Field goal percentage is one of the most straightforward statistics one could use to see who is dominating as a shooter. In the WNBA, it’s a stat that often favors post players who are adept at finding mismatches in the paint, allowing them to get easy looks at the basket and increase their efficiency over time. 
This season, we’re already seeing a few players buck that trend. And, it’s lending itself as a perfect tool to use when arguing for and against All-Star cases. 
Let’s get into the top five players in the WNBA in shooting efficiency, and let’s take a good look at how these players are getting the bulk of their shots up so far this year. We’ll only be picking from players who are attempting about 10 shots per game, which makes them focal points of their respective offenses. 
Allisha Gray
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Gray is currently having the best season of her career. The Atlanta Dream guard has been the teams’ go-to for offense, hitting 50.6 percent of her shots so far this season. She’s attempting 13.0 shots per game for the Dream, which is the <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661330/players-traditional/?sort=FGA&amp;dir=1">second-most attempted per game</a> on the team behind Rhyne Howard. 
What’s making Gray’s season truly special as a shooter is the way she’s getting her shots. She’s taking the most three pointers she’s ever attempted in her career, and she’s hitting them at a clip of 42.3 percent. Most of her shots are coming from deep, and that’s just not something she’s ever been empowered to do while with Atlanta. 
Head coach Karl Smesko, who came in looking to place more emphasis on spacing the floor in a two-big lineup with as many threes chucked as possible, is seeing the benefit of that mindset on offense through Gray. She’s Atlanta’s best player this season so far, and a shoo-in for Most Improved Player consideration. 
Dearica Hamby 
While the Los Angeles Sparks’ losing record might place a hindrance on Hamby’s ability to make her fourth career All-Star appearance, it’s worth mentioning that she &#8211; alongside Kelsey Plum and Azurá Stevens &#8211; has been a force for LA’s offense this season. She’s attempting 12.1 shots per game and hitting them at a clip of 51.6 percent from the field, which is second-most on the team behind Plum. 
Hamby’s always capable of getting going with her post game. Her shots are most frequently coming from the paint, with 67.9 percent of her points falling from there. From less than five feet from the basket, she’s taking the most shots of anyone in the league with an average of 8.5 shots from that distance per game. 
Hamby’s been a great compliment to Plum so far this season for the Sparks, but they’ve been unable to take advantage of both her and Plum’s skill sets as scorers consistently. If they did do that before All-Star voting is closed, Hamby could feasibly make a push for a spot on the team. 
Alyssa Thomas
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199717" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093857.200.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093857.200.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093857.200-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093857.200-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093857.200-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093857.200-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093857.200-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
We can’t have a discussion about engines in the WNBA without including the actual “Engine.” Thomas has had some injury woes to begin the year for the Phoenix Mercury, but when she’s on the floor, her impact is undeniable on offense. She’s one of the league’s best finishers, hitting 52.5 percent of her shots and attempting 11.4 per game. Thomas’ offensive output is more impressive when considering she really never attempts much from outside the restricted area due to a lingering shoulder injury in both arms. 
The fact that she’s hitting most of her shots from the paint when she’s often undersized in matchups down low is beyond impressive. Her strength is her calling card, though, so her efficiency in the post despite her height disadvantage might not be too surprising. 
The passing is what you likely think of when thinking of Thomas’ role with any team she’s on &#8211; after all, she’s also averaging nine assists per game for the Mercury, which is a career-high for her. But, her efficiency is what really stands out for a Phoenix team that’s shocking the league with their well-rounded attack between Thomas, Satou Sabally, several rookies, and now a healthy Kahleah Copper. 
Breanna Stewart
Stewart is having another high-impact year for the New York Liberty despite a major load being taken off of her on a roster featuring Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, and Natasha Cloud. She’s attempting 12.5 shots per game and hitting those at a clip of 51.8 percent from the field, which reflects her impact on the Liberty’s post and midrange scoring. 
Unlike her post player counterpart in Hamby, Stewart has a fairly balanced shot diet featuring her rim finishing and a short jumper she can break out a bit farther away from the basket. She’s a lot more efficient when finishing, but is also shooting 50 percent from 15-19 feet away from the hoop. 
Stewart hasn’t been contributing much by way of three point shooting over the last several years, but her size and speed give her a major advantage as a finisher for New York. Her 78.4 percent shooting from the rim is proof of that. While she’s not the player taking the most shots on the Liberty &#8211; that honor goes to Ionescu &#8211; she’s making the most of her shots. She’s the Liberty’s most efficient scorer on 10 or more attempts per game. 
Napheesa Collier
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199718" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T094200.127.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T094200.127.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T094200.127-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T094200.127-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T094200.127-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T094200.127-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T094200.127-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
You simply can’t speak about efficient shooting in the WNBA without mentioning Collier. The Minnesota Lynx are having the best season of any team in the league in large thanks to her well-rounded shooting, as she’s attempting a whopping 17.2 shots per game and hitting them at a 52.4 percent efficiency. Again, unlike other bigs in the league, she’s hitting her shots efficiently from everywhere. 
Collier is hitting 55.6 percent from 25-29 feet out, 53.3 percent from 10-14 feet, 48.2 percent from 5-9 feet, and 66.0 percent from less than five feet. In short, she’s been unstoppable as a shooter who has a size advantage on nearly anyone willing to step out of the paint and into space with her. 
It’s no wonder that Collier is dominating the MVP debate right now. To have a forward so proficient as a scorer at all three levels is terrifying for opposing defenses to handle, and it’s what makes her an obvious All-Star headed into this year’s events. 
WNBA reporter Candace Pedraza writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

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The WNBA’s Engines: Top Players in Offensive Efficiency

