3 Teams Best Prepared to Defeat Liberty and Become Next WNBA Champions

The New York Liberty brought the city’s first basketball championship in more than half a decade when Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart lifted the 2024 WNBA championship trophy.

Some might point to some questionable circumstances that helped them on their way, but no one would deny the fact that the champions were the best team last season.

Their starting 5 was top-notch, featuring stars at every position, and their bench was deep enough to counter the threats from other contenders, especially the 2022 and 2023 champion Las Vegas Aces.

This season, they were again favored to defend their title after seemingly getting stronger in the offseason and winning their first 9 games. However, a lot has changed since then, and the team now finds themselves 5th in the standings.

Injuries to Stewart and a few other important players have made it difficult for them to win games. Not especially when the 3 other contenders have been in better form and have been healthier than the champions.

All hope is not lost for the New York Liberty, who arguably, when healthy, have the best player-for-player roster in the league. From the best European players to top Americans, the squad is unabashedly a super team.

Come playoff time, this team will become a juggernaut like no other, which is why some analysts believe they will defend their crown. However, 3 teams can snatch that crown from them come October.

Minnesota Lynx might want revenge after losing WNBA Finals

After the Minneapolis-based squad lost the 2024 WNBA Finals, they were admittedly furious at the controversial officiating. This season, the franchise has made its intentions clear.

Head coach and President Cheryl Reeve identified players whom other teams did not want and made them an integral part of their schemes. Then she reinforced the team with a trade that could tilt the title fight in their favor.

By adding reigning Most Improved Player of the Year DiJonai Carrington, the team gets a tenacious defender who can also score in clutch moments.

They now have a well-rounded team across the board and are the best pound-for-pound competitors to the New York Liberty. The team has proved that they can win without Napheesa Collier, who was sidelined for 2 weeks.

But after returning, she proved again why she is on a mission this season. The star is at the head of this train that is clearing every team in its path. If anyone can topple the champions, the team they beat in the WNBA Finals has thrown the first hat into the ring.

Las Vegas Aces are surging up the WNBA leaderboard at the right time

Last season, A’ja Wilson produced one of the greatest individual campaigns from a player. She could not cap it off with a 3rd straight title, as the franchise’s roster problems became apparent.

This season, the roster has undergone a great deal of change as they essentially swapped Kelsey Plum for Jewell Loyd. They struggled to adjust initially, but Loyd decided it was best if she came off the bench.

That decision allowed the team to play more freely, and now, their defense and offense are top 5 in the league. 10 straight wins and exceptional performances from Wilson have forced some analysts to change their initial opinions.

They are deep, have players to counter the champions as well as any other team that comes their way. If they continue to play this way, it would be a tough task for the defending champions to hold on to their crown.

Atlanta Dream are chomping at their WNBA title prospects

Another team that basically shuffled its roster was the Atlanta Dream. There were concerns about whether their two All-Star bigs, Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, could play together.

Up until the All-Star weekend, those struggles saw them lose easy games as injuries also took a toll. Currently, Jordin Canada is the sole remaining player on their injury list, and she is expected to return in time for the playoffs.

Post the All-Star weekend, 1st-year head coach Karl Smesko decided to shift Griner to the bench. This move allowed the team to play more freely, and Jones was no longer caught out of position. The result, a surge to 2nd in the table.

They operate with a lot of freedom, and when Griner comes on, her scoring and defense ensure the team does not lose steam. Their bench is also deep enough to give other teams a run for their money.

The franchise still needs to iron out some lapses in concentration when battling top opponents. Once they do, they will be one of the toughest teams out there. They will be looking to dethrone the defending champions from their perch.

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