Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty hope to remain at the top if the first 2025 WNBA Power Rankings have any say. (Photo: Brandon Todd
New York Liberty)
With the 2025 WNBA season shining upon us and an exciting preseason coming to an end, the final rosters are unveiled and so comes the first edition of The Podium Finish’s weekly power rankings.
This week’s rankings are not based off of preseason performance, but rather, roster makeup with one key newcomer that will impact the roster the most.
1. New York Liberty
If you thought the defending WNBA champions were lethal last year, they boosted their roster with even more tools to help defend their title.
The addition of Natasha Cloud fills the point guard void after the departure of Courtney Vandersloot to the Chicago Sky. Last year with the Phoenix Mercury, Cloud averaged 11.5 points, 1.4 steals and 6.9 assists per game. Her ability to dish, slash and disrupt the passing lanes will elevate the Liberty’s perimeter defense.
Their key returners include Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu and Leonie Fiebich who were all paramount in the Liberty’s first title in franchise history.
2. Minnesota Lynx
One of the very few teams that did not perform a major roster turnover is the 2024 runner-up Lynx. Their returning Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier among many others.
The addition of Karlie Samuelson from the Washington Mystics gives Minnesota depth at the guard position and a viable shooting option off the bench when McBride or Williams need to take a breather.
3. Las Vegas Aces
The Aces made a splash this offseason when they acquired star Jewell Loyd from the Seattle Storm. They never struggled with putting points on the board but they needed a player who could consistently give them buckets in clutch moments other than A’ja Wilson.
They did trade point guard Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks which showed their priority in a lineup to score more points even though Plum can score with the best of them.
Their key returners include Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Kiah Stokes. Their bench still has some question marks but the Aces are known to thrive with thin depth.
4. Phoenix Mercury
We’re officially in the post-Diana Taurasi era which included the willful departure of Brittney Griner to the Atlanta Dream.
Although losing Griner is a tough pill to swallow, they came prepared to fill in the void. They traded for Satou Sabally and Kalani Brown from the Dallas Wings and brought in Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun.
Every player they lost in free agency or traded away was replaced with players who are filled with all the talent and potential in the world to bring the Mercury back to title contention.
Kahleah Copper is one of the few returners in a roster completely overturned during the offseason.
5. Indiana Fever
Just like the Mercury, the Fever went all-in during the offseason and loaded their young team with crucial veteran talent.
Bringing in DeWanna Bonner from the Sun, Sydney Colson from the Aces, Natasha Howard returning to the Fever from the Wings and Sophie Cunningham from the Mercury are critical moves in developing the Fever back to their championship days under new head coach Stephanie White.
What Fever teams have lacked in recent years is having veterans who can guide the young stars like Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. They had a talented team last year but adding those four with Boston and Clark while also retaining Kelsey Mitchell shows a team that has all the qualities of being a top-five team in the league.
Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings promises to bring excitement and poise to Texas’ only WNBA team. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
6. Dallas Wings
When it was announced at the draft lottery that the Wings were gifted the number one pick, every single person knew who was going to be the newest Wing. Prior to the draft, the Wings geared up with a roster revamp to help compliment Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.
In came NaLyssa Smith from the Fever, DiJonai Carrington from the Sun and Myisha Hines-Allen from the Lynx.
Dallas’ struggles last year were not to the fault of anyone. They were primed for greatness but injuries did not help their cause. With a lot of turnover in the front office came a lot of roster turnover. They addressed their needs of more defense and also actually having a legitimate point guard to run the floor in Ty Harris alongside Bueckers.
Also returning are stalwarts Teaira McCowan and Maddy Siegrist.
7. Seattle Storm
The Storm lost Loyd to the Aces and Katie Lou Samuelson to an injury but they still built a roster more than capable of competing at an elite level.
Bringing back Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor is huge for a team looking to come back to playoff prominence.