While the WNBA’s current scoring leaders include veterans like Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, and while veteran players like Alyssa Thomas, Breanna Stewart, and Tina Charles continue to thrive in the league, youth continues to be an underlying talking point of the 2025 WNBA season. 
Let’s dive into which rookies have impressed as we wrap up the first quarter of the 2025 season. 
The Washington Mystics rookie duo of Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen
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The Mystics have begun their season strong thanks in large part to two of their draft picks from this year, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. The duo has been tearing teams apart in transition, with Citron an ever-looming scoring threat from three point range and with Iriafen consistently giving opposing teams’ bigs their “welcome to the 2025 rookie class” moments. 
Citron is averaging 14.3 point per game along with four rebounds and two assists, and she’s shooting an impressive 40 percent from three this year. Iriafen has been a perfect post-up counterpart to Citron, averaging a double double with 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game on 47 percent shooting from the field.
According to WNBA Stats, the second-most common lineup for the Mystics of Jade Melbourne, Stef Dolson, Brittney Sykes, Kiki Iriafen, and Sonia Citron is posting an offensive rating of 124.5 with a defensive rating of 98, for an overall net rating of 26.5. This speaks highly to how these two rookies have seamlessly integrated themselves into a lineup supported by veterans on the team, and how they’re an integral part to the Mystics’ success so far this season.  
The international class of rookies is getting things done
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Rookies coming from overseas are also posting some impressive performances so far this season. The Golden State Valkyries are one team to watch for some especially promising minutes from international players like Janelle Salaün. Salaün is averaging 12 points per game along with 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists on nearly 38 percent shooting from three, and she’s currently fourth amongst rookies in points per game. 
Another key international name to watch this season so far has been the Phoenix Mercury’s rookie guard Monique Akoa-Makani. She has suddenly emerged as one of the league’s best three point shooters, hitting at a clip of 45.5 percent from deep on 4.1 shots per game. She’s helped keep Phoenix afloat amidst injuries bogging Alyssa Thomas down. 
As the 2025 WNBA season unfolds, it’s clear that this rookie class isn’t just finding its footing—they’re making an immediate impact. Whether it&#8217;s Citron and Iriafen anchoring the Mystics’ resurgence or international standouts like Salaün and Akoa-Makani elevating their teams with poise beyond their years, the league’s youth movement is not just promising—it&#8217;s already here. If this is what the first quarter of the season looks like, the rest of 2025 is bound to deliver even more breakout performances and future stars in the making.
WNBA reporter Candace Pedraza writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams

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Rookies Turning Heads Early in the 2025 WNBA Season

The WNBA is finally back on our screens. We were treated to some excellent matchups between potential contenders, rookies, and potential frontrunners for the Most Valuable Player award, separating themselves from the pack.  
Let’s dive into the five takeaways from the eight games that kicked off the league’s 29th season.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Napheesa Collier, A’ja Wilson, and Caitlin Clark kick off MVP campaigns </h2>
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Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson unanimously won her third MVP in 2024 after an unbelievable season, averaging 26.9 points per game with 2.6 blocks, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 11.9 rebounds on over 50 percent shooting from the field. This was done with just a hair over one three-pointer per game taken by Wilson. 
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier finished second in voting in 2024, and she seems motivated to begin 2025 with a vengeance and with the goal of winning that award in mind. She wrapped up opening weekend, averaging 28.3 points, five rebounds, and 2.5 assists on 56 percent shooting from the field and a 67 percent shooting from three.
Wilson had 31 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, two steals, a block, and shot 50 percent from the field in the Aces’ opening against the New York Liberty this past weekend. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark picked up a triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) to help lead the Fever to a win in their season opener. Despite her excellence this past weekend, Collier is still in a heated race for the MVP trophy. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. The Washington Mystics rookies show they’re WNBA-ready. </h2>
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After injuries to rookie guard Georgia Amoore and second-year forward Aaliyah Edwards, rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen stepped up in a big way for Washington. The duo shined for the Mystics in their respective debuts, helping lead the team to a 2-0 record after the opening weekend.
Citron wrapped up the weekend averaging 17 points and 2.5 assists on solid 65 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. Iriafen, a key post player for Washington with Edwards out, averaged 15.5 points and nine rebounds for Washington on over 50 percent shooting from the field. They’ve both completely flipped the Rookie of the Year race on its head in just two games, and it’s fun to see Citron and Iriafen take full advantage of the opportunities due to these unfortunate injuries. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. The new-look Phoenix Mercury embrace their new engine. </h2>
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The Engine, also known as Alyssa Thomas, has brought her winning ways to Phoenix. Once she opened the Mercury’s game against the Storm with a spin move to the basket for an easy bucket, you knew she was about to have a big performance. Thomas’ efficient 20 points on 8-13 shooting, six assists, two steals, and seven rebounds that led to a win over the Storm should excite Phoenix fans about this team’s ceiling. 
Thomas is the catalyst for any offense she’s running. Her selflessness as a passer and efficiency as a scorer make her the perfect point-forward for Phoenix, who are looking to lean into positionless basketball this year. Whip passes to Satou Sabally and strength to battle in the post are what’ll make this Mercury offense hum. And, while it’s a small sample size, the proof is in the on-off numbers for Thomas. When on the court, Phoenix had an offensive rating of 110.2. Off the court, that rating sank to just 88.9. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Natasha Cloud finds perfect fit with the New York Liberty</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-198632" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/Takeways_2-1.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/Takeways_2-1.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/Takeways_2-1-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/Takeways_2-1-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
When the New York Liberty traded for Natasha Cloud from the Connecticut Sun, it seemed like a match made in heaven. The team would get the opportunity to see how much better their offense could be when removing the ball from Sabrina Ionescu’s hands and bringing in a new playmaker in Cloud.
During the Liberty’s season opener against the Las Vegas Aces, Cloud endeared herself to the New York crowd with a 22-point, nine-assist, three-steal, and two-block performance. She willed the Liberty through a tough stretch in the 3rd quarter where they couldn’t dream of stopping Wilson or Jackie Young on offense, piecing together back-to-back and-1 scoring opportunities early in the 4th quarter that helped to separate New York from Las Vegas. Ring night remained unspoiled thanks to Cloud’s efforts. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. The Kelsey Plum experience arrives in Los Angeles</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-198628" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/Takeways_5.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/Takeways_5.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/Takeways_5-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/Takeways_5-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
In her first game, Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum made a huge splash to open the Sparks’ regular season. Against the inaugural Golden State Valkyries squad, she had 37 points, six assists, five steals, and two boards on 67 percent shooting from three-point range and 58 percent shooting from the field overall. 
Plum struggled in her second game with the Sparks, being held to 18 points on 33 percent shooting from deep and 36 percent shooting overall by the incomparable defense of Lynx guard Courtney Williams. But, she was the clear leader on the floor in both games, constantly feeding Dearica Hamby, Azurá Stevens, and rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker. 
Once the chemistry is formed between Plum and the Sparks’ elite post scorers in Hamby, Stevens, and Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles’ offense will be in a great spot with her at the head of the snake. 
WNBA reporter Candace Pedraza writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

