10 moves that shaped the WNBA offseason -- and what they mean for 2025

The 2025 WNBA play tips disconnected aboriginal this week, but first, let's look astatine however we got here.

Change has defined the offseason. The Golden State Valkyries articulation the league arsenic the archetypal enlargement franchise since 2008, but 10 cardinal moves and decisions person shaped what we'll spot successful 2025.

Seven teams person caller caput coaches. Three No. 1 picks who had spent the entirety of their careers with the franchises that drafted them -- wherever they besides each won championships -- are present with caller teams, arsenic Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury to Atlanta Dream), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm to Las Vegas Aces) and Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas to Los Angeles Sparks) anticipation to beryllium successful the rubric hunt again. And Phoenix's Diana Taurasi retired aft 20 seasons, leaving 2 37-year-olds -- the Indiana Fever's DeWanna Bonner and the Storm's Alysha Clark -- arsenic the league's oldest progressive players.

While a batch of alteration unfolded with staffs and unit crossed the league, past season's WNBA Finals teams -- the champion New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx -- had comparatively quiescent offseasons with Sandy Brondello and Cheryl Reeve returning astir of their cardinal players.

Which franchises volition articulation the Liberty and Lynx successful contention for the 2025 rubric is straight tied to however teams respond to each the alteration that has happened since October, truthful let's recap 10 of the astir impactful developments.

Sparks go archetypal of 7 teams to portion ways with coaches

Date: Sept. 24, 2024

When Los Angeles announced it was parting ways with manager Curt Miller aft lone 2 seasons, it kicked the WNBA coaching carousel into precocious gear. By the extremity of September, the Chicago Sky's Teresa Weatherspoon, the Atlanta Dream's Tanisha Wright, the Dallas Wings' Latricia Trammell, the Washington Mystics' Eric Thibault and the Indiana Fever's Christie Sides had each been fto go.

Stephanie White's determination to permission the Connecticut Sun successful October brought the caput coaching vacancies number to seven. That means 58.3% of the teams successful the league volition commencement the 2025 play with a antithetic caput manager from the 1 they ended the 2024 play with, the highest percent of teams making offseason caput coaching changes successful league history.

What it meant for the WNBA: The turnover coupled with the Valkyries' hiring of Natalie Nakase meant determination were 8 caller caput coaches for the 2025 season.

White returned to Indiana, wherever she had been an adjunct (2011-2014) and past caput manager (2015-2016). And Tyler Marsh -- who, similar Nakase, was an adjunct to Becky Hammon for the two-time WNBA champion Aces -- took implicit successful Chicago.

The different 2 November hires had not worked successful the WNBA before. Atlanta hired Florida Gulf Coast's Karl Smesko and Los Angeles brought Utah's Lynne Roberts connected board. The last 3 hires, which came successful December, each had antithetic paths. Rachid Meziane, who took implicit astatine Connecticut, had coached successful his autochthonal France and with the Belgian women's nationalist team. Chris Koclanes, a erstwhile WNBA adjunct who concisely went to the assemblage game, returned to the league arsenic Dallas' caput coach. And Sydney Johnson, who chiefly had worked with men's assemblage hoops and USA Basketball earlier spending the 2024 WNBA play arsenic an adjunct successful Chicago, was named Washington's caput coach.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: There is simply a wide scope of backgrounds, from nary caput coaching oregon WNBA acquisition to arsenic galore arsenic 25 years of acquisition successful the league for Minnesota's Cheryl Reeve, truthful determination volition beryllium galore antithetic philosophies. How teams respond volition beryllium a large storyline of the season.

Dominoes: One interest is that for a league successful which of the players are Black women, determination is lone 1 Black pistillate who is simply a caput coach: Seattle's Noelle Quinn.

It is worthy noting that determination are 2 Black men (Marsh and Johnson) and the league's archetypal Asian-American caput manager (Nakase) successful the mix. -- Michael Voepel

Jewell Loyd requests commercialized aft investigation

Date: Dec. 4, 2024: Trade requested

What it means for Seattle: Jewell Loyd's request, which came successful the aftermath of an outer probe into reported accusations of harassment and bullying by the Storm's coaching unit that concluded without uncovering immoderate violations, broke up the Storms' prima trio of Loyd, Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike.

After trading Loyd for a bundle headlined by the No. 2 pick, which Seattle utilized to draught French halfway Dominique Malonga, the Storm are present balancing 2 timelines: They anticipation to vie successful 2025 with a seasoned radical led by Diggins, Ogwumike and returning relation subordinate Alysha Clark, but are besides preparing for a aboriginal built astir Malonga and 3 first-round picks successful the 2026 draft.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: Despite Diggins' content that this is the astir talented WNBA squad she has ever been on, extracurricular expectations aren't arsenic precocious for Seattle without Loyd and a trio of players -- Jordan Horston, Nika Muhl and Katie Lou Samuelson -- mislaid to ACL injuries. The Storm are equipped to make the playoffs, but winning a bid for the archetypal clip since 2022 volition beryllium a challenge.

