Jay Wood

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For the second year, WNBA teams will wear Nike Women’s Aeroswift uniforms throughout the season. The WNBA jerseys for the 2019 season will debut on court May 9 at the start of the preseason. Jerseys will be available at WNBAStore.com beginning May 24 for the start of the regular season.
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If you’ve ever watched a WNBA game and thought to yourself, “this player is doing a little bit of everything out there,” then there’s a statistic that you’d probably fall in love with that measures that exact sentiment. 
Player impact estimate, or PIE, is a stat used to measure the impact that a player is having on a team’s overall success. Whether it’s their percentage of rebounds, assists, points, or blocks, a player’s impact on winning is measured using PIE. It’s very handy for those who don’t love box-score watching and want to get a cleaner idea of just how great a player has been. 
In the WNBA this year, there are five players who have played more than 25 minutes per game on average who are still <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/advanced/?sort=PIE&amp;dir=-1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*25&amp;Season=2025&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season">atop the league in PIE</a>. These five are likely to get some major love in All-Star voting, but if you’re on the fence about your own votes, then this statistic and player breakdown should be tailor made for you. 
1. Napheesa Collier (PIE: 21.3)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199886" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T132727.559.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T132727.559.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T132727.559-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T132727.559-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T132727.559-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T132727.559-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T132727.559-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
A great PIE is considered to be in the range of 10 percent &#8211; that means that a player is contributing a decent amount to a team’s success as an individual. Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx is currently sporting a PIE of 21.3 through 11 games played so far this season. If there’s any doubt as to why she’s considered a front-runner for Most Valuable Player right now, her PIE is a good way to justify that sentiment. 
Collier, despite some injury woes to start the year, has been essentially unstoppable on both ends of the floor. Throw a double team at her, and she’s able to fight through it or find a reliable Lynx shooter to drain a shot in her stead. Minnesota is shooting a league best 47.1 percent from the field, which is largely due in part to Collier’s 52.4 percent shooting from the field, and her gravity. While defenders hone in on her, other Lynx shooters prosper with plenty of space to operate. 
The Lynx forward is leading the WNBA in points per game (24.4), points in the paint per game (12.4), and is currently averaging a 50/40/90 stat line &#8211; a line that would add her to history books in the WNBA if she managed to maintain it for the entire year. Only Elena Delle Donne has wrapped up a WNBA season with this stat line. 
2. A’ja Wilson (PIE: 19.4)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199887" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133000.440.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133000.440.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133000.440-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133000.440-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133000.440-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133000.440-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133000.440-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
A’ja Wilson is a perennial candidate for MVP, and her PIE of 19.4 is proof of that. The Las Vegas Aces center hasn’t enjoyed as much success as Collier this season, as the Aces are sitting towards the bottom of the standings in the early aughts of the year. That simply makes her PIE even more impressive. She’s still impacting their ability to win games in a major way, even if her supporting cast hasn’t been as helpful as Collier’s with the Lynx. 
Wilson is currently averaging a league-leading 2.6 blocks per game, is second in the league in rebounds per game (9.8), and is second in the league in usage percentage (30.1). She’s Las Vegas’ engine, which has had its benefits and drawbacks &#8211; Wilson is obviously one of the best post players in the league, but has struggled with her three point shot dating back to 2023. She’s also shooting a career-low 43.4 from the field. Wilson’s defense has been her calling card in 2025, and it’s a major part as to why she’s rated so high in her PIE. 
3. Aliyah Boston (PIE: 18.4)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199888" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133059.069.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133059.069.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133059.069-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133059.069-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133059.069-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133059.069-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133059.069-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
If you’re facing off with Aliyah Boston in the paint, good luck &#8211; the Indiana Fever center is hitting her shots at a clip of 60.3 percent from the field, which makes her the league leader. Her efficiency in addition to a career-best 1.5 blocks per game and 3.8 assists per game have landed her third amongst players in PIE with a minimum of 25 minutes per game played this season.  
If the Fever were winning more games, Boston’s PIE would probably be even higher. As it stands, she’s been their most consistently impactful player this year, even more so than fellow star Caitlin Clark. Boston’s game is built to bother the league’s best post defenders, like Wilson and Collier, which allow her to get in her bag pretty easily for a third year player. 
Lineups that feature Boston are consistently better in both defensive and offensive rating for Indiana, showing how her two-way dominance should be utilized even more by head coach Stephanie White. 
4. Alyssa Thomas (PIE: 18.4)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199889" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133156.886.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133156.886.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133156.886-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133156.886-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133156.886-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133156.886-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133156.886-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Alyssa Thomas’ first year with the Phoenix Mercury has gone about as expected, which is to say she’s immediately become their dream point-forward. The Mercury have been a “feel good” story this season despite having so many All-Star caliber players on its roster (Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper in addition to Thomas). 
Their rookies have shined, and it’s due in major part to Thomas’ ability to act as the team’s filing cabinet &#8211; she is the court organizer, ensuring everyone is where they should be on the floor and generating excellent looks for the team as a result. 
Thomas’ assist percentage (a whopping 50.6 percent) is all you need to see to understand just how impactful she’s been, aside from using her PIE. She’s carrying a major load for the Mercury’s offense without having to score very much. Similarly to Collier, being able to rely on her supporting cast has helped to land her atop the league in assists per game with 8.9, tied with Clark. 
5. Breanna Stewart (PIE: 18.1)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199890" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133305.998.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133305.998.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133305.998-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133305.998-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133305.998-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133305.998-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T133305.998-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Breanna Stewart hasn’t had a three point shot fall consistently since 2023. She’s also taking less shots this season than she has in her entire career. Yet, she’s still impacting the New York Liberty’s ability to win by hitting the 12.9 shots per game she does take at a clip of 52.4 percent, while carrying a true shooting percentage of 63 percent. 
That’s good for third in the league amongst players who play a minimum of 25 minutes per game. From within the paint, she’s nearly unbeatable &#8211; she’s shooting an unreal 75.8 percent from less than five feet from the basket, and an equally impressive 65.5 percent from a distance of 5-9 feet. 
Sure, she hasn’t been as explosive as in recent years with the Liberty as she’s been able to take a backseat to players like Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, and Jonquel Jones. However, she’s making the most of her smaller amount of decisions on the court. Stewart’s defense has also lended a hand to her PIE of 18.1, as she’s averaging 4.9 defensive rebounds per game along with 1.2 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. She’s letting the game come to her, which is a sign of a veteran beginning to actually settle into their prime. 
With Jones out for an extended period of time, expect to see Stewart ramp up her shots per game and involvement in the Liberty’s two-way dominance.

