Eight games. Three days. The 2025 WNBA season has declined. So far, we've seen defending champion New York Free Open, Indiana Hot's Caitlin Clark recorded a triple-double, and The Washington Mystics - perhaps better than most expected - started 2-0.
From a small number of games, only too many games can start the hone of the 44 regular season games ending in September. Nonetheless, the first impression makes sense - at least until we get enough results and data to make a more informed judgment.
Sometimes, a slow start can turn a corner - seeing last season's fever open 1-8 to the playoffs - while other times, they show a team's frustration is long.
It was an early harvest from ESPN when we entered the first full week of the WNBA season.
No one doubts whether the offensive end of the season will be as good (or better) as last year, when they ranked first in the shooting percentage (45.6), third in scoring (85.0 ppg) and offensive rating (106.1), behind the then-Rook racer Clark.
But Indiana's defense seems to have improved a lot in the sky that beat Chicago 93-58 on Saturday. Plus players like Natasha Howard, Dewanna Bonner and Sydney Colson (all called Power Defenders) should boost fever, who ranked second in the defensive rating (109.5) in 2024.
The fever blocked 10 shots, causing the sky to shoot 29.1%. There were five blocks on Saturday, with Aliyah Boston ranked 10th in the league with 1.2 blocks last season. Clark has four career-high four blocks, and Howard has one. The sky can never attack. They scored 17, 15, 13 and 13 in four quarters.
“I thought we were destructive,” said fever coach Stephanie White. “At any time in this league, you can keep a team under 20 points for the quarter.
This week’s schedule will learn more about fever defenses. Indiana faces the Atlanta Dream on the road Tuesday and Thursday, and then faces New York on Saturday in Indianapolis. Dreams were the team with the lowest score in the WNBA last season, and freedom was the second best. Atlanta added players like Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, who scored 34 points in a 94-90 loss to Washington on Friday. New York beat Las Vegas ACES 92-78 in Saturday's opener, despite 21 from three-point shooting percentage. - - Michael Voepel
Free took care of the visiting A comfortably on Saturday, scoring 56 paint points and 27 out of 35 shots. Breanna Stewart (25 points, 10 points 14) showed no signs of a small range of rust on her meniscus.
But perhaps the biggest gain was Natasha Cloud (22 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds), proving why freedom is so keen to get her in. Her defensive presence (three steals, two blocks), the ability to get into paint and trademark perseverance was a huge boon for New York early on, as it looked like a slightly different support actor.
It wasn't a perfect show for New York, but between pre-match championship celebrations and a compelling start in court, the atmosphere in Brooklyn was high on Saturday. - - Alexa Philippou
Minnesota Lynx almost won the WNBA title last season, even without much depth behind Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith. But the return of 6-foot-4 forward Jessica Shepard should be big.
Shepard was the second round of Notre Dame (No. 16) at the 2019 Deep Draft, and was injured in a rookie season in June, which also set her apart throughout the 2020 season. She returns to 22 games in 2021. In 2022, she played 36 games, with an average of 8.1 points and 7.4 rebounds. She played 21 games in 2023, with similar averages (8.1 points and 7.1 RPG).
Shepard missed the 2024 season as her commitment to the Italian club team violated WNBA priority rules. Now that she is back, it has had an impact. She scored 15 points and eight rebounds in the first win of Lynx's 99-84 season, beat Dallas' wings on Friday and 11 points and 10 points in Saturday's 89-75 victory in Los Angeles. In two games, she got 10 of 13 from the field. - - fupel
Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon told reporters ahead of Saturday's game in New York that she doesn't know how the team will perform in 2025, but she's confident to get into the season.
However, Saturday’s performance proved that her group still had some work to do, as ACE incorporated many new players. Her team was upset with the “layout drill” allowed in the paint. Due to various issues, it didn't help that the frontcourt was exhausted in Las Vegas. Offensively, Harmon believes her team doesn’t have enough ball or player sports. Aces tried to get the new Jewell Loyd in early, and then she worked hard to play and scored 10 points from the field.
A'ja Wilson continues to come up with video game-style numbers (31 points, 16 rebounds), but if Las Vegas wants to avoid repeating last year's disappointing finish, she won't be able to do so alone. - - Philip
Paige Bueckers scored a solid pro with 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists on Friday's wing loss to the Lynx. She had more success in the first half shooting percentage (3-3 from the field) vs. 2nd place (4-4), but the Wings' offense generally worked hard to play, especially in the half.
Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale still look like they are building chemistry and synergy, and the couple merged an assist (Dallas assisted only 50% of their shooting). Expect Bueckers to look more comfortable, not only when adapting to professional games, but also because she and her teammates are used to each other. After all, Dallas has only three returnees, and Chris Koclanes is the first-time WNBA head coach. - - Philip
Phoenix is the offseason winner after joining Satou and Alyssa Thomas, but they will miss two to six weeks of games after Mercury announced Saturday that their third All-Star Kahleah Copper will miss two to six weeks after knee surgery and the Natasha Mack.
Their absence, coupled with the late arrival of rookie guard Kitija Laksa, who was home to a 6.5-point loser against the Seattle Storm and brought nine healthy players. Here's all the mercury needed for a 22-point win - bigger than anyone they have in 2024. Sabaly and Thomas combined for 47 points in their Phoenix debut, while Mercury's defensive stunts the Storm, bringing their shooting percentage to 33%. If Phoenix can stay 0.500 or higher before copper returns, the team will have full position with the previous five seeds running. - - Kevin Pelton
During the Open Weekend we looked at many new faces in the new place. Statistically, none dominates like Kelsey Plum, who scored 37 points on 11 of 19 goals, had six assists and five steals. This is the most points any player in WNBA history in the season opener.
But how she gets numbers is her debut. After focusing on improving your strength and conditioning during the offseason, Plum struggles with any court position you want on Friday. If she doesn't have the 3 open, she will speed downhill or bully her own way through contact. She scored 11 of 11 from the free throw line, but also hit four four three-pointers. Plum blossoms played for 40 minutes, and it seemed that she didn't need a break.
Plum returned to Earth on Sunday, hitting 5-14 against the Bobcats. But with Plum Blossom, Sparks may have real chances that exceed expectations this season. - - Kendra Andrews
We anticipate close results for mystics who have new coaches and GM and are already dealing with some key injuries. But Washington looked pretty good last weekend, beating Atlanta 94-90 on Friday and 90-85 on Sunday.
Senior defender Brittney Sykes has combined 49 points and 12 assists. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were No. 3 and No. 4 draft picks in April’s WNBA draft, both starting as rookies. Citron hit 34 points from the field with 64.7%. Ariafin scored a total of 31 points and 18 rebounds.
The Mystics began three road trips on Wednesday, with a date with Golden State, Las Vegas and Phoenix over the next six days. - - fupel