne to do-everything forward Emily Engstler—can kick-start possessions for them.

Kiki Iriafen has some real juice as a driver, in addition to her own end-to-end speed in transition and value as a roller (or slipper, for that matter). And if her dust-up with Sophie Cunningham was any indication, she certainly isn't afraid of contact.

We eagerly await the return of Shakira Austin and Aaliyah Edwards, but both bigs should slot nicely into Washington's hectic pace and activity-based defense. This may not be a team that racks up a ton of wins, but they're going to be insanely annoying to deal with.

Chicago Sky: Organized

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The Sky entered the offseason with the option to slow-play things. Build around the talented rookie (now sophomore) duo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, utilize a top-three pick, add some young talent around the margins and grow organically.

Instead, they decided to speed up the development track. They shipped off their lottery pick as part of a package to acquire All-Star wing Ariel Atkins. They added franchise legend Courtney Vandersloot to help steer the ship. Kia Nurse and Rebecca Allen were added to bolster the wing room and add some much needed shooting.

What we've seen so far—again, preseason caveat included—is a team with clearer spacing principles, defined roles offensively and real juice defensively.

Reese has showcased her usual excellence on the glass and on the perimeter defensively, while flashing some of the shotmaking and finishing improvements that popped during her Unrivaled campaign. Cardoso has been the primary beneficiary of Vandersloot's playmaking; the Sky have also been intentional about running Cardoso off screens to give her deeper (and easier) paint touches.

The return of Elizabeth Williams has been a delight; heck, the second wave featuring Williams, Allen and Michaela Onyenwere have given teams fits during the preseason so far.

I'm impressed and excited by the early returns.

Dallas Wings: Refreshing

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One could say the Wings have had their share of ups and downs.

We're only two seasons removed from them winning a playoff series. Arike Ogunbowale and then-Wings forward Satou Sabally both had All-Star campaigns, while their collective size up front consistently bludgeoned teams on the glass.

Last season, the Wings weren't all that healthy outside of Ogunbowale (who wasn't always 100 percent when she played) and put together, statistically, one of the worst defensive seasons in WNBA history.

That's led to a bit of a roster and front office overhaul. Chris Koclanes takes over as head coach, while Curt Miller heads upstairs to run the show as general manager. These two have been together in multiple stops across nearly a decade, most successfully in Connecticut with the Sun. Having that baseline level of familiarity and trust should bode well for them and the Wings.

You know what else should bode well? Having Paige Bueckers on the roster. She should be able to shapeshift offensively, toggling between initiation, self-creation, and off-ball work. I'm also excited to watch her and DiJonai Carrington defend together.

To that end, the Wings added a lot of quality basketball players. Carrington is a menace defensively with a budding offensive game. Ty Harris is another guard that's comfortable playing on or off the ball. Adding Myisha Hines-Allen and NaLyssa Smith gives the Wings some real force up front while also potentially unlocking some small-ball lineups.

Interesting group!

Los Angeles Sparks: Relentless

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I don't know if the Sparks are going to lead the WNBA in drives, but it wouldn't be surprising.

The All-Star duo of Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby have been reunited in Los Angeles. Their chemistry in ball screens, handoffs, and pass-and-cut scenarios should pop all year. They also don't mind putting their heads down and getting to the paint.

Rickea Jackson is already one of the most versatile scorers in the league, and is another forward who makes quick work of size mismatches. Rae Burrell goes 150 miles per hour all the time, but it especially stands out in transition. Odyssey Sims, whether she starts or serves as the first reserve, will live in the paint. Azurá Stevens is incredibly skilled and certainly doesn't mind putting the ball on the deck.

Between the drives and the hedge-heavy defense I'm expecting to see from them, the Sparks are likely going to weigh on folks. There's a bit of variance for how good they're going to be, but they project as a team that'll make you work for everything.

Golden State Valkyries: Active

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It was tempting to go with "new" or "fresh"—really anything to play of them being an expansion team. But I came away from their preseason opener with a brow raised, particularly on the defensive end.

They have length and versatility in the frontcourt. They have guards (hi, Veronica Burton) who don't mind getting into a ball-handler's jersey to make them work. If you attempt to enter the paint, it's almost like there's a team directive for everyone to collapse in an effort to prevent clean, close-range shots. There are natural openings from that kind of style, but I appreciate a new team, spearheaded by Natalie Nakase, setting the terms of engagement early.

To the glamor end, we have to start with Tiffany Hayes. She won last year's Sixth Player of the Year award, and you can expect a healthy dose of drives from her. She had to play some point guard during Unrivaled play, especially once the injury bug hit, so I'm curious to see how much of that experience carries over.

Other points of intrigue include, but aren't limited to: Julie Vanloo's playmaking, Kate Martin's on-ball reps, Kayla Thornton as a concept, Monique Billings' work on the glass, Laeticia Amihere as a concept (20 points in 19 minutes in her Valkyries debut!), and Temi Fagbenle's transition rim-runs.