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5 Takeaways from the WNBA’s 2025 Tip-off Weekend

WNBA rookies are making their presence felt like never before. From opening night to the postseason, first-year players are stepping into key roles, shifting team dynamics, and helping drive success immediately. Last season, Caitlin Clark played a pivotal role in helping the Indiana Fever secure their first playoff appearance in seven years. Additionally to Clark, Angel Reese became a nightly double-double threat for the Sky, while Rickea Jackson gave the Sparks a true three-level-scorer that ascended in the second half of the season, and Aaliyah Edwards and Kate Martin emerged as reliable contributors during critical stretches.
This trend isn’t slowing down—and it’s made the WNBA Draft more crucial than ever. It’s no longer just about building for the future; it&#8217;s about finding players who can change a team’s trajectory immediately. With that in mind, let’s break down the rookies from this year’s draft who are poised to do just that in 2025.
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Paige Bueckers &#8211; Dallas Wings
Paige Bueckers. Able to play both point guard and shooting guard, Bueckers brings the versatility needed to complement Arike Ogunbowale—a score-first guard known for her high shot volume. That volume may only grow with the offseason departure of Satou Sabally.
Bueckers, in contrast, is a natural facilitator who can still threaten from all three levels. Her playmaking instincts and ability to defer when needed make her an ideal backcourt partner for Ogunbowale. Dallas also has a strong frontcourt, with players like NaLyssa Smith and Myisha Hines-Allen expected to benefit from Bueckers’ proficiency in the pick-and-roll.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-197761" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41.png 1920w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Georgia Amoore &#8211; Washington Mystics
The Mystics came away from the draft with a trio of impact players: Georgia Amoore, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen. While all three address key needs, Amoore stands out in terms of immediate roster fit. As the Mystics have invested draft capital into bigs the previous few seasons (Edwards, Austin), Amoore will give them a legit pick and roll dance partner at the one. 
Amoore will likely compete for the starting point guard role this season, and the idea of her orchestrating alongside fellow rookies and established post players like Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Edwards, and Stefanie Dolson is compelling. At Virginia Tech, she averaged 6.9 assists per game and consistently created open looks off screens and spacing.
Her transition to the WNBA should be smooth, largely due to how well her skill set matches the talent already in Washington’s frontcourt.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-197763" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43.png 1920w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Hailey Van Lith &#8211; Chicago Sky
Speaking of guards who excel in space, Hailey Van Lith is one of the best among smaller guards at exploiting it. Last season at TCU, she shot 45.2% from the field and posted a career-high 5.2 assists per game—numbers that underscore her ability to generate offense in the pick-and-roll.
Now in Chicago, Van Lith will have the luxury of playing alongside Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Not only did she already share the court with Reese at LSU in 2023–24, but their established chemistry should serve as a foundation for the Sky’s revamped attack.
Cardoso will benefit from Van Lith’s court vision and willingness to create opportunities in the post and in screen actions. Van Lith also helps offset the departures of Chennedy Carter and Diamond DeShields, both of whom were not re-signed this offseason.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-197764" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44.png 1920w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Te-Hina Paopao &#8211; Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream ended the 2024 season ranked last in overall shooting percentage (40.8%) and second-to-last in three-point shooting (30.8%). Enter Te-Hina Paopao, a career 40% three-point shooter from her time at South Carolina. It’s easy to see why Atlanta took a chance on her in the second round.
If Paopao earns a spot on the final roster, she could provide badly needed shooting off the bench and help stretch the floor for players like Haley Jones and Nia Coffey. New head coach Karl Smesko, known for emphasizing perimeter shooting during his tenure at Florida Gulf Coast, likely played a major role in drafting Paopao at 18th overall.
WNBA reporter Candace Pedraza writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams

WNBA_Draft_2025_SF_CMYK_DkBkgd (1)

how-top-draft-picks-align-with-their-new-teams

A Perfect Fit: How Top Draft Picks Align with Their New Teams

The NCAA tournament has officially ended, with the UConn Huskies reclaiming the throne from the South Carolina Gamecocks and winning a 12th title for the esteemed women’s college basketball program in Storrs, Connecticut. 
Now an NCAA Champion, star guard Paige Bueckers is set to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm and currently projected to go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings. Bueckers’ entry into the draft is a long time coming, and she’s set to be one of the more closely watched rookies this season.
Outside of Bueckers, there are many standout players that fans are keen on seeing hit the stage and join a WNBA franchise, especially after some fabulous tournament performances from players like TCU’s Hailey Van Lith, LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, and USC’s Kiki Iriafen, to name a few. Their departure from their respective college programs will have just as big of an impact as Bueckers’ departure will, which just goes to show how strong this incoming class is projected to be. 
Let’s dive into five names to watch for ahead of the Wings being on the clock. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197383 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/PaigeB.png" alt="Paige Bueckers" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/PaigeB.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/PaigeB-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/PaigeB-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Paige Bueckers
Let’s start with Paige Bueckers, the senior guard out of UConn who has dazzled the basketball stage for several seasons. Under head coach Geno Auriemma and alongside teammates Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, Bueckers has finally managed to secure the one piece of hardware she was missing from her mantel with just one week to go until she hears her name called during the draft &#8211; an NCAA championship.
Bueckers averaged 19.9 points per-game along with 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals in 2024. In the tournament, she averaged 24.8 points, 4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per-game in six games en route to the title. 
Bueckers’ accolades stretch beyond the stuffing the stat sheet, of course. She scored the most points of any UConn Husky in women’s basketball program history, passing Maya Moore for the honor, and is now third overall in women’s college basketball history in scoring during the NCAA Tournament with 477 total points. These records are all the more impressive when considering she missed the 2022 season with a torn ACL.  