wnba-players-leading-the-way-in-overall-impact

Beyond the Box Score: WNBA Players Leading the Way in Overall Impact

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199787" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1.png" alt="" width="2560" height="100" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-300x12.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-1024x40.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-768x30.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-1536x60.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-2048x80.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Editor&#8217;s Note: Read more WNBA coverage from the Athletic <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/wnba/">here</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.
***
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199863" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T095131.536.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T095131.536.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T095131.536-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T095131.536-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T095131.536-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T095131.536-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T095131.536-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
MINNEAPOLIS — Getting Lindsay Whalen back to the Minnesota Lynx sideline took two attempts from head coach Cheryl Reeve as texts sent roughly 18 months apart. When that second text came through this past fall — Reeve asked if Whalen was ready to get back to coaching — it was a quick, easy and resounding yes from Whalen. The player who had won four WNBA championships with the Lynx in the 2010s was ready to get to business as an assistant, hoping to help them win their fifth.
But when Whalen received the first message, her inclination was the opposite. She was not ready to consider coaching alongside Reeve for the Lynx. No, it still felt too fresh to be back on the sidelines. No, she didn’t need to sleep on it.
Reeve wasn’t surprised. She knew Whalen hadn’t taken a break after her playing career, nor had she taken one during it. Although Reeve knew Whalen would benefit the Lynx family, she also understood that time away from the game would serve her well.
That first text had come not long after Whalen was fired as head coach of the University of Minnesota women’s basketball program. She’d led the Gophers for five seasons, which included two WNIT berths and a 71-76 total record. Six weeks before the end of her tenure — with just one year left on her contract — her anxiety was at an all-time high, she said.
“I thought about (the record) more than the process. As a young coach, you come in and you want to prove a lot, and, ultimately, you’re judged on wins and losses,” Whalen said. “And then when the wins aren’t coming, you kind of get yourself in a little bit of a spiral.”
But the end of the season had given her optimism. Minnesota won two of its last four regular-season games and was competitive in its only Big Ten tournament matchup. When she was called into the athletic director’s office in early March 2023, Whalen had spent the drive to campus making calls to recruits, not expecting a conversation that would end her employment.
The change hit her with a surprising dichotomy: She felt failure and … relief. After spending the previous 20 years chasing wins and titles, she couldn’t quite square away the idea that failure could come with a sense of reprieve. She didn’t know what would come next, and she was OK with the unknown.
But she knew what she didn’t want to come next: more coaching.
She told Reeve thanks, but no thanks. She needed some time away. “I knew my heart wouldn’t be in it,” Whalen said.
She called the next stretch her “sabbatical.” She played more golf and picked up a tennis racket, quickly becoming obsessed. Soon, she was playing four times a week at local clubs in doubles practices and competitions. She got a USTA membership number, a requirement for playing in USTA tournaments, and planned to compete at nationals.
She traveled to Ireland with her sisters, to Florida with her husband and to Phoenix to see her grandmother and sister. With her last university paycheck, she bought a boat and launched it in the lake where her parents have a cabin. She spent days there, bouncing between hours on the water and local tennis courts.
Whalen spent more time away from the hardwood than she could ever remember.
“I got my break,” Whalen said. “I got to really miss it. I got to be bored.”
Whalen picked her moments to engage with basketball. She performed some skills coaching with players and worked with USA Basketball’s 3×3 program. She flew to Cleveland for the 2024 women’s NCAA Final Four and attended Lynx games during their 2024 playoff run. But otherwise, she tried to stay away.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Bet Lindsay Whalen remembers this feeling all too well 🥹
