Coaching camps for the 2024 WNBA season opened Sunday, and the largest information was the retirement of the Las Vegas Aces’ Candace Parker.
Whereas the legend mentioned farewell to the WNBA, new expertise is saying hey to the league. No. 1 draft choose Caitlin Clark is attending to know her Indiana Fever teammates, and the joy degree is constructing for a Fever franchise on the lookout for its first playoff berth since 2016.
Kamilla Cardoso, recent off an NCAA title with the South Carolina Gamecocks earlier this month, and Angel Reese, a part of the LSU Tigers 2023 nationwide championship crew, are two rookies to observe for with the Chicago Sky. In the meantime, veterans comparable to A’ja Wilson, who will attempt to lead the Aces to a 3rd consecutive WNBA title, and Breanna Stewart, who hopes to get the New York Liberty their first championship, are each prone to vie for MVP once more.
There are new coaches with the Sky (Teresa Weatherspoon) and the Phoenix Mercury (Nate Tibbetts), because the league performs its final season earlier than increasing within the Bay Space in 2025. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel have a look at the largest questions in coaching camp and for the season for every franchise because the WNBA prepares to tip off the common season Could 14.
How huge an affect will veteran middle Tina Charles have? Charles, 35, did not play within the WNBA final season. Coach Tanisha Wright and basic supervisor Dan Padover mentioned Sunday they consider she’s nonetheless one of many elite gamers within the WNBA. For her profession, Charles has averaged 18.2 factors and 9.3 rebounds. The Dream have been the third-best rebounding crew within the WNBA final season (36.1 RPG) and sixth in defensive ranking (102.9). Charles ought to make these strengths even stronger, plus increase Atlanta’s offense.
“She’s been locations our younger group hasn’t been,” Wright mentioned. “To have any individual with that have with the ability to pour into our younger children goes to be actually invaluable.”
Amongst Atlanta’s younger standouts, guards Rhyne Howard (third season) and Haley Jones (second) helped the Dream make the playoffs final season. — Voepel
Chicago Sky
Can new coach Teresa Weatherspoon and the Sky get one of the best out of guards Diamond DeShields and Chennedy Carter? The Sky have turned over a lot of their personnel since successful the 2021 WNBA title. DeShields, who was on that championship crew, was traded to Phoenix in 2022, after which after being traded to Dallas did not play in 2023 attributable to harm. Now she is again in Chicago.
Carter has handled accidents and disciplinary points, limiting her to only 51 video games since being picked No. 4 by Atlanta in 2020. She additionally did not play within the WNBA final season. However Carter, 25, can nonetheless get her WNBA profession on monitor.
The Sky’s high-profile draft picks, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, will get a whole lot of consideration as individuals are wanting to see the previous rivals play collectively. But longtime WNBA followers are most likely simply as interested by what DeShields and Carter can accomplish this season. — Voepel
When will Brionna Jones return to the courtroom, and the way shortly can she return to her standard, wholesome kind? Coach Stephanie White informed reporters Sunday she expects Jones, who ruptured her Achilles final June, to be accessible for the crew’s Could 14 season opener. The Solar fared comparatively properly with out her in 2023, however they will be higher off with one other All-Star to take a number of the load off of Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner.
The opposite query is whether or not this new mixture of backcourt gamers would be the proper one to assist Connecticut lastly recover from the hump? The Solar reshuffled their guard rotation within the offseason, bringing in Moriah Jefferson, Tiffany Mitchell and Rachel Banham to affix forces with Tyasha Harris and DiJonai Carrington. Guard play has been the X issue (some would argue the Achilles heel) for the Solar of their quest for the franchise’s first title. And that window is likely to be closing imminently with Thomas, Bonner and Jones all set to be free brokers after this season. — Philippou
How will the Wings alter whereas ahead Satou Sabally misses the primary a part of the season? Final 12 months’s most improved participant within the WNBA is out till across the Olympic break as she rehabs a shoulder harm. Final season, Sabally led the best way because the Wings superior to the playoff semifinals. With out her, Dallas can nonetheless depend on celebrity guard Arike Ogunbowale, ahead Natasha Howard and facilities Teaira McCowan and Kalani Brown.
The Wings additionally may get an opportunity to see how a lot middle Stephanie Soares and guards Lou Lopez Senechal (who is just not but in camp as she is competing abroad) can contribute. They have been chosen fourth and fifth within the 2023 draft however did not play within the WNBA final season attributable to accidents. — Voepel
Indiana Fever
How a lot affect will No. 1 draft choose Caitlin Clark have instantly on the Fever’s scoring capacity? Final season, Indiana was seventh within the league in scoring common (81.0 PPG) and sixth in offensive ranking (103.0). Clark had one of many best offensive careers in faculty basketball historical past, with 3,951 factors and 1,144 assists taking part in at a quick tempo at Iowa. She may have much more completed targets to go to now, led by 2023 WNBA Rookie of the 12 months Aliyah Boston, and now not must be the main scorer nearly each sport.
