WNBA energy rankings: Are Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever prime tier?

The superteam period of the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty continues, with these groups accounting for the final three WNBA championships.

However in contrast to the previous two seasons, the league’s championship chase is taken into account broad open due to what the Minnesota Lynx completed final 12 months as a non-superteam. Then, there’s the high-profile Indiana Fever, the staff that arguably improved probably the most this offseason.

The place do these squads and remainder of the W’s groups land within the first version of Swish Attraction’s 2025 WNBA energy rankings?

1. Las Vegas Aces

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The large story in Vegas is changing Kelsey Plum with Jewell Loyd. The Aces now have the previous two WNBA scoring champions in Loyd and A’ja Wilson, and whereas Plum is arguably simply nearly as good a participant as Loyd, Loyd brings all of the flashiness that comes with being the Gold Mamba. Loyd is not only an illier scorer—she’s the illiest.

Loyd’s flashiness doesn’t win championships (although she’s received two); the chemistry that Plum, Wilson, Jackie Younger and Chelsea Grey had does. However the ceiling on what Loyd might accomplish offensively with Wilson is sky excessive, which units the stage for some thrilling basketball in Vegas. By placing the Aces first in my energy rankings, I’m betting on the Loyd experiment.

Maybe the Aces’ 2024 semifinal exit will permit them to refocus, shake off among the strain and get again to what received them championships in 2022 and 2023—that stunning chemistry between Wilson, Younger and Grey and the all-world teaching of Becky Hammon.

2. New York Liberty

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I initially had the Liberty first after I drafted my energy rankings, seeing as they’ve as a lot top-level expertise as Vegas and should be revered because the defending champs. However Betnijah Laney-Hamilton being out for the common season considerations me. When she returns for the playoffs, will the chemistry be there?

The Liberty nonetheless have three MVP-caliber gamers on the prime in Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones. They’ve additionally returned Leonie Fiebich, who was so key to the championship run. New York even has her and her fellow European Marine Johannès on the identical time, bringing double the 3-point risk.

And the addition of Natasha Cloud must be enormous, as Cloud has grow to be a star level guard, averaging double-figure scoring and over six assists per sport in every of the final three seasons.

3. Minnesota Lynx

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The Lynx don’t have as many big-name gamers because the Aces and Liberty. Their largest strengths are their intangibles, their chemistry and the teaching of four-time champion Cheryl Reeve.

Nevertheless, they’re higher on paper than they’re typically credited. Napheesa Collier does get the credit score as a top-five participant. Then, there’s Kayla McBride, who is taken into account a star. But it surely’s the following three gamers who’re underrated. I’ve been saying for years that Courtney Williams is a top-30 participant, having posted profession bests of 16.5 factors (2021), 6.3 assists (2023) and seven.2 rebounds (2020) throughout her 11-season WNBA profession. And maybe it’s time to provide Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton the star label as effectively.

I do know Swish Attraction editor-in-chief Cat Ariail has Minnesota at No. 1 on her checklist, and for good cause. They’re one controversial name away from being the present defending champions, and maybe their intangibles and chemistry will show to be extra dependable within the huge moments than different groups’ expertise.

4. Indiana Fever

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Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston could be harmful on their very own—each are All-Stars already.

Now, the Fever have an entire different All-Star staff to associate with that tandem, returning Kelsey Mitchell and including DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sophie Cunningham. In addition they added an excellent rebounder and defender in Brianna Turner, who must be a strong position participant, and the participant who was the center and soul of the championship Aces groups from a comedic standpoint in Sydney Colson. Absolutely, Colson’s comedy will ease the stress that comes from Clark’s fame, and which will very effectively be why Indiana was fascinated with buying her.

The Fever have a legit shot on the title in Clark’s second season; in reality, I’ve them within the prime tier of the league, together with the three groups above them.

5. Atlanta Dream

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The Dream begin off the second tier of contenders, however I wouldn’t be shocked in the event that they make a run on the title as effectively.

Brittney Griner nonetheless has rather a lot to provide at age 34. I’m nonetheless in awe of the season and postseason she had in 2021, when she completed second in MVP voting for the second time in her profession. If that Griner exhibits up in 2025, be careful, and even the 2024 model, when she shot a career-best 57.9 % from the sphere, could be welcome in Atlanta.

In the meantime, I really feel like Rhyne Howard is due for some kind of loopy leap, the likes of which we could solely see from her and Clark. Brionna Jones (a brand new addition) and Allisha Grey (a returner) kind a legit “Massive 4.” Then, there’s strong depth with Jordin Canada, Naz Hillmon, Haley Jones, Maya Caldwell, Nia Coffey and newcomer Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.

6. Chicago Sky

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I actually just like the depth of the Dream, Sky, Storm (earlier than season-ending ACL tears suffered by Jordan Horston and Katie Lou Samuelson) and Wings, which causes me to place these 4 groups forward of the Mercury, who’ve the third-best huge three within the league behind solely the Aces and Liberty.

The Sky are available right here at No. 6 due to their depth, but in addition due to their high-upside potential. What if Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso can each take huge sophomore leaps? And if Courtney Vandersloot can discover the fountain of youth? Then, Ariel Atkins is the elite Sky participant who’s squarely in her prime.

After these 4, you’ve acquired Moriah Jefferson, Kia Nurse, Rebecca Allen, Michaela Onyenwere, Rachel Banham and Elizabeth Williams. Plus, I believe 2025 draftee Hailey Van Lith has the potential to contribute as effectively. That’s a strong roster.

