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ESPN
Jul 16, 2025, 08:30 AM ET
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is astir here, which means it's clip to instrumentality banal of the opening fractional of the play and springiness grades for the 2nd clip this summer.
The 13 teams' archetypal report paper was successful mid-June, erstwhile the defending champion New York Liberty were inactive undefeated. Their play has taken immoderate twists and turns since. The Minnesota Lynx present person a steadfast pb implicit the tract successful the league standings portion the Indiana Fever won the Commissioner's Cup title.
Big names specified arsenic New York's Jonquel Jones, Indiana's Caitlin Clark and the Phoenix Mercury's Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally person been battling injuries. Some unit moves person been made. There person been some pleasant and unpleasant surprises successful the mode that teams person performed.
ESPN's Kendra Andrews, Alexa Philippou, Kevin Pelton and Michael Voepel manus retired midseason marks for the WNBA earlier the All-Stars converge connected Indianapolis.
Jump to:
ATL | CHI | CON | DAL | GS | IND |
LV | LA | MIN | NY | PHO | SEA | WAS
Minnesota Lynx: A
The WNBA's first-place squad has deed a mates of bumps successful the roadworthy of late, with 3 losses successful July, including the Commissioner's Cup last astatine location to Indiana connected July 1. But overall, the Lynx (19-4) person been the league's astir accordant and cohesive squad each season. They are the second-highest scoring squad astatine 84.9 PPG portion holding opponents to a league-low 75.3 PPG. They proceed to person the aforesaid people they had astatine the one-month mark.
First-half MVP: Forward Napheesa Collier. She is the front-runner to triumph her archetypal league MVP grant aft being runner-up past year. She has immoderate eye-popping numbers: league-best scoring mean (23.9 PPG) and triumph shares (5.3), a 95.4 escaped propulsion percent and career-high 3.5 assists average. -- Voepel
Phoenix Mercury: A
Phoenix (15-6, 3 games down the Lynx) received a beardown people in our archetypal study card, and has lone continued to impressment successful the archetypal half, sitting astatine 2nd successful the rankings up of Wednesday's marquee matchup against the Lynx. That's each contempt wholly overhauling the roster successful the offseason, having to thin connected a batch of WNBA rookies and dealing with a slew of injuries that could person easy derailed this summer. Each of the Mercury's large 3 has missed clip this play -- chiefly, Kahleah Copper has been constricted to six games -- and yet they person not been deterred. So far, midseason summation DeWanna Bonner has been a beardown fit, and the squad could beryllium adjacent scarier if it lands Emma Meesseman aft the break.
First-half MVP: Once the alleged Engine successful Connecticut, Alyssa Thomas has been sensational successful her archetypal play successful the Valley, starring the league successful assists per crippled (9.6), having 1 of her champion scoring seasons (15.4 PPG, 53.5% FG) and continuing to cement herself arsenic 1 of the premier defenders successful the world. Not lone is she the MVP of the Mercury truthful far, Thomas is firmly successful the league's MVP race, too. -- Philippou
1:13
Mercury triumph thriller to manus Valkyries 2nd consecutive loss
Despite a precocious tying changeable by the Valkyries, the Mercury clasp connected to unafraid a constrictive 78-77 victory.
Golden State Valkyries: A-
The Valkyries (10-11) are firmly successful the playoff race. Anchored by its top-5 defense, Golden State is limiting opponents to the second-lowest scoring successful the league astatine 78.6 points per game. Only the Lynx let less points (75.3). The Valkyries person consistently impressed with however they've stayed competitory successful astir each crippled -- adjacent the losses. Golden State hasn't dropped a contention by much than 9 points since June 5. The Valkyries besides picked up a 19-point triumph implicit the Fever successful Caitlin Clark's archetypal crippled backmost from groin injury. If Golden State keeps playing astatine this level they could marque past and scope the postseason successful the franchise's inaugural season.
First-half MVP: Kayla Thornton is having the champion play of her career, averaging vocation highs successful points (14.5), rebounds (7.1) and steals (1.4) -- she besides leads Golden State successful each category. In emerging arsenic the Valkyries' go-to option, Thornton earned archetypal All-Star selection. -- Andrews
1:57
Veronica Burton pb the Valkyries to a commanding triumph implicit Fever
Veronica Burton drops 21 points to pb the Golden State Valkyries to a 80-61 triumph implicit the Indiana Fever.
New York Liberty: B+
The Liberty started the play 9-0 and looked beardown arsenic the defending champions. They had an A connected the archetypal study card, but person dropped a bit. An ankle wounded to WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones that has constricted her to 9 games changed the dynamics for New York. The 6-foot-6 halfway is truthful cardinal a origin some offensively and defensively that it's intolerable to play the aforesaid without her. To their credit, the Liberty (14-6) person weathered injuries and guardant Leonie Fiebich's clip distant playing astatine EuroBasket beauteous well, led by guardant Breanna Stewart and guards Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud. But they person to beryllium looking guardant to their afloat squad being backmost astatine immoderate point.
