WNBA: One query for each workforce as coaching camps open on April 27

WNBA coaching camps open on Sunday, April 27, marking the official begin of the league’s twenty ninth season.

An lively offseason filled with league-shifting transactions, the upcoming expiration of the present CBA, a first-ever 44-game season and a brand new playoff format, plus one other high-wattage rookie class, have elevated the anticipation for the 2025 season. It additionally would be the first WNBA season that includes 13 groups since 2009, with the Golden State Valkyries opening their inaugural season in San Francisco.

Whereas there shall be loads of alternatives to delve into all of the developments and drama, let’s launch coaching camps with one urgent query for each workforce. What’s the query every group should reply in the event that they wish to obtain on-court success this season?

It’s additionally value reminding that each workforce can carry 20 gamers into coaching camp earlier than reducing down the ultimate roster to 12 (or, for groups going through tighter wage cap conditions, 11) gamers earlier than the beginning of the common season. Beneath, all groups’ coaching camp rosters are listed with gamers’ contract statuses designation in parentheses: protected veteran (v), rookie scale protected (r), unprotected (u), coaching camp (tc) and draftee (d).*

Atlanta Dream: How typically will BG and Breezy play collectively?

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Coaching camp roster: Brittney Griner (V), Brionna Jones (v), Jordin Canada (v), Allisha Grey (v), Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (v), Nia Coffey (v), Rhyne Howard (r), Naz Hillmon (r), Haley Jones (u), Maya Caldwell (tc), Maria Gakdeng (tc), Emani Jefferson (tc), Ashley Jones (tc), Te-Hina Paopao (d), Taylor Thierry (d)

How the Dream’s rotation shakes out doubtless shall be a season-long course of, as this workforce has sufficient expertise for brand new head coach Karl Smesko to tinker with a variety of completely different lineups.

However essentially the most attention-grabbing rotational puzzle piece includes the workforce’s two starry offseason additions. How typically will Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones play collectively? Will the 2 huge alignment be a core a part of the Dream’s identification? Or, will or not it’s an alternate, situational look? Will the 2 begin collectively earlier than staggering their time on the courtroom all through the rest of the sport? Will Jones, the 2022 WNBA Sixth Participant of the Yr, come off the bench? How a lot inventory is the workforce placing into Griner’s low-volume-yet-high-percentage 3-point capturing?

Atlanta’s two-big query is query that causes a cascade of extra questions, and the way Smesko and firm reply them will decide if this shall be a dream season in Atlanta—or one other nightmare.

Chicago Sky: Does Sloot nonetheless have it?

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Coaching camp roster: Ariel Atkins (v), Courtney Vandersloot (u), Rebecca Allen (v), Moriah Jefferson (v), Kia Nurse (u), Michaela Onyenwere (u), Elizabeth Williams (u), Rachel Banham (v), Kamilla Cardoso (u), Angel Reese (u), Alex Wilson (tc), Sammie Puisis (tc), Tilly Boler (tc), Morgan Bertsch (tc), Jessika Carter (tc), Arella Guirantes (tc)

After hitting eject on the Teresa Weatherspoon period, putting in Tyler Marsh as head coach and buying veteran expertise via free agent signings and trades, the Sky enter the 2025 season with loads of questions.

Nevertheless, if one factor doesn’t work, it’s unlikely the progress the group hopes to see will materialize. Courtney Vandersloot must be Courtney Vandersloot.

Whereas the return of the legendary Sky level guard is a good story, the workforce wants her to be an important participant, and it’s questionable if she will be able to attain that gear of greatness on a constant foundation. Final season, she tallied numbers significantly under her All-Star peaks, and whereas her scaled-back manufacturing could possibly be defined by the general expertise of the title-winning New York Liberty, her diminished scoring, particularly, stands out as a priority. If Sloot just isn’t a menace to attain, the effectiveness of her precision passing shall be diminished. Sensible groups will dare her to attain whereas loading up on the Sky’s different offensive abilities, gumming up a Chicago offense that should enhance upon final season’s scoring struggles.

Connecticut Solar: Will youth be served?

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Coaching camp roster: Marina Mabrey (v), Tina Charles (v), Diamond DeShields (u), Lindsay Allen (u), Yvonne Anderson (v), Olivia Nelson-Ododa (r), Haley Peter (tc), Jacy Sheldon (u), Leïla Lacan (d), Rayah Marshall (d), Abbey Hsu (d), Amy Okonkwo (tc), Kamila Borokowska (tc), Kariata Diaby (tc), Madison Hayes (tc), Mya Hollingshed (tc), Caitlin Bickle (tc), Robyn Parks (tc)

There’s a cavalcade of questions that could possibly be lobbed on the Solar, who arguably skilled one of many single most devastating offseasons in WNBA historical past because the core of championship contender fled central Connecticut to chase championships elsewhere.

