The WNBA has never been deeper with talent than it is heading into the 2025 season. With multiple MVP-caliber superstars, an intriguing rookie class, and several potential breakout candidates, the league is in good hands entering the new season.
But which players will be the most impactful during the 2025 WNBA season? Let’s take a look at the 50 best players in the league — based on a combination of talent, recent trends, current roles, and their overall value.
Top 25 Players for the 2025 WNBA Season
25. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
Kelsey Mitchell is coming off the best season of her career, both in terms of scoring and efficiency. She averaged a career-high 19.2 points per game on an impressive 58.8% true shooting percentage. She thrived in a more balanced Indiana Fever offense alongside rising stars Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
With more spacing and talent around her, Mitchell should continue to benefit from cleaner looks and fewer double-teams in 2025. She has some limitations on the defensive end of the court, but her scoring alone makes her one of the league’s most potent offensive weapons. It would not be shocking at all to see Mitchell secure her third consecutive All-Star selection during the 2025 WNBA season.
24. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Paige Bueckers, enters the league with immense expectations, and for good reason.
After leading UConn to its first national championship since 2016, Bueckers capped her college career with a dominant NCAA Tournament run, averaging 24.8 points per game while shooting a blistering 52.8% from the field and 48.3% from 3. She’s one of the most polished and exciting prospects to enter the WNBA in recent memory.
Bueckers is widely known for her elite shot-making ability, basketball IQ, and feel for the game. Her poise under pressure, combined with strong instincts and positional length, made her a high-impact defender at the college level as well.
Now, the question becomes how quickly she can adapt to the pace and physicality of the pro game. Bueckers has the potential to thrive alongside established wing players like Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington from Day 1.
23. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
Allisha Gray has long been one of the most well-rounded and underappreciated two-way players in the WNBA, but at this point, it’s safe to say the league has caught on. After back-to-back All-Star appearances, her status as a do-it-all wing is well established.
Defensively, she continues to be one of the most trusted perimeter stoppers in the league. She consistently takes on the toughest perimeter matchups. On the offensive end, Gray is a capable scorer at all three levels. Her efficiency dipped slightly in 2024, but she remained a reliable offensive option.
She also shone in Unrivaled, hinting at a more expansive bag than many previously thought. Gray is the kind of glue player that championship teams are built around.
22. Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
Boston is one of the most promising frontcourt players in the league heading into 2025. While she may not have lived up to the sky-high expectations set after her Rookie of the Year campaign, her sophomore season was still strong. Boston had an uneven start to last year as the Fever adjusted to a challenging early schedule and the arrival of Clark. But by the second half of the season, she found her rhythm, becoming a reliable scoring threat.
With Clark taking on the spotlight and more veteran talent surrounding them, Boston may not post eye-popping numbers in 2025. Still, her role remains central to the Fever’s success. Defensively, Boston is good with the potential to become great, and this season, she’ll be better insulated by stronger perimeter defenders. Her impact will be felt beyond the box score.
21. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Rhyne Howard remains one of the most intriguing young stars in the WNBA. On her best nights, she looks like a top 10 player. She’s an effortless scorer who can fill it up from all three levels, and she has flashed the defensive instincts of an elite two-way wing. But for all her flashes of brilliance, the question heading into 2025 is whether she can turn those highs into consistent production.
Howard’s efficiency has left much to be desired. She averaged 15.0 shot attempts per game last season, which was among the highest in the WNBA. However, she connected on just 37.1% from the field and 32.9% from 3. Those numbers are in line with her career averages and highlight inconsistency as her biggest flaw.
To be fair, the Atlanta Dream often asked her to carry too much of the offensive load. The additions of Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones should offer the support she needs to grow.
20. Jewell Loyd, Las Vegas Aces
Few players in the WNBA are tougher to guard 1-on-1 than Jewell Loyd. Her blend of quickness, creativity, and tough shot-making makes her a problem for defenders. She also has a knack for hitting acrobatic, off-balance jumpers. But over the past two seasons, her reliance on those difficult looks has impacted her efficiency, leading to some of the lowest shooting percentages of her career.