Dominoes: Loyd's desired commercialized destination was Las Vegas. That acceptable up a three-team model successful which Seattle was capable to get the No. 2 prime from Los Angeles portion Las Vegas landed Loyd arsenic a replacement for Kelsey Plum, who was capable to take her destination successful escaped bureau contempt the Aces applying the halfway designation. -- Kevin Pelton

Sparks get Kelsey Plum successful three-team trade

Date: Jan. 26: Sparks commercialized for Kelsey Plum

What it means for Los Angeles: Joining a squad that hired Lynne Roberts arsenic its caller manager and is gathering astir 2024 lottery picks Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, arsenic good arsenic veterans Dearica Hamby and Azura Stevens, Kelsey Plum said her accomplishment is different motion of a caller opening successful Los Angeles.

Plum is acceptable to go a escaped cause successful 2026 nether a caller corporate bargaining agreement, but reportedly wants to enactment successful L.A., which would springiness the Sparks different cornerstone arsenic they effort to instrumentality to contention aft missing the past 4 postseasons.

Plum not lone brings scoring and playmaking, but possibly much importantly, enactment and title acquisition to assistance physique a caller civilization successful Los Angeles.

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Kelsey Plum moves up phantasy draught boards

Kelsey Plum should spot a large bump successful phantasy by joining the Los Angeles Sparks, portion Jewell Loyd whitethorn spot a dip successful accumulation with her caller team.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: After finishing past successful the 2024 standings, the Sparks entered the offseason looking for players who could catapult them backmost into the playoffs for the archetypal clip since 2020. Landing a subordinate of Plum's caliber -- betwixt her on-court accumulation and dependable successful the locker country -- could execute conscionable that.

Dominoes: Free bureau was quiescent until this three-team commercialized sent Lloyd to Las Vegas and Plum to Los Angeles. The Sparks sent their No. 2 prime to Seattle arsenic portion of the deal, astatine the clip saying that they didn't cognize who would beryllium disposable astatine that spot. The prime ended up being Dominique Malonga, who is considered to person 1 of the highest ceilings successful the 2025 draught class. -- Kendra Andrews

Fever bring successful trio of veterans

Dates: Jan. 31: Fever motion Natasha Howard, trade for Sophie Cunningham
Feb. 2: Fever motion DeWanna Bonner

What it meant for Indiana: After getting back-to-back No. 1 picks successful Aliyah Boston (2023) and Caitlin Clark (2024), Indiana made the playoffs past play for the archetypal clip since 2016. Clark's immense popularity helped rocket the Fever to the league's attendance pb and prompted a instrumentality of longtime squad president Kelly Krauskopf, positive the hiring of Amber Cox arsenic wide manager and the instrumentality of Stephanie White arsenic coach.

Kelsey Mitchell got the halfway subordinate designation and re-signed with Indiana successful January. With 2024 All-Stars Mitchell, Boston and Clark returning, the Fever wanted to adhd much seasoned savvy for the imaginable of a deeper playoff run.

DeWanna Bonner is entering her 16th season, Natasha Howard her 12th and Sophie Cunningham her seventh. Bonner and Howard are past WNBA champions.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: Indiana's encephalon spot didn't person to accidental it retired loud: It was evident the Fever wanted seasoned players who were not lone talented, but would besides boost their energy, enactment and camaraderie.

Opposing defenses were arsenic carnal arsenic imaginable with Clark past season, a modular maneuver against rookies. Now she is simply a twelvemonth older, stronger, wiser -- and has experienced players who are known for having their teammates' backs.

Dominoes: Clark, who led the league successful assists past season, present has 3 much players who tally the tribunal precise good that she tin walk to. And Fever fans, who fell caput implicit heels for the squad past season, person already embraced the newcomers. -- Voepel

Mercury marque splash successful post-Taurasi era

Dates: Jan. 28: Brittney Griner signs with Dream
Jan. 28: Alyssa Thomas traded to Mercury
Jan. 31: Satou Sabally traded to Mercury
Feb. 25: Diana Taurasi retires

What it means for Phoenix: The Mercury are astir unrecognizable from a fewer years ago. Gone are franchise stalwarts Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. Even Natasha Cloud, Sophie Cunningham and Rebecca Allen recovered caller homes aft being unexpectedly traded this offseason.

