The 2025 WNBA season will begin on Friday, May 15. Three games will be played: the Dallas Wings will host the Minnesota Lynx, the Los Angeles Sparks will play the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco, and the Atlanta Dream will visit the Washington Mystics.
Those games will be followed by more on Saturday, including the Fever's home opener against the Chicago Sky in Indianapolis.
There is a lot to look forward to this season, and the looming CBA combined with restructuring throughout the league (as well as a few fresh faces by way of this year's WNBA Draft) means the fireworks could be extra explosive this year. In that theme, what better way to kick off a new season of women's basketball then a few predictions — the bolder, the better.
Caitlin Clark will be named MVP... but barely
To be fair, A'ja Wilson is the league's MVP until someone else proves she's not, and Wilson will undoubtedly make a strong case for herself this year. There are a few key moments that could tip the scales in favor of someone else, though, and Caitlin Clark is by and large the favorite alternate candidate. If the Fever take home the Commissioner's Cup this season, expect to see Clark's name seriously floated as league MVP well before the season ends — and don't be surprised if she wins it.
The Seattle Storm are going to have a better season than you think
The Storm made some huge changes during free agency and drafted the No. 2 overall pick, Dominique Malonga, this year — but for some reason, most people are leaving them out of serious championship discussions ahead of the season's beginning. The team's frontcourt is one of the deepest in the league (perhaps only bested by the Liberty) and they can skate by with their backcourt.
Dominique Malonga will win Rookie of the Year
For some reason — perhaps an overall unfamiliarity with the European game — many analysts believe only one rookie has a real shot at Rookie of the Year: Paige Bueckers. The UConn graduate is incredible and will definitely be a strong contender, but Dominique Malonga is playing an entirely different game on an entirely different level. American fans who haven't watched Malonga are in for a treat this season, and not just because she can dunk. Malonga has one of the strongest upsides of any player drafted, and her veteran teammates are going to set her up for tremendous success.
Golden State will be contenders
The Golden State Valkyries aren't going to win a championship this season, but if the team's preseason performance is any indication, the team isn't going to totally tank this season either. Despite many who believe the team will be ranked in the bottom 3 this season, there are a lot of reasons to believe otherwise — including the strong pool of European talent the team has signed in combination with the WNBA vets who know what it takes to win.
Brittney Griner will be reborn
Griner spent her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury until she departed earlier this year and signed with the Atlanta Dream during free agency. Her shooting has already improved (she's hitting 3s), which is saying something considering she averaged 18 points last season. Griner is poised for a bit of a rebirth this season, and she's smart enough to maximize every chance she gets.