2025 WNBA Regular Season

[jdote33]

Another L for Dallas but Maddy continues to play well. I would build around Paige and Maddy. I think Maddy is that good. Obviously they should probably get a top 3 pick.
My ideal lineup for them next season is something like

Vanloo (or Nika lol)
Paige
Maddy
Dorka
Lauren Betts

Really if you replaced vanloo with Veronica Burton you have a near perfect starting 5 but they let her go. I like Arike a lot. Not including her is just xua I don't really love Paige and her together. But I bet with better size and defense behind them that would look better than it did this season.

 

[sivad40]

 

[nwhoopfan]

LA loses at home, again. 1 point loss to Indiana. Stick a fork in them, their playoff hopes are about done. Like I said.

 

[GoChips20]

Aliyah Boston has really blossomed this year, not that her first two seasons as an All-Star weren’t impressive. The “killer instinct” to take over is really the only question mark for her, which is also what people criticize Bueckers for. Boston’s probably going to thinly miss out on an All-W spot this year. But she’s as skilled and physical as any post player in the league other than arguably Wilson and Stewart and her playmaking skills and shooting range are really coming along. I’ve always been a big fan.

 

[JellyBean]

Wait, what?! Minnesota jumped out to a 21-6 lead early on Seattle. Still up 12 in Q3 last time I looked. Now Seattle is up 12? What happened? And I couldn't have possibly jinxed it if I wasn't even paying attention to it. 55-31 in 2nd half with a few minutes left. And it doesn't look like the Lynx are resting starters based on minutes, so it's not that

Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for jinxing us. (Just kidding ) Minnesota was clicking!! Just a classic game of when "you don't want it bad enough." The Lynx gotta focus. Maybe our focus was on Monday and having Paige back home in Minnesota, again. We will see if we have that focus against the Sun today. I hope so. Losing to Seattle sucks!

 

[JellyBean]

Aliyah Boston has really blossomed this year, not that her first two seasons as an All-Star weren’t impressive. The “killer instinct” to take over is really the only question mark for her, which is also what people criticize Bueckers for. Boston’s probably going to thinly miss out on an All-W spot this year. But she’s as skilled and physical as any post player in the league other than arguably Wilson and Stewart and her playmaking skills and shooting range are really coming along. I’ve always been a big fan.

She really has., which I love to see from players. Aliyah looks more confident in her play out there. As for the "killer instinct" part. I am sure she has it. The hard part with players like Aliyah is when you have ball dominant players like a Caitlin Clark or Kelsey Mitchell, you want the ball but so do they and if you start to pout or demand the ball, you get labeled selfish, which if you remember, the so-called experts were saying about Aliyah because she was demanding the ball in her first and second season. Folks were wanting her to be patience at times or wondering why she wasn't demanding the ball more at times.

 

[Dillon77]

Watching Indiana and LA last night -- particularly Indiana -- was a confusing, yet mesmerizing experience.
As in: I know who these players are but why are they wearing these uniforms and how are they making such solid contributions? To wit:

• Odyssey Sims goes 10-20, including the tear-drop game winner, en route to 21 points;
• Aerial Powers only shoots 33% from the floor and three-pt. range, but scores 9 points and adds her distinctive flair in 15 minutes; and,
• Coach White has recently realized that Brianna Turner is on her team and has been playing 10 minutes or so the last few games. Bri still thinks the ball has poison ivy on it and won't shoot, but she rebounds, sets good screens, plays great weak-side defense and gives Boston and Howard spells.

Long-story short: Gotta make a playoff run, get the vets and get 'em in.

With all the UFAs, new teams and who-knows-what-the-new-CBA will bring us, this iteration of the Fever won't last past the final game of the season, but it sure is interesting to see the parts click. Seemingly more often than not.

 

[bballnut90]

Playoff picture starting to look clearer for Indiana after their huge win over LA last night.

