Five storylines to watch during WNBA opening weekend

The 2025 WNBA regular season tips off this weekend. Here are five storylines we're watching during the opening slate of games.

Fever climbing?

Fever point guard Caitlin Clark begins her highly anticipated second NBA season against a familiar foe: forward Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, ABC).

Big things are expected of Clark. Last year's Rookie of the Year is the favorite to win MVP honors this season. In 2024, she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds while making 3.1 threes per game. 

Clark became the first rookie to post a triple-double, doing so twice, recording the most double-doubles and scoring the most points by a rookie in league history. (h/t ESPN)

The Fever will demand our attention again, but this year, they might be more than the WNBA's hottest ticket — they might be one of the league's best teams. 

This offseason, Indiana improved the roster around Clark, adding forwards DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Brianna Turner in free agency. They also acquired guards Sophie Cunningham and Jaelyn Brown as part of a February four-team trade with the Sun, Mercury and Wings, while hiring Stephanie White, who has a 92-56 career record, as head coach.

The heavyweight showdown

The past two WNBA champions face off as the New York Liberty hosts the Las Vegas Aces (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, ABC) in their first home game since winning the 2024 title. The Aces won the WNBA championship in 2022 and 2023 but lost to the Liberty in last year's semifinals.

New York could be even more formidable this season after sending the Sun two first-round picks in a trade for three-time All-Defensive guard Natasha Cloud, who joins a core that includes guard Sabrina Ionescu and forwards Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart.

Las Vegas made a significant change, too, adding former Storm guard Jewell Loyd in January via a three-team trade that sent long-time point guard Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks. Three-time MVP forward A'ja Wilson is coming off the best individual season in WNBA history and should be even more motivated following last year's playoff loss.

Paige Bueckers' WNBA debut

Former UConn star and No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers makes her regular-season debut at home with the Dallas Wings against last year's WNBA Finals runner-up, the Minnesota Lynx (Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST, ION).

Just last month, on April 6, Bueckers led UConn to its 12th national title. Now, she's tasked with turning around a Wings squad that went 9-31 in 2024, the franchise's worst record since it went 3-31 as the Tulsa Shock in 2011.

They have a difficult matchup in Bueckers' debut. The Lynx, led by All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, should again be among the league's best teams. Collier, the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player and MVP runner-up, shouldn't have much offseason rust after a sensational first season in the 3v3 Undisputed league, averaging 26.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in 15 games.

Golden State Valkyries embark on inaugural WNBA campaign

The Valkyries tip off their first season against the Plum and the Sparks (Friday, 10 p.m. ET, ION).

Expectations are low for the WNBA's 13th active franchise, which enters the regular season with its over-under win total at sportsbooks set at 8.5 games. The league's last expansion team, the 2008 Atlanta Dream, went 4-30 in its inaugural season.

Brittney Griner's new home

After 11 seasons, Griner left the Phoenix Mercury in free agency and joined the Atlanta Dream, where the nine-time WNBA All-Star should be a natural fit in the frontcourt alongside fellow 2025 free-agent acquisition Brionna Jones.

"The other team, you've got to pick your poison," Griner recently told Yahoo Sports women's basketball reporter Cassandra Negley. 

"Yeah, this is going to be a good partnership right here," Griner added.

It might take time to familiarize ourselves with Griner in Atlanta, which begins its season on Friday against the Mystics (7:30 p.m. EST, ION), but it shouldn't take her long to feel at home.