Women's basketball is on the rise. Ratings are up, there's as much talent as ever - so much, in fact, that expansion needs to happen sooner than later - and folks are starting to take notice. As the WNBA gets set to begin its 25th season this week, maybe you're tuning in for the first time, or perhaps you are just getting caught up with the league after another busy offseason of free agent signings and trades.
For those just interested in UConn ties, we'll break down where all the former Huskies reside later in the week. Now we'll run through the five teams that are most likely to win it all this fall:
5) Phoenix Mercury: The Mercury have all the pieces to win their first championship since 2014. Diana Taurasi, of course, is still the cornerstone after averaging 17 points a game in 2020. She's joined in the backcourt by All-Star mainstay Skylar Diggins-Smith and new addition Kia Nurse, the team's big offseason move who came over in a trade from New York. And at some point they expect Bria Hartley to return from a torn ACL suffered early last year.
Up front Brittney Griner is back after leaving the bubble midway through last year and is fresh off a EuroLeague title with Breanna Stewart and UMMC Ekaterinburg. If Brianna Turner can continue to progress, especially offensively and Kia Vaughn can keep contributing in Year 12, Phoenix is as deep as any team in the league -- but the window won't stay open forever.
4) Chicago Sky: Chicago already had a lethal trio of Courtney Vandersloot (the four-time defending assists leader in the league), Allie Quigley and Diamond DeShields. Then the Sky went and added Candace Parker into the mix, looking refreshed after a resurgent 2020 in Los Angeles in which she won Defensive Player of the Year honors and led the league in rebounding. Chicago has never truly been in the upper echelon of the league's teams - that will change in 2021.
3) Washington Mystics: You feel like the Mystics could have a season that's either a dream or a nightmare, with not a whole lot of in-between. They have Elena Delle Donne, will finally see Tina Charles take the court after the former MVP sat out last year and saw Myisha Hines-Allen take a huge step forward in 2020.
But EDD is still returning from multiple herniated discs in her back that cost her all of 2020 -- Mike Thibault said expect a minutes restriction early on. The MVP of the 2019 Finals, Emma Meessemann won't be back until at least after the Olympics end, and might miss the entire season. Thibault likes shooters on the floor; will the presence of traditional center Charles make for a "square peg, round hole" situation? There are a lot of question marks, for sure, but the talent is too enticing. Get into the playoffs, and no one will want to see Washington.
2) Las Vegas Aces: The Aces went 18-4 last year, lost to Seattle in the Finals and boast the league's reigning MVP in A'ja Wilson, who is still only 24 years old. In fact, four of Las Vegas' five top scorers are all back, with Angel McCoughtery, Dearica Hamby and Jackie Young (Kayle McBride is now in Minnesota).
But the difference-maker for the Aces could be the return of Liz Cambage. An All-WNBA performer in 2018 and 2019, the 6-8 center sat out last year with a medical exemption. She and Wilson immediately form the league's most formidable frontcourt -- scoring could be awfully hard against the Aces.
1) Seattle Storm: The defending champions will remain the favorites until proven otherwise. They have the best player in the world in Breanna Stewart, fresh off a EuroLeague championship season in Russia where (obviously) she was named MVP and is rapidly climbing up the all-time rankings. Jewell Loyd is probably the best "Robin" to Stewie's "Batman" in the league. And there's still Sue Bird, back for a 17th season, in search of a fifth WNBA title. And as long as Stewart is at the top of her game, it's Seattle's championship to lose.