WNBA preview: Caitlin Clark returns while Aces and Liberty remain most formidable teams

2026 record: 30-14, lost in second round

Coach: Karl Smesko (second season)

In: Angel Reese

Out: Brittney Griner

After winning 30 games last season, the Dream kept their core aside from Griner, and replaced her with Reese. Smesko’s squad will be an elite rebounding team, and 6-foot-6 rookie Madina Okot could get some time to develop into Atlanta’s next star. Brionna Jones has an uncertain timeline with a knee surgery scheduled, so that might be Okot’s best chance to make an impact.

2026 record: 21-23, missed playoffs

Coach: Lynne Roberts (second season)

In: Erica Wheeler, Nneka Ogwumike, Ariel Atkins

Out: Azura Stevens, Rickea Jackson

The Sparks might have put together the most completeoffseason of anyone in the WNBA. In adding Ogwumike and Atkins, they have a real chance to improve upon their league-worst defense. Trading away 2025 first-round pick Jackson is a risk, though, but one that GM Raegan Pebley believed would help this team this season.

Nneka Ogwumike, playing for the Storm while trying score against Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, is back in L.A. Ogwumike and Hamby, both All-Stars, will give the Sparks a formidable frontcourt.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

2026 record: 11-33, missed playoffs

Coach: Rachid Meziane (second season)

In: Brittney Griner, Kennedy Burke

Out: Tina Charles, Marina Mabrey

It’s the Sun’s last season before they head to Houston and become the Comets. Leila Lacan and Saniya Rivers will get another chance to emerge as leaders for a team in transition, while rookies Nell Angloma and Gianna Kneepkens could get some legitimate playing time early. Having Griner to establish a veteran presence in the post also helps the Sun have some direction.

2026 record: 10-34, missed playoffs

Coach: Tyler Marsh (second season)

In: Rickea Jackson, Jacy Sheldon, Skylar Diggins, Azura Stevens, Natasha Cloud

Out: Angel Reese, Ariel Atkins, Kia Nurse, Hailey Van Lith

Chicago had one of the most confusing offseasons in recent memory and it got even stranger in the week before the season when it released Van Lith and added Cloud. The Sky revamped their identity by trading Reese and adding Diggins and a young player to build around in Jackson. But they also traded a first-rounder for Jacy Sheldon and another for protection in the expansion draft only to let players go anyway. Former UCLA star Gabriela Jaquez earned praise throughout preseason camp and could be a factor for the team.

Dream forward Angel Reese tries to power her way past Chicago’s Maddy Westbeld during a preseason game.

(Sage Zipeto / Getty Images)

2026 record: 16-28, missed playoffs

Coach: Sidney Johnson (second season)

In: Michaela Onyenwere, Angela Dugalic, Lauren Betts

Out: Jacy Sheldon, Alysha Clark, Sug Sutton

Washington has the least experienced team in the league, keeping all six of their draft picks on the roster. Georgia Amoore is back after tearing her ACL last year as a rookie, and cornerstone players Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron are in just their second years. The only vets are Shakira Austin and free agent signee Michaela Onyenwere, who also coached rookies Dugalic and Betts at UCLA last season.

2026 record: N/A

Coach: Sandy Brondello (first season)

In: Marina Mabrey, Laura Juškaitė, Brittney Sykes, Temi Fagbenle, Kia Nurse, Kiki Rice

Out: N/A

Toronto got the most WNBA-ready talent of the two expansion clubs. Rice might play a lot as a rookie and help set up the long-term plan for the Tempo, who have plenty of veterans to build around this season. Fagbenle is on an expansion club for the second consecutive season as a defensive anchor.

2026 record: 27-17, lost in first round

Coach: Chris DeMarco (first season)

In: Satou Sabally, Rebecca Allen

Out: Kennedy Burke, Natasha Cloud, Stephanie Talbot

The only true change to the Liberty’s core is the addition of Sabally, a two-way forward. Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu are back, too. The Liberty should be one of the best teams in the league yet again and with some of the most established chemistry.

Liberty center Jonquel Jones blocks a layup by Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner during a playoff game last season.