The multi-time All-American, former AP Player of the Year, Big East legend, and now NCAA champion is set to enter the league as the favorite to land Rookie of the Year honors. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197384 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/HaileyVL.png" alt="Hailey Van Lith" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/HaileyVL.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/HaileyVL-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/HaileyVL-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Hailey Van Lith
In a different path from Bueckers, Van Lith has gone through three college programs on her journey to the draft stage. Between her time with the Louisville Cardinals, LSU Tigers, and TCU Horned Frogs, Van Lith averaged 15.2 points per-game along with 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals. At LSU, Van Lith departed from the norm and was the teams’ main on-ball facilitator. She used her last year of eligibility to play with TCU as a shooting guard once again. 
Her shooting was fairly consistent while with TCU in 2024-25, and she also averaged the most assists per-game she ever had in her final collegiate year with the Horned Frogs and while surrounded with some great shooting. 
Van Lith is entering the league at a time where guards, and specifically the art of passing first, is more appreciated than ever. Thinking of great point guards like Chelsea Gray, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Cloud, and others who elevate players around them with their facilitating, it’s fun to imagine what Van Lith will bring to the league with her passing skills. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197385 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/KikiI.png" alt="Kiki Iriafen" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/KikiI.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/KikiI-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/KikiI-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Kiki Iriafen
Moving off guard talk, it’s time to give some flowers to future star forward Kiki Iriafen. The USC Trojan nearly put the team on her back in the NCAA Tournament with the loss of JuJu Watkins to an ACL tear during the second round, averaging 16.5 points per-game along with nine rebounds and 1.5 assists. 
Iriafen has been considered a top prospect for several years because of her footwork, ability to score in the post consistently, and her ability to defend the paint. She stood out for these reasons alongside Cameron Brink at Stanford University, where she began her collegiate career, and she’s going to be an invaluable piece to any teams’ frontcourt this season and beyond.
Thinking of bigs in the league similar to Iriafen like A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Angel Reese, and Breanna Stewart &#8211; essentially, forwards that can create their own shot in the paint, have ball handling skills, and are defensive presences that seriously deter other teams from looking at the paint at all &#8211; it’s clear to see how she’ll find success in the league almost immediately. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197387 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/DominiqueM.png" alt="Dominique Malonga" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/DominiqueM.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/DominiqueM-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/DominiqueM-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Dominique Malonga
When discussing a draft riser, you have to mention Dominique Malonga’s name. The silver medalist and rising French basketball star has both experience to offer a WNBA team looking to draft an untraditional rookie, and the skills to back up such a selection. The 6-foot-6 center averaged 15 points per-game along with 10 rebounds with Lyons in 2024. 
Malonga moves with the fluidity of a guard while knowing she has the height and strength of a center. For someone who will only be 19 years old by the time she heard her name called by commissioner Cathy Engelbert in this year’s draft, that’s extremely impressive. You have to respect Malonga’s jumper, paint presence, and ball handling. Think of how difficult it is to defend Las Vegas’ Wilson &#8211; that’s what teams might need to consider defensively when guarding Malonga very soon. 
Malonga, similarly to Iriafen, has a translatable bag of skills that’ll likely make her a contender for rookie of the year. Looking up any highlights of Malonga’s performances over the past year will leave you wondering how it’ll be possible to defend someone as surgical as her as she’s running to the rim. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197386 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/AneesahM.png" alt="Aneesah Morrow" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/AneesahM.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/AneesahM-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/AneesahM-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Aneesah Morrow
Morrow is entering this year’s draft after an amazing NCAA Tournament run with the LSU Tigers in 2025. Despite being eliminated in the Elite 8, Morrow’s impact was felt throughout the teams’ four games in the tournament. She averaged nearly 21 points per-game along with 12.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals during the postseason. Her regular season stats were even more eye-popping &#8211; going for 18.7 points per-game along with 13.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.5 steals. 
The former standout at DePaul University is entering this draft as one of the best forwards in the class, and she certainly should be gone off the board for teams within the top 5 of the draft order. Her paint prowess as a rebounder and scorer, and her ability to defend players that could give her trouble with their size advantage over her, will make her a likely day one starter for whoever drafts her. 
Her scoring and footwork in the paint are almost one of one in this draft class. It’s hard to find a comparison for her to anyone currently in the league because she moves like a center but would be considered undersized for that label. Her skills are extremely transferable to the WNBA given her ability to tough out rebounds, score over bigger defenders, and her passing out of double and triple teams under the basket. 
She’s sure to power her way through the league this season, and likely remind fans why she was such a crucial transfer for LSU’s tournament hopes over the last two seasons.

