Ranking the 30 best WNBA players in 2025, from A'ja Wilson to Caitlin Clark's climb up the board

After months of waiting, the 2025 WNBA season is finally upon us.

Basketball fans haven't been starved for hardwood hysteria as of late. Between compelling men's and women's NCAA tournaments, an enchanting NBA playoffs (thus far) and the wildly-successful Unrivaled, there have been numerous outlets for enthusiasts to get their fix in.

Still, the W is the undeniable pinnacle of the women's game. And after a historic offseason filled with thrills, spills and a myriad of trades, the 2025 season figures to be one for the history books.

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With that, The Sporting News fills you in on its rankings of the top-30 players set to take part in the upcoming season.

WNBA player rankings for 2025 season: Top 10

10. Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury

At her best, few players can match Sabally's versatility. The Oregon product is languid, athletic and effective, using a smooth southpaw jumper and crafty handle to haunt opposition defenders. Sabally was a a first-team All-WNBA selection in 2023. She mirrored that production in 2024 — doing so on greater efficiency — although injuries brought her campaign to a close after just 15 games.

Sabally's health is the only thing holding her back from world domination. She''ll enjoy better spacing in Phoenix and could very well land some down-ballot MVP consideration if she stays on the floor, especially if her three-point shooting peaks like it did last year.

MORE: Tracking the most notable WNBA roster cuts ahead of 2025 season

9. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty

Ionescu remains one of the W's most captivating playmakers. Her game, adorned with parking lot-range triples and a flurry of no-look passes, makes her a handful to guard against when she's in a rhythm.

Ionescu isn't a particularly strong defender and saw her three-point shooting dip markedly (from 44.8 percent in 2023 to 33.3 percent in 2024). We're confident that Ionescu's jumper will return to form in 2025. If so, she's effectively a lock to garner All-WNBA buzz.

8. Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm

Despite claiming a treasure trove of prizes over the course of her career — including an MVP in 2016 — Ogwumike feels as underrated a star as there is in the WNBA. She quietly tallied 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in 2024, landing a spot on the All-WNBA and All-Defensive second teams in the process.

Ogwumike will turn 35 during the regular season, but she remains a beacon of consistency in the heart of Noelle Quinn's lineup. With fellow defensive standouts Ezi Magbegor and Dominque Malonga expected to offer reinforcements in 2025, another solid season appears on the horizon for Ogwumike and Co.

(Getty Images)

7. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

Young might not quite grab the headlines like A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray or Jewell Loyd. But her presence looms large, particularly when the Aces are fit and firing.

Young is a pest on defense and a dynamo with the orb in her grasp. Her efficiency dipped in 2024, but she showed real flashes as Las Vegas' lead guard with Gray injured. A better season could be on the horizon for Young, a former No. 1 pick who should link up well with Wilson, Gray and the newly-acquired Loyd.

6. Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

It's easy to forget how good Jones is. The 2021 WNBA MVP has taken a backseat to the likes of Breanna Stewart (and, to a lesser extent, Ionescu). But in the 2024 WNBA Finals, she proved her worth, striking blow after blow against Minnesota's stout defense.

Without Jones, New York doesn't win its first WNBA title. She was rewarded handsomely for her efforts, taking home the WNBA Finals MVP prize.

Jones might not post the most awe-inspiring numbers during the regular-season. But her unicorn-like skillset makes her a tremendous asset, particularly in postseason play. And if that's not the mark of a top-10 player, what is?

5. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury

For the first time in her career, Thomas will be playing her games away from Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Arena. The newly-minted Mercury star will attempt to conjure up magic with her new roster, a gifted squad that also includes All-Star caliber talents Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper.

Growing pains are expected as Thomas attempts to fit into Nate Tibbetts' tactical setup. Nevertheless, Thomas' game tends to travel pretty well; she's a two-way titan who can fashion a host of looks for herself and her teammates.

That's enough to earn her a spot in the top-five. 

4. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Nine years after her WNBA debut, Stewie's place atop the WNBA rankings remains as firm as ever. The Liberty forward easily has a case for the title of league's best player, even if that isn't necessarily reflected in her place on this year's list.

Stewart is a perennial All-WNBA first team, All-Defensive first team contender and should rack up MVP votes for a gifted New York bunch. She's still just 30 years old, swept away in a historic prime that has shown no signs of slowing down. Expect greatness from the Liberty supernova in 2025.

3. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Clark enjoyed one of the greatest guard seasons ever in 2025, leading the league in assists while tallying nearly 20 points and six rebounds a contest. Did we mention she was but a rookie during that spell, given a whopping few weeks of prep time before taking to the floor?

The next logical step for Clark is an assault on the mavens who have sat atop the W's totem pole in recent seasons: Thomas, Stewart, Wilson and Napheesa Collier. Indiana's roster additions and new tactical identity under Stephanie White should offer Clark an opportunity to do just that. The Iowa alum is the MVP favorite for a reason.

MORE: Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese matchup history

2. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

If not for a contentious last-second foul call, Collier and her Lynx teammates could be WNBA champions. They should have another crack at claiming the crown in 2025. Cheryl Reeve's side is adorned with silver, emerald and sapphire. But its richest gemstone is Collier, a two-way saboteur who cans shots on one end and swats them like flies on the other.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year and MVP runner-up, Phee is well-positioned to rake up some serious accolades come the end of the year. So too is her team, a roster as glint as it is rugged.

(NBAE via Getty Images)

1. A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Wilson is, undoubtedly, the best player in the WNBA. She enjoyed perhaps the greatest individual season in WNBA history in 2024, tallying an otherworldly 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.6 blocks across just 34.4 minutes of game time.

Unsurprisingly, Wilson nabbed her third MVP in the process.

The road got harder for the Aces in 2024, with injuries and a lack of depth proving too tough to overcome in the postseason. But as long as Wilson's on the roster, Las Vegas has a chance to hoist gold and dance beneath billowy confetti. Perhaps that's a sign of her outsized impact, even compared to other notable talents.

Ranking the best WNBA players in 2025

Here's a look at the top 30 players in the WNBA heading into the 2025 season.