Week one of many 2025 WNBA is sort of full. Listed here are 5 early developments value monitoring:
Indiana Fever’s veteran connecting with group, market
The Fever (1-1) bolstered their roster within the offseason with veteran DeWanna Bonner, who’s turning into a giant a part of their identification.
In her fifteenth skilled season, the 6-foot-4 ahead has cemented her place in WNBA historical past as its third-highest ratingr. She can also be eighth all time in rebounds.
Bonner’s influence statistically has been slight (3.5 PPG and three.0 RPG), however Fever star Caitlin Clark has praised her management, calling the ahead “top-of-the-line gamers who’ve ever performed the sport.”
The Fever will flip to her for mentoring and knowledge. Bonner is basking within the consideration she’s receiving in one of many league’s high markets.
“The help right here has been simply phenomenal,” she stated earlier than the season, per Cassandra Negley of Yahoo. “I actually can’t go anyplace. I’ve been right here like per week and a half and all over the place I’m going it’s simply, ‘We’re excited for the season. Thanks for being right here.’ It’s been actually, actually refreshing.”
Shock early candidates for Rookie of the 12 months
Dallas’ Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 total decide within the 2025 WNBA Draft, is the apparent main candidate for Rookie of the 12 months. She has performed properly, averaging 13.7 factors in three video games for the winless Wings (0-3). Nevertheless, different rookies are rising.
For the Washington Mystics (2-1) guard Sonia Citron (14.7 PPG) and ahead Kiki Inafen (13.7 PPG) have shined. In a 94-90 win over the Atlanta Dream within the season opener, Citron drilled two three-pointers.
In the meantime, the Dream is getting regular play from guard Te-Hina Paopao (5.0 PPG), the previous South Carolina star. Atlanta options veteran expertise in heart Brittney Griner and guard Allisha Grey, one other former South Carolina standout. Search for Paopao (2.5 APG) to generate offense because the season continues.
Brittney Sykes makes early case for Participant of the 12 months
Along with their rookie duo, veteran Sykes stands out, averaging averaging 26.3 factors, 3.3 rebounds and 5 assists.
Sykes has lengthy been top-of-the-line defenders within the league, however she’s placing in vital work on offense, too. Within the Mystics’ loss Wednesday to the enlargement Golden State Valkyries, Sykes delivered 30 factors and went 3-for-5 on three-pointers.
Within the offseason, Sykes performed on the Unmatched three-on-three league, averaging 11.6 PPG.
Kelsey Plum is flourishing for L.A. Sparks
Within the offseason, Las Vegas dealt Plum to the Sparks, and she or he is not trying again. In her debut for Los Angeles, she tallied 37 factors, six assists and 6 steals.
In ESPN’s 2025 WNBA predictions, analyst Katie Barnes pointed to the influence that Plum might present for the Sparks, highlighting her “veteran and championship expertise.”
In her second sport, she tallied 18 factors, 5 assists and a steal for the Sparks (1-2). Together with Plum (26.7 PPG), the Sparks have veteran expertise in forwards Azura Stevens and Dearica Hamby.
Seattle’s No. 2 decide has underwhelmed
Seattle Storm No. 2 total decide Dominique Malonga, a 6-foot-6 heart, has struggled, averaging simply two factors. Solely 19, she is the youngest participant within the Storm’s historical past. Malonga performed within the French skilled league beginning at age 16.
Malonga has loved success on the large levels, incomes a silver medal within the 2024 Paris Olympics with the French nationwide group. She averaged 15 factors and 10 rebounds within the French league.
Malonga has main hops, maybe a expertise she’ll exhibit later within the season. In her first observe with the Storm, Malonga — nonetheless battling jet lag — dunked.
“You needed to be there,” Storm coach Noelle Quinn stated jokingly when requested about it, per ESPN’s Kevin Pelton. “She will be able to dunk. She’s over the rim. It was highly effective. It was athletic. It was good to see.”