2025-draft-prospect-previews

Prospect Previews: Five Players to Watch in the 2025 WNBA Draft

Shock, surprised, aghast— to say the very least! A wild few weeks have probably led to your favorite team receiving a facelift during the 2025 Free Agency period. Superstars were traded, draft picks were dealt, and new contenders emerged. Now that the dust has settled, let’s break down the teams that won free agency. 
&nbsp;
<h2>Phoenix Mercury </h2>
IN: Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, Sami Whitcomb, Kalani Brown, Sevgi Uzun
OUT: Brittney Griner (ATL), Natasha Cloud (CON), Sophie Cunningham (IND)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-195788" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/PHXFA.png" alt="Satou Sabally in Phoenix Mercury jersey with Kahleah Copper" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/PHXFA.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/PHXFA-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/PHXFA-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The Mercury lost free agent Brittney Griner, the franchise’s two-way cornerstone for the past 11 seasons. Still, they gained an engine in Alyssa Thomas and a unicorn in Satou Sabally to pair with their Olympian Kahleah Copper. They gain solid offense and become a nightmare defensive line-up. Phoenix couldn’t bring back 2014 Mercury champion DeWanna Bonner but instead cashed in on a veteran sharpshooter, Sami Whitcomb. Where they may lack depth, the collective W experience and sheer competitiveness make up for it. 
<h2>Indiana Fever</h2>
IN: Kelsey Mitchell, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham
OUT: Grace Berger (MIN), Katie Lou Samuelson 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-195789" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/INDFA.png" alt="DeWanna Bonner, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull and Caitlin Clark sitting courtside at an Indiana Pacers game" width="960" height="720" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/INDFA.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/INDFA-300x225.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/INDFA-768x576.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The Fever would’ve been on this list even if they just retained Kelsey Mitchell, but they were able to create a monster starting lineup. With the free-agent signings of DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, they’re long, can shoot, and can defend. Howard, a former Defensive Player of the Year (2019), brings the defensive grit to Indiana’s forward spot, something they desperately needed. Last season, the Fever finished 11th in Defensive Rating and heavily relied on out-scoring teams rather than getting stops. Now, with Clark, Mitchell, Bonner, Howard, and Boston, they have both. Scary!
&nbsp;
<h2>Atlanta Dream</h2>
IN: Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
OUT: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (LVA)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-195790" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/ATLFA.png" alt="Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner at their introductory press conference" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/ATLFA.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/ATLFA-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/ATLFA-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
I believe any team that won the BG free-agency sweepstakes would be a winner, and the Dream added two centers to help defend inside. Last season, Atlanta gave up the second-most points in the paint at 34.0 ppg. No way is that going to happen again with Griner and Jones. But I’m most curious how two traditional bigs will fit with the offense of Dream’s new head coach, Karl Smesko. During his 20+ years at Florida Gulf Coast, he didn’t allow mid-range jumpers, only three-pointers and layups. Is Griner going to be shooting more threes this season? She did take and make the most three-pointers of her career in 2024 (9-18). Or will they leave that to Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray? Either way, Griner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFZDzSpNiP4/">looked extremely happy</a> with her new team when she announced her signing on Instagram. The best part? They didn’t have to lose anything to sign these two powerhouses. Atlanta is going to be fun to watch. 
&nbsp;
<h2>Las Vegas Aces</h2>
IN: Jewell Loyd, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Tiffany Mitchell, Dana Evans
OUT: Kelsey Plum (LAS), Sydney Colson (IND), Tiffany Hayes (GSV), Alysha Clark (SEA)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-195791 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/LVAFA.png" alt="A'ja Wilson and Jewell Loyd following a matchup during the 2024 season" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/LVAFA.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/LVAFA-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/LVAFA-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Coach Becky Hammon warned us there would be changes after the Aces lost to the Liberty in the Semi-Finals. “We have to really take a sharp look at ourselves, look ourselves in the mirror, see our shortcomings, and then&#8230; make the moves necessary, whatever that means, to put the best product that we possibly can,&#8221; she said in October. The Aces constructed a historic blockbuster trade of former number-one picks. In a three-team trade, they shipped Kelsey Plum to Los Angeles, received Jewell Loyd from Seattle, and the Storm nabbed the 2025 number two overall pick from the Sparks.
With Plum being traded, it marks the end of an era for the back-to-back champion Aces. Plum was an integral part of Hammon’s slice-and-dice offensive scheme. But, the Sparks got the piece they needed. Her career 40% 3-point shooting average and ball handling skills positioned next to the fiery young backcourt of Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson is a perfect match. 
In this situation, all three teams are winners, but the Aces got even better, in my opinion. Last season, Loyd averaged almost 20 ppg. Her craftiness and high-volume scoring will fit nicely next to A’ja Wilson’s dominance and Chelsea Gray’s passing. Four of the Aces’ new starting five just won Olympic gold together; the chemistry is already there. Plus, adding bigs Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and rookie Elizabeth Kitley, along with guards Tiffany Mitchell and Dana Evans coming off the bench, Las Vegas has the pieces to return to their championship-winning ways.  
&nbsp;
<h3>Dallas Wings</h3>
IN: DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, NaLyssa Smith, reserved rights of Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, No. 12 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and future pick swaps
OUT: Satou Sabally (PHX), Natasha Howard (IND), Kalani Brown (PHX), Sevgi Uzun (PHX), Jacy Sheldon (CON)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-195792" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/DALFA1.png" alt="DiJonai Carrington guarding Arike Ogunbowale during a 2024 season matchup" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/DALFA1.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/DALFA1-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/02/DALFA1-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
New General Manager Curt Miller was able to hold on to the Wings’ number-one pick and acquire some competitive pieces in the process—that’s a win-win! It was obvious that Dallas, who finished 2024 with a dismal 9-31 record, needed to grab help for their star Arike Ogunbowale. They needed a point guard, who, if projections stay correct, will be incoming rookie Paige Beuckers and Ty Harris at backup. They needed defense (last season, the Wings finished dead-last in Defensive Rating); DiJonai Carrington checks that box. Their center, Teaira McCowan, needed some scoring help down low—enter NaLyssa Smith. It’s a new era in Dallas under head coach Chris Koclanes, and I’m excited to see how all these pieces fall into place.
&nbsp;
WNBA reporter Jordan Robinson writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/heyjordanr?s=11&amp;amp;t=J-cOcDBZrcrt32m2C7gIVg">@HeyJordanR.</a> The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

2025-free-agency-winners

2025 Free Agency Winners

Last updated (6:00 pm 2/7/25) 
2025 WNBA Free Agency has electrified the league with a significant shuffling of players during the signing period. As the anticipation builds for the 2025 WNBA Draft and season tip-off, these star-studded movements are sparking conversations about what the upcoming season will look like.
We’ll examine the reported signings that have shaken up the league and which signings to watch as the Free Agency announcements continue. Let’s dive into the new Atlanta Dream frontcourt and the blockbuster three-team trade that made history, featuring two former first-overall picks.
&nbsp;
Brittney Griner 
2024 stats (30 games played) 
17.8 PPG 
6.6 RPG 
2.3 APG 
1.5 BPG 
 
Brittney Griner, a nine-time All-Star, WNBA Champion, and perennial All-Defense team member, is headed for the Atlanta Dream. This marks the first time in Griner’s WNBA career that she’ll be playing anywhere but Phoenix as she departs the Mercury for a new opportunity alongside fellow stars Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. 
 