Like several group pressured right into a rebuild, the Solar have resisted the label, insisting the workforce intends to compete below new head coach Rachid Meziane. Possibly so. But when issues go south, are the Solar ready to pivot to a future focus, empowering younger gamers, significantly first-round draft picks Aneesah Morrow and Saniya Rivers, over the long-tenured growing old stars, comparable to Tina Charles, and reclamation initiatives, like Diamond DeShields, that the workforce imported in in the course of the offseason?

Ideally, Connecticut is internally practical about their prospects, even when they continue to be publicly optimistic. Which means a coaching camp that invests within the improvement of Morrow and Rivers, together with the likes of Jacy Sheldon and Olivia Nelson-Ododa, reasonably than one which prioritizes taking part in types that may elevate vets whose stays in Connecticut doubtless shall be brief.

Dallas Wings: What’s the dedication to McCowan?

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Coaching camp roster: Arike Ogunbowale (v), Myisha Hines-Allen (v), Teira McCowan (v), DiJonai Carrington (v), Ty Harris (u), NaLyssa Smith (r), Maddy Siegrist (u), Paige Bueckers (d), Kaila Charles (tc), Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (tc), Joyner Holmes (tc), Aziaha James (d), Madison Scott (d), Aaronette Vonleh (d), JJ Quinerly (d), Luisa Geiselsöder (tc), Mai Yamamoto (tc), McKenize Forbes (tc)

In fact, the brand new backcourt of Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale intrigues, inspiring a variety of questions. But, there’s not a lot to fret about there, as the 2 are too proficient for his or her tandem to not work.

Extra urgent questions arrive within the Dallas frontcourt, significantly involving Teaira McCowan. Whereas the 6-foot-7 middle who’s coming into her seventh WNBA season has proven flashes of star-level influence, her effectiveness and engagement typically has did not match the Wings’ high-dollar funding in her. And in a league that more and more prioritizes spacing, capturing and velocity, conventional bigs should be elite outliers in an effort to stay on the courtroom; McCowan hasn’t been that.

Will Dallas, below the management of latest common supervisor Curt Miller, who led groups that always performed a number of bigs throughout his tenure as head coach of the Connecticut Solar, proceed to pour into McCowan? Or, will new head coach Chris Koclanes be empowered to reduce her function and lean into smaller, fashionable lineups that would super-charge the Dallas offense?

Golden State Valkyries: Who’s going to attain?

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Coaching camp roster: Tiffany Hayes (u), Stephanie Talbot (v), Kayla Thornton (v), Monique Billings (v), Cecilia Zadalasini (u), Temi Fagbenle (u), Laeticia Amihere (u), Veronica Burton (tc), Carla Leite (d), Shyanne Sellers (d), Kate Martin (u), Kaitlyn Chen (d), Chloe Bibby (tc), Janelle Salaün (tc), Kyara Linskens (tc), Migna Touré (tc), Elissa Cunane (tc), Julie Vanloo (tc)

The Valkyries’ inaugural roster is filled with attention-grabbing gamers, a lot of whom profile because the form of gamers who may play an impactful function on successful groups.

However successful within the W calls for elite offensive expertise, and it doesn’t appear to be the Valkyries have almost sufficient of that. Scoring could possibly be a big wrestle for this squad.

Tiffany Hayes is the one Valkyrie able to persistently creating photographs for herself and others. That’s an enormous burden to position on the 35-year-old who shall be coming into her thirteenth WNBA season, even when she seems as spry, shifty and swift as ever. It’s been since 2021 with the Dream that Hayes performed a full season as a main offensive possibility. The previous two seasons, she as an alternative thrived as secondary scoring possibility on the Connecticut Solar and Las Vegas Aces, two groups that featured top-tier expertise.

Head coach Natalie Nakase goes to want to prepare dinner up some inventive schemes in an effort to generate factors. If not, Golden State could possibly be a tough watch.

Indiana Fever: Can White increase the ceiling?

