The 12 months simply wrapping up introduced ladies’s basketball followers with entertaining occasions by no means seen earlier than.
The Liberty — the WNBA’s final remaining authentic franchise — ended its 27-year drought and achieved the elusive title. It was the primary basketball title in New York Metropolis for the reason that Knicks received the NBA crown in 1973.
Earlier than the basketball world witnessed the Liberty take down the Minnesota Lynx in 5 thrilling video games, the league skilled monumental development coinciding with the addition of younger stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Rickea Jackson.
And we even bought a primary of its form competitors in the course of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend: A NBA vs. WNBA 3-point shootout between Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu.
It was an eventful 12 months that might yield extra thrilling innovation and storylines heading into 2025.
Listed below are some storylines to stay up for within the New Yr:
CAN LIBERTY REPEAT?
“We’re not done yet, but we are gonna appreciate the s–t out of this moment.”
These had been the phrases of Breanna Stewart after parading down the Canyon of Heroes in October. And he or she’s searching for extra.
As of late December, the Liberty are the favorites to repeat as WNBA champions in 2025, in line with Fanduel Sportsbook.
Even with sportsbooks within the Liberty’s favor, the crew must discover a substitute — whether or not available on the market or not — for do-it-all reserve Kayla Thornton, who the Golden State Valkyrie chosen within the December enlargement draft. Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot and Kennedy Burke are all free brokers, too. Stewart, although, will definitely stay in New York via an easy extension or by core designation, a rule that permits a WNBA crew to retain a free agent participant’s rights in the course of the free company interval.
The 2023 MVP was cored final offseason earlier than inking a one-year deal.
With the 6-4 famous person remaining, Sandy Brondello will begin the season with this core of key championship contributors: Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich.
That’s ok for one more Finals run.
WILL UNRIVALED SUCCESS CONTINUE ON COURT?
In earlier years, followers in the USA had been left unhappy with the dearth {of professional} ladies’s hoops on nationwide TV in the course of the WNBA’s offseason. Athletes Limitless — set to return in Nashville in February 2025 — started in 2020 and is accessible via streaming apps.
However right here comes Unmatched, the brand new six-team, three-on-three league spearheaded by Stewart and Napheesa Collier that’s set to start this January in Miami. All video games might be televised on TNT or TruTV.
We at Unmatched are so extremely grateful to our stellar buyers for his or her contribution to the league 🩵💜 pic.twitter.com/DNh6YgB6BY
Most not too long ago, the brand new league concluded an funding spherical that totaled $35 million {dollars}. South Carolina head coach Daybreak Staley and USC sophomore famous person JuJu Watkins had been among the many newest buyers to chip in.
Will this success off the court docket translate on the hardwood?
With future Corridor of Famers and present All-Stars set to carry out — albeit in a streetball format — there’s a chance to meet a nationwide void that seems like a lifeless interval after the conclusion of the WNBA season.
A profitable starting for the startup might proceed the fast development and engagement for girls’s basketball whereas conserving a few of its stars close to residence for the offseason.
A possible win-win for all events.
WHAT WILL PAIGE DO?
The Dallas Wings would fortunately choose UConn star Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 general choice within the 2025 draft. However will the star guard keep in class or enter the draft after foregoing her closing 12 months of collegiate eligibility?
It’s the identical place Fever star Caitlin Clark was in whereas in Iowa in the course of the finish of her 2023-2024 collegiate season. She waited till the ultimate stage of the season earlier than lastly asserting her determination on Feb 29.
If Bueckers chooses to attend that lengthy, the Wings could have weeks earlier than understanding if the franchise must pivot to a different prospect or not. Bueckers, who’s averaging 20.6 factors on 58.4% (career-high) taking pictures from the sector, has till no later than 10 days previous to the draft to declare. If UConn makes it into the NCAA Event — which is probably going — Bueckers could have 24 hours following her closing sport to make the choice.