Griner automatically brings elite rim protection to Atlanta and provides a new pick-and-roll partner to Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, and Rhyne Howard. While she’s not known for spacing the floor, she’s always willing to attempt an open three, and that’ll keep defenses honest while opening the floor up for Howard and Gray to operate. 
&nbsp;
Brionna Jones 
<a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/1628280/">2024 stats</a> (40 games played) 
13.7 PPG 
5.5 RPG 
1.5 APG 
1.2 SPG
&nbsp;
Brionna Jones has also signed with the Atlanta Dream. Jones marks the second Center signed by the Dream ahead of the 2025 season as she joins fellow All-Star big Griner on the Dream frontcourt. 
We can see a trend brewing in Atlanta as Jones was an elite defender for the Connecticut Sun who will immediately improve the Dream&#8217;s interior defense, complimenting BG’s interior presence. While injuries had plagued her recently with the Sun, she’d been a consistent target for Alyssa Thomas’ post-passing and is a reliable scorer in the paint. 
The former Sixth Player of the Year and three-time All-Star looked like a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, but her season was cut short to just 13 games due to a ruptured Achilles. 
Jones is likely to come off the bench in relief of Griner, which adds a versatile amount of depth to the Dream’s second unit. Adding her to the roster adds another target in the paint for Atlanta’s guards, as she’s excellent in the post as a scorer, and her defense versus opposing bench units will be felt. 
&nbsp;
Sparks, Aces, and Mercury Complete Blockbuster Deal:
The first colossal trade domino to fall this offseason was the three-team trade that sent Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, and Li Yueru to the Seattle Storm. The picks involved made this trade enticing for the Storm, as they landed the second overall pick in the 2025 draft in the deal. 
Loyd, a two-time WNBA champion with Seattle, former Rookie of the Year, scoring leader, and six-time All-Star, is an obvious plus to the Aces, who needed this sort of return for a Plum-caliber player. Plum, of course, also gets a fresh start to operate as the engine for the Sparks, who needed a veteran guard at the helm for Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink. The two-time champion with Las Vegas and three-time All-Star brings ball handling and shooting to Los Angeles, taking pressure off of Jackson or Brink to carry the brunt of scoring. 
In addition to nabbing Yueru to add to their center depth, Seattle now has a lucrative pick to use or deal ahead of the WNBA draft. With the Storm now drafting second overall in this year’s draft, they’re in a gainful position to add a franchise cornerstone that can contribute immediately. The Storm might’ve lost a key face of their franchise, but they gained a perfect opportunity to add youth in a new era for their team by gaining this pick. 
 
Keeping an eye out: Other standout moves this offseason 
 
Nneka Ogwumike has yet to sign a new deal with the Seattle Storm this offseason, but there haven’t been any reports to suggest that she’ll sign with any other team. Ogwumike, a former league MVP (2016), a WNBA champion (2016), and nine-time All-Star, is a premier forward in the league. Her two-way play for Seattle last season was a perfect fit alongside center Ezi Magbegor, and her scoring in the post added a fun dimension to the Storm’s offense. She averaged 16.7 PPG and a career-high 1.9 SPG, 7.6 RPG, and 2.3 APG.  
Chennedy Carter is still an unrestricted free agent, and she’ll likely be looking for a new team, with the Sky signing Vandersloot as their point guard this coming season. Carter, who averaged career highs in points per game (17.5), steals per game (1.1), rebounds per game (3.5), and field goal percentage (49 percent), would be an excellent fit for any team like the 2024 Sky &#8211; young, trying to build a foundation, and in need of guard depth. 

WNBA reporter Candace Pedraza writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.-

wnba-free-agency-2025-rapid-reactions-of-atlantas-fresh-frontcourt-and-three-team-blockbuster

WNBA Free Agency 2025: Rapid Reactions of Atlanta’s Fresh Frontcourt and Three-Team Blockbuster

The 144 is closer to becoming the 156. 
With the first league expansion since the Atlanta Dream 2008, the Golden State Valkyries made their selection of 11 players during the Expansion Draft on Dec. 6 to start forming their inaugural roster. And if there’s one takeaway from that selection process, the Valkyries had one type of player in mind when drafting: competitors. 
You heard that word from Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase throughout the evening, before, during, and after the announcement process, which aired for 30 minutes on ESPN on Friday night. Nakase had “competitor” at the top of her list when making selections for the team alongside general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, and it showed in how the roster actually shaped out. 
The initial 11-player list (the team chose not to make a selection from the Seattle Storm) features plenty of bigs—six are forwards and centers known most for their physical defense and rebounding skills. 
That part of the roster includes Temi Fagbenle from the Indiana Fever, Kayla Thornton from the New York Liberty, Stephanie Talbot from the Los Angeles Sparks, Cecilia Zandalisini from the Minnesota Lynx, Iliana Rupert from the Atlanta Dream, by way of the Çukurova Basketbol of the Turkish Super League, Monique Billings from the Phoenix Mercury, and María Conde from the Chicago Sky, by way of the USK Praha in the Czech League. 
The guards the team selected – Julie Vanloo from the Washington Mystics, Veronica Burton from the Connecticut Sun, Kate Martin from the Las Vegas Aces, and Carla Leite from the Dallas Wings, by way of the Villeneuve d&#8217;Ascq in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball – round out the shooting, speed, and playmaking on the potential final Golden State roster.
Some of the biggest names to stand out from the process were Fagbenle, Thornton, and Martin. Given that Fagbenle and Thornton were such key pieces of their previous team, the Valkyries were fortunate to land these gritty, defensive-minded players. With Fagbenle and Thornton, the Valkyries are banking on their collective experience in the WNBA and professional basketball overseas—13 years in the W alone have been played between those two players. 
For Martin, who averaged 11.5 minutes per game with the Aces in 2024, Nakase and Nyanin wanted to bring in someone Nakase was familiar with as a hard worker as Nakase coached Kate in Las Vegas this past season.
“I’m excited with Kate [Martin]. I grew a very close relationship when I was there with the Aces. She’s a very genuine person, but she’s also a culture changer. She really pours herself into her work and into her passion the way she plays,” said Nakase to reporters after the draft selections were publicized. 
Another aspect of the draft that has stood out so far was the sheer number of international players selected by Nakase, Nyanin, and the rest of Golden State’s brain trust. 
Of the 11 players selected &#8211; no one was chosen from the Seattle Storm &#8211; seven have experience playing for a team in their respective country or were drafted directly from international teams. Fagbenle (Great Britain), Carla Leite (France), Talbot (Australia), Zandalisini (Turkey and Italy), Rupert (France), Vanloo (Belgium), and Conde (Spain) make up the heavily international inaugural team. 
When asked if that was intentional, Nakase said it wasn’t until she started to get down on paper what players she wanted to see picked during the process that “half of them are not from the States,” but she added “that wasn’t my mindset. It was building the best team that I wanted to build.”
On the business end of that, though, comes the question mark that hangs over so many international picks—who will actually come over to play for the team? Nyanin told reporters about the uncertainty that her job in the coming months will include trying to pitch international players the chance to play in the Bay Area and getting to know the organization before making a big decision on their commitment headed into next summer. 
“I just wanted to make sure that they understand who I am, what we’re trying to build, who coach Natalie Nakase is, what she’s trying to build on the court, and then explain to them the Bay. I mean, I didn’t know anything about the Bay before I moved out here, having lived in five different countries, most of the time not being given the opportunity to make that choice; I always made the best of it,” said Nyanin of her thoughts on conversations with those players. 
With the goal of a championship in mind, this inaugural roster also included several WNBA champions—a part of the intentionality behind Nakase and Nyanin’s draft strategy of trying to pick winners and competitors. 
Thornton is the most recent victor amongst the group, having just won a championship with the New York Liberty in 2024. In addition to Thornton, the roster sports three other league champions—Fagbenle, Rupert, and Zandalisini. Veterans abound on this roster. However, the championship experience from Thornton, Rupert, Zandalisini, and Fagbenle can help make the transition smoother for the Valkyries as they ramp into competition on May 16 against the Los Angeles Sparks. 
One of the most exciting parts about witnessing the formation of the first expansion team since the Atlanta Dream were introduced to the league in 2008 is just how unfinished this team’s journey to tip-off is. Between having plenty of cap space to work with ahead of free agency and the fifth overall pick in a heavily stacked WNBA draft, the Valkyries are far from a settled image. That versatility will eventually become a solid competitive advantage if flexed correctly. 
WNBA reporter Candace Pedraza writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