(Aryanna Frank / Getty Images)

2026 record: 34-10, lost in WNBA Finals

Coach: Cheryl Reeve (17th season)

In: Natasha Howard, Nia Coffey

Out: Natisha Hiedeman, Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, Bridget Carleton

The Lynx will be without Napheesa Collier until June, meaning the Lynx are going to have to find new ways to score. Add in the only returning starters are Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride, and this Minnesota team is going to look a lot different. No. 2 overall pick Olivia Miles could get some early time, while Howard should get a scoring boost with a larger role than she had in Indiana.

2026 record: 30-14, WNBA champions

Coach: Becky Hammon (fourth season)

In: Chennedy Carter, Stephanie Talbot, Brianna Turner

Out: Kiah Stokes

The defending champions went into training camp knowing what their roster would look like. The Aces won their third championship in four seasons in 2025, and the only true loss was Stokes. Carter is an electric scoring addition after not playing in the WNBA last season, but the Aces aren’t fixing what isn’t broken.

Guard Arike Ogunbowale was the Wings second-leading scorer last season at 15.5 points a game.

(Abbie Parr / Associated Press)

2026 record: 10-34, missed playoffs

Coach: Jose Fernandez (first season)

In: Jessica Shepard, Alanna Smith, Alysha Clark

Out: Myisha Hines-Allen

The Wings have gone 19-65 in the last two seasons but they return leading scorer Paige Bueckers, added Azzi Fudd in the draft and have some hope. Veteran and second-leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale signed long-term, Maddy Siegrist is one of the more underrated reserve guards in the league, while Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard give the Wings the most cohesive team they’ve had in years.

2026 record: 27-17, lost in second round

Coach: Nate Tibbetts (third season)

In: Kyara Linskens, Jovana Nogic, Peyton Williams

Out: Satou Sabally

The Mercury lost Sabally but still brought back five of their top six scorers from last season. They’d like to see more production from Natasha Mack in Sabally’s place, but for the most part, the Mercury are banking on a strongseason from DeWanna Bonner and another leap for Monique Akoa Makani.

2026 record: N/A

Coach: Alex Sarama (first season)

In: Bridget Carleton, Nyadiew Puoch, Carla Leite, Haley Jones

Out: N/A

Can Carleton be a building block player for a new franchise? She had a breakout year with Minnesota but is now going to be the anchor for a team starting new. It will be a learning curve for Leite, a 22-year-old playmaker acquired from the Valkyries in the expansion draft, and the extremely young roster.

Fire guard Carla Leite brings the ball up court against Sparks guard Chance Gray during a preseason game.

(Jenny Kane / Associated Press)

2026 record: 23-21, lost in first round

Coach: Sonia Raman (first season)

In: Stefanie Dolson

Out: Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Erica Wheeler, Brittney Sykes

The rebuild is underway in Seattle after the Storm fired Noelle Quinn and lost the majority of their veteran players. Only one starter, Ezi Magbegor, is back but will miss at least the first six weeks because of a foot injury. Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam could be a fun post duo, while Flau’jae Johnson is going to get a chance to shine as a rookie.

2026 record: 23-21, lost in first round

Coach: Natalie Nakase (second season)

In: Gabby Williams, Kiah Stokes

Out: Monique Billings, Temi Fagbenle

Can the Valkyries run it back? There is a lot of faith in last year’s expansion club, but the potential draft-day flub of trading away Flau’jae Johnson has shaken some of that. Williams is one of the best free-agent adds of the offseason, though, and Stokes will add some defensive punch off the bench. Their biggest question is where scoring will come from.

2026 record: 24-20, lost in first round

Coach: Stephanie White (fourth season)

In: Monique Billings, Tyasha Harris

Out: Brianna Turner

Caitlin Clark returns after missing all but 13 games because of injuries (quad, groin, ankle) last season, and can she be back in true form? The Fever have built around her with Aliyah Boston on a four-year deal, Kelsey Mitchell is back and they added rookie guard Raven Johnson and veteran forward Billings. There is a lot of pressure on the Fever to get it together as a true contender.