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Coaching camp roster: Kelsey Mitchell (v), Natasha Howard (v), DeWanna Bonner (u), Sophie Cunningham (u), Damiris Dantas (v), Sydney Colson (u), Lexie Hill (r), Brianna Turner (u), Aliyah Boston (u), Caitlin Clark (u), Mikayla Timpson (d), Bree Corridor (d), Yvonne Ejim (d), Jillian Alleyne (tc), Jaelyn Brown (tc)

How good of a coach is Stephanie White?

That query might sound blasphemous. She was the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Yr with the Connecticut Solar and has a 62.2 profession successful proportion, a mark that features the 2 earlier seasons she spent on the sidelines in Indy in 2015 and 2016.

But, throughout White’s first stint in Indiana, Tamika Catchings was nonetheless carrying a Fever uniform, ending out the ultimate two seasons of a Corridor of Fame profession. With the Solar, she steered a veteran roster led by Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, one which had been on the precipice of a title below earlier head coach Curt Miller. Whereas Bonner travelled to Indianapolis with White, the Fever are in any other case a younger, unseasoned workforce, a stark distinction to the form of groups White has coached.

There’s a variety of strain on White to take a Fever workforce bursting with expertise to the following degree. However, that’s not one thing she’s executed in her profession as WNBA coach. It definitely doesn’t imply she will be able to’t do it, and with core trio of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, she has the items essential to make one thing particular occur, however, there is no such thing as a assure that White can ship the outcomes anticipated along with her return to Indiana.

Las Vegas Aces: Who’s serving to A’ja?

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Coaching camp roster: Jewell Loyd (v), A’ja Wilson (v), Chelsea Grey (v), Jackie Younger (v), Kiah Stokes (u), Tiffany Mitchell (u), Megan Gustafson (u), Dana Evans (v), Kierstan Bell (r), Queen Egbo (tc), Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (tc), Aaliyah Nye (d), Elizabeth Kitley (d), Harmoni Turner (d), Deja Kelly (tc), Jordyn Jenkins (tc), Crystal Bradford (tc)

A’ja Wilson did all of it final season, placing collectively an all-time season that rightly earned her unanimous MVP honors.

Particularly, she did all of it with out a lot frontcourt assist. Exterior of Kia Stokes, who’s strong defensively however restricted offensively, Vegas didn’t have one other true huge that head coach Becky Hammon trusted. And with offseason addition Cheyenne Parker-Tyus sidelined on account of being pregnant, the Aces is perhaps coming into the 2025 season in the identical scenario, leaving A’ja alone to do all of it. (Besides she’ll be carrying her personal shoe this time round.)

That’s except Liz Kitley emerges as Wilson’s current and future frontcourt companion. Chosen No. 24 total within the 2024 WNBA Draft, Kitley tore her ACL within the closing common season sport of her completed five-year faculty profession at Virginia Tech, leading to her lacking all of what would have been her rookie season.

Will the entire talent the 6-foot-6 middle confirmed off as a collegian—the place she was a hub with very good scoring contact on offense and a rebounding and shot-blocking presence on protection—translate to the W? Foot velocity, particularly coming off a knee damage, and power are issues, as the shortage of each may forestall her abilities from shining on the subsequent degree. The Aces must hope her strengths outweigh her weak spot. If not, the workforce once more shall be asking an excessive amount of of Wilson, even when she is as much as the duty.

Los Angeles Sparks: Do Roberts and the roster match?

Coaching camp roster: Dearica Hamby (v), Kelsey Plum (v), Azurá Stevens (v), Mercedes Russell (u), Odyssey Sims (u), Rae Burrell (u), Julie Allemand (u), Emma Cannon (tc), Aari McDonald (tc), Cameron Brink (u), Rickea Jackson (u), Sarah Ashlee Barker (d), Sania Feagin (d), Shaneice Swain, Liatu King (d), Alyssa Ustby (tc), Masha Kliundikova (tc), Anneli Maley (tc)

New Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts arrives within the W recognized for an offensive model that prioritizes 3-point capturing. In her final season in cost at Utah, the Utes completed fourth in Division I in 3-pointers made per sport. Offseason addition Kelsey Plum, who is likely one of the W’s higher-volume 3-pointer shooters, looks as if an ideal match for Roberts’ system.

