It might nonetheless be early within the 2025 WNBA common season, however we have already got a good suggestion of who a number of the greatest groups within the league are. Two of them, the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever, will play this Saturday, Could 24 on CBS in a recreation that might find yourself being a playoff preview.
The Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream, in the meantime, are nonetheless attempting to work via some kinks. Each groups have first-year head coaches and have had some important roster turnover since final season, which is mirrored of their early-season data. The Wings, particularly, have but to win a recreation; they’ll get the prospect to earn their first win once they play the Dream on Saturday afternoon.
Listed here are just some of the issues you have to be waiting for throughout Saturday’s two-game slate.
The sweet-shooting Liberty tackle the tough-defending Fever
The Liberty have appeared each bit just like the defending WNBA champions to start the 2025 season, soundly defeating the Las Vegas Aces earlier than hitting the street and simply disposing of the Chicago Sky. New York even set a WNBA file in its most up-to-date win, flattening 19 3-pointers as a crew.
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Subsequent up for the Liberty are the Fever, who have been one of many offseason’s most-hyped groups after a number of huge free company acquisitions put them in title talks. The addition of gamers like DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard to a core that includes Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell understandably generated some noise, and the Fever have proven flashes of brilliance early on—albeit considerably inconsistently. After defeating the Sky by 35 factors of their opener, the Fever break up a pair of video games with the Atlanta Dream, neither of which have been actually determined till the ultimate minutes.
Clearly, Clark and Mitchell kind one of many WNBA’s most explosive backcourts, however they’ll have their arms full with what has been an unstoppable Liberty offense. New York didn’t even want its starters to play heavy minutes in its most up-to-date win, scoring 99 factors with Sabrina Ionescu taking part in 20 minutes and Breanna Stewart taking part in 25. Guards Natasha Cloud and Kennedy Burke did greater than sufficient of their stead, combining to attain 35 factors and making eight of the crew’s 19 3-pointers.
That being stated, whereas this recreation actually has shootout potential, the Liberty and Fever have each been taking part in glorious protection, too. Indiana and New York rank No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, within the WNBA in defensive score—a small pattern dimension, to make sure, however nonetheless indicative of the extent of all-around basketball each groups are able to taking part in. We already know that the Liberty are for actual; if the Fever can defeat them, the championship chatter will develop even louder.
Paige Bueckers and the Wings look to get within the win column in opposition to the Dream
The start of Paige Bueckers’ WNBA profession hasn’t fairly gone in response to plan.
The No. 1 general choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft has gotten off to a strong begin, averaging 13.7 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists in her first three video games, however the Dallas Wings stay winless, having most just lately dropped a recreation to the Minnesota Lynx through which Bueckers recorded her first double-double. Some early struggles have been in all probability to be anticipated from the Wings, contemplating they went 9-31 final season, however with their prized rookie Bueckers on board, they’ll even be anticipated to show issues round and end the season as an improved crew.
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Dallas can have a chance to get on the board in opposition to the Atlanta Dream, who’re coming off an in depth loss to the Fever. The truth is, each one of many Dream’s video games has been shut (inside 5 factors), leaving one to marvel what their file would seem like had only a couple extra of their 3-pointers had fallen.
Certainly, Atlanta is following up on first-year head coach Karl Smesko’s promise to shoot the lengthy ball, getting up a median of 31.7 3-pointers per recreation. The Dream are making simply 31.6 p.c of these makes an attempt, although, and whereas the crew’s poor protection so far is probably going extra regarding to Smesko, he can’t be pleased with the way in which they’ve shot the ball, both.
Merely put, Saturday’s later recreation options two groups which are nonetheless attempting to iron issues out. Atlanta’s method could seem easy, however integrating Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones in Smesko’s 3-point-heavy offense—particularly when the 2 facilities are being requested to shoot it from deep, too—stays a piece in progress. Dallas, in the meantime, is in search of any indicators of progress, whether or not or not it’s constructing chemistry between Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale or establishing a set frontcourt rotation. A win for both crew may go a great distance to find their respective on-court identities.
Recreation data
New York Liberty (2-0) vs. Indiana Fever (2-1)
When: Saturday, Could 24 at 1 p.m. ET
The place: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
watch: CBS
Dallas Wings (0-3) vs. Atlanta Dream (1-2)
When: Saturday, Could 24 at 3 p.m. ET
The place: Gateway Heart in School Park, GA
watch: CBSSN
