So now that we have the rosters (as of now) I thought it would be fun to predict starting lineups for all 12 teams. Here are my picks.
Atlanta Dream
PG- Renee Montgomery
SG- Courtney Williams
SF- Tiffany Hayes
PF- Glory Johnson
C- Elizabeth Williams
Bench mob (significant minutes): Chennedy Carter, Shekinna Stricklen, Monique Billings, Kalani Brown
Chicago Sky
PG- Courtney Vandersloot
SG- Allie Quigley
SF- Diamond DeShields
PF- Jantel Lavender
C- Stefanie Dolson
Bench mob: I could see all of them playing in spurts honestly.
Connecticut Sun
PG- Jasmine Thomas
SG- Briann January
SF- DeWanna Bonner
PF- Alyssa Thomas
C- Jonquel Jones
Bench mob: Bria Holmes, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (breakout year alert), Brionna Jones, Natisha Hiedeman.
Dallas Wings
PG- Moriah Jefferson
SG- Arike Ogunbowale
SF- Satou Sabally (Rookie of the year threat)
PF- Kayla Thornton
C- No clue but most likely Isabelle Harrison or Astou Ndour
Bench mob: Allisha Gray, Harrison/Ndour, Katie Lou Samuelson, Megan Gustafson.
Indiana Fever
PG- Erica Wheeler
SG- Kelsey Mitchell
SF- Victoria Vivians
PF- Candice Dupree
C- Teaira McCowan
Bench mob: Natalie Achonwa, Tiffany Mitchell, Lauren Cox, Betnijah Laney and Julie Allemand (Wild guess).
Las Vegas Aces
PG- Kelsey Plum
SG- Kayla McBride
SF- Angel McCoughtry
PF- Aja Wilson
C- Liz Cambage
Going to go out on a limb and say either all 5 starters will average double figures or 4/5 with Plum just barely averaging under 10ppg.
Bench mob: Dearica Hamby, Jackie Young, Danielle Robinson. These 3 could be starters anywhere else so deep!
Los Angeles Sparks
PG- Chelsea Gray
SG- Kristi Toliver
SF- Candace Parker
PF- Nneka Ogwumike
C- Chiney Ogwumike
This is their most talented lineup but if they want to have a traditional wing, they’ll plug in Seimone Augustus and move Chiney to the bench.
Bench mob: Augustus, Brittney Sykes, Riquna Williams & Marie Gulich. Guard-heavy bench.
Minnesota Lynx
PG- Lexie Brown (Rachel Banham & Crystal Dangerfield will push her for this)
SG- Shenise Johnson
SF- Napheesa Collier
PF- Damiris Dantas
C- Sylvia Fowles
Bench mob: Banham, Mikia Herbert Harrigan, Dangerfield, Karima Christmas-Kelly (if fully recovered) & Cecilia Zandalasini. Kayla Alexander might get spot minutes as the only true post to back up Syl.
New York Liberty
PG- Sabrina Ionescu (ROY if not Sabally)
SG- Kia Nurse
SF- ?
PF- ?
C- Amanda Zahui B.
I could see Durr at SG & Nurse at SF or Rebecca Allen at SF but I have no clue how this lineup will play out. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Megan Walker and/or Jocelyn Willoughby crack the starting lineup either.
Bench mob: ????? Only players I think won’t be in much are Jazmine Jones, Leonna Odom & maybe Kylie Shook too but watch 1 out of those 3 will surprise us lol.
Phoenix Mercury
PG- Bria Hartley
SG- Skylar Diggins-Smith
SF- Diana Taurasi
PF- Jessica Breland
C- Brittney Griner
Bench mob: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (will thrive in this system), Brianna Turner, Nia Coffey (if Sophie Cunningham doesn’t improve). Think Alanna Smith could be cut at some point. Overall weak bench, starters will play heavy minutes as usual.
Seattle Storm
PG- Sue Bird
SG- Jewell Loyd
SF- Alysha Clark
PF- Natasha Howard
C- Breanna Stewart
Bench mob: Jordin Canada, Morgan Tuck, Sami Whitcomb, Mercedes Russell & Crystal Langhorne. Might be the deepest bench.
Washington Mystics
PG- Natasha Cloud
SG- Ariel Atkins
SF- Elena Della Donne
PF- Emma Meesseman
C- Tina Charles
Bench mob: Aerial Powers, LaToya Sanders, Leilani Mitchell, Tianna Hawkins & Kiara Leslie. One of the more deeper benches with quality depth!