First-half MVP: Breanna Stewart is the Liberty's person successful scoring (19.5), rebounding (6.7) and blocks (1.3). With Jones out, determination is simply a batch of unit connected Stewart, but the three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP has ever been utilized to that. -- Voepel
1:59
Liberty tempest backmost to bushed Dream 79-72
New York rallies from a halftime shortage en way to defeating Atlanta 79-72.
Washington Mystics: B+
When the Mystics dropped to 5-8, it looked similar they mightiness beryllium coming backmost to Earth aft an unexpected beardown start. Instead, Washington (11-11) has rallied to triumph six of the past 9 games. That streak included a brace of wins implicit Las Vegas, handing Minnesota 1 of its 3 losses and winning astatine Seattle connected Sunday. The Mystics person inactive been outscored connected the play but present indispensable beryllium taken earnestly arsenic playoff contenders astatine seventh successful the standings.
First-half MVP: Given rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are the lone Washington players to commencement each game, possibly the reply is first-year caput manager Sydney Johnson, who has built a top-five defense. Citron has been the astir businesslike of Washington's double-digit scorers and a speedy survey connected defense, truthful I'd springiness her the motion implicit starring scorer Brittney Sykes. -- Pelton
1:59
Mystics clasp connected to bushed Storm
Brittney Sykes' 19 points assistance assistance the Mystics past the Storm.
Atlanta Dream: B
Since peaking astatine 10-4, the Dream person mislaid 5 of their past 7 games to descent to 5th successful the standings. Still, lone past year's 2 Finalists person amended constituent differentials than Atlanta (12-9), which has outscored opponents by 5.0 PPG contempt integrating caller manager Karl Smesko and 2 caller starters positive dealing with Jordin Canada's lack to commencement the season. Smesko's discourtesy has brought retired the champion successful the Dream's holdovers connected the perimeter and accommodated a brace of station scorers successful Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones.
First-half MVP: Allisha Gray is pushing for All-WNBA first-team honors, having averaged vocation highs successful points (18.6), rebounds (5.5) and assists (3.9) per crippled portion making 3s astatine a 39% clip. Gray was rightfully voted to commencement the All-Star Game for the archetypal time. -- Pelton
1:28
Jordin Canada drops 26 points successful archetypal fractional for Atlanta
Atlanta's Jordin Canada goes disconnected for a staggering 26 points successful conscionable the archetypal half.
Seattle Storm: B-
Perhaps the WNBA's slightest accordant team, the Storm person gone a combined 5-2 against the 3 teams up of them successful the standings but conscionable 8-7 against the remainder of the league. Depth is 1 cardinal origin successful Seattle (13-9) playing to its competition. Since Erica Wheeler moved into the starting five, Storm reserves person averaged a league-low 13.4 PPG, per WNBA Advanced Stats.
First-half MVP: Any of the Storm's 3 All-Stars would beryllium a tenable choice. Veterans Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike are the team's 2 starring scorers and tops successful assists (Diggins) and rebounds (Ogwumike). Yet I'd spell with Gabby Williams, who has been a antiaircraft unit (averaging a league-high 2.5 SPG) and an important violative connector. -- Pelton
1:59
Storm propulsion distant precocious to bushed the Sun
Seattle grinds retired a 79-65 triumph implicit Connecticut down Gabby Williams' 18 points.
Indiana Fever: B-
The Fever (12-10) person had a batch to woody with, which they person done a decent occupation with. So their people bumped up from a C-plus. Caitlin Clark's quad and groin injuries -- she was wounded again precocious successful Tuesday's triumph implicit Connecticut -- person outgo the All-Star starter 9 regular-season games truthful far. DeWanna Bonnner, expected to beryllium a cardinal free-agent addition, wasn't blessed with her relation and was waived. She has signed with Phoenix. Indiana picked up defender Aari McDonald, who has helped. But the Fever are hoping to get Clark afloat steadfast and amended defensively to marque the astir of this season.
First-half MVP: It's hard not to prime All-Star reserve Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever's starring scorer astatine 19.3 PPG. She has been truthful good. But All-Star starter Aliyah Boston (16.0 PPG connected 57.7% shooting and team-high 7.8 RPG) gets the motion arsenic she has been the Fever's astir accordant interior subordinate and antiaircraft stalwart. -- Voepel
1:44
Caitlin Clark's double-double leads Fever to victory
Caitlin Clark drops 14 points and 13 assists to substance the Fever to a 102-83 triumph implicit the Wings.
Los Angeles Sparks: C-
The Sparks (8-14) person been underwhelming done the archetypal fractional of the season. After finishing with the worst grounds successful the league past year, they acquired Kelsey Plum successful the hopes that the guard, on with Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby and a steadfast Cameron Brink, could instrumentality Los Angeles to playoff contention. Yes, with Tuesday's triumph implicit Washington, the Sparks already person won arsenic galore games arsenic successful each of past season, but they inactive person the fourth-worst grounds successful the league. There's nary wide reply for erstwhile Brink volition beryllium back. And portion Plum averages 20.1 points per game, determination is simply a batch of enactment yet to do.
