WNBA League Pass Power Rankings 2025

As explained in my introduction post of Shane’s WNBA Scoop, I believe Zach Lowe sets the standard for sports content creators. We should all aspire to cover a sport as well as he does.

One of the columns I looked forward to most before ESPN stupidly let Lowe go was his NBA League Pass power rankings. He put much thought into ranking the teams regarding watchability entering a season.

I thought it would be fun to create a version of that for the 13 WNBA teams entering the 2025 season. Truth be told, this is one of the more anticipated seasons in league history, featuring plenty of compelling storylines and several teams capable of competing for a title.

While I’ll watch as many games as possible (thanks to WNBA League Pass), some teams will be more interesting. That’s just a fact.

Here’s the definitive (read: biased) WNBA League Pass power rankings list for the 2025 season:

2025 WNBA League Pass Power Rankings

1. Indiana Fever

I have 1.3 million reasons to support this No. 1 ranking. That’s how many people tuned into Caitlin Clark’s return to Iowa for Indiana’s preseason game against the Brazil national team.

The Fever went 20-20 in Clark’s rookie campaign, securing their first postseason appearance since 2016. After tabbing Stephanie White as the head coach for her second stint, Indiana hopes to vault into contender status this season.

I expect the Fever to make that leap, but there will be a transition period while learning a new system. White will also have to get a feel for her rotation. As a basketball nerd, I’m excited to see how it all plays out.

In many ways, the Fever remind me of the Warriors before they became a dynasty, which got started when Steve Kerr became the head coach. Clark’s gravity is comparable to Stephen Curry's in the NBA. She’s a ridiculous passer and an elite offensive engine, leading Indiana to the third-best offensive rating last year.

There is no need to overthink this; Clark and Co. are appointment television.

2. Las Vegas Aces

Watching the best player in the league is never a bad way to spend an evening. After becoming the first unanimous MVP since 1997 last summer, A’ja Wilson could make history as the first WNBA player to win four MVP trophies this season.

Wilson broke the scoring record with an average of 26.9 points per game last year. But the Aces fell short of their goal of a three-peat, prompting them to break up their core in the offseason by trading Kelsey Plum in a deal that landed them Jewell Loyd.

It will be interesting to see how Loyd fits on this team. Chelsea Gray appears to be healthy again after averaging 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game last year. Jackie Young enters her prime after earning an All-Star nod the previous three seasons.

If it all clicks, the Aces could return to form when they were No. 1 in offensive rating during championship campaigns in 2022 and 2023. But there’s some downside risk if the players don’t mesh, as Las Vegas has depth and defensive concerns.

Either way, the Aces will be one of the more intriguing teams to monitor in 2025.

3. New York Liberty

New York’s big move in the offseason was trading a pair of first-round picks for Natasha Cloud, who should be a perfect backcourt partner with Sabrina Ionescu. Marine Johannès is back to provide some buckets off the bench.

Otherwise, the Liberty lineup is similar to the one that defeated the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals.

The Liberty have some health concerns this spring. Breanna Stewart had meniscus surgery in the offseason, and Ionescu underwent a UCL procedure on her right thumb. While both players are ready, the Liberty will be as careful as needed to reach a third straight WNBA Finals this year.

Make no mistake, the Liberty are the best team in the league. They are just victims of their own success, finding themselves third on this list.

4. Minnesota Lynx

I’m ranking the four championship contenders at the top of this list because I care about figuring out which team will win the title. Sue me.

The Lynx have the least compelling storyline entering the 2025 season of the four title contenders. That’s because they brought everyone back, looking to avenge last year’s WNBA Finals loss (in which they felt cheated).

Head coach Cheryl Reeve has guided Minnesota to two titles in the year after losing the WNBA Finals (2017 and 2013). The Lynx must overcome some expected shooting regression in this revenge campaign.

Last year, they led the league in 3-point shooting (38%), the highest percentage since 2020. They also ranked No. 1 in 3-point percentage allowed (30.1%), the best clip since 2015.

Napheesa Collier can help overcome potential regression by becoming the league’s MVP. She finished second in 2024, averaging 20.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Is she ready to take the mantle from Wilson as the best player in the league?

5. Atlanta Dream

First-year head coach Karl Smesko plans to bring a modern style of basketball to Atlanta after posting an impressive .845 winning percentage in 23 years at Florida Gulf Coast University.

What does that mean? More 3-pointers.

The Dream attempted 75 3-pointers in their two preseason games, shooting a 3-pointer on 53.5% of their shots. For comparison, Atlanta averaged 19.3 3-point attempts on 68.1 field goal attempts per game last year.