Minnesota Lynx-clear #1 at 30-8

2-5 Congestion:
Vegas Aces, 26-14, 12 game win streak, though I wonder if they'll drop off to finish the season with a random week long break now. They should finish out going at worst 2-2 or 3-1. Great shot to finish on a 16 game win streak. Has tie breaker over Dream.

Atlanta Dream, 25-14, great shot to finish in 2nd place with 3 of their 5 final games vs. Connecticut and the other two are home games vs LA.

Phoenix Mercury, 24-14

New York Liberty, 24-15


6-9 Congestion:

Indiana Fever, 21-18, is Clark coming back or is she done for the year? Despite all of the injuries they're doing okay.

Seattle Storm, 21-19, one of the more unpredictable teams in the league. 4 home games to finish the season

Golden State Valkyries, 19-18, tough stretch of games to finish the season, likely hangs on to a playoff spot

LA Sparks, 17-20, brutal loss to Indiana. They could potentially catch Golden State but the Valks own the tie breaker.


10:
Washington, falling out of playoff race

11-13 Bottom Feeders:
Connecticut Sun
Dallas Wings
Chicago Sky

 

[GoChips20]

Curious on everyone’s thoughts on Coach of the Year. It’s a two-horse race IMO:

Reeve: Minnesota has been head-and-shoulders above the rest of the league this year. They’re certainly talented but other than Collier, they really don’t have a superstar, and I think players like McBride, Courtney Williams, and Alanna Smith have played above level because of the team’s system. Jessica Shepard has also looked stellar. I’ve seen some say Reeve shouldn’t win because she brought back the same team from last year, but she’s still orchestrated the best team in the league and maximized her players’ talents to do it.

Nakase: Having the Valks in the playoff picture as an expansion franchise is one of the more extraordinary coaching jobs I’ve seen since I started following the league in 2018. Thornton blossomed this year but they’ve kept contending for the playoffs even after she was lost for the season. I think it’s important to point out that Golden State had no team culture, no system, no practice habits, etc. Nakase built it all from the ground up. I’d be surprised if GS doesn’t pull several quality free agents under the next CBA. With the overperformance, facilities, fan support, and opportunity to build a contender I think it’s a very attractive destination.

They’re candidates for different reasons. I’m inclined to go with Nakase if they do make the playoffs. But there’s no wrong choice.

 

[azfan]

@azfan Howard was 6 points shy of 30 and nobody else scored 20 (Gray had 19...), so you didn't quite call this one. Although the 100 points surrendered should make you happy.

Never happy to see a lack of defense. The Dallas scheme and effort reminds me of the nightmare of Adair in Tempe.

 

[azfan]

The contest in the valley of unbearable heat tonight may well be a preview of the 4/5 contest so home court is in play.

 

[Baller29]

Watching Indiana and LA last night -- particularly Indiana -- was a confusing, yet mesmerizing experience.
As in: I know who these players are but why are they wearing these uniforms and how are they making such solid contributions? To wit:

• Odyssey Sims goes 10-20, including the tear-drop game winner, en route to 21 points;
• Aerial Powers only shoots 33% from the floor and three-pt. range, but scores 9 points and adds her distinctive flair in 15 minutes; and,
• Coach White has recently realized that Brianna Turner is on her team and has been playing 10 minutes or so the last few games. Bri still thinks the ball has poison ivy on it and won't shoot, but she rebounds, sets good screens, plays great weak-side defense and gives Boston and Howard spells.

Long-story short: Gotta make a playoff run, get the vets and get 'em in.

With all the UFAs, new teams and who-knows-what-the-new-CBA will bring us, this iteration of the Fever won't last past the final game of the season, but it sure is interesting to see the parts click. Seemingly more often than not.