The Minnesota Lynx are heading to a Game 5 after defeating the Liberty 82-80 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFinals</a> presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@youtubetv</a> <a href="https://t.co/DRGjvsbxtB">pic.twitter.com/DRGjvsbxtB</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1847463970958873052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Still, it wasn’t always easy to keep that space. As synonymous as Whalen is with Minnesota basketball, it was hard to stay anonymous. She led the Gophers to national prominence as their point guard from 2000-04, reaching the Final Four as a senior. She left as (and remains) the most decorated player in program history and was drafted fourth by the Connecticut Sun. Six years later, she returned to Minnesota in a trade with the Lynx. In eight years, she led them to four championships in one of the greatest stretches in WNBA history. The five core players from that run have their jerseys hanging in the Target Center rafters.
In 2012 and 2016, she played on Team USA, earning two gold medals. Whalen is the only player in the current eight gold medal streak to hail from Minnesota. While her high school gymnasium was named after her in 2018, her hometown of Hutchinson painted a mural of her in a red No. 4 USA basketball jersey.
Whalen’s firing removed her from the sport for the first time in public consciousness, a disconnect for fans and strangers who had long associated her with hoops. “It was a little like, ‘What are you doing now?’” Whalen said. “I remember coming home, being like, ‘I’m so tired of people asking me.’”
She’d tell them she was still training kids but mostly playing tennis, spending time with her husband, Ben, her siblings and parents, and enjoying life. All of it was true. But slowly, in the background, especially as she enjoyed watching the 2024 Lynx, that basketball-sized hole in her life grew and nagged at her.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-199859" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/GettyImages-476046858-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/GettyImages-476046858-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/GettyImages-476046858-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/GettyImages-476046858-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/GettyImages-476046858-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/GettyImages-476046858-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/GettyImages-476046858-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
When Reeve sent a follow-up text last fall as Whalen prepped to leave for tennis practice, Whalen didn’t hesitate to respond that she was now ready. “That’s pretty much all I’ve been able to think about since that text — this team, being back coaching and what I can do and how I can add,” she said.
Reeve saw immediately how much of an addition Whalen was to the staff. Her credibility as a former player was obvious, but what she had learned as a recruiter at Minnesota and the insights she had gained with Team USA about player evaluations became beneficial as the Lynx tinkered with their roster to get over the hump this season.
Whalen even surprised herself by how much her return to basketball invigorated her. She was excited about scouting players and coming into the office. When she was assigned her first game scout — the Lynx’s second game of the season, which resulted in a 14-point win over the Los Angeles Sparks — Whalen said she was so excited to get to work that she didn’t eat or sleep. “That was clarity,” she said.
When the Lynx played at Phoenix two weeks later, Whalen had another clarifying moment. A few defensive possessions and ball movement sequences in that three-point road win were, in her mind, almost perfect, based on what the Lynx had practiced. She sensed how they — and how she — had bought into the process of growth. That night, like on many game nights as a player, Whalen was too wired to fall asleep.
Finally, at 3:45 a.m., she got out of bed to rewatch game film. When she came into the office the following morning, Reeve simultaneously recognized the player she had coached a decade ago and the coach Whalen had become.
“It’s the same personality we got from her as a player. She just has a way about her that people gravitate to her,” Reeve said. “She connects easily with people.”
The Lynx have looked like contenders this season, qualifying to host the Commissioner’s Cup championship on July 1. Being back feels similar for Whalen to when she was a Lynx point guard, looking for tiny ways to improve and help her team mesh. She knows most careers go from assistant to a head coach and not the other way around, but since she got Reeve’s follow-up text last fall, she hasn’t looked back.
She also hasn’t picked up a tennis racket.
“I’m just lucky,” Whalen said. “I got to play for my home state in college and coach for my home state in college. I got to play professionally in my home state, and now I get to coach professionally in my home state. Sometimes, you just have to be grateful and thankful.”
<a title="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/chantel-jennings/" href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/chantel-jennings/">Chantel Jennings</a> is The Athletic&#8217;s senior writer for the WNBA and women&#8217;s college basketball. She covered college sports for the past decade at ESPN.com and The Athletic and spent the 2019-20 academic year in residence at the University of Michigan&#8217;s Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalists. Follow Chantel on Twitter <a title="https://twitter.com/chanteljennings" href="https://twitter.com/chanteljennings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@chanteljennings</a>

what-led-lindsay-whalen-back-to-the-lynx-sideline

A Minnesota Basketball Legend Returns: What Led Lindsay Whalen Back to the Lynx Sideline?