The Fever have been eighth in 3-pointers per sport final season (8.5), and that quantity ought to go up with Clark, who had a file 548 3s in faculty. Clark was the first ball handler on a regular basis with the Hawkeyes, however she would not have to hold that load the identical manner with Indiana. — Voepel
Who will be part of Alysha Clark on the Aces’ second unit? The 2-time defending champs gained in 2023 with restricted contributions from their bench, no less than after Candace Parker – who introduced her retirement Sunday – was misplaced to a season-ending harm. Per WNBA Superior Stats, Las Vegas reserves averaged a league-low 13.5 PPG.
As a result of Becky Hammon can preserve a number of All-Stars on the courtroom always, the Aces do not really want scoring, however they’re hoping Bria Hartley generally is a dependable backup playmaker and fellow newcomer Megan Gustafson might be a bodily presence within the paint. — Pelton
How prepared are rookies Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson to contribute? The Sparks made their long-term focus clear this offseason, which noticed them lose franchise stalwart Nneka Ogwumike however add two of the highest 4 picks within the WNBA draft.
There’s nonetheless veteran expertise readily available in Los Angeles, however given the Sparks will even begin the season with out newcomer Julie Allemand (ankle) and incumbent starter Azura Stevens (arm) attributable to accidents, they will doubtless be relying on Brink and Jackson to play key roles on opening evening. — Pelton
How a lot can the Lynx enhance defensively? Lengthy stout on the defensive finish of the courtroom, Minnesota has completed tenth within the WNBA in factors allowed per 100 possessions every of the previous two seasons.
“We are going to work on protection from Day 1 of camp, opposite to the final couple years,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve informed the Star Tribune. The addition of publish participant Alanna Smith in free company must also assist. Smith’s 1.3 BPG final season with the Sky would have led Minnesota. — Pelton
New York Liberty
Have the Liberty addressed their perimeter protection? The Aces uncovered that Achilles heel within the 2023 WNBA Finals, and it emerged as a evident want for the Liberty to convey house the franchise’s first title.
With Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Courtney Vandersloot, Kayla Thorton and Sabrina Ionescu all already beneath contract, the largest free company questions for New York truly got here within the frontcourt. They re-signed Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, locking of their newly fashioned core.
However the Liberty’s bench items have modified since final 12 months: They signed Kennedy Burke to a protected contract, are bringing over Ivana Dojkic and Leonie Fiebich, and drafted Marquesha Davis. In addition they acquired the rights to Rebekah Gardner, who would have been an ideal addition however is coming off an Achilles harm she suffered abroad. One factor that ought to assist: Having a 12 months of chemistry collectively beneath their belt plus some invaluable playoff expertise, even when it did not finish the best way they hoped. — Philippou
Phoenix Mercury
After upgrading their roster within the offseason, will the Mercury really emerge as contenders this season? They will must chase the likes of the back-to-back champion Aces and 2023 runner-up Liberty, to not point out the resurgent Storm. Phoenix introduced in huge names within the offseason in Natasha Cloud, Kahleah Copper and Rebecca Allen to enrich Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Sophie Cunningham, however as we have seen, having expertise on paper is not a magic bullet for a championship.
This additionally might be the final shot for Taurasi, who will flip 42 in June, to win her fourth championship, ought to she decide to retire after one remaining Olympic run in Paris. Coaching camp might be an early alternative for all these items to mesh collectively and determine which gamers spherical out the bench and remainder of the rotation (11 gamers are primarily competing for 5 open spots).
All eyes will even be on the on-court fashion of play and tradition coach Nate Tibbetts appears to be like to determine in his first 12 months. A easy summer time with stability is much-needed in Phoenix after a tumultuous previous few seasons. — Philippou
How do newcomers Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith slot in? A 12 months after shedding Breanna Stewart in free company, the Storm added maybe the 2 largest names to alter groups in Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike.
Positionally, they’re pure suits alongside holdover All-Stars Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor, however Seattle coach Noelle Quinn might want to combine gamers with very totally different ability units than the Corridor of Famers (Stewart and Sue Fowl) the Storm had at level guard and energy ahead after they reached the 2022 semifinals. Seattle should additionally kind out a second unit amongst younger gamers and newcomers. — Pelton
Who will step up for this new-look Mystics squad? Gone are Elena Delle Donne and Natasha Cloud, ushering in a brand new period for the franchise. Coach Eric Thibault mentioned Monday he is trying ahead to seeing which gamers snag the chance for bigger roles, and that management will fall on a number of individuals. Ariel Atkins and Brittney Sykes might be counted on for a lot of that, as will returner Myisha Hines-Allen and promising 2022 lottery choose Shakira Austin, who’s coming off hip surgical procedure.
Because the Mystics look to revamp their offensive identification, Sykes will step into the first level guard position with the departure of Cloud. Free company acquisitions Stefanie Dolson and Karlie Samuelson, particularly, may additionally carve out bigger roles.
The franchise views this 12 months as a reset, each on the courtroom and even when it comes to tradition, and can look to construct off this season’s positives transferring ahead, particularly contemplating the Mystics have two first-round draft picks in 2025. — Philippou