The Las Vegas Aces became the first WNBA team in more than two decades to win back-to-back championships last year and a stacked squad returns in a bid to join the Houston Comets (1997-2000) as the only team in league history to three-peat.
With the addition of high-profile rookies like the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, Los Angeles Sparks’ Cameron Brink and Chicago Sky’s Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, and the presence of a dominant franchise in the Aces, the WNBA is poised to take its popularity to another level.
Below are our 2024 preseason WNBA power rankings.
A,ja Wilson led the league’s highest scoring team with 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. The consistent MVP threat is joined again by Kelsey Plum (18.7 ppg), Chelsea Gray (15.3 ppg, 7.3 apg) and Jackie Young (17.6 ppg).
Alysha Clark (6.7 ppg) won the WNBA’s Sixth Player of the Year award. Coach Becky Hammon lost Candace Parker to retirement, but the Aces are heavy +100 favorites to three-peat.
Breanna Stewart won the WNBA Most Valuable Player award after posting 23 points and 9.3 rebounds as the Liberty made their first appearance in the Finals since 2002, but they are still yet to win a title.
Sabrina Ionescu (17 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.4 apg), Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (12.8 ppg), and Jonquel Jones (11.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg) return for New York, as does Courtney Vandersloot, who led the league with 8.1 assists per game.
The Storm responded aggressively to one of the worst campaigns in franchise history.
They extended Jewell Lloyd (24.7 ppg), who led the WNBA in scoring. Then, they added Nneka Ogwumike (19.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg) from the Los Angeles Sparks, as well as the Phoenix Mercury’s Skylar Diggins-Smith, who missed the 2023 season on maternity leave after averaging 19.7 points a game in 2022.
Youngsters Ezi Magbegor (13.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.9 bpg) and All-Rookie selection Jordan Horston will also be key to the club’s rebound this season. The Storm have the third-shortest odds at +1000 to win the championship.
WNBA Coach of the Year Stephanie White has Alyssa Thomas (15.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 7.9 apg) returning, as well as five-time all-star DeWanna Bonner (team-high 17.4 ppg).
Brionna Jones (15.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg) missed most of last season with an Achilles injury. Her return will boost the Sun.
Napheesa Collier (21.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg) is a superstar for the Lynx, who made the playoffs last season after starting 0-6.
Both Diamond Miller (12.1 ppg) and Dorka Juhasz (6.5 rpg) made the league’s All-Rookie team. Veteran Kayla McBride (14.3 ppg) also returns and Courtney Williams (10.4 ppg, 6.3 apg) comes over from the Chicago Sky.
Arike Ogunbowale (21.2 ppg) and Satou Sabally (18.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) led the Wings to the semifinals last year, but Sabally will miss the start of the season with a shoulder injury. Natasha Howard, Teaira McGowan, and Kalani Brown all return.
Rhyne Howard (17.5 ppg), Allisha Gray (17.1 ppg) and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (15 ppg) led the Dream to the playoffs in 2023 for the first time in five seasons. The team added veterans Tina Charles and Jordin Canada to make a deeper postseason run in 2024.
Last season’s nine-win campaign was a mess for the Mercury, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
The team added Chicago’s Kahleah Copper (18.7 ppg) and the Washington Mystics’ Natasha Cloud (12.7 ppg, 6.2 apg). Veterans Brittney Griner (17.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Diana Taurasi (16 ppg) return.
With college sensation Caitlin Clark joining reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston (14.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg), Kelsey Mitchell (18.2 ppg), and NaLyssa Smith (15.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Indiana will look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Fever are +2000 to win the title.
With Kahleah Copper now in Phoenix, rookies Cardoso and Reese will try to help Marina Mabrey (15 ppg) and company reach the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
The future is bright with rookies Brink and Rickea Jackson, but losing Ogwumike and Canada from a team that missed the playoffs for the third straight season hurts.
With star Elena Delle Donne stepping away from basketball and Cloud now in Phoenix, the Mystics’ chances of a third straight playoff appearance are slim, despite the presence of defensive stalwart Brittney Sykes and budding star Shakira Austin. They have the longest odds to win the championship at +7500.
Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.