Because the 2025 WNBA season approaches mid-June, plenty of standout performances and key tendencies have emerged. Let’s verify on 5 developments from the primary month of the season.
A’ja Wilson’s passing
Essentially the most vital improvement in A’ja Wilson’s already elite recreation has been her dramatic enchancment as a playmaker.
Wilson’s help share has jumped from a modest 14 p.c final season to a formidable 27 p.c this yr—the most important season-to-season enchancment in that metric since Diana Taurasi’s leap from 2017 to 2018. Whereas help share isn’t a measure of passing means, this dramatic enhance displays Wilson’s enhanced courtroom consciousness and willingness to belief her teammates in essential moments.
The advance is most noticeable in her anticipation of double groups. The place Wilson beforehand would miss passing lanes when assist protection arrived, she now could be studying defensive rotations earlier than they occur, discovering open teammates within the corners and dunker spot. Her processing pace has accelerated dramatically, permitting her to make fast selections that punish aggressive defensive schemes.
Wilson’s late-game playmaking has reached one other stage. There was a late-game sequence in opposition to the Washington Mystics the place she made two clutch reads to finish an incredible comeback. Her means to acknowledge when defenses are overcommitting to her scoring and make the right move has remodeled the Aces’ crunch-time offense, whereas making her an much more harmful participant.
Jacy Sheldon’s protection
Regardless of being in simply her second season, Connecticut Solar guard Jacy Sheldon has emerged as one of many league’s premier point-of-attack defenders. Her display navigation and restoration means have been nothing in need of extraordinary, showcasing defensive fundamentals that usually take years to develop.
Sheldon’s biggest asset is her relentless pursuit of ball handlers round screens. Her compact body permits her to slide by gaps that bigger defenders can not navigate, whereas her distinctive footwork retains her connected to even essentially the most artful offensive gamers. She constantly fights by a number of screens whereas sustaining excellent positioning, a talent that has neutralized a number of the league’s most harmful scorers.
What units Sheldon aside is her restoration means—her “brakes,” as coaches name them. Even when her momentum carries her away from the play, she demonstrates outstanding physique management in redirecting herself again to the ball handler. This restoration pace permits her to contest photographs even after being seemingly crushed, disrupting offensive rhythm and forcing tough makes an attempt.
Her energetic palms complement her footwork completely. She has mastered the delicate artwork of timing her steal makes an attempt, utilizing swipe downs to create turnovers with out fouling. This mixture of display navigation, restoration means and anticipation has made her some of the disruptive defensive gamers within the league.
Lexie Hull’s offensive enchancment
Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull has developed some new dimensions to her recreation. Her enchancment represents one of many season’s most vital particular person developments.
Hull’s ending on the rim has improved dramatically from an abysmal 40 p.c final season to a good 62 p.c this yr—a bounce that brings her to league common. Extra impressively, Hull has developed off-the-dribble creation abilities that have been nearly nonexistent in her earlier skilled work.
With Caitlin Clark sidelined on account of harm, Hull has seized the chance to showcase expanded offensive capabilities. Maybe most stunning has been Hull’s playmaking enchancment. Her courtroom imaginative and prescient and passing accuracy have proven vital progress, as she constantly finds teammates after drawing assist protection on her drives. This twin risk functionality—scoring and creating for others—has made Hull an early Most Improved Participant candidate and offered Indiana with some encouraging offensive assist.
A WNBA 3-point revolution?
The WNBA’s 3-point capturing pattern has accelerated past all expectations, with groups averaging 24.7 makes an attempt per recreation in comparison with final yr’s record-setting 22.8. This might sign a elementary shift in how groups method offensive technique, with eight of 12 groups from final season rising their 3-point quantity.
Whereas groups just like the Golden State Valkyries and New York Liberty are doing many of the heavy lifting, the league-wide adoption suggests this isn’t merely just a few outliers driving the numbers. The elevated emphasis on perimeter capturing displays groups’ recognition that 3-point capturing creates extra environment friendly offensive assaults from in every single place else on the ground.
Curiously, regardless of the elevated 3-point quantity, total offensive scores haven’t modified dramatically over the previous decade. This implies groups are nonetheless studying the best way to optimize their long-range assaults, with effectivity beneficial properties probably coming as gamers and programs adapt to the elevated emphasis on perimeter capturing.
The pattern towards elevated 3-point capturing usually accelerates as seasons progress, with groups changing into extra snug with their programs in August and September. If this sample holds, the WNBA might see much more unprecedented 3-point try charges by the tip of the season.
Gabby Williams’ capturing
Seattle Storm ahead Gabby Williams has undergone a outstanding capturing progress that might reshape her crew’s championship aspirations. After struggling from 3-point vary all through her profession, Williams is capturing a blazing 50 p.c from past the arc on 5 makes an attempt per recreation.
Williams is displaying the boldness and fast launch of an elite shooter. Her catch-and-shoot share has been notably spectacular, whereas her means to create her personal 3-point appears to be like off the dribble has added a brand new dimension to Seattle’s offense.
The timing of Williams’ breakthrough couldn’t be higher for Seattle, a crew that has lengthy struggled with perimeter capturing from its guard and ahead positions. The spacing she offers as an improved shooter has opened driving lanes for teammates, whereas additionally offering essential flooring stability in Seattle’s offensive units.
Most encouragingly for Seattle followers, Williams’ shot choice has remained disciplined regardless of her sizzling begin. Somewhat than forcing tough makes an attempt, she has taken high-quality appears to be like inside the offense, suggesting this enchancment might be sustainable all through the season. If Williams maintains even a portion of this capturing enchancment, Seattle transforms from an out of doors contender right into a reliable championship risk.
