The WNBA is back for its 27th season, but it looks a little different from what fans said goodbye to last fall.
The trade window is still open until Aug. 7, but so far, we've seen some hefty, and thrilling, movement. The most monumental transaction to go down in the offseason was within the New York franchise. The Liberty managed to sign free agents Breanna Stewart from the Storm and Courtney Vandersloot from the Sky and acquire Jonquel Jones from the Sun in a trade in less than one month's time.
Their roster is loaded to the brim with talent, as they join forces with Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney, and people are already placing bets that they'll be the team from the East to run it to the end.
Their opponent in the ultimate title chase is none other than the reigning champions in Las Vegas. After winning last year, the Aces franchise got a decent facelift when they opened a brand-new facility. The 64,000-square-foot building in Henderson, Nev., is now their practice center and team headquarters, and it is the first building whose sole purpose is for a WNBA team.
The Aces are also just as loaded, with A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Sydney Colson and, now, two-time Olympic gold medalist Candace Parker. A downside was Dearica Hamby being traded to the Sparks.
The two newly dubbed "superteams" have a lot riding on their shoulders as front-runners. The Aces didn't have anyone standing in their way as they bulldozed up the mountain last year. But now, as a meteor knocked out of orbit, they're on a direct collision course with the new kid on the block. And the Liberty doesn't plan to make life easy.
MORE: WNBA Draft picks 2023: Complete results, list of selections for Rounds 1-3
Let's look at the 2023 WNBA season in a nutshell.
Breaking down the WNBA teams by division
Get to know each of the teams' strengths and weaknesses, their head coaches, where they call home, their star veterans and their rookies to keep an eye on this season.
Eastern Conference
Atlanta Dream
- Coach: Tanisha Wright
- Location: Gateway Center Arena
The Dream added to their arsenal after getting the first-overall pick in the 2022 Draft with Rhyne Howard. Leigha Brown (Michigan) is joining her former teammate Naz Hillmon on the court in Georgia, as are Laeticia Amihere (South Carolina) and Haley Jones (Stanford).
They have since waived Beatrice Mompremier, Alaina Coates and Mikayla Pivec, and gave their 2025 first-round pick to the Mystics.
Chicago Sky
- Coach: James Wade
- Location: Wintrust Arena
Chicago lost their best player Parker to the reigning national champions, leaving a gaping hole that might take a while to refill. During the draft, they selected Kayana Traylor (Virginia Tech) and Kseniya Malashka (Middle Tennessee), both of whom still remain in the picture. Traylor has even signed a rookie scale contract and the Sky acquired Marina Mabrey in a trade from Dallas.
Connecticut Sun
- Coach: Stephanie White
- Location: Mohegan Sun Arena
The Sun are under new management with Stephanie White stepping to the helm. She has been on this side of the court since 2003 as an assistant coach and in 2015 as a head coach.
Connecticut lost a lot of talent in the offseason moves, including veteran point guard Jasmine Thomas and 2021 MVP Jones, but they also gained some too, including Tyasha Harris, Tiffany Hayes, Kianna Smith and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
White has done a massive sweep of the roster, waiving both of their 2023 draft picks, Alexis Morris (LSU) and Ashten Prechtel (Stanford), as well as Lasha Petree, Nirra Fields, Diamond Battles, Victoria Macauley, Kiara Smith, Khaalia Hillsman and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan.
Indiana Fever
- Coach: Christie Sides
- Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indiana won the 2023 draft when they were able to select and sign Aliyah Boston first and foremost to a rookie scale contract. Boston is joining her former teammates Destanni Henderson and Victaria Saxton, as well as homegrown star Grace Berger, and Taylor Mikesell (OSU). LaDazhia Williams (LSU) was waived shortly into the preseason, making Kim Mulkey 0-2 this year for Tigers gone pro, along with Emily Engstler, Chelsey Perry and Rennia Davis.
New York Liberty
- Coach: Sandy Brondello
- Location: Barclays Center
As mentioned above, the Liberty are coming in teeth barred. After a couple of jaw-dropping offseason moves, including the additions of Stewart, Jones and Vandersloot, the roster might be the toughest to beat. The Aces finally have competition, and the Liberty are not backing down — they haven't waived anybody in a long time, only gained and grown.
They had one draft pick, Okako Adika (USC), and have collected a few exclusive negotiating and draft rights, including the rights to Leonie Fiebich and Chicago's 2024 second-round pick.
Washington Mystics
- Coach: Eric Thibault
- Location: The District's Entertainment & Sports Arena
The Mystics spurred a mid-draft night trade with the Wings, giving up their No. 4 overall pick Stephanie Soares (Iowa State) in exchange for future picks. They also gained Amanda Zahui B., giving up their 2024 and 2025 second-round picks.
They also selected Elena Tsineke (South Florida) and Txell Alarcón (Spain) but decided to wave Evina Westbrook and Alisia Jenkins on May 7 and Keishana Washington on May 3.