Atlanta Dream
PG- Renee Montgomery
SG- Courtney Williams
SF- Tiffany Hayes
PF- Glory Johnson
C- Elizabeth Williams
Bench mob (significant minutes): Chennedy Carter, Shekinna Stricklen, Monique Billings, Kalani Brown
Chicago Sky
PG- Courtney Vandersloot
SG- Allie Quigley
SF- Diamond DeShields
PF- Jantel Lavender
C- Stefanie Dolson
Bench mob: I could see all of them playing in spurts honestly.
Connecticut Sun
PG- Jasmine Thomas
SG- Briann January
SF- DeWanna Bonner
PF- Alyssa Thomas
C- Jonquel Jones
Bench mob: Bria Holmes, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (breakout year alert), Brionna Jones, Natisha Hiedeman.
Dallas Wings
PG- Moriah Jefferson
SG- Arike Ogunbowale
SF- Satou Sabally (Rookie of the year threat)
PF- Kayla Thornton
C- No clue but most likely Isabelle Harrison or Astou Ndour
Bench mob: Allisha Gray, Harrison/Ndour, Katie Lou Samuelson, Megan Gustafson.
Indiana Fever
PG- Erica Wheeler
SG- Kelsey Mitchell
SF- Victoria Vivians
PF- Candice Dupree
C- Teaira McCowan
Bench mob: Natalie Achonwa, Tiffany Mitchell, Lauren Cox, Betnijah Laney and Julie Allemand (Wild guess).
Las Vegas Aces
PG- Kelsey Plum
SG- Kayla McBride
SF- Angel McCoughtry
PF- Aja Wilson
C- Liz Cambage
Going to go out on a limb and say either all 5 starters will average double figures or 4/5 with Plum just barely averaging under 10ppg.
Bench mob: Dearica Hamby, Jackie Young, Danielle Robinson. These 3 could be starters anywhere else so deep!
Los Angeles Sparks
PG- Chelsea Gray
SG- Kristi Toliver
SF- Candace Parker
PF- Nneka Ogwumike
C- Chiney Ogwumike
This is their most talented lineup but if they want to have a traditional wing, they’ll plug in Seimone Augustus and move Chiney to the bench.
Bench mob: Augustus, Brittney Sykes, Riquna Williams & Marie Gulich. Guard-heavy bench.
Minnesota Lynx
PG- Lexie Brown (Rachel Banham & Crystal Dangerfield will push her for this)
SG- Shenise Johnson
SF- Napheesa Collier
PF- Damiris Dantas
C- Sylvia Fowles
Bench mob: Banham, Mikia Herbert Harrigan, Dangerfield, Karima Christmas-Kelly (if fully recovered) & Cecilia Zandalasini. Kayla Alexander might get spot minutes as the only true post to back up Syl.
New York Liberty
PG- Sabrina Ionescu (ROY if not Sabally)
SG- Kia Nurse
SF- ?
PF- ?
C- Amanda Zahui B.
I could see Durr at SG & Nurse at SF or Rebecca Allen at SF but I have no clue how this lineup will play out. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Megan Walker and/or Jocelyn Willoughby crack the starting lineup either.
Bench mob: ????? Only players I think won’t be in much are Jazmine Jones, Leonna Odom & maybe Kylie Shook too but watch 1 out of those 3 will surprise us lol.
Phoenix Mercury
PG- Bria Hartley
SG- Skylar Diggins-Smith
SF- Diana Taurasi
PF- Jessica Breland
C- Brittney Griner
Bench mob: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (will thrive in this system), Brianna Turner, Nia Coffey (if Sophie Cunningham doesn’t improve). Think Alanna Smith could be cut at some point. Overall weak bench, starters will play heavy minutes as usual.
Seattle Storm
PG- Sue Bird
SG- Jewell Loyd
SF- Alysha Clark
PF- Natasha Howard
C- Breanna Stewart
Bench mob: Jordin Canada, Morgan Tuck, Sami Whitcomb, Mercedes Russell & Crystal Langhorne. Might be the deepest bench.
Washington Mystics
PG- Natasha Cloud
SG- Ariel Atkins
SF- Elena Della Donne
PF- Emma Meesseman
C- Tina Charles
Bench mob: Aerial Powers, LaToya Sanders, Leilani Mitchell, Tianna Hawkins & Kiara Leslie. One of the more deeper benches with quality depth!