2025 WNBA Regular Season

[GamecockFam]

There should be some fun games tonight! Every game but the Mystics/Liberty game could be pretty consequential to seeding. With a Storm win tonight, the door is shut for LA. With a Storm loss, LA would have to win all remaining games to edge out the Storm for the #8 seed.

 

[jdote33]

Dijonai has been great in Minnesota. But Rae Burrell is kinda who I thought Dijonai was. I'm super surprised by her game. I remember Azzi actually complimenting her on her draft night, though Azzi had dropped like 25 on Tennessee as a freshman. I tend to pay attention to who player's appreciate. Also maybe last year Lexie Brown spoke highly of her and said she's ridiculously athletic. And yeah, that's what she is. Super high motor, very athletic. But I actually thought she was a shooter in college, and she had some unfortunate injury stuff so I never thought of her as crazy athletic. Anyways I know Veronica Burton has MIP wrapped up but I would give Rae some votes. I'm pretty happy for her.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Per Ryan Ruoco, Wilson has become the slight betting favorite for MVP.

In terms of the championship, I think Vegas could beat Minnesota. But several teams have a chance.

 

[nwhoopfan]

LA won, but about the same time so did Seattle. So Sparks FINALLY officially eliminated from playoff contention, even though it's seemed like a foregone conclusion for several weeks. @TheFarmFan were you getting back at me somehow for all my jinxes, by having your Valks lose?

Kind of a wasted season for the team, but Hamby has been really really good down the stretch. 25 pts/9 reb tonight. Another triple double for AT.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Wheeler hit 5 treys plus the winning bucket, then got a key rebound after 2 GS shots for the potential win.

 

[TheFarmFan]

LA won, but about the same time so did Seattle. So Sparks FINALLY officially eliminated from playoff contention, even though it's seemed like a foregone conclusion for several weeks. @TheFarmFan were you getting back at me somehow for all my jinxes, by having your Valks lose?

Kind of a wasted season for the team, but Hamby has been really really good down the stretch. 25 pts/9 reb tonight. Another triple double for AT.

🤬Are you taunting me? We want that danged sixth seed, and now we need to beat the Lynx on Thursday so we don’t have to play them AGAIN next week…

 

[MilfordHusky]

LA won, but about the same time so did Seattle. So Sparks FINALLY officially eliminated from playoff contention, even though it's seemed like a foregone conclusion for several weeks. @TheFarmFan were you getting back at me somehow for all my jinxes, by having your Valks lose?

Kind of a wasted season for the team, but Hamby has been really really good down the stretch. 25 pts/9 reb tonight. Another triple double for AT.

Hamby was really good. Azura had a nice season. Burrell looks like a solid bench player. Brink should be healthy. Rickea looks like a player. And Plum is really good. I think they make the playoffs next year.

 

[MilfordHusky]

🤬Are you taunting me? We want that danged sixth seed, and now we need to beat the Lynx on Thursday so we don’t have to play them AGAIN next week…

I think the Valkyries can compete with anyone. They were tough at Seattle tonight.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Hamby was really good. Azura had a nice season. Burrell looks like a solid bench player. Brink should be healthy. Rickea looks like a player. And Plum is really good. I think they make the playoffs next year.

They really should've made the playoffs this year. I'd add Allemand to the list of keepers, she was fairly solid after coming back from EuroBasket.

 

[GamecockFam]

🤬Are you taunting me? We want that danged sixth seed, and now we need to beat the Lynx on Thursday so we don’t have to play them AGAIN next week…

Golden State will be the 6 or 7 seed, so your team will be facing either Atlanta or Vegas. Because of the tie breakers against Seattle, Golden State cannot be 8th no matter the outcomes on Thursday. The 1/8 and 4/5 matchups are locked in (Lynx/Storm, Mercury/Liberty).

With a win, Golden State will be the 6 seed and with a loss the 7 seed.

Likewise, with a win against the Sparks or an Atlanta loss tomorrow the Aces will be the 2 seed. Atlanta will need a win tomorrow and an Aces loss on Thursday to be the 2 seed.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Golden State will be the 6 or 7 seed, so your team will be facing either Atlanta or Vegas. Because of the tie breakers against Seattle, Golden State cannot be 8th no matter the outcomes on Thursday. The 1/8 and 4/5 matchups are locked in (Lynx/Storm, Mercury/Liberty).

With a win, Golden State will be the 6 seed and with a loss the 7 seed.

Likewise, with a win against the Sparks or an Atlanta loss tomorrow the Aces will be the 2 seed. Atlanta will need a win tomorrow and an Aces loss on Thursday to be the 2 seed.

