2025 WNBA Pre-Season Thread

[azfan]

2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Tip-Off Week Edition

With the 2025 preseason closing out tonight, the countdown to opening night is officially on, with the 29th WNBA season tipping off Friday with a three-game slate.

www.wnba.com

The last power rating for teams in the preseason before tip.

While I agree with the top three teams in the w which is really a no-brainer having the Mercury fifth seems wildly optimistic. Brian Martin has either great confidence in the million dollar coach or really hasn't done his homework and doesn't know the situation in the valley of the Sun. I'm not sure that optimism is warranted The Big Three strategy has left the Mercury with a diminished back court, no real point guard, and if a team is relying upon Celeste Taylor as their first off the bench in the back court I think they're in trouble.

More likely this is an example of lazy quote journalism unquote. That is someone who is assigned a power rating story without the requisite background knowledge or the time or energy to actually investigate the teams.

Martin has Seattle above Indiana and I'm really interested in the first few weeks of the season to see how those two teams gel.

 

[cancontent]

 

[BRS24]

 

[cancontent]

 

[cancontent]

 

[Geew1992]

 

[ERWUC65]

Will the last professional team to leave Connecticut bring the flag (state)?

 

[TheFarmFan]

Dang! I was hoping beyond hope, because she gave the Mystics some good minutes and it's not like they have a bunch of bigs that can shoot from outside.

 

[cancontent]

 

[cancontent]

Dang! I was hoping beyond hope, because she gave the Mystics some good minutes and it's not like they have a bunch of bigs that can shoot from outside.

Stef Dolson may want to have a chat with you on that

All kidding aside, I see where you're coming from but we don't know the identity of this Mystics offence as of yet. Not to mention, Edwards has been shooting more 3s in practice and during the Unrivaled season. Time will tell if they expect their bigs to do so.

 

[JDuro]

Ugh. I was feeling sure she would make the club based on how she was being used and how she was playing. Damn. Can’t assume anything.

 

[cancontent]

Ugh. I was feeling sure she would make the club based on how she was being used and how she was playing. Damn. Can’t assume anything.

I'm with you there as well. Thought her time in Australia this year helped her to improve overall.

 

[Zanzman]

Ugh. I was feeling sure she would make the club based on how she was being used and how she was playing. Damn. Can’t assume anything.

Wow shocked

 

[Stagnant]

Golden state actually has a nice team.

 

[Jonathan14]

Ugh. I was feeling sure she would make the club based on how she was being used and how she was playing. Damn. Can’t assume anything.

I can't believe she was waived with how well she was playing. While I understand the timing from the Valkyries' front office perspective, it's frustrating that they waited until the last minute to let her go. I feel like she would have had a good chance to get picked up by another team on waivers.

As a new franchise, I also feel they missed out on keeping her and attracting that loyal SC fanbase that would follow her and build their own fanbase. (Not that that's a reason to keep a player who's not qualified, but when it's icing on the cake?...)

 

[TheFarmFan]

I can't believe she was waived with how well she was playing. While I understand the timing from the Valkyries' front office perspective, it's frustrating that they waited until the last minute to let her go. I feel like she would have had a good chance to get picked up by another team on waivers.

As a new franchise, I also feel they missed out on keeping her and attracting that loyal SC fanbase that would follow her and build their own fanbase. (Not that that's a reason to keep a player who's not qualified, but when it's icing on the cake?...)

I'm pretty sad about this too, and I feel like there are a few like Talbot whom I'm not sure have as much long term growth potential as Amihere.

That said, a bunch of our team is going to disappear for Eurobasket, so I'm very hopeful Amihere (and Chen) can get picked up on several 7 day contracts in June, in which case they could see some legitimate court time! (here's hoping, at least)

 

[Stagnant]

i saw grace berger got cut again. I thought it came down to her and Pili. So, I am not totally surprised.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Golden state actually has a nice team.

This!

While I'm sad that Laeticia Amihere didn't make it, I--can't really argue against any of the 12 who did. Considering the lack of star power (which is normal for first-year expansion teams), this is about as good as they could've hoped for.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Random thought: If the Indiana Fever take a leap up to contender status (30+ wins, semifinals at worst), it will largely be because of Aliyah Boston's progression, not Caitlin's. Caitlin's already a strong MVP candidate. For the Fever to be legit title contenders, Aliyah will need to be as well.

That would be the basis of my argument in favor of Aliyah Boston for 2025 WNBA MVP (assuming Caitlin doesn't put up crazy stats like averaging a 22-10-10 triple double or A'ja doesn't average 30 points and 13 rebounds a game for a Top 2 team).

 

[BRS24]

Whoa.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Whoa.

I know. Sad, but not surprised - she was a second string point guard/forward at best and that was before Smesko and his live by the trey, die by the trey offense came to town. She was already not an amazing fit before and I was really uncertain how she'd have a spot now.

That said, it's weird to see other less prominent alums like Carrington, Smith, and Samuelson be starters in the W while Jones didn't even stay on a roster into her third season as a pro. She's super likeable, but she really hasn't developed much as a player since her sophomore year, so I'm not sure I can see an obvious road ahead for her.