This week, the 2025 season will pass the one-third complete mark.
It’s an interesting point of the season.
We’ve seen enough games to have a real feel for the league&#8217;s landscape – a big enough sample size to see which players and teams have separated themselves from the rest.
At the same time, it&#8217;s still early enough for a slow start to be overcome and for a fast start to fizzle out.
With the league moving to a 44-game season, each team still has about 30 games to work with to determine what their 2025 season will become.
We know which two teams will compete for the fifth annual Commissioner’s Cup – the defending cup champion Lynx will host the Fever next Tuesday (<a href="https://www.wnba.com/commissioners-cup/2025">July 1, 8 ET, Prime Video</a>).
Soon, we’ll know which players will be headed to Indianapolis for All-Star – the <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/first-returns-of-fan-voting-in-wnba-all-star-voting-2025-presented-by-ally">first returns just dropped</a> to show us who the fans want to see.
But there is still plenty of ball to be played. And we’ll be here every step of the way to break things down. Here’s the latest weekly snapshot of how the teams stack up.
1. Minnesota Lynx (12-1)
Last Week: 1 ↔️
This Week: Tue. at WAS, Fri. at ATL, Sun vs. CON
In last Tuesday’s win over the Aces, the Lynx locked up their spot in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game – as they look to become the first team to repeat as champs. But they played most of the second half with Napheesa Collier, who left in the 3rd quarter with a back injury.
The league’s leading scorer did not suit up against L.A. on Saturday, but Minnesota got 29 points from Kayla McBride to push their win streak to three after their only loss of the season. The question entering this week is how long will Collier be out as the second-leading vote getter in the first All-Star returns is listed as day-to-day.
2. Phoenix Mercury (11-4)
Last Week: 4 ⬆️
This Week: Fri. vs. NYL, Sun vs. LVA
The Mercury are back at full strength and playing their best all of the season. A 3-0 week with wins over the Sun, Liberty and Sky has pushed Phoenix’s win streak to five in a row – its longest since winning 10 straight games in 2021.
In Saturday’s win over the Sky, the Mercury put up 107 points – their highest scoring game in nearly three years (July 2022) – and a franchise-record 17 3-pointers.
3. New York Liberty (10-3)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199869" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102204.722.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102204.722.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102204.722-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102204.722-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102204.722-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102204.722-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102204.722-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 2 ⬇️
This Week: Wed. at GSV, Fri. at PHX, Sun. at ATL
The Liberty are coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in over a year (May 2024) after falling to the Mercury and Storm last week.
The defending champs have dropped three of their last four games and will be playing shorthanded after losing Jonquel Jones (4-6 weeks, ankle), Sabrina Ionescu (day-to-day) and Leonie Fiebich (early July, EuroBasket).
The opening to this week against two red-hot teams – the Valkyries have won five of six and the Mercury have won five straight – will be a test if the Liberty can hold this top three spot.
4. Atlanta Dream (10-4)
Last Week: 3 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. at DAL, Fri. vs. MIN, Sun vs. NYL
The Dream enter this week having won five of their last six games. Led by Allisha Gray – 20.1 ppg (6th in WNBA), 45.2% 3P% (5th) – Atlanta is one of only four teams with double-digit wins so far this season.
The one loss in that mix – Tuesday against New York – was costly though. Atlanta led by as many as 17 before allowing New York to rally all the way back and spoil the Dream’s chance at reaching the Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
5. Seattle Storm (9-5)
Last Week: 6 ⬆️
This Week: Tue. vs. IND, Fri. vs. CON, Sun. at GSV
The Storm are coming off a 3-0 week behind the red-hot play of Nneka Ogwumike, who scored 25+ in all three outings while shooting 71.4% (35-of-49) combined.
How important is Ogwumike’s production for the Storm – who have won six of their last seven games? Seattle is unbeaten (7-0) when Ogwumike scores 20+ points this season. They are 2-5 when she’s held under 20.
6. Golden State Valkyries (7-6)
Last Week: 7 ⬆️
This Week: Wed. vs. NYL, Fri. vs. CHI, Sun vs. SEA
After a loss in Dallas to open the week, the Valkyries closed with double-digit home wins over Indiana and Connecticut to improve to 5-2 at Ballhalla (aka Chase Center). Golden State has won five of its last six games to improve to 7-6 on the season – a record that set them apart from recent expansion teams.
Golden State’s seven wins is already more than three of the past four expansion teams since 2000 had in their entire inaugural seasons – Seattle with 6 in 2000, Chicago with 5 in 2006 and Atlanta with 4 in 2008.