The addition of Alysha Clark, returning after two short stints with the Washington Mystics and Aces, bring a proven defensive menace and championship experience. Erica Wheeler, the erstwhile Indiana Fever, gives Seattle a veteran point guard who can do a little bit of everything and help alleviate pressure off of Diggins in the backcourt.
8. Chicago Sky
The Sky executed some great moves this offseason to help complement the young returning stars of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
Vandersloot, who started her career in Chicago, makes her way back to the Windy City after a brief stint in the Big Apple. She’ll be the perfect mentor for rookie Hailey Van Lith to help develop the latter’s skills to an elevated level.
Adding Rebecca Allen from the Mercury gives the Sky length and defense with an ability to get a bucket if you need it and Ariel Atkins from the Mystics brings them a sharpshooter who is automatic from beyond-the-arc.
9. Los Angeles Sparks
I think the Sparks can be a lot better than ninth, but it just depends on how their roster ends up gelling.
They had a ton of upside last season with Dearica Hamby having a career year in her first season in LA. Rickea Jackson looks like a veteran forward and adding Mercedes Russell brings some center depth.
The greatest piece that came over is Plum. The young team needed a point guard who is a natural in finding her teammates. This team has all the potential to make the playoffs and quickly move up in the rankings if everything falls into place.
10. Atlanta Dream
The Dream could’ve done a lot more in free agency, but bringing in Griner from Phoenix was an unexpected move that brought shockwaves throughout the WNBA.
Their returning star pieces include Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Nia Coffey but they’re lacking true bench depth. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough is a flexible guard who can get shots from beyond-the-arc and Brionna Jones is an all-star big that primarily was on the bench in Connecticut.
Atlanta needs a lot more bench depth to succeed but they can make a splash early.
Haley Peters (No. 7) and Tina Charles (No. 31) drive to the offensive end of the floor against Skylar Diggins and the Settle Storm. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
11. Connecticut Sun
The Sun are an interesting team this season with a little mix of everything.
They have two players with a ton of ceiling in Jacy Sheldon and double-double machine in rookie Aneesah Morrow. They brought in Bria Hartley as a veteran guard presence and Tina Charles returned to where her career started after a stellar season last year with the Atlanta Dream.
The return of Marina Mabrey gives them a sharpshooter and Olivia Nelson-Ododa gives them size down low off the bench or in the starting lineup.
Overall, the Sun’s roster is very confusing and it surely will take some time for everything to come into place.
12. Golden Sate Valkyries
I think the Valkyries are a lot better than 12 but with a brand new franchise filled with players who’ve never really played with each other, there is a lot that needs to be proven before they can rise in the rankings.
Kate Martin gets her chance as a young player to be able to become the face of a franchise and the front office did a solid job at building around her.
My top three selections from the expansion draft for the Valkyries is Carla Leite from the Wings, Veronica Burton from the Sun and Monique Billings from the Mercury.
Leite and Burton are both young guards with complementing skillsets. Leite can shoot the ball at a higher rate than Burton while both can dish the ball and run an offense with high IQ. Burton is s stellar defense guard which will help the Valkyries in the passing lanes.
Billings is a menace on the boards and, when given the minutes and opportunity, can grab a rebound, put-back or a general second chance opportunity to her team over any opponent at any size.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the newest franchise comes out in their first season.
13. Washington Mystics
The Mystics are in a similar predicament to the pre-Clark Fever teams. They’re full of talent but are underwhelming at being able to show it on the court.
This season, they have a pretty new roster and coach to bring the Mystics back to their title days only six years ago.
Returning is arguably the best defensive guard in the league, Brittney Sykes and Aaliyah Edwards who showed flashes of greatness in her rookie season. Rookie Sonia Citron brings shooting the Mystics desperately need after trading away Atkins.
There is a lot to look out for with the Mystics but they seemingly do not have the depth and are lacking a lot of pieces to be playoff contenders. It’s a rebuild year that does have a lot of upside to it.
