Why you should or shouldn’t root for every WNBA team

Are you new to the WNBA? Whether you’re here because you love basketball and want to learn about the league, or you just like supporting women, welcome! We’ve created this handy guide to help you decide who to throw your support behind as the 2025 WNBA season tips off today, May 16.

You Want to Win Now

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Whether your NBA team is in a constant state of tanking, or you just like being on the winning side of basketball, here are a few WIN NOW WNBA teams to get behind.

New York Liberty

Pros: They just won the 2024 WNBA Championship, they have the best colorway in the WNBA, and their mascot is a sassy dancing elephant.

Cons: Many have a deep-seated hatred of New York sports teams; they play in Brooklyn, not Manhattan, they are affiliated with the Nets, not the Knicks.

The 2024 Champions are a great team to get behind if you like dope basketball merch and are entertained by an influencer who is just someone in an elephant suit. The Liberty have built a strong culture of excellence in Brooklyn, are known as one of the league’s “super teams,” and are poised to make it to the WNBA Finals for a third straight year. Their Big Three of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones are looking better than ever as they head into the 2025 season.

Their mascot, Ellie the Elephant, has now transcended from sports culture and into pop culture — the girl has her own brand deals. Plus, the Liberty’s seafoam color scheme is undeniably awesome.

Las Vegas Aces

Pros: A’ja Wilson, confirmed ability to win, cool destination to travel to watch games

Cons: Hopping on the bandwagon this late may make you seem basic

The 2022 and 2023 WNBA champions are a dynasty that has been controlling the narrative for years. They have the best player in the WNBA in A’ja Wilson (debate with a wall, she’s the best), who just came out with one of the nicest signature shoes in basketball history. The 3x MVP and her team of Olympians and champions had a rocky season in 2024, but preseason games showed they are ready to reclaim their place at the top of the mountain.

If you hate the desert heat, have a weird vendetta against Bam Adebayo (Wilson’s boyfriend), or just don’t want to be seen as a follower on their bandwagon, maybe the Aces aren’t for you. Otherwise, they are a safe pick.

Minnesota Lynx

Pros: Cheryl Reeve’s t-shirt activism, post-win line dancing, the sweet taste of revenge

Cons: Last year might have been their best shot at a championship, having to operate on Central Time.

If you tuned in to the 2024 WNBA Finals and were hoping for the Lynx to win, you can continue that support into the 2025 season. With a roster that looks mostly the same as the one they succeeded with last season, the Lynx will be regarded as a championship favorite this season. Napheesa Collier had a great season last year, followed by an even more incredible season at Unrivaled, and she looks better than ever.

The team is out for revenge after feeling they were robbed of the trophy last year.

You Like Stirring the Pot

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Indiana Fever

Pros: Caitlin Clark, easily accessible games because they are basically all on TV, you can pretend you’ve supported since that season they only won 5 games.

Cons: potentially lots of angry fans tweeting hateful things at you, lack of defense

Proceed with caution, but, if you like Caitlin Clark’s game, why not change the narrative around some of the more hostile members of her fanbase and promote being nice? This year’s Fever team is exciting as well, as they have leveled up the supporting crew around Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell. They will certainly see a leap in their season record, have a good shot at a decent playoff run, and Clark is already in MVP conversations.

Dallas Wings

Pros: “FIRST TEAM ALL STUDS,” cowboy hats, basketball wives the show, but if both the basketball wives were on the team

Cons: Uniforms aren’t as slay as other teams, cowboy aesthetic ain’t for everyone

The Dallas Wings made headlines on Draft Night when they picked Paige Bueckers first overall out of UConn. She joins Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith and others in Dallas, a new look team under new GM Curt Miller.

As a result, some fans online, as well as the literal players themselves, started posting about Dallas being the new “Stud Capital of the World.” Brief pause here for you to Google that term.

So if you enjoy the fun vibes the Wings are already putting out, they would be a great team to cheer for.

Based on Aesthetics Alone

Photo by Supriya Limaye/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Los Angeles Sparks

Pros: LA Babyyyy, First-Team All-Fits, traded for Kelsey Plum

Cons: Cameron Brink is still injured, still catching up on amenities for players

The LA Sparks adopted the same iconic yellow and purple colorway as their neighbouring LA Lakers, with a little splash of teal in there for fun. That makes for pretty iconic uniforms, merch, and gear. Plus, the players themselves are fashion icons who always show up to sun in pre-game fits. Unfortunately, on the scale of WNBA team facilities, the LA Sparks are a little behind, and players have reported that there is no designated locker room for the WNBA franchise inside their arena.

