Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson will be back on the court Sunday to renew their chase of a coveted WNBA championship when training camps open and last year’s rookie sensation, Caitlin Clark, begins her second season in the league.
Stewart and the New York Liberty will be seeking to repeat as WNBA champions, something Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces accomplished when they won their second straight championship in 2023.
There has been a lot of player movement in the offseason, including the Aces adding Jewell Loyd in a three-team trade that sent Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks. Las Vegas still has a solid core with Loyd joining Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young.
The Liberty added Natasha Cloud to bolster their roster with guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton sidelined for a few months after having knee surgery.
No team made more changes this offseason then the Indiana Fever, who are led by Clark, the 2024 rookie of the year after being the No. 1 draft pick. They added Sophie Cunningham through a trade and signed free agents DeWanna Bonner, Sydney Colson, Natasha Howard and Brianna Turner. Add that to Clark and Aliyah Boston — the 2023 top draft pick and rookie of the year — and there’s a lot of excitement for Indiana, which reached the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016.
There’s a new energy in Dallas as well with this year’s No. 1 draft pick, Paige Bueckers, joining the Wings. They hope the former University of Connecticut star can bolster a roster that features Arike Ogunbowale.
The Golden State Valkyries will be the first new WNBA team to take the court since the Atlanta Dream began play in 2008, but there is change even among established clubs.
Eight of the 13 teams will have new head coaches this season, which tips off May 16.
Atlanta and Los Angeles turned to college coaches Karl Smesko and Lynne Roberts, respectively. Indiana brought back former coach and player Stephanie White, who had been in charge of the Connecticut Sun — who replaced her with former Belgium national team coach Rachid Meziane.
Former WNBA assistants are now head coaches for the Chicago Sky (Tyler Marsh), Wings (Chris Koclanes) and Washington Mystics (Sydney Johnson). Golden State also brought in a former assistant coach, Natalie Nakase, to be the first head coach in the expansion franchise’s history.
Indiana is not the only team to make major moves when it comes to playes, with several franchises adding marquee names to rosters during the offseason via free agency.
Atlanta picked up 10-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner, who had spent her entire WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury since being drafted No. 1 in 2013. The Dream also added former Sun standout Brionna Jones.
Phoenix was active in bolstering its roster, trading for Alyssa Thomas and signing Satou Sabally.
The Sun lost their entire starting five from last season and brought back Tina Charles — an All-American during her collegiate career at UConn — as well as Diamond DeShields.
Two players who won’t be in camp this year are Diana Taurasi and Elena Delle Donne.
Both announced their retirements this offseason. Taurasi had played her entire 20-year career in Phoenix, leading the Mercury to three WNBA championships. Delle Donne played in both Chicago and Washington, helping the Mystics win the franchise’s lone title in 2019.