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Inside the Golden State Valkyries' Inaugural Roster

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(1) New York Liberty vs. (2) Minnesota Lynx
Game 1: Lynx at Liberty: Thursday, Oct. 10, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Lynx at Liberty: Sunday, Oct. 13, 3:00 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 3: Liberty at Lynx: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN 
Game 4: Liberty at Lynx: Friday, Oct. 18, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN  (if necessary)
Game 5: Lynx at Liberty: Sunday, Oct. 20, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN  (if necessary) 
Matchup Stats: <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661313/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661324">Liberty vs. Lynx</a> | <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661324/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661313"> Lynx vs. Liberty</a>
And then there were two. The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx will square off in the WNBA Finals for the first time in history. To get here, the Liberty swept the Atlanta Dream and dominated the semi-finals against the Las Vegas Aces, winning the series 3-1. As for the Lynx, they swept the Phoenix Mercury and came out on top of a winner-take-all Game 5 versus the Connecticut Sun. Deep down, we basketball fans wanted this: the two top-seeded teams battling it out for the ultimate crown. 
Historically, the Finals have only favored one of these franchises. The Lynx have won four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017), which is tied with the Houston Comets and Seattle Storm for most all time. Cheryl Reeve, the 2024 Coach of the Year, was the head coach for all four titles. Meanwhile, the Liberty has served as the runner-up five times, dating back to the league’s debut season in 1997. That’s the most any franchise has made it to the Finals and lost. 
Zooming back into this regular season, the Lynx have had the Liberty’s number, winning three of the four meetings, which includes the Commissioner’s Cup Championship in June. Minnesota is the only team to defeat New York multiple times this season. But this is the postseason, and so far, the superstars for each team have been ballin’. The Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu is averaging a staggering 20.7 ppg in the playoffs, <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/sabrina-ionescu-liberty-defeat-aces-wnba-finals-return">shooting a red-hot</a> 46% from 3-point land. Breanna Stewart has been a ball hawk on the defensive end and scoring at will with 20 points per contest (while adding eight blocks and six steals in the playoffs). And Leonie Fiebich, at the lengthy 6’4, has proven to be an integral piece to this Liberty roster.
But the Lynx’s Napheesa Collier might be playing the best basketball in the league right now. She’s averaging almost 30 ppg in the postseason—don’t forget about the <a href="https://lynx.wnba.com/news/napheesa-collier-scores-42-to-tie-a-wnba-playoff-record-for-points-and-the-lynx-swept-the-mercury#:~:text=MINNEAPOLIS%20(AP)%20Napheesa%20Collier%20scored,left%20in%20the%20fourth%20quarter.">42-point eruption</a> in the first round! She’s been poetically scoring around the rim (59% on 2-pointers) and drilling it 45% from deep. Every move is fluid; every counter move is diligent. She’s nearly unstoppable. Plus, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year has led the top defensive team with two blocks and 1.1 steals per game. Collier’s point guard Courtney Williams, who exploded for 24 points and seven assists in Game 5 of the semi-finals, is also peaking at the right time. 
Reeve and Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello both have championship pedigree. The game-to-game adjustments and defensive schemes will be top-notch. We’re in for such a treat. 
Key Players: 
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Jonquel Jones, New York 
Jones got in early foul trouble in Game 3 of the semi-finals against Las Vegas. She had to sit for extended minutes, starting as early as seven minutes into the second quarter. With her on the bench, it glared to viewers just how important Jones is to this Liberty team. They missed her scoring (at all three levels) and the paint presence on the defensive end. But, frankly, some of her fouls were unnecessary ones. Fouls that you don’t do when you know you’re an extremely valuable asset to your team’s chances of winning. She’ll have to play smarter; Minnesota will attack Jones, aim to get her flustered, and eliminate her from the equation altogether. Not getting block-happy or being over-aggressive on hedges will be crucial to staying on the floor. 
Jones averaged only 10 points per game on 25 shots in the three-game regular season series. That’s only about eight shots per game. In the Commissioner’s Cup, she went 0-3 for a dismal three points, all from the free-throw line. This can’t happen again. New York should exploit Minnesota’s lack of post size in the Finals by feeding Jones deep in the paint and have Jones crash the offensive glass. 
Jones was excellent in last season’s Finals. She had back-to-back 20+ point performances. The Liberty will look for her to perform similarly as they hold a home-court advantage. 
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Bridget Carelton, Minnesota 
Minnesota (and Liberty) fans remember what Carelton did during the Commissioner’s Cup in New York. A team-high 23 points, six 3-pointers, five assists, and three steals. Some even say she should’ve won the game’s MVP award for her late surge. But stats aside, Carelton has the confidence to come into New York and make a real difference. We, as fans, want an old-fashioned shoot-out. Ionescu and Carelton’s stroke should make us run to grab umbrellas because it’s raining 3s. Carelton has that power. She can get hot in a hurry. 
The Lynx are at their best when they move the ball—they led the league in team assists. However, there were spurts in the Sun series when the ball got sticky. It would stay on one side of the court and not zip around the horn like it typically does. Shooters like Carelton suffer when this happens. She combined for eight points in the last two semi-final contests. She’s primed for a breakout performance in these Finals. With Collier garnering more attention and potentially double teams, Carelton must float to the open spots along the arch to make herself available and then knock down the open jumper. 
It’s the Finals, baby! Everyone will need to be at the top of their game, Carelton and Jones included. Phee and Stewie, former UConn teammates and summer Olympic gold medalists, are surging right now, but only one can be crowned this season’s WNBA champion. The final quest starts Thursday on ESPN.  
WNBA reporter Jordan Robinson writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/heyjordanr?s=11&amp;amp;t=J-cOcDBZrcrt32m2C7gIVg">@HeyJordanR.</a> The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