7. Las Vegas Aces (6-7)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199870" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102308.576.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102308.576.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102308.576-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102308.576-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102308.576-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102308.576-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102308.576-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 8 ⬆️
This Week: Wed. vs. CON, Thur. vs. WAS, Sun. at PHX
Trailing by 10 late in the first half against the Fever on Sunday, the Aces were staring at their first four-game losing streak since 2018. But Las Vegas rallied in the second half, capping off the comeback with a 31-20 4th quarter, to move ahead of Indy in this week’s rankings.
A’ja Wilson had 24 points, seven boards and two blocks in her second game back from concussion protocol. With the three-time MVP back in the lineup, can the Aces get their season back on track?
8. Indiana Fever (6-7)
Last Week: 5 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. at SEA, Thur. vs. LAS, Fri. at DAL
The Good News: Indiana clinched a spot in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game with a home win over Connecticut (along with Atlanta’s loss to New York).
The Bad News: The Fever weren’t able to keep things rolling when they hit the road. In losses to Golden State and Las Vegas, the Fever led by double digits before faltering late, dropping them to 2-4 away from Indiana.
Caitlin Clark has been ice cold from deep outside of Gainbridge Fieldhouse so far this season, shooting just 1-of-22 from 3 on the road. Once her shot gets going, that should help Indy’s road woes tremendously.
9. Washington Mystics (6-8)
Last Week: 10 ⬆️
This Week: Tue. vs. MIN, Thur. at LVA, Sat. at DAL
The Mystics capped off a 2-1 week with a 91-88 win over the Wings in a showdown of Rookie of the Year candidates &#8212; Washington’s Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen vs. Dallas’ Paige Bueckers. How did the first-year Mystics fare? How about historically great.
Citron&#8217;s stat line (27 pts, 11 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk) has only ever been matched by rookies that went on to win MVPs &#8212; Candace Parker, Tamimka Catchings, Yolanda Griffith and Lisa Leslie.
Iriafen’s stat line (19 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 5 stl) had not been matched by any rookie since the league&#8217;s inaugural season in 1997 (when everyone was a first-year player).
10. Los Angeles Sparks (4-10)
Last Week: 9 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. at CHI, Thur. at IND, Sun. vs. CHI
The Sparks not only dropped both of their games this past week, they also posted their two lowest scoring games of the season (67 and 66 points against the Storm and Lynx, respectively).
L.A. has lost three straight and four of its last five during a tough patch of its schedule &#8212; the Valkyries, Aces, Lynx (2x) and Storm are all in the top half of this week&#8217;s rankings. Can they turn things around this week?
11. Dallas Wings (3-12)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199871" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102502.830.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102502.830.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102502.830-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102502.830-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102502.830-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102502.830-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-24T102502.830-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 13 ⬆️
This Week: Tue. vs. ATL, Fri. vs. IND, Sat. vs. WAS
The Wings have won two of their last three games with Paige Bueckers scoring 20+ points in all three games. How good has the top pick in the 2025 Draft been through her first 11 games?
Bueckers not only leads all rookies in scoring (18.2 ppg) and assists (5.9 apg), she ranks 12th and 6th, respectively, in those categories in the entire league.
12. Chicago Sky (3-10)
Last Week: 11 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. vs. LAS, Fri. at GSV, Sun. at LAS
Despite a season-high 29 points from Ariel Atkins, the Sky fell to the Dream on Sunday to cap an 0-3 week and a 1-6 record in June so far. The Sky rank 12th in the league in both offensive (95.6) and defensive (110.7) rating. 
On offense, the Sky have been crushed by turnovers. Their 18.2 turnovers per game – 2.1 more than any other team – have led to a league-high 20.9 opponent points of turnovers.
On defense, the Sky have allowed the most points (88.4), the highest field goal percentage (46.1%), the highest 3-point percentage (40.9%) and the most 3-pointers made (11.2) by nearly two per game.
13. Connecticut Sun (2-12)
Last Week: 12 ⬇️
This Week: Wed. at LVA, Fri. at SEA, Sun. at MIN
An 0-4 week has pushed Connecticut’s losing streak to six as they sit at the bottom of the league standings. And the road ahead doesn’t get easier with games against Las Vegas, Seattle and Minnesota – all in the top seven of this week’s rankings – on tap this week
Another rookie to keep an eye on is Aneesah Morrow &#8212; the No. 7 pick in this year&#8217;s draft – who is starting to get consistent minutes and making the most of them.  She has three straight double-digit scoring outings, leading the Sun in points (13.3 ppg) and rebounds (6.7 rpg) in that span.