In Seattle, Loyd often had to shoulder an enormous offensive load, especially in 2023 when she led the league in scoring. With her move to Las Vegas, Loyd joins a championship core led by A’ja Wilson, which should give her far better spacing and support. Playing next to a dominant interior force like Wilson means defenders won’t be able to key in on her as much, opening the door for higher-quality looks.
Even with her efficiency dip, Loyd’s shot creation, playmaking, and defensive toughness remain elite.
19. Brittney Griner, Atlanta Dream
Seeing Griner in an Atlanta jersey might take some getting used to. After 11 seasons and a legendary run with the Phoenix Mercury, the 34-year-old star is entering a new chapter. The big question now is how Griner’s game will translate under a new head coach and alongside a different group of players.
Even in the later stages of her career, Griner remains one of the most dominant interior forces in the league, particularly on the offensive end. She averaged 17.8 points per game last season on a career-best 58.3% shooting inside the arc, while also pulling down 6.6 rebounds and tallying 2.3 assists. The Dream has strong perimeter defenders, which could help ease the burden on an aging (and thriving) star.
18. Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks
After a decade in the league, Dearica Hamby delivered the best season of her career in 2024 — averaging 17.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. She shot an efficient 51% from the field and continued to expand her game beyond the arc, hitting 34.1% of her 3s. She was never the No. 1 option for the Las Vegas Aces, but she proved that she’s more than capable of handling the role if needed.
Hamby was the most reliable piece for a Los Angeles Sparks team that dealt with inconsistency elsewhere, and her versatility as a scorer, defender, and leader was on display night in and night out. She also added to her résumé with a bronze medal in 3×3 Olympic competition and stood out during the Unrivaled offseason league. Reuniting with Kelsey Plum could elevate her game even more.
17. Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces
Chelsea Gray had a quiet 2024 campaign on paper, but she’s still one of the most valuable and respected players in the WNBA heading into 2025. Last season, Gray was recovering from a foot injury suffered during the 2023 WNBA Finals and posted her lowest scoring numbers since early in her career. Still, her career body of work speaks for itself and suggests she deserves the benefit of the doubt.
The “Point Gawd” has a track record of being one of the best passers in the league, leading championship teams, and orchestrating efficient offenses. When fully healthy, few players control a game quite like Gray.
She reminded everyone just who she is during the Unrivaled season, earning first-team honors and leading her team to the title. Gray won’t wow you with her athleticism, but her IQ, feel for the game, and technical skills are off the charts.
16. Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury
When Satou Sabally is healthy, she’s one of the most dynamic players in the league. Though injuries have limited her availability since entering the WNBA in 2020, Sabally’s talent has never been in question. In just 15 games last season, she averaged 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting a blistering 45.2% from 3.
Sabally’s recent play with both the German national team and during Unrivaled further cemented her evolving game, especially her confidence from deep. If her 3-point shot has truly become a consistent weapon, Sabally becomes nearly impossible to guard.
After years of instability in Dallas, she joins a Phoenix team loaded with top-tier talent. If she can stay on the floor, she should thrive in a better situation.
15. Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
Angel Reese made history as a rookie, setting the WNBA record for rebounds per game (13.1) before going down to injury and allowing Wilson to surpass her. Still, Reese quickly established herself as one of the most relentless and disruptive forces in the league. Her motor, physicality, and nose for the ball were impossible to ignore, and she translated her elite rebounding and defensive instincts from college to the pros with ease.
Reese struggled with finishing at the rim, shooting just 39% from the field despite living in the paint. However, that speaks to how much room she has to grow. She’s been working with Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie on her game and flashed offensive improvement during the Unrivaled season. There, she also won Defensive Player of the Year.
Reese already has the tools to be a perennial All-Defensive Team selection, and a step forward on the offensive end could make her one of the best two-way bigs in the league.
14. Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx
Kayla McBride continues to be one of the most reliable and impactful two-way guards in the WNBA. In 2024, she delivered one of the most efficient scoring seasons of her career, hitting 40.7% of her 3s on a career-high 6.6 attempts per game while also averaging her highest scoring output since 2018. Her ability to space the floor, hit tough shots, and move without the ball makes her a nightmare to guard in Minnesota’s up-tempo system.
McBride got to the line frequently last season, converting 89.3% of her free throws, and became more involved as a playmaker, posting her highest assist average (3.2) in six years. Defensively, McBride continued to embrace tough assignments, playing a key role within a Minnesota Lynx defense that ranked among the top three in the league.
With elite shooting and steady defense, she’ll play a key role in Minnesota’s quest to get back to the Finals.
13. Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm
Skylar Diggins’ return to the court in 2024 was one of the most impressive storylines in the league. After missing the entire 2023 season due to maternity leave, she stepped back into a starting role and delivered across the board, averaging 15.1 points, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and nearly a block per game.
Her signature blend of downhill driving, control in the pick-and-roll, and aggressive point-of-attack defense helped steady Seattle throughout the season. While Diggins’ shooting efficiency wasn’t what we’re used to seeing from her, she posted the fourth-most assists in the league and finished 12th in total win shares. Her dog mentality and intensity helped the Seattle Storm finish as a top-four defense in the WNBA.
Diggins is coming off a strong showing in Unrivaled, and if she can recapture her shooting rhythm, she could become an All-Star once again.
12. Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks
Kelsey Plum’s 2024 season may have looked like a step back on paper, but don’t forget about the standard she has set. From 2022 to 2023, she averaged 19.4 points per game with a true shooting percentage of 61.3%.
Even in what was considered a “down” year, Plum still averaged 17.8 points with a solid 56.3% true shooting while facing significantly more defensive attention. Her efficiency improved once Gray returned from injury, and Plum could play more off-ball.
Plum continues to bring value as a creator (4.2 assists per game). She’s also a highly competitive on-ball defender. While she’s not a lockdown by any means due to her size, her effort level and physicality allow her to hold her own.
Now entering a new chapter with Los Angeles, Plum faces a different kind of challenge. The two-time WNBA champion will be asked to lead a younger group and may need to take on a more traditional point guard role. That shift could come with some adjustment, but it also offers a new runway for Plum to evolve her game and leadership.
11. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
Jackie Young’s 2024 numbers might not be eye-popping, but they still reinforced her status as one of the league’s top two-way players.
After two elite shooting seasons from beyond the arc — hitting over 44% from deep in both 2022 and 2023 — Young’s 3-point percentage dipped to 33.7% last year. The drop could be attributed to tougher shot quality and a change in role. With Gray sidelined for much of the season, Young took on more on-ball creation, resulting in a career-high 5.3 assists per game.
Young’s true shooting percentage fell from 65.7% to 55.7%, but the increased workload showcased her growth as a playmaker and offensive initiator. She also continues to be one of the most physical and committed perimeter defenders on the Aces. With a healthier offseason and Gray expected back in the lineup, Young is poised to return to a more balanced role in 2025.
10. Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
Nneka Ogwumike may be one of the most underrated stars in the WNBA, but she deserves her flowers as one of the game’s elite players. In her first season with Seattle, she was as efficient and impactful as ever, shooting 53.0% on 2-pointers and a career-best 40.5% from 3. She produced points (16.7 points per game) efficiently and rarely gave the ball away.
Despite the Storm’s solid-but-unspectacular 25-15 season and early playoff exit, Ogwumike still finished fifth in the league in total win shares, reflecting her all-around dominance on both ends of the floor.
With Loyd now in Las Vegas, the Storm will need more offensive creation, and Ogwumike is more than capable of stepping into that role. She does just about everything well on the offensive end and is one of the most disruptive defenders among the WNBA’s bigs.
9. Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
Kahleah Copper is coming off the most productive season of her career, firmly establishing her as a top-tier scorer in the WNBA. She averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game and 33.4 points per 100 possessions. Copper carried the Mercury offense with a relentless scoring mentality. In crunch time, she was nearly automatic, finishing second in clutch points while converting nearly 58% of her shots in those moments.
Over the last two seasons, Copper has transformed into a true go-to scorer. Her 3-point shooting dipped to 31.4% last year (down from over 40% in 2023), but that slide likely reflected the sheer volume and difficulty of shots she was forced to take with a depleted Phoenix roster.
She was inconsistent defensively in 2024, but she has the tools to regain form on that end of the floor, especially with the additions of Alyssa Thomas and Sabally.
8. Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
After years of individual accolades, including a league MVP, Most Improved Player, Sixth Player of the Year, and multiple All-WNBA and All-Defensive honors, Jonquel Jones added a WNBA championship and Finals MVP in 2024. She has cemented her legacy as one of the game’s elite players.
What makes Jones so special is her versatility at the center position. She’s dominant on the block but also stretches the floor with her shooting (38.8% from deep on 3.9 attempts per game). She’s a true matchup nightmare at the position.
Jones was the most efficient 2-point scorer in the league (63.6%). She was also a defensive anchor for the New York Liberty with 2.9 defensive win shares (seventh in the WNBA). Jones should be in for another dominant campaign for the defending champs.
7. Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
Ogunbowale might not be the most well-rounded star in the WNBA, but there’s no denying her impact or talent. Her shot selection can be polarizing, and her career field goal percentage sits below 40%, yet few players in the league are more dangerous with the ball in their hands. When your team needs a bucket, she’s one of the first names you turn to.
In 2024, she averaged 22.2 points per game while also posting a career-high 5.1 assists, a sign that she’s becoming more comfortable as a playmaker rather than just a scorer.
Ogunbowale has made strides defensively as well. While she’s not a lockdown defender, she led the league in steals per game (2.1) last season, using her quick hands and instincts to disrupt passing lanes and generate extra possessions. That growth shows Ogunbowale’s commitment to developing her game on both ends.
The Dallas Wings underwent a significant overhaul this offseason, most notably adding Bueckers and Carrington. Their arrivals should ease the burden on Ogunbowale and allow her to do what she does best — get buckets.
6. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Sabrina Ionescu may not have shot the lights out last season (39.4% from the field, 33.3% from deep), but her growth as a player went far beyond the box score and was a catalyst for the Liberty’s championship run.
Despite the dip in 3-point percentage, Ionescu continued to command defensive attention from beyond the arc. She used that respect to her advantage, developing into a more complete offensive weapon. Her efficiency left much to be desired, but she has added to her scoring bag year after year.
Ionescu averaged 18.2 points per game and ranked inside the top 10 in both points and assists. She also finished eighth in total win shares, a testament to her all-around impact.
She also quietly took a leap on the defensive end. You won’t confuse her for a lockdown on-ball defender, but she was trusted to guard multiple positions last season. Natasha Cloud’s addition should take some pressure off of Ionescu as a creator and allow her to get more catch-and-shoot looks, an area where she thrives.
5. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
Thomas spent the first 11 seasons of her WNBA career with the Connecticut Sun, but she’s now transitioning to a new challenge with Phoenix. Thomas was the heartbeat of the Sun franchise — a relentless, do-it-all point-forward who became one of the most impactful players in the league. She nearly captured an MVP award in 2023 and has proven her effectiveness everywhere she’s played, including with Team USA and overseas.
Though she lacks a perimeter shot, Thomas dictates games through physicality, elite court vision, and unmatched versatility on both ends of the floor. She possesses a rare ability to impact to influence every possession. She acts as a true offensive engine and is as versatile as it gets on the defensive end.
Thomas’ limitations as a shooter shrink the floor, so how she fits alongside the other stars in Phoenix will be something to watch. Still, she has one of the highest floors in the league thanks to her high basketball IQ, toughness, and consistency.
4. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Breanna Stewart continues to be one of the most complete, reliable, and versatile stars the league has ever seen. She averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game last season — stuffing the stat sheet like she always has — while leading the New York Liberty to their first WNBA title.
Stewart is the ultimate chess piece on both ends of the floor. She can score from the post, initiate pick-and-rolls, space the floor, and be a defensive anchor.
The one noticeable area of decline in Stewart’s game has been her 3-point shooting, which dipped below 30% for the first time in her career in 2024. Even so, defenders still respect her spacing, and she continues to be an elite two-way presence.
Stewart had meniscus surgery after the Unrivaled season, so it will be interesting to see if the knee slows her down at all this season. Regardless, she’s the type of player and leader that every other team covets.
3. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Whether you hate it or love it, Clark’s hype is real.
Despite playing just one season in the WNBA, her impressive rookie campaign quickly established her as one of the best players in basketball. Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, earning Rookie of the Year and All-WNBA First Team honors. Even with some rookie struggles, including a high turnover rate and defensive lapses, her arrival completely changed the trajectory of the Indiana Fever franchise.
With Clark orchestrating the offense, the Fever had one of the best offenses in the league down the stretch. Her ability to get her shot from anywhere on the floor, create for her teammates, and manipulate defenses keeps opposing coaches up at night.
Clark does need to improve her decision-making and get stronger on the defensive end, but she’s poised to take another leap in Year 2 with increased expectations for the Fever. She could average a double-double in 2025.
2. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Queen Phee has arrived. In 2024, Napheesa Collier solidified herself as one of the most complete players in the league, averaging 20.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 53.3% on 2-point attempts.
Her ability to impact every facet of the game — scoring efficiently at all three levels, facilitating for her teammates, and defending every position on the floor — makes her one of the most versatile and consistent stars in the WNBA.
Collier followed up a career-best regular season with one of the most dominant playoff runs in recent memory despite the Lynx coming up just short in the WNBA Finals. She carried that momentum into the inaugural season of Unrivaled, where she earned MVP honors.
The 2024 Defensive Player of the Year has established herself as an elite defender, ranking among the league leaders in defensive rating, steals, and blocks. As her perimeter game continues to evolve, Collier is becoming unguardable — making her one of the most complete two-way players in the game.
1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Wilson is the best player in the WNBA until someone officially takes her spot. The three-time Most Valuable Player wasn’t just great in 2024 — she was historically dominant. She raised her game across the board, averaging career highs in points (26.9 PPG), rebounds (11.9 RPG), steals (1.8 SPG), and blocks (2.6 BPG). She continued to maintain elite efficiency, shooting just under 52% from the field.
The league hadn’t seen a unanimous MVP since Cynthia Cooper in 1997, but Wilson accomplished that last season. Wilson’s game blends power and finesse in a way few players in the history of the WNBA can match. She can score in isolation, create mismatches in paint, handle the ball, and serve as an elite rim protector on the defensive end.
Her ability to dominate on both ends of the floor makes Wilson the driving force for the Las Vegas Aces. Imagine if she develops a consistent 3-point shot.
WNBA Player Rankings: 26-50
26. Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks
27. Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream
28. Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm
29. DeWanna Bonner, Indiana Fever
30. DiJonai Carrington, Dallas Wings
31. Natasha Cloud, New York Liberty
32. Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx
33. Natasha Howard, Indiana Fever
34. Marina Mabrey, Connecticut Sun
35. Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm
36. Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx
37. Aaliyah Edwards, Washington Mystics
38. Tiffany Hayes, Golden State Valkyries
39. Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun
40. Shakira Austin, Washington Mystics
41. Azura Stevens, Los Angeles Sparks
42. Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky
43. Leonie Fiebich, New York Liberty
44. Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics
45. Sophie Cunningham, Indiana Fever
46. Bridget Carleton, Minnesota Lynx
47. Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics
48. Maddy Siegrist, Dallas Wings
49. Ariel Atkins, Chicago Sky
50. Cameron Brink, Los Angeles Sparks