Western Conference
Dallas Wings
- Coach: Latricia Trammell
- Location: College Park Center
The Wings hit the jackpot in the draft, selecting scoring powerhouse Maddy Siegrist (Villanova), Lou Lopez-Sénéchal (UConn), Abby Meyers (Maryland), Ashley Joens (Iowa State) and Paige Robinson (Illinois State).
However, because of a trade mid-draft night, they also acquired Soares, instead giving the Mystics their 2024 second-round pick and Atlanta's 2025 first-round draft pick.
They also lost Mabrey, but they filled the gap with Diamond DeShields in the same four-team trade, as well as 2023 and 2024 first-round picks from Chicago and the rights to swap their 2025 first-round picks.
Las Vegas Aces
- Coach: Becky Hammon
- Location: Mandalay Bay Events Center
As mentioned above, the Aces are the team to beat this year. Despite only getting one pick, the very last pick, in the draft — Brittany Davis (Alabama) — their roster is already gassed and ready to bring home ring number two. The addition of Parker rounds out the dynamics with Wilson, Plum and Colson. The only one missing is Hamby, who got the Aces the negotiating rights to Amanda Zahui B. (later traded to the Mystics) and the Sparks' 2024 second-round pick in return for her talent.
Davis has since been waived, as well as Aisha Sheppard, Courtney Range and Elizabeth Balogun.
Los Angeles Sparks
- Coach: Curt Miller
- Location: Crypto.com Arena
The Sparks are also under new management with head coach Curt Miller moving from the Connecticut Sun to the West Coast this season to captain the ship. They also acquired Hamby in a trade from the Aces and Jasmine Thomas from the Sun.
They won the lottery when Zia Cooke (South Carolina) joined their roster as the 10th overall pick in the draft, and then continued to beef that up when they added Iowa talent Monika Czinano, who left her counterpart Caitlin Clark for the pros, and Shaneice Swain (Australia).
Minnesota Lynx
- Coach: Cheryl Reeve
- Location: Target Center
The Lynx may have lost the league's all-time leader in rebounds, Sylvia Fowles, to retirement after last season, but they struck draft gold when they picked up five rookies, including the talk of the town Diamond Miller (Maryland), Dorka Juhász (UConn) and Brea Beal (South Carolina). They also acquired Maïa Hirsch (France) and Taylor Soule (Virginia Tech).
So far, all of the draftees remain in the mix.
Phoenix Mercury
- Coach: Vanessa Nygaard
- Location: Footprint Center
The Mercury resigned their biggest star, Diana Taurasi, to a multi-year deal this offseason, as well as Brittney Griner after her safe return home from Russian detainment for another year.
In a four-team deal on Feb. 11, the Mercury gave up Diamond DeShields and a 2024 second-round pick to the Sky for Michaela Onyenwere from the Liberty, as well as a 2024 third-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick from Chicago.
They selected Destiny Harden (Miami) and Kadi Sissoko (USC) in the draft. Harden has since been waived, but Sissoko signed a rookie scale contract on April 12.
Seattle Storm
- Coach: Noelle Quinn
- Location: Climate Pledge Arena
The Storm roster retired jersey number 10 when they lost legend Sue Bird to retirement after 20 years at the helm of the lineup. They also lost Stewart to the Liberty but hit a draft steal with Tennessee's Jordan Horston, who has elite passing skills, the ability to find and finish at the rim and lockdown defense.
They also selected Madi Williams (Oklahoma), Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (South Florida), who will join forces with the last of the legacy in Emerald City, Jewell Loyd. Jasmine Walker is also joining Seattle after being waived from the Sun, while Jade Loville (Arizona), their final 2023 Draft pick, has been waived.
2023 WNBA schedule
The WNBA is playing a record number of 40 games this season, each of the 12 teams having 20 home and 20 away games on their dockets.
In addition, the league inked some shiny new television deals to help them hit broader airwaves. They will have 25 national broadcasts highlighted across ESPN's family of networks, as well as the playoffs, and their Friday night games will be broadcast regularly through Ion, with hopes it could turn into something like the NFL's Sunday Night Football extravaganza and the NBA's Thursdays on TNT.
MORE: WNBA's new TV deal with ION, explained
Below is the opening weekend schedule, as well as key dates to tune in for, including the All-Star game, Commissioner's Cup and playoffs.
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Opening weekend
| Date | Matchup (Visitor vs. Home) | Time (ET) |
| Friday, May 19 | New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics | 7 p.m. |
| Friday, May 19 | Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever | 7 p.m. |
| Friday, May 19 | Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx | 8 p.m. |
| Friday, May 19 | Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks | 11 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 20 | Atlanta Dream vs. Dallas Wings | 1 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 20 | Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm | 3 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 21 | Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun | 1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 21 | Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty | 2 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 21 | Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury | 4 p.m. |
Key dates
- May 19: Regular season begins
- July 13-17: All-Star Break
- July 15: All-Star Game
- Aug. 15: Commissioner's Cup Championship
- Sept. 10: Regular season ends
- Sept. 13: Playoffs
- Oct. 20: Last possible Finals date