But the instrumentality base, known arsenic the X-Factor, should inactive beryllium optimistic astir the absorption of the franchise. General manager Nick U'Ren was engaged this wintertime acquiring perennial MVP campaigner Alyssa Thomas and prima Satou Sabally (both were escaped agents who received the halfway designation) to situation 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper. While the team's extent isn't stellar connected paper, its Big Three ranks among the astir talented, versatile and dynamic groups successful the league.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: The Mercury person experienced overmuch tumult since their past Finals quality successful 2021 nether Sandy Brondello, going winless successful their 2 successive playoff appearances (2022 and 2024).

They person tried respective antithetic iterations of superteam builds, antecedently bringing successful Skylar Diggins and Tina Charles. But portion upheaval reigned again this offseason, Phoenix is hoping the acquisitions of Thomas and Sabally -- positive the twelvemonth of acquisition manager Nate Tibbetts present has -- volition pb to much stableness (and much winning). Still, the Mercury's ceiling volition apt beryllium determined by what they tin get retired of their non-superstar players.

Dominoes: Thomas leaving Connecticut for Phoenix was indicative of a greater rebuild for the Sun, portion Dallas simply retooled aft Sabally departed. Griner's accomplishment successful Atlanta raises the Dream's ceiling. And teams similar the Liberty, Fever and Sky gained cardinal extent players successful Cloud, Cunningham and Allen. -- Alexa Philippou

Dream motion Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones

Dates: Jan. 28: Griner signs one-year deal
Jan. 30: Jones signs one-year deal

What it means for Atlanta: The Dream needed to beef up their beingness successful the station this offseason, and they did that by adding Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, 2 of the biggest acquisitions successful franchise history.

Atlanta's efforts to marque this seismic displacement weren't surprising. When the Dream announced Karl Smesko arsenic the caller caput coach, wide manager Dan Padover spoke astir proven winners and those with large hoops minds. Heading into escaped agency, helium said Atlanta would beryllium assertive successful pursuing each opportunities.

That the Dream were capable to propulsion Griner distant from the Mercury and Jones distant from the Sun is impervious this franchise is trying to instrumentality the adjacent step.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: Signing Griner, Jones and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough should enactment Atlanta connected an upward trajectory. But however precisely these moves volition construe connected the tribunal remains a question.

Smesko ran a five-out strategy astatine Florida Gulf Coast that relied heavy connected defence and 3-point shooting, but helium present has 2 posts who fundamentally don't sprout 3s -- though it's worthy noting that Griner changeable a career-best 9-for-18 beyond the arc past play -- truthful this volition beryllium an adjustment. Atlanta inactive has Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray to substance its scoring and offense, and determination should inactive beryllium optimism for a squad that made the playoffs the past 2 seasons.

Dominoes: Griner's departure from the Mercury was different awesome of a caller epoch successful Phoenix, but Jones' exit from the Sun mightiness person been harder connected Connecticut, which mislaid its full starting lineup. While astonishing fixed Smesko's strategy successful college, acquiring the brace didn't needfully acceptable disconnected a concatenation absorption passim the remainder of the roster. But, on with adding Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, the additions gave the Dream a well-rounded seasoned core. -- Andrews

Wings initiate franchise rebuild

Dates: Nov. 17, 2024: Wings triumph draught lottery
Jan. 31: Wings get DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, NaLyssa Smith
April 14: Wings draught Paige Bueckers No. 1 overall

What it means for Dallas: The balls bounced successful the Wings' favour successful November, erstwhile they won the draught lottery, marking the unofficial commencement of the Paige Bueckers epoch successful Dallas.

There is crushed to beryllium excited astir however Bueckers volition brace with Arike Ogunbowale successful the backcourt, but determination has been a batch of turnover otherwise. DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris and NaLyssa Smith were acquired successful the commercialized that sent Satou Sabally to Phoenix, portion Myisha Hines-Allen signed arsenic a escaped agent, meaning lone 3 players from the 2024 roster person returned. The Wings besides hired a caller caput manager (Chris Koclanes) and wide manager (Curt Miller).

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: The Wings could marque the playoffs, but with truthful overmuch newness, the much important interaction is successful the strides they're making for a aboriginal led by Bueckers.

Dominoes: Phoenix acquired Sabally arsenic portion of its roster revamp. With truthful overmuch retooling, Natasha Howard (Indiana), Jacy Sheldon (Connecticut) and Kalani Brown (Phoenix) recovered caller homes. After Dallas obtained the No. 1 pick, Los Angeles and Chicago traded their No. 2 and No. 3 lottery picks for Kelsey Plum and Ariel Atkins, respectively. -- Philippou

Sky adhd experienced guards to younger station play

Dates: Jan. 29: Sky motion Courtney Vandersloot
Feb. 23: Sky get Ariel Atkins via trade

What it meant for Chicago: Despite having all-rookie squad selections Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the Sky missed the 2024 playoffs aft a 13-27 tally that led to the firing of Teresa Weatherspoon aft 1 season. They besides opted not to bring backmost starring scorer Chennedy Carter, paving the mode to bring successful Courtney Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins. Vandersloot spent the archetypal 12 seasons of her vocation with the Sky, past the past 2 with the Liberty, winning the 2024 championship. Now she is backmost with the franchise that drafted her and with whom she won the 2021 title.

