The 2025 WNBA season will have no shortage of compelling storylines.
new franchise. Playoff rematch. A star-studded showdown and a rookie debut.
bring it on.
WNBA free agency is still a few months away, but the regular season matchups are sure to get even more interesting.
Brianna Stewart, Brittney Greiner, Alyssa Thomas, Sato Sabally, Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike are all unrestricted free agents. Will they remain with their current team? Or will there be a new thread next season?
Teams can begin negotiations with them, along with other free agents, starting Jan. 21, but contracts cannot be officially signed until Feb. 1. The regular season is scheduled to begin on May 16th and end on September 11th.
As the WNBA releases its 2025 regular season schedule on Monday, here are some games you won't want to miss.
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Golden State Valkyries, May 16
The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA's 13th franchise, will open their first season on the first day of the WNBA season. There's a natural in-state rivalry between the Valkyries and Sparks, making it an ideal opener for Golden State. The game will also feature two first-time WNBA head coaches, Los Angeles' Lynn Roberts and Golden State's Natalie Nakase.
May 17th, Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty
Liberty will begin its title defense against a team it has faced in each of the past two postseasons. The Aces defeated New York in the 2023 WNBA Finals to win their second consecutive title. Last year, Liberty earned the ace number and defeated Liberty in the semifinals, winning the team's first championship. These two super teams don't lack star power, with three-time league MVP A'ja Wilson and two-time league MVP Stewart, but they're just scratching the surface. Liberty also plans to commemorate the 2024 WNBA Championship at that game.
June 3rd, Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx
It remains to be seen whether Diana Taurasi will retire ahead of the 2025 season. But if Taurasi decides to sign up for one final run, and a farewell tour, all of the Mercury's road games will take on special meaning. Even if Taurasi decides 2024 is his last season, this Commissioner's Cup game will be interesting as it will be the first meeting between these two teams since the Lynx sent Phoenix home in the first round of the playoffs. It should be.
June 7th, Indiana Fever on Chicago Sky
The rivalry between Sky and Fever, and perhaps more specifically between second-year sensations Angel Reese and Caitlin Clarke, will continue to be a recurring storyline. The two teams will play each other five times, starting with each team's opening game. The June 7th game will be a Commissioner's Cup game, making it even more important. Reese and Clark definitely have a lot of mutual respect, dating back to their days as young college players. In their own way, they helped elevate women's basketball and make it more mainstream. Both teams always seem to bring more intensity when they play each other, making this game, and the other four, worth watching.
June 27th, Indiana Fever at Dallas Wings
What about the top picks in 2024 and 2025 playing against each other? That's what's scheduled for this late June game. The Wings have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. It is widely believed that Dallas will acquire Connecticut star Paige Bueckers. That is, if she declares for the draft instead of using her final year of NCAA eligibility. Still, even if it's not for the Buccaneers, it should be fun to see another promising rookie go up against reigning Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, who has made a near-seamless transition from college to the pros. .
Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, August 10th
Game 5 of the winner-take-all WNBA Finals between the Lynx and Liberty was the most-watched WNBA Finals game in the past 25 years. The series was filled with drama, from spectacular final shots and crucial missed free throws to controversial whistles and furious comebacks. The Aug. 10 game at Barclays Center will be the second of four meetings between the Lynx and Liberty this season, and the first time Nafeesa Collier and the Lynx return to Brooklyn after falling short of the title. Become.
