If there may be one factor the WNBA neighborhood loves, it’s a sizzling take. In that spirit, and since we’re a couple of month into the 2025 WNBA season, we requested our workforce what their hottest WNBA take at present is.
Dallas might have to area Arike Ogunbowale commerce affords forward of the deadline
The Dallas Wings are 1-6 on the season, and whereas the expectation was not that they might be title contenders in 2025, they have nonetheless underperformed. Drafting Paige Bueckers was their transfer to safe their future, however with Arike Ogunbowale heading into free company after this season, possibly it’s time to start out fascinated by a commerce.
Ogunbowale is capturing under 35% from the sphere, which continues to be up from a quantity that was within the 20s final week. The Wings’ offense feels somewhat stagnant and uncohesive, and if they’re prioritizing constructing round Bueckers past this season, they need to focus the offense round her. Arike may get you again some younger belongings heading into a reasonably wild free company interval, one thing Dallas may use going into subsequent yr and past.
Whereas I’m not saying they want to surrender on Arike utterly, I simply assume they should discover their choices. If she is sad after this season, she’s going to simply stroll away, and the Wings will get nothing again for a participant they’ve invested over half a decade in. — Chelsea Leite
The Dream will preserve tempo with the Liberty all season and provides New York a run for its cash come playoff time
I’m shopping for Atlanta’s early-season success within the midst of their 4-game successful streak. Atlanta’s first lack of the season got here on the street after they have been tied at 90 with 34 seconds to play. Their different loss got here at residence after they held a 4-point lead over the Fever with simply over two minutes to play.
Rhyne Howard, who admittedly will be inefficient, can get her shot off at any time in opposition to anyone you place in entrance of her. Her expertise is simple. Allisha Grey appears to be benefiting from the spacing on the ground as she’s capturing greater than ever in her profession, however the quantity is paying off for the previous prime 5 decide. Grey and Howard give the Dream a deadly 1-2 combo on the perimeter, and Grey takes full benefit of the area she has to function, due to the specter of Nia Coffey and Maya Caldwell capturing the three.
You possibly can’t ignore their depth, both. Naz Hillmon, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, and rookie Te-Hina Paopao (who’s simply beginning to discover her groove) every give the Dream high quality minutes. Atlanta is a nightmare defensively with Britney Griner down low, however they’re arguably stronger offensively when Griner is off the ground.
Head coach Karl Smesko could be sensible to maintain tinkering with lineups and benefit from his depth all through the common season.
The Dream can assault you on either side of the ball with a number of lineups. Nevertheless, it’s their identification and shot high quality that makes me assume they will maintain success. Dominate the boards and be a high-volume three-point capturing workforce whereas nonetheless managing to get to the free-throw line with out turning the ball over. That’s a recipe for achievement. — Kyle Posey
Sure, Napheesa Collier is the frontrunner for MVP
In her seventh season as knowledgeable and on the age of 28, Napheesa Collier appears to be within the midst of her prime enjoying days, having fun with what has to date been her greatest WNBA season but. Collier, the bus driver for an undefeated Minnesota Lynx squad, leads the league in scoring with 26.3 factors per recreation, about 3.5 factors forward of the gamers in second and third place: Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson.
However it’s not simply her scoring that has the web sportsbooks adjusting their odds for MVP. Collier is doing every part for the Lynx, and all at a really excessive degree. She’s second in steals per recreation (2.3), fifth in blocks (1.3), ninth in rebounding (8.3) and twenty sixth in assists (3.2). Collier can be placing up 50-40-90 slashes for the time being, capturing 51.4 p.c from the ground, 45 p.c from 3-point land, and 92.5 p.c from the charity stripe. That is the place it’s value mentioning that Elena Delle Donne owns the one 50-40-90 season in WNBA historical past. Collier can be second in PER this season, third in win shares and eleventh in offensive score.
One month of play is a small pattern measurement, however to date Collier is outplaying the likes of A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and the injured Caitlin Clark. And Minnesota’s undefeated begin is proof that its run to the Finals final season wasn’t only a flash within the pan. Collier gained the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award final season and might be coming for extra {hardware} this yr. — Mitchell Northam
The Mercury are the third-best within the WNBA as soon as they get wholesome
The Mercury acquired a pair of star veterans this offseason on reverse ends of their prime by swinging trades for Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas. Phoenix noticed a possibility within the Western Convention with the Aces doubtlessly taking a step again after dropping Kelsey Plum, and so they made an aggressive transfer to provide star wing Kahleah Copper extra assist in an try to win straight away.
The Mercury are off to a 5-3 begin, which is much more encouraging than it sounds given the harm points to Copper and Thomas. Copper is out a number of extra weeks after knee surgical procedure, whereas Thomas is nursing a calf pressure. These accidents have restricted a Phoenix offense that ranks No. 10 in effectivity to date, however the workforce continues to be getting it achieved on protection. The Mercury are solely permitting 94.9 factors per 100 possessions, the third-best mark within the WNBA. Thomas is a defensive ace who helps the offense stream, too, along with her playmaking and play-finishing. Once they get Copper’s rim stress and isolation scoring again, there’s a pathway for the Mercury to emerge as the largest contender to the Lynx out West. Sabally is off to an exquisite begin, the workforce’s cut price free agent signings are offering some capturing. The Mercury take a ton of threes however don’t make lots of them. That spacing ought to assist Copper’s drives to the rim, and if the photographs begin falling, Phoenix goes to be a ache to take care of. — Ricky O’Donnell
The Washington Mystics have among the finest younger cores within the WNBA
In January, the Mystics had but to introduce their new head coach, Sydney Johnson, and common supervisor, Jamila Wideman. The way forward for the franchise gave the impression to be in flux, with no clear plan or course.
5 months later, the Mystics’ seem to have among the finest younger cores within the league, headlined by rookie standouts Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriaifen. Citron, who was drafted third general, is averaging 14.4 factors and 4.4 rebounds per recreation, capturing 48.8% from the sphere and 39.4% from three. And Iriaifen is averaging 14.6 and 10 rebounds per recreation, each first amongst rookies. On prime of that, Georgia Amoore might be again subsequent season after recovering from an ACL tear she suffered throughout coaching camp — and in her absence, it’s been evident simply how a lot the Mystics want some extent guard.
Along with this yr’s draft class, the Mystics have Aaliyah Edwards and Shakira Austin, each promising younger bigs coming off the bench. In hindsight, the Mystics’ choice to commerce Ariel Atkins for the No. 3 decide appears extremely well-executed. — Noa Dalzell