I don't think that's right. Seattle has the tie breaker over us and if we lose on Thursday, our records are the same and they get the tiebreaker and we fall to 8th.
See this for more:

I'm fairly certain Cheryl has been tanking and playing hard specifically to get Seattle out of her way in the first round if possible. I think they're a more dangerous matchup for the Lynx than we are, and Cheryl must agree given who she's sitting out when.

 

[GamecockFam]

I don't think that's right. Seattle has the tie breaker over us and if we lose on Thursday, our records are the same and they get the tiebreaker and we fall to 8th.
See this for more:

I'm fairly certain Cheryl has been tanking and playing hard specifically to get Seattle out of her way in the first round if possible. I think they're a more dangerous matchup for the Lynx than we are, and Cheryl must agree given who she's sitting out when.

Interesting. I could have sworn that the Valkyrie won the tie breaker. Did I accidentally count a preseason game? In the even of a tied head-to-head record, what is the next tiebreaker scenario?

 

[GamecockFam]

Interesting. I could have sworn that the Valkyrie won the tie breaker. Did I accidentally count a preseason game? In the even of a tied head-to-head record, what is the next tiebreaker scenario?

Found it.

1) H2H record
2) Better win percentage against .500 or better teams
3) point differential H2H
4) overall point differential

 

[TheFarmFan]

Found it.

1) H2H record
2) Better win percentage against .500 or better teams
3) point differential H2H
4) overall point differential

Bingo. Seattle dominates us at #2, because they are both the more talented team but also the worst coached, so they beat some really good teams and lose to some really bad ones. We've been pretty steady eddy on both ends, with a few exceptions. And it's too bad, because we easily win on #3, which I personally think should be the next tiebreaker after H2H record.

 

[visitingcock]

I'm so confused

 

[WFFL]

LA won, but about the same time so did Seattle. So Sparks FINALLY officially eliminated from playoff contention, even though it's seemed like a foregone conclusion for several weeks. @TheFarmFan were you getting back at me somehow for all my jinxes, by having your Valks lose?

Kind of a wasted season for the team, but Hamby has been really really good down the stretch. 25 pts/9 reb tonight. Another triple double for AT.

Any team built around Kelsey Plum will never be a title contender. I know she wanted to be #1 priority but her game is just not good enough for that she's better as a 2nd weapon or maybe even 3rd. To much pounding the rock and doing things on her own and not enough winning plays.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Any team built around Kelsey Plum will never be a title contender. I know she wanted to be #1 priority but her game is just not good enough for that she's better as a 2nd weapon or maybe even 3rd. To much pounding the rock and doing things on her own and not enough winning plays.

NOBODY was calling them a title contender, at any point. They should've made the playoffs though. With Hamby, Stevens and Jackson, that is more than enough talent around Plum to have been one of the top 8 teams in the league. It's only 1 season, but not impressed with Lynne Roberts as a WNBA coach so far.

 

[GamecockFam]

NOBODY was calling them a title contender, at any point. They should've made the playoffs though. With Hamby, Stevens and Jackson, that is more than enough talent around Plum to have been one of the top 8 teams in the league. It's only 1 season, but not impressed with Lynne Roberts as a WNBA coach so far.

#2 offense and #12 defense in the league. There was the good and bad. I feel like Brink can bring some defensive intensity missing from that lineup when she is back to normal.

 

[GoChips20]

NOBODY was calling them a title contender, at any point. They should've made the playoffs though. With Hamby, Stevens and Jackson, that is more than enough talent around Plum to have been one of the top 8 teams in the league. It's only 1 season, but not impressed with Lynne Roberts as a WNBA coach so far.

Agreed. Roberts ran a great offense with a poor defense at Utah which together aren’t how elite WNBA teams are constructed. I mean, Golden State has struggled to score all year but made the playoffs with room to spare on the back of their defense with a lot less star power than the Sparks have now.

 

[GoChips20]

Any team built around Kelsey Plum will never be a title contender. I know she wanted to be #1 priority but her game is just not good enough for that she's better as a 2nd weapon or maybe even 3rd. To much pounding the rock and doing things on her own and not enough winning plays.

Probably true, but I’m not sure there’s any guard a true contending team can build around not named Bueckers or Clark. The W is a forward’s league. Plum is only three seasons removed from being the best guard in the league who finished 3rd in MVP voting behind two of the greatest forwards we’ve ever seen. I think she’s had a really good year given the adjustment to a new team, coach, and system.

 

[cancontent]

Thought this was a cool moment last night. A lot of respect between these two.

