Four WNBA offseason moves that have paid huge dividends 

We are less than two full weeks into the 2025 WNBA season, and already things are taking shape.

The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx, last season's finalists, are a combined 9-0. Other contenders are potentially emerging, while others are facing challenges.

Some teams are thriving with their new rosters, while others are struggling to put the pieces together. 

Only about 10 percent of the WNBA regular season has been completed, but that seems like an ideal time to look back at the offseason and which moves have paid off the most, at least so far.

Here are four that have paid off immediately. 

Liberty's trade for Natasha Cloud

New York traded the seventh overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft for Natasha Cloud, and so far, it has been among the best moves of the offseason.

Cloud's elite defensive ability was on display in the Liberty's win over the Fever. In four games this season, her defensive rating is 0.9. That's by far the best mark of her career.

It will be hard to keep that up for a full season, but she's a huge reason why the Liberty are 4-0. 

Beyond her defense, Cloud is averaging career highs in points (15.3), steals (2.3) and blocks (1.0) among other categories, plus she has an effective field-goal percentage of 57.8. 

The sample size is small. Yet, there is no denying that Cloud has made a massive impact. 

Sparks trade for Kelsey Plum

Los Angeles is just 2-4 so far this season, but that doesn't mean that Kelsey Plum hasn't been extraordinary. 

Through six games, Plum has played like an MVP candidate. She's second in the WNBA in scoring (25.2 ppg) and is shooting 44 percent from the field, as well as 43.4 percent from 3-point range. 

Plum is averaging 3.8 3-pointers per game, and with her on the roster, the Sparks can be a playoff team in 2025. They will be especially formidable long-term with Plum and 2024 No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink, whenever she's back to 100 percent. 

Indiana upgraded its defense

The Fever will have to survive without Caitlin Clark for a couple of weeks, due to a quad injury announced by the team, but that shouldn't be a huge issue. 

Even if they fall below .500, there will be time to make up for it. The most encouraging thing for Indiana, outside of the development of Clark and Aliyah Boston, has been the defensive impact of newcomers DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sydney Colson.

The Fever will always have an elite offense with Clark. She still needs to cut back on the turnovers, but Indiana is ranked third in team defensive rating compared to 11th last season.

If Indiana can keep that up, it will be a bona fide title contender this fall. 

Phoenix Mercury reload 

The Phoenix Mercury made the WNBA playoffs last season, however, it was clear they needed to re-tool. 

So far, they have exceeded expectations in part because of their trade for former No. 2 overall pick Satou Sabally. 

The 6-foot-4 forward is sixth in the WNBA in scoring (19.8 ppg). She hasn't even shot the ball well from the perimeter, but has been lights out on defense with a defensive rating of 0.91, not far behind Cloud's. 

The All-WNBA selection in 2023 has played like the building-block Phoenix needed her to be. Yet, the Mercury are also 4-2 and look like a team headed for the postseason once again.