The past year provided women’s basketball fans with some never-before-seen entertaining events.
The Liberty – the WNBA’s last original franchise – ended his 27-year drought and won the elusive title. It was the first basketball title won in New York since the Knicks won the NBA crown in 1973.
Before the basketball world saw the Liberty defeat the Minnesota Lynx in five thrilling games, the league experienced tremendous growth coinciding with the added young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Rickea Jackson.
And we were even treated to a one-of-a-kind competition during NBA All-Star Weekend 2024: An NBA vs. WNBA 3-point shootout between Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu.
It has been an eventful year that could lead to more exciting innovations and scenarios by 2025.
Here are some scenarios to look forward to in the new year:
CAN FREEDOM REPEAT ITSELF?
“We’re not done yet, but we’re going to enjoy this moment.”
These are the words of Breanna Stewart after parading in the Canyon of Heroes in October. And she’s looking for more.
As of late December, the Liberty are the favorites to become WNBA champions in 2025, according to Fanduel Sportsbook.
Even with the sportsbooks favoring Liberty, the team will need to find a replacement – whether on the market or not – for do-it-all reserve Kayla Thornton, who was selected by the Golden State Valkyrie in the December expansion draft. Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot and Kennedy Burke are also all free agents. Stewart, however, will almost certainly remain in New York via simple extension or by basic designation, a rule that allows a WNBA team to retain the rights of a free agent player during the free agency period.
The 2023 MVP was elected last offseason before signing a one-year contract.
With the 6-4 superstar remaining, Sandy Brondello will begin the season with this core of key championship contributors: Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich.
That’s good enough for another run in the finals.
HAS THE UNPARALLELED SUCCESS CONTINUED ON THE FIELD?
In previous years, fans in the United States were dissatisfied with the lack of women’s professional hoops on national television during the WNBA offseason. Athletes Unlimited – which is scheduled to return to Nashville in February 2025 – debuted in 2020 and is available through streaming apps.
But here is the Unparalleledthe new six-team three-on-three league led by Stewart and Napheesa Collier set to begin in January in Miami. All games will be televised on TNT or TruTV.
Since its announcement, the news from the league has been positive. All 36 players own shares in the league and are guaranteed a six-figure minimum salary. Some Unrivaled players — like Indiana’s Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull and Connecticut’s DiJonai Carrington — have WNBA salaries that didn’t net them more than $80,000 in 2024.
Most recently, the new league concluded an investment round totaling $35 million. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and USC sophomore superstar JuJu Watkins were among the latest investors to participate.
Will this success off the field translate onto the field?
With future Hall of Famers and current All-Stars set to perform – albeit in a streetball format – there is an opportunity to fill a national void that feels like a dead period after the conclusion of the WNBA season .
A successful start for the startup could continue the rapid growth and engagement of women’s basketball while keeping some of its stars close to home during the offseason.
A win-win potential for all parties.
WHAT WILL PAIGE DO?
Dallas Wings would gladly select UConn star Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 draft. But will the Star Guard stay in school or enter the draft after forgoing his final year of collegiate eligibility?
It’s the same position Fever star Caitlin Clark was in at Iowa at the end of her 2023-24 collegiate season. She waited until the final stage of the season to finally announce her decision on February 29.
If Bueckers chooses to wait that long, the Wings will have weeks to know whether or not the franchise will have to turn to another prospect. Bueckers, who is averaging 20.6 points on a career-high 58.4 percent shooting from the field, has until no later than 10 days before the draft to declare. If UConn makes the NCAA Tournament — which is likely — Bueckers will have 24 hours after its final game to make the decision.