 

[Dillon77]

Washington Mystic's Off-Season Analyzed by Her Hoops Stats' Richard Cohen

Whole article is linked below, but here are some quick hitters if you're in a hurry:

- "Under contract: Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron, Georgia Amoore, Jacy Sheldon, Lucy Olsen."

- "2026 draft picks: The Mystics hold three 2026 first-round picks. Their own; Seattle's, from the midseason Brittney Sykes trade; and Minnesota's from the Karlie Samuelson trade. They also gained swap rights between that Minnesota pick and New York's pick from the Aaliyah Edwards/Jacy Sheldon deal, so ultimately they'll be picking where New York, Seattle and Washington finish in the order. '

- "Assuming the system under the new CBA means (Shakira) Austin and (Sug) Sutton remain restricted free agents, they'll have to judge what they're worth. They'll particularly want to avoid losing Austin, although given her injury history, they might be hoping to avoid paying her true top-end money."

- Best line: "The most obvious spot to target a free agent signing (or trade move) would be on the wing next to Citron — someone like Jackie Young would be ideal, but approximately 15 teams will want to sign her."

2025-26 WNBA Offseason Guides: Washington Mystics

A team that held on to playoff possibilities for much longer than anticipated, our WNBA offseason guides now take a close look at the Mystics

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[azfan]

Dallas has an opportunity to break into double digit wins today at home in their season ender. The million dollar coach, secure in his match up against former Merc coach Sandy B in the first round will be resting starters - in the LA game he rested them for the entire 4th quarter. So.......... we all will be watching to see if Dallas can start a new narrative today,

 

[Bigboote]

Washington Mystic's Off-Season Analyzed by Her Hoops Stats' Richard Cohen

Whole article is linked below, but here are some quick hitters if you're in a hurry:

- "Under contract: Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron, Georgia Amoore, Jacy Sheldon, Lucy Olsen."

- "2026 draft picks: The Mystics hold three 2026 first-round picks. Their own; Seattle's, from the midseason Brittney Sykes trade; and Minnesota's from the Karlie Samuelson trade. They also gained swap rights between that Minnesota pick and New York's pick from the Aaliyah Edwards/Jacy Sheldon deal, so ultimately they'll be picking where New York, Seattle and Washington finish in the order. '

- "Assuming the system under the new CBA means (Shakira) Austin and (Sug) Sutton remain restricted free agents, they'll have to judge what they're worth. They'll particularly want to avoid losing Austin, although given her injury history, they might be hoping to avoid paying her true top-end money."

- Best line: "The most obvious spot to target a free agent signing (or trade move) would be on the wing next to Citron — someone like Jackie Young would be ideal, but approximately 15 teams will want to sign her."

2025-26 WNBA Offseason Guides: Washington Mystics

A team that held on to playoff possibilities for much longer than anticipated, our WNBA offseason guides now take a close look at the Mystics

herhoopstats.substack.com

The Wings thread on the main board has some discussion of Greg Bibb's postmortem/future plans, which has drawn some criticism.

There was an article in the WaPo this morning about the Mystics' end-of-season press conference, which was quite upbeat despite their ending the season on a ten-plus-game losing streak. Sounds weird, but despite that they won more games than most expected, and with their two all-star rookies plus the others to build around, three first-round draft picks, and plenty of cap room to keep Austen and get a good vet or two, things really do look pretty good. I'd love for them to keep Engstler, but I'm not management material.

Anyone want to enlighten me on the difference between restricted and reserved free agents?

 

[TheFarmFan]

The Wings thread on the main board has some discussion of Greg Bibb's postmortem/future plans, which has drawn some criticism.

There was an article in the WaPo this morning about the Mystics' end-of-season press conference, which was quite upbeat despite their ending the season on a ten-plus-game losing streak. Sounds weird, but despite that they won more games than most expected, and with their two all-star rookies plus the others to build around, three first-round draft picks, and plenty of cap room to keep Austen and get a good vet or two, things really do look pretty good. I'd love for them to keep Engstler, but I'm not management material.

Anyone want to enlighten me on the difference between restricted and reserved free agents?

Restricted free agents can negotiate with other teams but their team gets to keep them as long as they match the terms.

Reserved player contracts are for players who have been under a W contract for less than three seasons. They may negotiate only with their own team, and as long as they receive a qualifying offer, they have to take it or sit out the season. If they don't receive a qualifying offer, they become a free agent on Feb. 1.

Players end up on restricted player contracts two ways: (1) they were previously waived while on a rookie contract and then signed a full season contract with a new team; or (2) a lot of European players end up on restricted player contracts because they sit out seasons to play overseas and often come in having been undrafted.

On the Valkyries, we have both: Chen and Amihere are the first category, and Salaun and Rupert are the second.