 

[BRS24]

I know. Sad, but not surprised - she was a second string point guard/forward at best and that was before Smesko and his live by the trey, die by the trey offense came to town. She was already not an amazing fit before and I was really uncertain how she'd have a spot now.

That said, it's weird to see other less prominent alums like Carrington, Smith, and Samuelson be starters in the W while Jones didn't even stay on a roster into her third season as a pro. She's super likeable, but she really hasn't developed much as a player since her sophomore year, so I'm not sure I can see an obvious road ahead for her.

Let me ask you this, as my memory is hazy - was Haley playing out of position her last few years at Stanford?

 

[GamecockFam]

I can't believe she was waived with how well she was playing. While I understand the timing from the Valkyries' front office perspective, it's frustrating that they waited until the last minute to let her go. I feel like she would have had a good chance to get picked up by another team on waivers.

As a new franchise, I also feel they missed out on keeping her and attracting that loyal SC fanbase that would follow her and build their own fanbase. (Not that that's a reason to keep a player who's not qualified, but when it's icing on the cake?...)

Yeah, I had watched their preseason games just to see Amihere play. I literally would fast forward the game until she was on the court. I legit thought she had won a roster spot. What a bummer.

 

[jdote33]

Whoa.

I kinda saw this coming. She should go to Phoenix. I think Phoenix should just go ham on the waver wire. Sign Amihere, Jones, and Grace Berger. They need a bench but already have players that play multiple positions

 

[Stagnant]

Phoenix is top heavy. And their roster is not that good. Some players cut would absolutely make them better.

 

[Dillon77]

I know. Sad, but not surprised - she was a second string point guard/forward at best and that was before Smesko and his live by the trey, die by the trey offense came to town. She was already not an amazing fit before and I was really uncertain how she'd have a spot now.

That said, it's weird to see other less prominent alums like Carrington, Smith, and Samuelson be starters in the W while Jones didn't even stay on a roster into her third season as a pro. She's super likeable, but she really hasn't developed much as a player since her sophomore year, so I'm not sure I can see an obvious road ahead for her.

Regarding Stanford's less prominent alums, I think they fell into two categories:

• They fell into the right situation, regarding style of play and/or a stable environment. Carrington was drafted and nurtured initially by Curt Miller who thought so much of her, he reacquired her for the Wings. Carrington offers what Miller wants.
• They bounced around to find the right place at the right time, all while working on their game. That certainly applies to Samuelson and Smith who kept working it here, there and everywhere before finding the right spots, Smith got her shot in Chicago, then joined Minnesota while Karlie got a break with the Mystics before also joining the Lynx.
• So, if Haley Jones wants to keep hoopin', work on that game (shooting, in particular) and go where there are opportunities. And, if my logic flow holds, she, too, may find her way to Minnesota.

p.s. Players like Jones, Amihere, Mckenzie Holmes, etc. are seemingly all getting close(r) to holding those slots. If they can really work it next year, there could be lots of new opportunities following the 2025 season, with so much of the rosters blowing up and two new teams coming into the league.

 

[Dillon77]

Just saw this over on the WNBA Transaction Page:

- Betnijah Laney-Hamilton of the New York Liberty is out for the 2025 season due to a Non-WNBA Injury.

Since the "non-WNBA" aspect of the injury was brought up, assuming that was done because Laney-Hamilton's salary won't count against the Liberty this year? (Or am I wrong?). That said, this is a loss now that Thornton is now longer on the team as a back-up.

 

[Geew1992]

Just saw this over on the WNBA Transaction Page:

- Betnijah Laney-Hamilton of the New York Liberty is out for the 2025 season due to a Non-WNBA Injury.

Since the "non-WNBA" aspect of the injury was brought up, assuming that was done because Laney-Hamilton's salary won't count against the Liberty this year? (Or am I wrong?). That said, this is a loss now that Thornton is now longer on the team as a back-up.

I don’t think it will. Pretty sure unrivaled is covering her salary

 

[BigTenGuy]

. . . She's super likeable, but she really hasn't developed much as a player since her sophomore year, so I'm not sure I can see an obvious road ahead for her.

She regressed big time after her sophomore year. Her efficiency stats were quite poor both her junior and senior years, after being quite good (90th+ percentile) her first two years. I first watched her during the championship year and thought she was great, but thought she was decidedly mediocre after that. Hard pressed to think of a similar career path for a # 1 high school recruit.

 

[YKCornelius]

Random thought: If the Indiana Fever take a leap up to contender status (30+ wins, semifinals at worst), it will largely be because of Aliyah Boston's progression, not Caitlin's. Caitlin's already a strong MVP candidate. For the Fever to be legit title contenders, Aliyah will need to be as well.

That would be the basis of my argument in favor of Aliyah Boston for 2025 WNBA MVP (assuming Caitlin doesn't put up crazy stats like averaging a 22-10-10 triple double or A'ja doesn't average 30 points and 13 rebounds a game for a Top 2 team).

Interesting thoughts. IMO if Indiana somehow make it to the semifinals, it will be largely due to the impact of Dewanna Bonner and her added scoring dimension. Four strong scorers will keep any team in every game.

Hard to give a league MVP award to a player who is not the best on her team, regardless of how much they improve. Finishing in the Top Ten in MVP votes would be a laudable indicator of her impact and value.