10 burning questions about the WNBA offseason

The Los Angeles Sparks hold the best odds (44.2%) to secure the first overall selection, followed by the Dallas Wings (22.7%), Chicago Sky (22.7%) and Washington Mystics (10.4%). The Wings, however, reserve the right to swap picks with the Sky due to a four-team trade in February 2023, essentially giving them a 45.4% chance at the top pick.

Who are the top free agents?

The 2025 free-agency class is packed with top-end veterans, including two-time MVP Breanna Stewart (30 years old), five-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas (32) and three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum (30). Forward Satou Sabally (26), guard Kelsey Mitchell (28) and forward Brionna Jones (28), each of whom has been selected to at least two All-Star games, headline the top available stars under 30.

Unrestricted free agents can negotiate contracts as early as Jan. 21 but won’t be able to sign with an organization until Feb. 1.

What does the lack of a CBA mean for the league?

With the league experiencing a renaissance this past season, it only made sense that the Women’s National Basketball Players Association would seek a new collective bargaining agreement that provides higher salaries, better facilities and more. Despite the players opting out of the current CBA, however, it will remain in effect until Oct. 31, 2025.

In October, ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike, a former WNBA player, noted that players are ready to negotiate for as long as needed, even if a work stoppage transpires. The WNBA, which has not endured a lockout since its inception in 1996, will face an uncertain future if a new CBA isn’t agreed upon.

What will the league’s newest expansion team look like?

The WNBA announced in October 2023 that it would add its 13th team, the Golden State Valkyries, this offseason. The roster has yet to be assembled, but the Valkyries have a head coach, former Aces assistant Natalie Nakase.

To build its roster, Golden State will participate in an expansion draft on Dec. 6, when it can choose to acquire the contract of one unprotected player from each of the 12 teams — each team can protect up to six players. Following the expansion draft, the Valkyries will select fifth overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The team is expected to tip off its inaugural season in May.

What does the new expanded schedule entail?

Thanks to an exponential increase in revenue, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced in October that the league would be expanding its regular-season schedule from 40 to 44 games per team and adjust postseason schedules. While the only change to the regular season is four additional games, the playoff format will look drastically different.

The best-of-three first-round series, which controversially granted the higher seed consecutive home games, has been switched to a 1-1-1 structure, allowing for a more fair chance at upsets. Most importantly, the WNBA Finals, which had been a best-of-five series since 2005, has shifted to a best-of-seven series that features the same 2-2-1-1-1 structure as its NBA counterpart.

Which 2024 bottom-feeders can make the jump to contenders?

The Washington Mystics (14-26), Chicago Sky (13-27), Dallas Wings (9-31) and Los Angeles Sparks (8-32) missed the playoffs this past season. Among them, the Sky and the Sparks seem like the only teams capable of winning a playoff series in 2025 given some abrupt changes.

If the Sparks land Paige Bueckers in the draft, she and 2024 second overall pick Cameron Brink would instantly become one of the more well-rounded duos in the league and provide Los Angeles with a multi-year title window.

As for the Sky, if they capitalize on having the second-most available cap space among non-expansion teams and sign an experienced offensive facilitator such as guard Kelsey Plum, their young core could develop quickly and make them a title contender sooner than later.

Will Diana Taurasi return for a 21st season?

Over a month into the offseason, 2004 first overall pick and Phoenix Mercury icon Taurasi remains undecided about her future in the WNBA. No official statement has been made, but Taurasi hinted about a potential decision on social media recently, captioning an Instagram post “Keep ‘em guessing.”

Should Taurasi return, she would need to play in just 16 of the Mercury’s 44 games in 2025 to surpass Hall of Famer Sue Bird (580) for the most games played by a WNBA player.

How will the Connecticut Sun address dire roster and staff deficiencies?

Following a second consecutive season of falling in the semifinals, the Sun parted ways with head coach Stephanie White on Oct. 28. Now, with no head coach and only three players under contract, the Sun are staring at a franchise-defining offseason.

Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones and DiJonai Carrington, all of whom started at least 39 of 40 games in 2024, are unrestricted free agents who each could command nearly $200K per year. While the Sun theoretically could afford to re-sign all of them with their current cap space ($1,116,264), it would leave a depleted bench and the result could be disastrous.

Connecticut must sacrifice at least one of its stars to free agency and maximize the money left over to build a competent roster for 2025.

Who has the best chance of winning the 2025 Finals?

According to FanDuel as of Friday (Nov. 8), the defending champion New York Liberty (+175) are heavy favorites to repeat, followed by the Minnesota Lynx (+350) and Las Vegas Aces (+370).

While favorites, the Liberty could lose 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart to free agency this offseason, which would tremendously shake up their title chances. The same can be said for Las Vegas, whose 2017 first-overall pick, Kelsey Plum, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

As for the Lynx, all five starters from 2024’s Finals-losing team are under contract, including 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, giving them a fair chance at winning a title.