With just over three weeks remaining in the regular season, we take a look at one key player (sometimes two) from each team – some All-Stars and some X-factors – to keep an eye on as the stretch run heats up.

Teams are listed in order of standings as of Aug. 18, 2025.

1. Minnesota: Kayla McBride & Courtney Williams

Despite losing the league’s top scorer and leading MVP candidate, Napheesa Collier, for the past two weeks (and no definitive timetable for a return), the Lynx have not missed a stride – winning all four games that Collier has missed. The key is Minnesota’s depth, led by its two other 2025  All-Stars. Williams has picked up her scoring (averaging a team-high 18.5 since Collier has been out), while McBride is shooting 46.9% from 3 in the month of August.

2. Atlanta: Naz Hillmon

On a team with three All-Stars — Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Brionna Jones — it’s a player that just entered the starting lineup in August that leads the team in point differential (+6.4). In fact, the Dream are 12.3 points per 100 possessions better when Hillmon is on court (+12.9 net rating) compared to when she’s off (+0.6 net rating). Gray is second on that list with a 6.5 pts per 100 poss differential.

3. New York: Emma Meeseman

Signed on Aug. 1 to help fill the void left by Breanna Stewart – who last played on July 26 and is projected to return near the end of August – the Liberty swapped in one former Finals MVP (Meesseman in 2019) for another (Stewart in 2018 and 2020). In her first seven games in New York, the Belgian center is averaging 15.3 points per game on 51.9% FG, 60% 3P and 90.5% FT shooting splits, along with 5.7 boards, 3.7 assists, a steal and a block in her first WNBA action since 2022 with Chicago.

4. Phoenix: Alyssa Thomas

Alyssa Thomas did not record a single triple-double in her first eight WNBA seasons combined. Her first came on July 22, 2022 and she’s added 19 more since – including five so far in her first season in Phoenix. Thomas has more triple-doubles in her first 28 games with the Mercury than any other player in WNBA history has for their entire career. Thomas’ ability to impact all facets of the game has lifted Phoenix to its first 20+ win season since 2018 and has the Mercury in the race for home-court advantage in the playoffs.

5. Las Vegas: Jewell Loyd

As part of a three-team deal in February, the Aces acquired Jewell Loyd from Seattle, while sending Kelsey Plum to Los Angeles. After playing her first decade with the Storm, Loyd got off to a slow start in her first season in Las Vegas. However, she is currently playing her best ball of the season – coinciding with the Aces’ season-high seven-game win streak. Over eight games in August, Loyd is averaging 14.8 ppg on 45.9% shooting overall and 45.6% from 3-point range – providing a consistent perimeter scoring threat to complement A’ja Wilson’s work in the frontcourt.

6. Indiana: Kelsey Mitchell

With Caitlin Clark limited to just 13 of Indiana’s 35 games due to three separate injuries, fellow guards Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald out for the season, and Sophie Cunningham leaving Sunday’s game with a knee injury, the Fever have shown their resilience to remain in the thick of the playoff hunt. A key reason is the play of Kelsey Mitchell, who erupted for a career-high-tying 38 points (34 coming in the 2nd half and OT) to lead the Fever to a franchise-record 21-point comeback on Sunday. Ironically, Mitchell’s two 38-point games have both come against Connecticut – six years apart.

7. Golden State: Veronica Burton

Burton arrived in the Bay with career averages of 5.5 points, 3.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds over her first three seasons in Dallas and Connecticut. In her first season with the Valkyries, Burton has thrived – averaging career-bests of 11.3 points, 5.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 38.2% shooting from beyond the arc. And she’s peaking at the right time. Burton has increased both her scoring and shooting percentage month over month all season, currently at 13.5 points on 48.6% shooting from deep over eight games in August, helping the Valkyries set the record for most wins by an expansion team in its inaugural season.

8. Seattle: Brittney Sykes

Acquired on Aug. 5 from Washington, Sykes is averaging 14.4 points, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals in her first five games with the Storm. As Seattle pushes for a playoff berth, Sykes’ ability to impact the game on both ends of the court will be key to complement fellow All-Stars Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams. The Storm enter this week clinging to the eighth and final playoff berth, leading the No. 9 Sparks and No,. 10 Mystics by just a half-game each.

9. Los Angeles: Kelsey Plum

Only one player in WNBA history has averaged at least 20 points and six assists over the course of a full season – Diana Taurasi during the 2013 season. Twelve years later, Plum is on pace to join Taurasi as she’s averaging 21.0 points and 6.6 assists – ranking third in the league in both categories – in her first season in Los Angeles. How important has Plum’s scoring been for the Sparks this season? L.A. is 12-9 when she scores 20+ points and 4-8 when she’s held below 20 points.

10. Washington: Sonia Citron & Kiki Iriafen

Following the Sykes trade, the burden of keeping the Mystics in playoff contention fell even more on Washington’s pair of All-Star rookies. Citron leads the Mystics in scoring (15.2 ppg, 17th in WNBA), while Iriafen leads the team in rebounding (8.5 rpg, 4th in WNBA). With five rookies on the roster and only two players – Alysha Clark (via the Sykes trade) and Stephanie Dolson – on the squad, the Mystics are building for the future. Getting Citron and Iriafen more experience this season will be key.

11. Dallas: Paige Bueckers

A leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft is putting herself in historic company with her on-court play. Bueckers is one of only 15 rookies in WNBA history to average at least 18 points per game (she’s currently ninth at 19.8 ppg exactly. And she’s one of only two rookies – along with last year’s Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark – to average at least 15 points and five assists in their debut season.

12. Chicago: Ariel Atkins & Angel Reese

How important has Atkins been for Chicago? How about the fact that all eight of Chicago’s wins have come with Atkins on the court. The team is 0-7 in the games she’s missed in her first season in Chi-town after spending the first seven seasons – including the 2019 title run – in Washington. Meanwhile, Reese has appeared in only two of Chicago’s last dozen games due to a back injury, but is ramping up for a return. Despite appearing in only 23 games, Reese leads the W in double-doubles (17, tied with Thomas) and rebounds (12.6 rpg), while increasing her scoring, shooting, assists, steals and blocks over her rookie year.

13. Connecticut: Aneesah Morrow & Saniya Rivers

With the Sun eliminated from playoff contention, Connecticut has 11 remaining games to continue to develop its young talent with an eye toward next year. In April, Connecticut chose Morrow (7th) and Rivers (8th) with first round picks as the team began a new chapter in 2025. Morrow ranks 2nd among rookies and 18th in the WNBA with 6.2 rebounds per game (along with 7.4 ppg), while Rivers ranks 2nd among rookies and tied for 6th in the WNBA with 1.6 steals per game (along with 8.1 ppg).