First-half MVP: Kelsey Plum. She ranks 3rd successful the league successful scoring and is matching her vocation precocious successful points per game. She has had respective monolithic scoring outbursts, including a 37-point crippled connected opening nighttime and astir precocious a 23-point show against the Sun connected July 13. Plum has done everything the Sparks were hoping to get from her erstwhile they traded for her successful the offseason. -- Andrews
1:42
Kelsey Plum (23 points) Highlights vs. Connecticut Sun
Kelsey Plum (23 points) Highlights vs. Connecticut Sun, 07/13/2025
Chicago Sky: C-
The Sky (7-14) person a caller coach, Tyler Marsh, and mislaid their astir experienced player, 15-year seasoned constituent defender Courtney Vandersloot, to a season-ending genu wounded connected June 7. So determination has been a batch to set to successful 2025. Chicago had an "F" people 1 period into the play with conscionable 2 victories, but has gone 5-8 since, including a triumph implicit league-leading Minnesota. Chicago inactive leads the league successful turnovers astatine 15.7, but that's down 2 from the Sky's mean successful mid-June. So determination has been improvement, which is reflected successful a amended grade.
First-half MVP: Forward Angel Reese. She leads the Sky successful scoring (14.0), rebounding (league-best 12.6) and -- judge it oregon not -- assists (3.8). She has had 9 double-doubles successful a row. Reese held down the fort portion chap second-year station subordinate Kamilla Cardoso was distant playing for Brazil successful the AmeriCup tournament. There has been a batch connected Reese's shoulders, and she has responded. -- Voepel
1:52
Angel Reese, Ariel Atkins spell disconnected successful Sky's triumph implicit Lynx
Ariel Atkins drops a game-high 27 points and Angel Reese chips successful 19 arsenic the Sky outlast the Lynx, 87-81.
Dallas Wings: D+
The Wings (6-16) person had immoderate bully wins this play implicit Atlanta and Phoenix. Their 3 rookie guards -- Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly -- person brought hustle and vigor to the team. The commercialized for halfway Li Yueru has helped her get the minutes she needs and Dallas get immoderate consistency inside. But the Wings' veterans are mostly injured oregon not playing precise well, including defender Arike Ogunbowale. She is averaging 16.0 points portion shooting 35% wide and 29.5% from 3-point range, each vocation lows.
First-half MVP: All-Star starter Paige Bueckers has helped determination the Wings up a spot from an F people past time. She is averaging 18.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists and has established herself arsenic the Rookie of the Year favorite. But this roster needs to look antithetic adjacent twelvemonth to champion instrumentality vantage of Bueckers' talent. -- Voepel
1:52
Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James harvester for 51 successful win
Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James harvester for 51 points arsenic the Wings instrumentality down the Mercury.
Las Vegas Aces: D
It's hard to diagnose what has gone incorrect for the Aces (10-11) arsenic they stumble toward the All-Star break. Their defence has been a struggle, going from a top-5 defence successful 2024 to a bottom-5. They besides person the fourth-worst violative standing successful the league. The Aces squeaked retired a much-needed triumph implicit the Valkyries implicit the weekend, but it came connected the heels of blowing a 15-point pb against the Mystics -- Las Vegas' largest blown pb of the season. At this point, it's concerning that Las Vegas hasn't been capable to shingle disconnected the rocky start, oregon fig retired precisely what is causing the struggles. It's going to instrumentality an unthinkable 2nd fractional of the play to marque the Aces a competitory postseason team.
First-half MVP: Three-time MVP A'ja Wilson has been the lone agleam spot for the Aces' play -- and successful the 4 games she missed her value was highlighted adjacent more. Wilson ranks 2nd successful the league successful scoring with 21.5 points per crippled and precocious enactment up 34 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks to assistance the Aces bushed the Valkyries 104-102. -- Andrews
1:40
A'ja Wilson comes up large for Aces with 34-point double-double
A'ja Wilson goes for 34 points and 16 rebounds successful the Aces' choky 104-102 triumph implicit the Valkyries.
Connecticut Sun: F
It's not that we were expecting overmuch from the Sun (3-19) this season. They mislaid their full starting 5 from 2024, led by longtime individuality of the franchise Alyssa Thomas, positive manager Stephanie White. But it has been possibly adjacent rougher than anticipated. Guard Marina Mabrey was the team's starring scorer (15.2 PPG) erstwhile she went retired with a genu injury; she hasn't played since June 20. Veteran halfway Tina Charles has since go the Sun's apical scorer (15.6), but Connecticut is lacking successful offense. The Sun are averaging 72.7 PPG and allowing 88.0 PPG, some worst successful the WNBA.
First-half MVP: Tina Charles, 36, is inactive doing her occupation connected her mode to the Hall of Fame. There conscionable isn't capable endowment astir her to springiness her different changeable astatine the playoffs this year. Hopefully, she has astatine slightest a fewer years near to get different accidental astatine the postseason. -- Voepel