Hopefully Sims gets a real contract this offseason. She’s a baller and gives good minutes every team she is at

 

[WFFL]

Another L for Dallas but Maddy continues to play well. I would build around Paige and Maddy. I think Maddy is that good. Obviously they should probably get a top 3 pick.
My ideal lineup for them next season is something like

Vanloo (or Nika lol)
Paige
Maddy
Dorka
Lauren Betts

Really in you replaced vanloo with Veronica Burton o kinda feel you have a near perfect starting 5 but they let her go. I like Arike a lot. Not including her is just xua I don't really love Paige and her together. But I bet with better size and defense behind them that would look better than it did this season.

Hell No lol . Just NO .

 

[JellyBean]

Curious on everyone’s thoughts on Coach of the Year. It’s a two-horse race IMO:

Reeve: Minnesota has been head-and-shoulders above the rest of the league this year. They’re certainly talented but other than Collier, they really don’t have a superstar, and I think players like McBride, Courtney Williams, and Alanna Smith have played above level because of the team’s system. Jessica Shepard has also looked stellar. I’ve seen some say Reeve shouldn’t win because she brought back the same team from last year, but she’s still orchestrated the best team in the league and maximized her players’ talents to do it.

Nakase: Having the Valks in the playoff picture as an expansion franchise is one of the more extraordinary coaching jobs I’ve seen since I started following the league in 2018. Thornton blossomed this year but they’ve kept contending for the playoffs even after she was lost for the season. I think it’s important to point out that Golden State had no team culture, no system, no practice habits, etc. Nakase built it all from the ground up. I’d be surprised if GS doesn’t pull several quality free agents under the next CBA. With the overperformance, facilities, fan support, and opportunity to build a contender I think it’s a very attractive destination.

They’re candidates for different reasons. I’m inclined to go with Nakase if they do make the playoffs. But there’s no wrong choice.

As a Lynx fan, it would be awesome if Coach Reeve won, again. This would be her 5th COY and pretty impressive as Back to Back COY. As a basketball fan, I would be okay if Coach Nakase won or Coach Tibbetts or to borrow @azfan term, the million-dollar coach. Or Coach Smesko. What does three have done is pretty solid. Whoever gets the COY honor, salute!

 

[azfan]

As a Lynx fan, it would be awesome if Coach Reeve won, again. This would be her 5th COY and pretty impressive as Back to Back COY. As a basketball fan, I would be okay if Coach Nakase won or Coach Tibbetts or to borrow @azfan term, the million-dollar coach. Or Coach Smesko. What does three have done is pretty solid. Whoever gets the COY honor, salute!

Totally agree - with the exception of Nate, he would not finish in the tip 5 on any ballot.

 

[jdote33]

Hell No lol . Just NO .

Like Maddy isn't a centerpiece? You don't like Lauren Betts? What would you like to see Dallas so this off-season

 

[nwhoopfan]

As a Lynx fan, it would be awesome if Coach Reeve won, again. This would be her 5th COY and pretty impressive as Back to Back COY. As a basketball fan, I would be okay if Coach Nakase won or Coach Tibbetts or to borrow @azfan term, the million-dollar coach. Or Coach Smesko. What does three have done is pretty solid. Whoever gets the COY honor, salute!

Smesko has really impressed me with the job he's done. I thought that was an odd hiring, similar to Roberts at LA. One of those moves obviously worked out better than the other one.

 

[sivad40]

 

[WFFL]

Like Maddy isn't a centerpiece? You don't like Lauren Betts? What would you like to see Dallas so this off-season

Whats the reason for putting 2 players in Dallas starting line up who missed the entire 2026 season and didnt play a minute? Realistically thats not happening at all , Betts meh we just got rid of 2 big slow centers this season so your suggesting we bring in another one because shes younger or what would the reason be that Dallas would need Betts ? Mobile centers who can run the floor is the winning formula in the WNBA right now. Look at all the top teams minus ATL who has 2 MVP Guards . Minnesota (Smith , Collier) LV (Aja , Lyssa) PHX (AT , Mack) NY (Stewie , JJ ) Seattle (Nneka , Ezi , Malonga ) The days of bigs living in the paint are done.