22 Top WNBA Athletes Making Waves This Year
The 2025 WNBA season is already buzzing and loaded with storylines. New teams, rising stars, fresh rivalries, and players are out to prove a point. Players who dominated last year are back with more at stake. This is exactly why it’s likely to be one of the league’s most competitive years yet. So without further ado, let’s find out who’s making headlines and highlights this year.
A’Ja Wilson Keeps Redefining Dominance
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A third MVP, a title repeat, and a defensive wall–Wilson led the Aces and imposed her will on both ends. She averaged a league-best 26.9 points, nearly 12 boards, and 2.6 blocks per game. She remains the compass of a franchise chasing dynasty.
Napheesa Collier Makes Defense Look Effortless
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Second in MVP voting and crowned Defensive Player of the Year, she’s the league’s new standard for two-way excellence. Collier makes shutting people down look kinda interesting. Last season, she snatched 1.9 steals, dropped dimes, and nearly carried the Lynx to the top.
Breanna Stewart Takes Control Late in Games
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When the stakes rose, so did Stewart. After the All-Star break, she sharpened her shot (46% from three) and started stacking late-game daggers. Her three straight double-doubles in the Finals helped seal New York’s first WNBA title and reminded everyone that few players control tempo and momentum like she does.
Caitlin Clark Eyes a Deeper Playoff Run
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Clark’s rookie year ended with All-WNBA honors and a fourth-place MVP finish. She had 8.4 assists per game and turned Indiana into must-see TV. And since there’s another offseason under her belt and a deeper Fever squad, the real fireworks might just be starting.
Alyssa Thomas Gets a New Start in Phoenix
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There’s gritty, and then there’s Alyssa Thomas. After becoming a part of the Phoenix, she’ll moonlight at three positions and probably lead the team in hustle categories nobody tracks. Even last year, while nursing shoulder issues, she led the league in assists (7.9) and pulled down nearly nine rebounds a game.
Jonquel Jones Thrives When It Counts
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Jones earned WNBA Finals MVP with 17.8 points per game on 56% shooting, helping deliver New York’s first title. She re-established herself as a postseason force and worked seamlessly with Stewart in the frontcourt.
Sabrina Ionescu Is Recalibrating Her Efficiency
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The stats don’t tell the full story, though 18.2 points a night is nothing to scoff at. Ionescu came out hot last season, then cooled off after a leg injury. Since there’s more room to operate in New York’s galaxy of stars and her legs back under her, Sabrina’s got a comeback arc written all over her.
Nneka Ogwumike Brings Stability to Seattle
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After a long L.A. chapter, Ogwumike brought her savvy to Seattle and raised the bar right away. Her 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds reflect her consistency, but her impact extended to leadership and defense. She was named to the All-WNBA second team and played in her ninth All-Star Game last season.
Jackie Young Adjusts After a Title Run
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Though her shooting dipped, especially from beyond the arc, Young remained a key part of Las Vegas’s core. Yes, her scoring (15.8) and assists (5.3) still impress, but it’s her perimeter defense and adaptability that keep Las Vegas balanced. She’s the kind of player you trust in any system, any moment. Becky Hammon knows: some stars don’t need a spotlight to shine.
Kelsey Plum Becomes the Face of a New Team
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Plum with the Sparks enters a leadership role for the first time in her pro career. She averaged 17.8 points with the Aces in 2024 and led the league in made threes per game. The Sparks are younger, faster, and now have a veteran who knows how to win.
Kahleah Copper Resets the Mercury’s Identity
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With Taurasi and Griner gone, Copper stepped into the void and never blinked. She responded with a career-high 21.1 points per game, helping Phoenix stay competitive. She also won Olympic gold and earned a fourth All-Star nod. She’s the Mercury’s go-to scorer and the vibe-setter for a team writing a new story.
Satou Sabally Is Back to Prove a Point
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Last season felt like a teaser—only 15 games, but still 17.9 points, 6.4 boards, five assists. If she stays on the court, the Sabally-Thomas-Copper trio in Phoenix might be one of the toughest puzzles for defenses all season.
Kelsey Mitchell Finds Rhythm in Indiana’s Offense
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While the headlines followed Clark, Mitchell just kept drilling shots. She averaged 19.2 points and shot over 40% from deep, all while building serious chemistry with her new backcourt partner. Indiana knew exactly what it was doing when it made her re-signing the offseason priority.
Arike Ogunbowale Keeps Dallas in Games
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Though Dallas had a difficult season, Ogunbowale led the team in nearly every category. She averaged 22.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and a career-best 5.1 assists. Her 92.1% free-throw shooting topped the league, and she earned All-WNBA second-team honors. This year, she’ll be joined by No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers.
Kayla McBride Steps Up in Big Moments
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McBride’s regular season numbers were modest, but her playoff production told a different story. She averaged 17.8 points in the Finals and was instrumental in pushing the series to five games. In Unrivaled play, she stayed hot, making the first team and proving her playoff heater wasn’t just a fluke.
Chelsea Gray Looks Ready Again
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After injuries sidelined her for much of last year, Gray came back in Unrivaled and announced her return, 22.3 points per game and Finals MVP honors. And since she’s back with the Aces, healthy and locked in, she’s ready to resume her role as the league’s best floor general.
Brittney Griner Begins a New Chapter in Atlanta
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After 11 seasons with Phoenix, Griner joins the Dream and pairs with Brionna Jones in the post. Her fit in Karl Smesko’s system will be something to watch. She averaged 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds last year and remains one of the few true centers who can still shape a game inside.
Skylar Diggins Is Finding Late-Season Form
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Coming back from maternity leave, Diggins took her time ramping up. But post-Olympics, she looked like herself again. She was able to score 18.5 points, 6.3 assists, and a near-50% field goal clip. It’s safe to say that with Seattle, she’s in position to lead one of the league’s smartest, most dangerous backouts.
Jewell Loyd Joins a Contender
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The Aces didn’t waste time replacing Plum with Jewell Loyd, who dropped nearly 20 a night last season. With Wilson, Young, and Gray around, she won’t have to force shots, and that could be scary. If she regains her shooting touch, the Aces will stay in the title race.
Rhyne Howard Could Take the Next Leap
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Midseason injury slowed her down, but when Howard came back, Atlanta’s offense found rhythm. She averaged 19 down the stretch and helped guide the Dream into the playoffs. She’s freed up to focus, score, and ascend because Griner and Brionna Jones flank her.
Aliyah Boston Is Steady in the Middle
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Boston’s production has stayed consistent through two seasons. Around 14 points and nearly nine rebounds per game. She continues to play an efficient, low-mistake brand of basketball. Paired with Caitlin Clark, she gives Indiana one of the more promising inside-out duos in the league heading into their second season together.
Dearica Hamby Makes Her Case With Production
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Last season, Hamby was one of the lone bright spots for L.A. She averaged 17.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and posted 16 double-doubles. She’s got a shot to turn that production into wins with Kelsey Plum joining her in L.A.