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2024 WNBA Finals presented by YouTubeTV: Phee and Stewie Set to Battle for the Title

Playmaking is an art form that can be portrayed through many mediums. While you can look at a box score and gauge that two players are nearly equal in assist total, little is ascertained about how that player dishes the rock. &#8216;Elite is Elite&#8217; is about diving into the how and highlighting the minor details that constitute some of the significant strengths of the best in basketball.
Before the postseason, we dove into the ins and outs of the top WNBA players and the skillsets that make them unique. Kicking off the 2024 edition: Dimes.
In partnership with NBA 2K25, we pair each of the league&#8217;s top passers with playmaking badges from the game that best correspond to their skillset.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Alyssa Thomas: Versatile Visionary  </h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188860" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisEAT.png" alt="Alyssa Thomas" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisEAT.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisEAT-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisEAT-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Alyssa Thomas currently sits second in the W in assists per game at 7.6. The volume of Thomas’ playmaking stands out, as she leads the league in assist percentage (She assists on 39.6% of all made baskets when she’s on the floor). Running a motion-heavy read-and-react offense, so much of Connecticut’s success is predicated on timing and playing outside to open up driving and cutting lanes.
With the ball in her hands, Thomas is a precise and rapid decision-maker, which sets her apart: No one is tasked with doing more as a creator on a possession-by-possession basis. She will dazzle with plays in transition and off the bounce, but where she excels most is her ability to routinely make the right play with snappiness. The Sun are built upon her gravity, so consistently making the correct reads with pace and accuracy is essential to being a successful offense.
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<h3 style="text-align: center">Caitlin Clark: Break Starter</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188861" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisECC.png" alt="Caitlin Clark" width="960" height="714" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisECC.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisECC-300x223.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisECC-768x571.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Caitlin Clark has acclimated to the league quickly and asserted herself as one of the top-flight playmakers in the league. Clark is already one of the premier pick-and-roll players in the W, as she and Aliyah Boston have continued to find footing in their two-player game, the budding cornerstone of Indiana’s success.
Her kick-ahead and outlet passing in transition have hit a high level since game one and look to be one of the ultimate skills at her disposal in the future. She hits the seams with lightning quickness after corralling a loose ball, head constantly up and probing for an opportunity to push the defense. Per Synergy Sports, Clark leads the WNBA in assists per game in transition, dishing out 2.5 dimes per contest in fastbreak offense, leading the league in total fastbreak assists with 83.
With her aggression in early offense, she routinely creates easy offenses for the fever, which only becomes more consistent when she and her teammates have learned one another’s games.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Chelsea Gray: Unpluckable</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188899" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EiECG.png" alt="Chelsea Gray" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EiECG.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EiECG-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EiECG-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Chelsea Gray is a magician with the ball in her hands, one of the premier playmakers and craftiest ball handlers in the sport. The Las Vegas Aces immediately felt Gray’s presence upon her return from injury as she masterfully blended patience, tempo, and the flair that sets her apart.
Gray sees the game in a light that few ever have or will, capable of reading the floor and playing in multiple planes of motion akin to a 4th dimension.
She dazzles with her control of the ball, capable of getting to any spot on the court she wishes at any given time. She manipulates defenses and individual defenders with her eyes and ball fakes at a supreme degree, shifting open cutting lanes and shots with the potential of what she could do before she even does it.
How she moves her teammates and conducts the offense into a harmonic rhythm isn’t always easy to see at the moment. Still, after a lengthy look at what it looks like without her, there should be a further appreciation for the timing and brilliance that Gray adds to the Aces as a decision-maker.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Sabrina Ionescu: Triple Strike</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188901" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisESI.png" alt="Sabrina Ionescu" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisESI.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisESI-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisESI-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The New York Liberty currently maintain the top-ranked offense in the WNBA, averaging just shy of 110 points per 100 possessions (109.8). That would rank as the 3rd most efficient offense in league history, just behind the 2023 Las Vegas Aces (111.5 pp/100) and 2019 Washington Mystics (110.8 pp/100).
Sabrina Ionescu’s pick-and-roll game and growth as a ball handler has been a staple of the Liberty’s offensive attack, and her tandem with Jonquel Jones has been one of the most effective two-player games in the WNBA by the numbers. Ionescu has dished 68 assists to Jones, per PBP Stats, including 38 rim assists and 20 assisted three-pointers, the 2nd and 6th most assists in those categories.
Her growth in patience with the ball in her hands has opened up her ability to probe the lane, more comfortably dictate offensively in space, and get the most out of her court vision. Her timing on passes always stands out; she is adept with pocket passing, throwbacks to a popping screener, and an improvement in hitting overhead on blitzed ball screens.
Only one player in the WNBA runs more pick-and-rolls per game than Ionescu, 15.6 per game, according to Synergy Sports. She can routinely pick apart whatever is thrown at the Liberty defensively with her growth.
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WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler">@MG_Schindler</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams
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