Rhyne Howard launched 20 3-point attempts in the preseason. Brittney Griner made three triples on as many attempts after knocking down 16 in 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury between 2013-24.

I’ve been waiting for a team to embrace the 3-ball like the Boston Celtics have done in the NBA.

6. Seattle Storm

One of the things I love most about basketball is the variety of styles. While I enjoy a potential 3-point revolution in Atlanta, I’m just as excited about the Storm's frontcourt and defensive potential.

The Storm ranked fourth in defensive rating last year, but they have more upside on that end of the floor. Ezi Magbegor is my pick to win Defensive Player of the Year after a third-place finish in 2024. She’s averagely nearly two blocks per game over the last three seasons.

Seattle’s lineup seems to fit more this summer. Gabby Williams will play more than 12 games. Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike seem to be happier in their roles. Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, will likely become the ninth player to dunk in a WNBA game at some point this season.

The Storm are underrated heading into 2025.

7. Los Angeles Sparks

Now that Magic Johnson cares about the Sparks again, they aspire to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. That might seem like a big jump for a team that won eight games last year, but this roster suddenly has plenty of potential.

Plum has embraced many roles since being the No. 1 pick in 2017, going from the 2021 Sixth Player of the Year to an All-Star the last three seasons as a second (or third) option. But this is her chance to be the star in Los Angeles.

Plum reunites with Dearica Hamby (teammates in Las Vegas for five seasons), who averaged 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game to lead Los Angeles last year. Rickea Jackson showed plenty of potential as a rookie, while Cameron Brink will return in the summer after suffering a torn ACL in her debut season.

First-year coach Lynne Roberts has much to work with while making the leap to the WNBA after 19 seasons at the collegiate level.

8. Phoenix Mercury

There isn’t a team with more variance heading into the upcoming season.

Phoenix’s upside case revolves around the trio of Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, and Satou Sabally. All three players have received MVP votes in the last two years. It doesn’t get much better than that big three.

However, there will be an adjustment period. Copper and Natasha Mack are the only players who logged more than 300 minutes for Phoenix last year and are still on this team.

I have the Mercury ranked here because of that uncertainty and lack of depth, though this might be too low given their top-end talent.

9. Golden State Valkyries

The Valkyries will be the first WNBA expansion team since the Atlanta Dream joined the league in 2008. The Dream went 4-30 that season.

While I don’t expect Golden State to compete for a playoff spot, this season could provide a glimpse of what to expect with future expansion teams. The league is deeper than in 2008, suggesting the Valkyries might have a better roster in Year 1 than when the Dream entered the W.

I’m eager to follow their journey, starting on opening night when they host the Sparks in Chase Center.

10. Dallas Wings

Paige Bueckers can save basketball in Dallas after Luka Dončić was traded in the middle of the night a few months ago. The Wings took her with the No. 1 overall pick to become their franchise player.

The Wings needed a franchise overhaul more than most. Since moving to Dallas in 2016, they have only advanced past Round 1 once. They won nine games in 2024, marking their seventh losing season in the past nine years.

In addition to drafting Bueckers at No. 1, Dallas has a new head coach in Chris Koclanes. Curt Miller has also joined the front office.

While there are still questions about how Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale will fit together, the Wings might finally be on the right track to turning things around.

11. Chicago Sky

Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso played 645 minutes together in their rookie campaign last year. When sharing the floor, they posted a +0.4 net rating and a 47% effective field goal rate.

I still have spacing concerns about that duo. The Sky brought in Courtney Vandersloot to help set the table for their two posts, but it doesn’t help that her 3-point shooting has dipped below 30% over the last two years.

First-year head coach Tyler Marsh might solve these questions by using Reese more on-ball. If that happens, this ranking will be too low because Chicago has plenty of promising young players.

12. Washington Mystics

The Mystics hope to be this year’s version of the Sky after making multiple first-round picks in the 2025 draft. They took Sonia Citron at No. 3, Kiki Iriafen at No. 4, and Georgia Amoore at No. 6.

Unfortunately, Amoore suffered a torn ACL. But Washington can see what it has in its other rookies this season. As someone who doesn’t watch much college basketball, I’m excited to find out with the Mystics.

13. Connecticut Sun

The Sun have finally entered a rebuild after eight consecutive postseason appearances, including six straight trips to at least the semis. They don’t bring back a single starter from last year’s 28-win team.

Connecticut might have the worst roster in the WNBA, a statement that becomes more true if the team agrees to trade Marina Mabrey later this season. This was perhaps the easiest ranking.