However, what about the remainder of the roster? Exterior of first-round draft choose Sarah Ashlee Barker, who profiles as a possible 3-pointer gunner within the W, and Azurá Stevens, a 6-foot-6 stretch huge who may take one other leap below Roberts, the remainder of the Sparks are extra snug contained in the arc. That’s very true of two gamers central to the Sparks in Rickea Jackson, who loves her middies, and Dearica Hamby, who has tried to increase her vary over her profession however is simpler as a driver or low-post scorer. The identical applies to Cameron Brink, who is anticipated to return from her ACL damage in June; at Stanford she shot extra 3s over the course of her profession, however remained vastly simpler across the basket. Encouragingly, Hamby’s Vinyl teammate Rae Burrell was a extra keen, improved 3-pointer shooter in Unequalled, suggesting she could possibly be in line for an expanded function below Roberts.

Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how Sparks gamers adapt to Roberts’ most well-liked model, or how Roberts adjusts her model to her gamers.

Minnesota Lynx: Are there any questions?

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Coaching camp roster: Napheesa Collier (u), Kayla McBride (v), Courtney Williams (v), Alanna Smith (v), Natisha Hiedeman (v), Bridget Carleton (u), Karlie Samuelson (v), Diamond Miller (u), Grace Berger (u), Kiara Leslie (tc), Jessica Sheppard (tc), Alissa Pili (u), Dorka Juhász (u), Anastasiia Olairi Kosu (d), Dalayah Daniels (d), Ajae Petty (tc), Camryn Taylor (tc), Marième Badiane (tc), Reigan Richardson (tc), Christyn Williams (tc)

After shedding out on a WNBA title that they believed ought to have been theirs, the Lynx enter the 2025 WNBA season extremely motivated—and presumably even higher.

The Lynx not solely return the core of the workforce that took them to the Finals, however also needs to have the companies of Diamond Miller for a full season. Whereas accidents have interrupted her WNBA profession, the No. 2 total choose within the 2023 WNBA Draft has flashed game-changing expertise. Already the league’s finest 3-point capturing workforce in 2024, Minnesota additionally added one other premier markswoman in Karlie Samuelson, a virtually 40 % profession 3-point shooter. Rebounding stays a weak spot, however it’s a not unintentional one, as head coach Cheryl Reeve has prioritized a 5-out, switchable and versatile model of play over conventional dimension, believing the advantages of such lineup constructions outweigh struggles on the glass.

Add on the truth that the entire Lynx who participated in Unequalled suffered no damage setbacks and it’s arduous to establish any questions or issues in Minneapolis. This workforce ought to be the championship favorites.

New York Liberty: Will Stewie’s 3s fall?

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Coaching camp roster: Breanna Stewart (v), Sabrina Ionescu (u), Natasha Cloud (v), Jonquel Jones (v), Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (v), Nyara Sabally (u), Kennedy Burke (tc), Isabelle Harrison (tc), Marquesha Davis (u), Leonie Fiebich (u), Annika Soltau (tc), Kaitlyn Davis (tc), Rebekah Gardner (tc), Marine Johannès (tc), Esmery Martinez (tc), Jaylyn Sherrod (tc), Leaonna Odom (tc)

In fact, the defending champs imagine the favourite standing ought to belong to them, though injury-related issues, particularly the anticipated season-long absence of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, will make the New York Liberty’s repeat quest troublesome.

However one factor that would ease any durations of turbulence that the Liberty expertise throughout their title protection is Breanna Stewart’s 3-point stroke.

Final season, Stewart shot a career-worst 29.5 % from 3. It was the extension of a capturing hunch that started within the 2023 WNBA playoffs, when she shot 19.1 % from deep following a MVP-winning common season the place she transformed 35.5 % of her triples, a quantity proper consistent with her profession common. Within the 2024 playoffs, her proportion remained a subpar 26.1 %. Stewart additionally noticed her capturing woes observe her to the Paris Olympics, the place her mark from behind the arc was 28.6 %, and to Unequalled, when she sunk to 18.6 %.

Despite this prolonged hunch, Stewart’s groups, except for Mist, have executed a variety of successful, suggesting that the respect she nonetheless garners as a shooter elevates her workforce’s offense, even when her shot is wayward. But, the Liberty doubtless can have much less margin for error within the 2025 season. Along with the aforementioned damage issues, which additionally embody Stewart’s personal post-Unequalled knee scope, New York shall be integrating new gamers in key positions, all whereas carrying a goal on their again on account of their standing as reigning champions. Stewie rediscovering her 3 could possibly be for an elixir for any ills the Liberty might encounter.

Phoenix Mercury: Have they got a primary 5?