2025-wnba-power-rankings-week-5

2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Week 5

We’re officially a third of the way through the 2025 WNBA season, and the intensity is only ramping up. As stars hit their stride and rookies start to find their footing in the big leagues, there’s no shortage of storylines and action to track. Caitlin Clark is back—whether other players like it or not—Paige Bueckers is settling in, the Storm just dethroned the Lynx, and the Commissioner’s Cup Final is officially set. And yes, it’s only mid-June.
Tonight, six teams are in action: the Washington Mystics take on the Atlanta Dream, the Dallas Wings face the Connecticut Sun, and the Seattle Storm go up against the Las Vegas Aces. Saturday’s lighter slate still brings plenty of star power, with the Chicago Sky meeting the Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks battling the red-hot Minnesota Lynx.
Let’s dive into the top matchups of the weekend, break down my best bets, and look at the latest <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">MVP odds</a> on <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">DraftKings Sportsbook.</a> You can find also more WNBA previews, picks, and daily content on <a href="https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/">DraftKings Network.</a>
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DAL Wings at CONN Sun, Friday 7:30 p.m. ET
The Dallas Wings snapped a seven-game losing streak behind a 20-point outing from Paige Bueckers, while the Connecticut Sun enter tonight’s matchup riding a four-game skid of their own. Though both teams have combined for just four wins through the first third of the 2025 season, this game sets the stage for another signature performance from Bueckers. 
The rookie has found her rhythm after missing time with a concussion and illness, averaging 21.4 PPG over her last five games, including a 35-point outburst in the Commissioner’s Cup. She’s also leading the league in midrange scoring (6.8 PPG)—a key stat heading into a matchup with a Sun team that ranks last in defensive rating (111.9) and defensive rebounding percentage (65.7%).
Lean: Wings ML (-205) 
With Bueckers heating up and Connecticut bleeding points and boards, I’m siding with Dallas to edge out a win behind P. Buckets. Also, DraftKings Sportsbook is offering <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=cross-fixture-specials&amp;subcategory=cross-fixture-specials">Cross-Fixture Player Specials today,</a> and I’m eyeing this one for my best bet:
Bueckers Points + Assists (6/20) v S. Diggins Points + Assists (6/20) 

<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=cross-fixture-specials&amp;subcategory=cross-fixture-specials">PICK: P. Bueckers Points &amp; Assists (-120)</a>
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SEA Storm at LV Aces, Friday 10:00 p.m. ET
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that reigning MVP A’ja Wilson is questionable for tonight’s matchup against the Storm after suffering a head injury. Her potential absence is huge—Wilson not only leads the Aces in points (20.9 PPG) and rebounds (9.6 RPG), but also in assists, steals, and blocks per game. Yes, you read that right—she leads in everything.
Since Wilson went down, the Aces have dropped three of their last four games, shifting the offensive burden onto Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Lloyd. Young has been a bright spot amid the slump, averaging 21.5 points over her last four games, including two 28+ point performances.
Vegas will need to regroup quickly, as they’re up against a hot Seattle squad fresh off a dominant 98–67 win over the Sparks. Nneka Ogwumike led the charge with 26 points, five rebounds, and two steals, while Skylar Diggins-Smith added 15 points, shooting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Turnovers have plagued the Aces lately—they gave up 21 turnovers leading to 27 Lynx points on Tuesday, a direct reflection of Wilson’s absence. Meanwhile, the Storm come into this game looking sharp, leading the league in field goal percentage (.473) and three-point percentage (.333), while ranking 5th in offensive rating (103.6).
Lean: Storm ML (-135)
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/sea-storm-%40-lv-aces/32434335?category=odds&amp;subcategory=popular">PICK: Storm -2 (-110)</a>
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LA Sparks at MIN Lynx, Saturday 8:00 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Lynx come into this one with just a single loss on the season and the Commissioner’s Cup Final bid out of the West already locked up. These teams just saw each other last Saturday, and it wasn’t exactly close—Napheesa Collier dropped 26 of her 32 points in the first half, and the Lynx cruised to a 101–78 win. Courtney Williams added 17, and Minnesota reminded everyone why they’re sitting at the top of the W—or at least next to the Liberty, depending on who you ask.
The Sparks, meanwhile, are trying to turn the page. Rickea Jackson went off for a career-high 30 points in that loss, and Kelsey Plum is still doing Kelsey Plum things, averaging 20.9 PPG this season. That said, she’s currently day-to-day with a leg injury, which is less than ideal for a team that’s already dropped four of its last five and ranks 10th in net rating (-5.5), per WNBA advanced stats. In short: it’s been a grind.
Let’s just call it what it is—Minnesota is a wagon. They’re sitting second in both offensive rating (108.4) and defensive rating (95.3), and the Sparks are giving up the third-most points per game (86.9). Unless something major shifts, I’m not stepping in front of Napheesa Collier and this Lynx team anytime soon. Ride the wave.
Strong Lean: Lynx ML
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<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">MVP Odds Tracker</a>
The 2025 <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA MVP race</a> has already seen serious movement over the past few weeks—thanks in large part to (you guessed it) Caitlin Clark’s injury. Before going down with a left quadriceps strain, Clark was the favorite at –105 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Once the Fever announced she’d miss two weeks, her odds ballooned to +240, and Napheesa Collier stepped in as the new favorite at +240. As of May 27, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson was the only other player with better than +1000 odds.
Clark’s odds drifted as high as +475 before she dropped 32 points on the Liberty on 6/14, reminding the market she’s still very much in the race. Now? Clark sits at +200, and if she stays healthy and the Fever trend upward, there’s value in locking that number in before it shortens again. But the stronger case—at least right now—is Collier.
The Lynx forward, last year’s MVP runner-up and Defensive Player of the Year, has been dominant to start 2025. She’s averaging 24.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, leading the league in scoring and anchoring a team with just one loss on the season.
All season long, I’ll be tracking the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">MVP race</a> right here to keep you updated with the latest odds, storylines, and more W!
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All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.