Atkins has besides won a championship, with Washington successful 2019.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: Vandersloot is the WNBA's progressive vocation person successful assists (2,849); lone retired erstwhile Seattle prima Sue Bird (3,234) has more. Vandersloot has six of the apical 7 seasons successful assists, including being the lone subordinate to mean successful treble digits (10.0 successful 2020). Atkins has averaged double-figure scoring successful each 7 of her WNBA seasons, had a vocation precocious successful assists (3.1) past twelvemonth and has been connected the league's all-defensive archetypal oregon 2nd teams 5 times.

Vandersloot and Atkins are the explanation of professionals: They person done their jobs good for a agelong time. They tin assistance bring retired the champion successful Reese and Cardoso, with the anticipation of returning the Sky to the playoffs.

Dominoes: The Sky dealt the No. 3 prime successful the commercialized for Atkins, which the Mystics utilized to draught Notre Dame defender Sonia Citron. Chicago inactive got a rookie defender successful the archetypal round, though, with Hailey Van Lith. She tin larn a batch from players similar Vandersloot and Atkins. -- Voepel

Sun statesman roster overhaul

Dates: Jan. 30: Brionna Jones signs with Dream
Jan. 28: Sun commercialized Alyssa Thomas, Tyasha Harris, DiJonai Carrington
Feb. 2: Sun motion Tina Charles, DeWanna Bonner signs with Fever

What it means for Connecticut: The Sun said past twelvemonth they were good alert their title model was closing with Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones each astir to deed escaped agency. Fans astir apt didn't expect this overmuch change, though: Connecticut became the archetypal squad successful WNBA history, and successful NBA past since starters were archetypal tracked successful 1970-71, to suffer each 5 starters from its last playoff crippled of the erstwhile season.

Aside from the escaped agents who departed -- Bonner and Jones for Indiana and Connecticut, respectively, portion Thomas was cored and acquired by Phoenix -- DiJonai Carrington and Tyasha Harris were traded to Dallas. By the clip the particulate settled, Marina Mabrey and Olivia Nelson-Ododa were the lone returners.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: With a new-look squad featuring veterans and intriguing young talent, the Sun are gathering for the future, including for adjacent play erstwhile they volition again person 2 first-round picks.

Mabrey and Tina Charles, a WNBA fable who returns to the franchise wherever she began her career, are large pillars successful this transition. Mabrey's offseason commercialized petition was denied by the team, and she'll beryllium a salient fixture connected a Sun squad that has taken a measurement backmost from its win-now mode of the past respective seasons.

Dominoes: Thomas, Bonner and Jones person each ended up connected playoff teams oregon contenders. Carrington and Harris are portion of the retool successful Dallas. And portion Natasha Cloud was primitively traded from Phoenix to Connecticut, the Sun worked to get her to New York successful speech for draught compensation. -- Philippou

Aces rebuild their bench

Dates: Feb. 6: Aces motion Cheyenne Parker-Tyus
Feb. 7: Aces get Dana Evans successful sign-and-trade

What it means for Las Vegas: In summation to swapping Kelsey Plum for Jewell Loyd, the Aces remade their seat aft losing successful the semifinals to extremity their two-year rubric run. Out went Alysha Clark and 2024 Sixth Player of the Year victor Tiffany Hayes, who were targeted by different teams successful escaped agency.

In their place, Las Vegas added the high-scoring Dana Evans, who finished 3rd successful Sixth Player of the Year voting successful 2023 with the Sky, and 2023 All-Star Cheyenne Parker-Tyus. Although Parker-Tyus volition miss the commencement of the play earlier giving birth, the Aces tin expect to person her backmost for the playoffs. And 2024 draught prime Elizabeth Kitley joins the premix to springiness Becky Hammon much options alongside MVP A'ja Wilson successful the frontcourt.

How it volition signifier the 2025 season: After finishing 4th successful the standings and losing successful the WNBA semifinals to New York, Las Vegas isn't getting arsenic overmuch preseason attraction arsenic the Liberty and Lynx. But the Aces presumption Kitley arsenic a aboriginal star, and Parker-Tyus volition beryllium their astir talented station subordinate adjacent to Wilson since Candace Parker went down with a ft wounded midway done a ascendant 2023 regular season.

Look retired for Las Vegas successful the playoffs.

Dominoes: The Aces' losses successful escaped bureau were gains for the Storm (Clark) and Valkyries (Hayes). After spending 2024 coming disconnected the seat regularly for the archetypal clip since 2013, Hayes projects arsenic Golden State's go-to scorer during the enlargement team's inaugural season. -- Pelton