7. Seattle Storm

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The accidents to Horston and Samuelson dropped the Storm behind the Sky in my rankings. Seattle additionally misplaced Loyd to Vegas, however I believe they nonetheless have a “Massive 3;” as an alternative of Loyd, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins, it’s Ogwumike, Diggins and Ezi Magbegor. Bear in mind, Magbegor was an All-Star in 2023.

I additionally suppose Dominique Malonga will at some point be one of the best participant to return out of this 12 months’s draft. Sure, higher than Paige Bueckers.

The Storm even have depth with Gabby Williams, Alysha Clark (again in Seattle!), Erica Wheeler and Lexie Brown. Williams is a good perimeter defender, and Clark was nonetheless a great participant final 12 months at ages 36 and 37. If Wheeler can return to her 2023 kind, when she averaged 9.9 factors and 5 assists, and if Brown can play her first full season since 2022, and shoot the lights out from 3 like she did that 12 months, the Storm might be a harmful staff.

8. Dallas Wings

Arike Ogunbowale will proceed to be Dallas’ go-to scorer, whereas Paige Bueckers will are available and be comfortable Geno Auriemma is now not forcing her to be egocentric. Bueckers likes to distribute and will kind a great working relationship with Ogunbowale, who loves to attain.

I see the Wings making the playoffs. I see Bueckers changing into certainly one of their finest gamers and a strong WNBA contributor as a rookie. I simply don’t suppose Bueckers goes to instantly carry Dallas into rivalry, and he or she could not even be an All-Star straight away.

NaLyssa Smith, Teaira McCowan and DiJonai Carrington spherical out a strong beginning 5. I believe Myisha Hines-Allen and Ty Harris might be nice off the bench, and if Maddy Siegrist can present up within the scoring column like she did final 12 months (and in Athletes Limitless), that may be enormous.

9. Phoenix Mercury

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I don’t need to disrespect the gamers on the Mercury’s roster. Natasha Mack and Celeste Taylor could turn into actually good WNBA gamers and Kitija Laksa is definitely a deadly 3-point risk.

However Phoenix’s solely supporting-cast gamers who’ve already put up strong stats within the WNBA are Sami Whitcomb and Kalani Brown, who often is the fourth and fifth starters after the scintillating trio of Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper.

In the event you’re getting the 2021 model of Whitcomb, who was practically an All-Star, then this roster appears a little bit higher, however Whitcomb turns 37 on July 20 and wasn’t as a lot of an element for Seattle final 12 months. Brown has nice upside at 6-foot-7, however she’s but to do something spectacular within the league, whereas the remainder of the roster has finished nearly nothing.

10. Los Angeles Sparks

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Very like Chicago, LA has a pair of frontcourt sophomores who might take huge leaps and provides their staff a strong core. For the Sparks, that’s Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink, the latter of whom is getting back from a torn ACL that reduce her rookie season brief.

The 2 largest stars for the Sparks might be Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby, who know one another effectively from their time collectively in San Antonio/Vegas.

In the meantime, Odyssey Sims at all times appears to be ignored regardless of her expertise, and we noticed Julie Allemand’s upside within the Wubble in 2020, when she shot 47.8 % from distance. Azurá Stevens and Aari McDonald are good gamers as effectively, giving the Sparks a quietly strong staff. However will or not it’s adequate to compete with the loaded rosters elsewhere?

11. Connecticut Solar

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Like Phoenix, the Solar undergo from an absence of depth, however I’ll give them the sting over the Mystics due to their “Massive 3” of Marina Mabrey, Diamond DeShields and Tina Charles. That’s, if Mabrey stays on the staff regardless of the commerce request she has put forth.

The strain to win a championship could have gotten to Charles after her poor efficiency within the Storm’s 2022 playoff elimination sport was an enormous cause Seattle didn’t advance. She sat out the 2023 season, however bounced again with 14.9 factors and 9.6 rebounds per sport for the Dream final 12 months. In spite of everything, she’s nonetheless Tina Charles and isn’t going anyplace, for now.

DeShields can be über-talented. She is a former All-WNBA Second Teamer who might maybe revive her profession in Connecticut. Mabrey was essential to the Solar’s playoff run final 12 months, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see her as a staff’s major possibility for a full season if she stays in Connecticut.

12. Washington Mystics

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Brittney Sykes is the Mystics’ largest star and is a superb two-way participant. She’s adopted by Stefanie Dolson and two very intriguing younger frontcourt gamers in Shakira Austin (12 months 4) and Aaliyah Edwards (12 months two).

Washington additionally had the chance to stroll away with the strongest 2025 draft of any staff as a result of they’d three of the highest six picks. They used the chance effectively, drafting Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Georgia Amoore, however Amoore is now out for the 12 months with an ACL damage.

The Mystics face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, however I’m excited to see what Austin and Edwards can start to construct within the nation’s capital.

13. Golden State Valkyries

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The Valkyries aren’t too far behind the Solar and Mystics, however competing with the opposite 10 groups within the league might be troublesome for this growth franchise.

Earlier than they signed Tiffany Hayes in free company, issues seemed worse. Hayes is a legit finest participant, even at age 35. The subsequent three most-experienced gamers on the squad—Kayla Thornton, Monique Billings and Stephanie Talbot—are all strong gamers. None of them screams star like Hayes does although, which is why after they had been chosen within the growth draft, it felt like Golden State was missing some pleasure.

The Valkyries even have a number of different confirmed contributors in Temi Fágbénlé, who averaged 6.4 factors and 4.7 rebounds for the Fever final 12 months, and Julie Vanloo, who averaged 7.4 factors and 4.3 assists for the Mystics. Cecilia Zandalasini will seemingly be an X issue for the Valkyries after taking part in in all 40 video games for the Lynx final 12 months and taking pictures 44.3 % from 3.