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Coaching camp roster: Kahleah Copper (v), Satou Sabally (v), Alyssa Thomas (v), Kalani Brown (v), Sami Whitcomb (u), Kitija Laska (v), Alexis Prince (tc), Anna Makurat (tc), Helena Pueyo (tc), Julia Ayrault (tc), Kathryn Westbeld (tc), Lexi Held (tc), Megan McConnell (tc), Monique Akoa-Makani (tc), Murjanatu Musa (tc), Temira Poindexter (tc), Shyla Heal (tc), Natasha Mack (tc), Celeste Taylor (tc), Sevgi Uzun (tc)

If the WNBA determined to undertake Unequalled’s 3×3 format, the Phoenix Mercury would have cause to be ok with their championship prospects on account of their new “Large 3” of Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper.

However since Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has but to announce such a change, the Mercury’s possibilities of championship-level success within the WNBA appear slim as a result of workforce’s lack of dependable depth. The truth is, Phoenix may need hassle figuring out which two gamers ought to be a part of the Thomas-Sabally-Copper triumvirate within the beginning lineup.

As Eric Nemchock just lately wrote, coaching camp shall be essential for the Mercury. Head coach Nate Tibbets has to hope that two gamers, whether or not or not it’s veterans Sami Whitcomb and Kalani Brown or younger returnees Natasha Mack and Celeste Taylor, set up themselves as viable, versatile starting-caliber gamers. If not, it could possibly be a season of valleys, reasonably than peaks, within the Valley.

Seattle Storm: How prepared is Malonga?

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Coaching camp roster: Gabby Williams (v), Skylar Diggins (v), Nneka Ogwumike (v), Ezi Magbegor (v), Alysha Clark (u), Lexie Brown (v), Katie Lou Samuelson (u), Dominique Malonga (d), Erica Wheeler (tc), Jordan Hobbs (d), Madison Conner (d), Serena Sundell (d), Mackenzie Holmes (d), Brianna Fraser (tc), Zia Cooke (tc), Li Yueru (tc)

The Seattle Storm’s core consists of recognized portions.

The regular, environment friendly play of Nneka Ogwumike. The fiery protection and drives of Skylar Diggins. The box-score stuffing model of Gabby Williams. The defensive influence of Ezi Magbegor. These 4 are surrounded by a likewise established group of vets who perceive their roles.

Dominique Malonga, in distinction, is an unknown. That makes discovering out what she will be able to carry to the workforce in 2025 the largest query for the Storm. If she wows in camp, proving that she should be in head coach Noelle Quinn’s rotation, and never only for developmental causes however as a result of she could be a distinction maker, Seattle not solely turns into a must-watch workforce, but additionally will see their ceiling rise into the championship contender stratosphere.

Washington Mystics: Can Edwards make a star leap?

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Coaching camp roster: Brittney Sykes (v), Stef Dolson (v), Shakira Austin (r), Sug Sutton (tc), Sonia Citron (d), Kiki Iriafen (d), Georgia Amoore (d), Aaliyah Edwards (u), Lucy Olsen (d), Sika Koné (u), Jade Melbourne (u), Zaay Inexperienced (d), Ashten Prechtel (tc), JoJo Lacy (tc), Khadijah Cave (tc), Morgan Jones (tc), Emily Engstler (tc)

Following the 2024 WNBA season, the Washington Mystics determined to enter a deep rebuild, ousting the father-son Thibault tandem from their common supervisor and head coach roles, hiring new management basically supervisor Jamila Wideman and head coach Sydney Johnson, buying and selling away Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky and Karlie Samuelson to the Minnesota Lynx for draft capital and including three rookies within the first spherical of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Whereas it’s value questioning the Mystics’ strategy for a number of causes—whether or not an NBA-style, long-term, draft-based rebuild could be utilized within the WNBA; how the arrival of the brand new CBA may change team-building guidelines and, in flip, methods; whether it is sensible to take a seat out this second of rising curiosity within the league by taking an intentional step again—the largest cause to query Washington’s plan is Aaliyah Edwards.

In Edwards, does Washington have already got a burgeoning star value constructing round? Though she obtained inconsistent alternative throughout Unequalled’s 3×3 schedule, Edwards was THE story of the league’s 1-on-1 Match, starting along with her blanking of Breanna Stewart in her opening spherical victory. The angle that carried her all the best way to the 1-on-1 closing, mixed along with her bettering talent set, suggests she could possibly be the star that DC seems to imagine that they don’t but have. With an impressive coaching camp, possibly Edwards could make the group imagine.

*All contract statuses are courtesy of Her Hoop Stats.