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WNBA Best Bets For 6/20-6/21: Weekend Preview and WNBA MVP Odds

INDIANA FEVER’S CAITLIN CLARK AND MINNESOTA LYNX’S 
NAPHEESA COLLIER LEAD AFTER FIRST RETURNS 
OF FAN VOTING IN WNBA ALL-STAR VOTING 2025 PRESENTED BY ALLY 
– Fan Voting Portion of Balloting Ends on Saturday, June 28 – 
– All-Star Captains to Draft Teams from Pool of Starters and Reserves on Tuesday, July 8 on ESPN – 
– AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game Set for Saturday, July 19 on ABC –
NEW YORK, June 20, 2025 – Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year and 2024 All-WNBA First Team selection Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and 2024 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and Kia WNBA MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx lead the voting after the first fan returns in WNBA All-Star Voting 2025 presented by Ally.
The 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game will be played in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Fever, on Saturday, July 19 on ABC (8:30 p.m. ET).  The game broadcast will be preceded by a half-hour edition of WNBA Countdown on ABC (8 p.m. ET).
AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2025 will feature the league’s biggest and brightest stars selected from across the WNBA without regard to conference affiliation. WNBA players and media will join fans in selecting the All-Star starters. Fans will account for 50 percent of the vote, while all current players and a media panel will account for 25 percent each. Players and media panelists will be able to complete one ballot, featuring four guards and six frontcourt players.
Clark, a WNBA All-Star last season as a rookie, leads all players with 515,993 votes. Collier, a three-time All-WNBA Team selection and four-time All-Star, is second with 484,758 votes. Clark is averaging career-highs of 19.9 ppg and 8.7 apg. Collier ranks No. 1 in the WNBA in scoring (a career-high 24.4 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (8.5 rpg) while guiding the Lynx to a 11-1 mark, the league’s best record.
Clark and Collier are followed in the fan voting by two-time All-Star Aliyah Boston of the Fever (446,961), three-time Kia WNBA MVP and six-time All-Star A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces (394,600), and two-time Kia WNBA MVP and six-time All-Star Breanna Stewart of the defending champion New York Liberty (367,819). Wilson and Stewart both served as captains for the 2022 and 2023 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Games, when they finished first and second, respectively, in fan voting. Wilson also was a captain in 2019.
Rounding out the top 10 vote-getters are 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick and current 11th-ranked scorer (17.7 ppg) Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings (312,920), two-time All-Star and the WNBA’s No. 13 scorer this season (17.1 ppg) Kelsey Mitchell of the Fever (277,664), three-time All-Star and the sixth-leading scorer in 2025 (20.4 ppg), Sabrina Ionescu of the Liberty (234,684), guard Lexie Hull of the Fever  (217,438), whose career-high 56.3 percentage on three-point field goals ranks second in the WNBA this year, and 2025 No. 4 overall draft pick Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics (213,500), who ranks fourth in rebounding (9.0 rpg).
After all votes are tallied, players will be ranked by position (guard and frontcourt) within each of the three voting groups – fan votes, player votes and media votes. Each player’s score will be calculated by averaging the weighted rank from the fan votes, the player votes and the media votes. The four guards and six frontcourt players with the best score will be named as starters for AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2025. Fan voting will serve as the tiebreaker for players in a position group with the same score.
After the starters have been determined, the league’s head coaches will select the 12 reserves. The head coaches will vote for three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position regardless of conference.  Coaches may not vote for players on their own team. The announcement dates for both the starters and reserves will be shared later this month.
The two All-Star captains – the starters who receive the most fan votes – will then draft their respective rosters by selecting first from the remaining eight players in the pool of starters and then from the pool of 12 reserves. ESPN will broadcast the results of the roster draft for the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game during an hourlong edition of WNBA Countdown on Tuesday, July 8 (7 p.m. ET).
See below for the top 40 leaders in the first fan returns in WNBA All-Star Voting 2025 presented by Ally:
<ol>
<li>Caitlin Clark, Guard (IND) 515,993</li>
<li>Napheesa Collier, Frontcourt (MIN) 484,758</li>
<li>Aliyah Boston, Frontcourt (IND) 446,961</li>
<li>A’ja Wilson, Frontcourt (LVA) 394,600</li>
<li>Breanna Stewart, Frontcourt (NYL) 367,819</li>
<li>Paige Bueckers, Guard (DAL) 312,920</li>
<li>Kelsey Mitchell, Guard (IND) 277,664</li>
<li>Sabrina Ionescu, Guard (NYL) 234,684</li>
<li>Lexie Hull, Guard (IND), 217,438</li>
<li>Kiki Iriafen, Frontcourt (WAS) 213,500</li>
<li>Kelsey Plum, Guard (LAS) 204,845</li>
<li>Satou Sabally, Frontcourt (PHX) 175,611</li>
<li>Angel Reese, Frontcourt (CHI) 173,363</li>
<li>Allisha Gray, Guard (ATL) 168,349</li>