Luckily, it seems like Cameron Brink will be back on the court soon after tearing her ACL last June.

Seattle Storm

Pros: Good coffee, many chances for them to make Wicked references

Cons: Possibly just on the brink of being able to make a deep playoff run, intact ACLs are nowhere to be found

The Seattle Storm are shaping up to be a very fun team this season. The four-time WNBA Champions are completely revamped, and gone are the days of the Bird/Stewart/Loyd era. Yet, there is a lot to be excited about. The Storm just drafted dunking French phenom Dominique Malonga, pairing her with fellow countrywoman Gabby Williams. Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike are both back, and this team may be a sleeper contender.

Their green colorway is moody and fresh, and the girlies are fashion icons in Seattle as well.

Golden State Valkyries

Pros: Can be a fan from the very start, PURPLE, superhero references

Cons: questionable roster decisions, definitely tanking, the logo doesn’t quite fit on the jersey

The WNBA’s newest expansion franchise is here, and it’s been a wild ride. Let me first state that the team aesthetics are TOP TIER, and their violet/lavender colorway is perfect. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a team to back that will win, not sure Golden State is the team to go with. As an expansion franchise, they aren’t expected to make a splash in league standings. On top of that, WNBA fans have been confused by the team’s roster choices.

Yet, there is a chance to get in on the ground floor here, which would make an eventual championship run in however many years quite fun.

You’re a college fan wondering where your fav player will be drafted to

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Washington Mystics

Pros: young talent, zero expectations, Soni Citron’s dad was nice to my friend one time

Cons: you may be anti-tank, color scheme is very rah rah America, Georgia Amoore is out for the season

If you are a college basketball fan and are starting to think about where next year’s high draft picks are going, Washington may be the place. They made two lottery picks in this year’s draft, and another pick No. 6 overall. They are going with an extremely young team, and aren’t poised to make the playoffs this season. They will likely be picking in the lottery again in a little under one year.

Connecticut Sun

Pros: The team may be leaving Uncasville soon, you like an afternoon of basketball watching and casino wandering, you live in Connecticut and have nothing else to do

Cons: lost entire starting lineup last year, have to occasionally share their practice court with toddler birthday parties

The Sun have fallen from a championship-contending team to a lottery favorite in a very short amount of time. If you live in Boston, maybe you can start following now in case the team sells and ends up moving to your city. And if you like a trip to the casino, the team plays inside of one.

You Love Confusion

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Chicago Sky

Pros: team looking better than early readings suggest, Courtney Vandersloot is back, jerseys are pretty cool

Cons: traded away No. 3 pick, could have had Sonia Citron, where is this franchise going?

The Chicago Sky were set to be a lottery-bound team for the second year in a row. They traded away their No. 3 overall pick, though, for Ariel Atkins, and signed a bunch of veterans, and are not tanking… apparently. The first look at the team in the preseason was pretty good, with the idea of surrounding Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso with shooters and ball handlers looking decent.

Yet, this team is not a championship contender, so why not tank?

Phoenix Mercury

Pros: They aren’t the Phoenix Suns, Alyssa Thomas has zero shoulders and a dream, and a healthy Satou Sabally?

Cons: Where are the point guards? No more spicy Diana Taurasi technical fouls, seriously, who is the point guard?

Head coach Nate Tibbets apparently hates the mid-range jumper… which is odd given his best players depend on that shot. But even potential basketball philosophy clashes aside, the roster construction in Phoenix is a little confusing, given they have three extremely talented wing/guard/forward combo players in Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, and Satou Sabally. Kalani Brown at center is a good thing as well, but then their depth at the 1-2 position is… not really there.

Atlanta Dream

Pros: lemon pepper wings, cool court design, Renee Montgomery is a great hype woman.

Cons: confused about a system that relies on BG shooting threes, Jordin Canada’s ability to stay healthy

The Atlanta Dream are another team where we need to see the vision play out in order to know where they are going. The signed two dominant starting bigs in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, on a team coached by a guy who is known for playing a system that relies on perimeter shooting. The math ain’t matching. Yet, the Dream have a great team vibe, and their fanbase has been growing over the years.