<li>Jonquel Jones, Frontcourt (NYL) 162,259</li>
<li>Natasha Howard, Frontcourt (IND) 158,331</li>
<li>Gabby Williams, Frontcourt (SEA) 144,257</li>
<li>Nneka Ogwumike, Frontcourt (SEA) 141,596</li>
<li>Dearica Hamby, Frontcourt (LAS) 105,727</li>
<li>Rickea Jackson, Frontcourt (LAS) 97,767</li>
<li>Alyssa Thomas, Frontcourt (PHX) 96,141</li>
<li>Kamilla Cardoso, Frontcourt (CHI) 95,986</li>
<li>Sophie Cunningham, Guard (IND) 95,116</li>
<li>Jackie Young, Guard (LVA) 82,313</li>
<li>Rhyne Howard, Guard (ATL) 80,477</li>
<li>Skylar Diggins, Guard (SEA) 77,596</li>
<li>DiJonai Carrington, Guard (DAL) 77,072</li>
<li>Brittney Sykes, Guard (WAS) 76,549</li>
<li>Natasha Cloud, Guard (NYL) 74,280</li>
<li>Damiris Dantas, Frontcourt (IND) 72,262</li>
<li>Kate Martin, Guard (GSV) 67,449</li>
<li>Temi Fágbénlé, Frontcourt (GSV) 63,931</li>
<li>Tina Charles, Frontcourt (CON) 62,420</li>
<li>Arike Ogunbowale, Guard (DAL) 60,947</li>
<li>Sonia Citron, Guard (WAS) 59,939</li>
<li>Marina Mabrey, Guard (CON) 59,939</li>
<li>Brittney Griner, Frontcourt (ATL) 57,308</li>
<li>DeWanna Bonner, Frontcourt (IND) 56,775</li>
<li>Kayla Thornton, Frontcourt (GSV) 51,645</li>
<li>Kayla McBride, Guard (MIN) 44,378</li>
</ol>
Throughout the voting period, fans may submit one full ballot each day via WNBA.com and the WNBA App. All WNBA players currently on team rosters will be available for selection. Three “2-for-1 Days” will allow fans to have their votes count twice on June 14, June 20 and June 27 through WNBA.com and the WNBA App voting platforms. Each “2-for-1 Day” will be designated from midnight ET – 11:59 p.m. ET.
Fans are encouraged to vote for their 2025 WNBA All-Stars for a chance to win a trip to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis*. One Grand Prize winner will receive a 3-day/2-night trip for two, consisting of round-trip coach air transportation, standard double occupancy hotel accommodations, and two tickets to the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge and WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest on Friday, July 18, and the AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 19.
How to vote:
Fans may vote for a minimum of one player and maximum of 10, through submitting one full ballot per day (defined as once each day between midnight and 11:59 p.m. ET) including the selection of up to four guards and six frontcourt players regardless of conference on both of the following platforms:
<ul>
<li>Desktop and mobile web: To vote online from a desktop or mobile device, fans should visit the official WNBA All-Star Voting presented by Ally ballot page at wnba.com/allstar/vote. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>WNBA App: To vote through the WNBA App using iOS or Android devices, fans can simply open the WNBA App and visit the WNBA All-Star Voting ballot page via the bottom menu bar navigation. Additionally, fans can view the WNBA All-Star Voting story on the homepage. It will include short-form content that drives awareness of key dates and information and will also include a link that drives directly to the WNBA All-Star voting page, creating a seamless experience that allows fans to vote all while staying within the app. The WNBA App can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.</li>
</ul>
The head coaches for the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game will be the head coaches of the two teams with the best records following games on Friday, July 4 regardless of conference.  The head coach with the best record as of that date will coach the team whose captain earned the most fan votes.
The 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game will be the centerpiece of three full days packed with WNBA activities, including the WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest and Kia WNBA Skills Challenge, which will both air on ESPN on Friday, July 18 beginning at 8 p.m. ET, and “WNBA Live presented by Panini.”
*NO PURCHASE OR MOBILE DEVICE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sweepstakes ends on 6/28/25. Open to permanent legal residents of the 50 U.S. &amp; District of Columbia, who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry. Minors must have permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate. Void where prohibited. Click <a href="https://www.wnba.com/allstar/voting-rules">here</a> for Official Rules, which govern, &amp; complete details. Limit of one entry per person and per email address per day of the Sweepstakes period.
# # #

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first-returns-of-fan-voting-in-wnba-all-star-voting-2025-presented-by-ally

First Returns of Fan Voting in WNBA All-Star Voting 2025 Presented by Ally

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
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199716" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093744.588.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093744.588.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093744.588-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093744.588-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093744.588-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093744.588-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-18T093744.588-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
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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