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UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The 2022 WNBA season ended with a franchise successful its first title. The Las Vegas Aces, who originated because the Utah Starzz when the WNBA debuted in 1997, received the WNBA Finals in a sweep towards the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, and the Aces present no indicators of slowing down for 2023.
Two of the WNBA’s largest legends — Seattle Storm guard Sue Hen and Minnesota Lynx heart Sylvia Fowles — have retired. This offseason, we’ll wait to see if two different iconic gamers, the Chicago Sky’s Candace Parker and the Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi, will return for 2023. And the league and its gamers will hold their ideas on Phoenix heart Brittney Griner, who has been imprisoned in Russia since February.
There are at the least two head-coaching hires to be made, for the Los Angeles Sparks and Indiana Fever. After one other troublesome season, the Fever will await the draft lottery, the place they’ll see in the event that they lastly get a No. 1 choose for the primary time in franchise historical past.
We up to date our WNBA Energy Rankings each Monday of the common season. Right here we listing the place groups have been in closing regular-season rankings just a little over a month in the past and the place we venture they may begin the 2023 season — realizing rather a lot can change with trades, free company, the draft and prioritization guidelines that might influence gamers’ eligibility for the season relying on their abroad commitments.
MORE: Complete WNBA Finals coverage
1. Las Vegas Aces
2022 report: 26-10
End result: WNBA champion
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 2
The Aces rejoice a championship with a core 5 — A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Dearica Hamby — who’re all 30 or youthful (Grey turns 30 on Oct. 8) and underneath contract for subsequent season. Many observers pointed to depth as a possible drawback this season, nevertheless it did not cease the Aces from successful each the in-season Commissioner’s Cup and the general title. Now can they grow to be the primary WNBA group to repeat since Los Angeles in 2001 and 2002?
2. Connecticut Sun
2022 report: 25-11
End result: Misplaced to Las Vegas in WNBA Finals
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 3
Contemplating they have been with out flooring normal Jasmine Thomas (ACL) nearly all season, the Solar don’t have anything to hold their heads about with a runner-up end. Nonetheless, it’s the fourth time the franchise has misplaced within the Finals (the others have been 2004, 2005 and 2019) they usually have some considerations about subsequent season’s personnel. Will they have the ability to hold ahead Brionna Jones, the Sixth Lady of the Yr this season, and guard Courtney Williams, who’re each unrestricted free brokers? Regardless, with Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner again, they need to be robust contenders once more.
3. Washington Mystics
2022 report: 22-14
End result: Misplaced to Seattle within the first spherical
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 5
The Mystics strategically rested star Elena Delle Donne all through the common season resulting from her again points, and the plan labored, as she averaged 17.2 factors and 6.3 rebounds whereas enjoying 25 video games. When she will be able to play, Delle Donne is without doubt one of the greatest offensive gamers within the WNBA. However she simply turned 33, so her availability — along with her again damage historical past — will doubtless be restricted to a point the remainder of her profession. Washington’s high 5 scorers in 2022 — Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins, Natasha Cloud, Myisha Hines-Allen and Shakira Austin — are all underneath contract for subsequent season.
4. Seattle Storm
2022 report: 22-14
End result: Misplaced to Las Vegas in semifinals
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 4
We’re rolling the cube placing the Storm this excessive, as a result of issues may look dramatically totally different by subsequent season. As my colleague Kevin Pelton wrote recently, the Storm face an unsure future. Hen has been the group’s chief for 20 years, and nobody individual will ever change her. However ahead Breanna Stewart, a free agent within the prime of her profession, can be irreplaceable. In all, there are seven free brokers, and guard Jewell Loyd is the one key participant from 2022 underneath contract for subsequent season. Stewart’s return would solidify rather a lot. But when she would not come again, the Storm will begin subsequent season with a a lot decrease projection.
5. Chicago Sky
2022 report: 26-10
End result: Misplaced to Connecticut in semifinals
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 1
For a very long time, the Sky shall be reliving the nightmare of the final 4 minutes of Sport 5 towards the Solar, questioning how that recreation, that collection and their probability at repeating all bought away in a single horrible scoreless stretch. However coach/normal supervisor James Wade additionally has a number of work to do within the offseason. As is the case with Seattle, the Sky may not be this excessive within the Energy Rankings subsequent season if they appear considerably totally different. Will Parker return? What concerning the franchise’s longest-tenured participant, Courtney Vandersloot, and her spouse, fellow guard Allie Quigley? Kahleah Copper is the important thing participant the Sky have on contract for 2023.
6. New York Liberty
2022 report: 16-20
End result: Misplaced to Chicago within the first spherical
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 10
We’re bullish on the Liberty primarily based on the very best issues we noticed from them this season, when guard Sabrina Ionescu broke by way of to be the sort of triple-double risk we have been anticipating. The Liberty’s key gamers are underneath contract, and they’re going to have had a 12 months of enjoying in coach Sandy Brondello’s system. The Liberty are certain to nonetheless be making an attempt to enhance within the offseason, however this group might be able to make a optimistic step ahead that features a longer playoff run.
7. Dallas Wings
2022 report: 18-18
End result: Misplaced to Connecticut in first spherical
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 6
The Wings have been the lone .500 group within the WNBA in 2022, and that was a step in the precise route for Dallas. Arike Ogunbowale was injured on the finish of the season and wasn’t capable of contribute within the playoffs, however Dallas nonetheless pushed the Solar to a few video games of their collection. However can Dallas break into that group of title contenders, versus simply being a group that may make the playoffs? Ahead Isabelle Harrison is an unrestricted free agent. Guard Marina Mabrey, who took over a giant management position particularly when Ogunbowale was harm, and heart Teaira McCowan, who stored enhancing because the season went alongside, are restricted free brokers. It will assist if the Wings may get something near a full season in 2023 from ahead Satou Sabally, who has been restricted every of her three years within the league with accidents.
8. Atlanta Dream
2022 report: 14-22
End result: Missed playoffs
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 8
With a brand new coach in Tanisha Wright, a largely younger squad and veteran guard Tiffany Hayes restricted to 11 video games, little was fairly anticipated from the Dream in 2022. But they practically nabbed a playoff spot, thanks largely to a Rookie of the Yr season from guard Rhyne Howard, the No. 1 draft choose. She shortly answered no matter questions individuals might need had about how quickly she would modify to the professional recreation. This was an overachieving squad, which is a superb one-year story within the WNBA however not one thing you wish to construct a franchise round long run. Youthful gamers like Howard, Aari McDonald and Naz Hillmon competed with a number of power, however GM Dan Padover has work to do within the offseason so as to add extra expertise.
9. Minnesota Lynx
2022 report: 14-22
End result: Missed playoffs
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 9
Just about the whole lot that might go incorrect in Fowles’ final season did go incorrect, but the Lynx nonetheless did not get eradicated from playoff rivalry till the final day of the common season. Coach/GM Cheryl Reeve was frank in her evaluation after the season that a number of the buttons she tried to push for 2022 when it comes to roster development simply did not work. Additionally, ahead Napheesa Collier performed solely 4 video games in 2022 after giving start to her daughter. She is predicted to be again to her common self in 2023. Collier, Kayla McBride and Aerial Powers are all underneath contract for 2023, however the Lynx are going to want extra assist inside. Getting again to the postseason could be a really optimistic step. Issues the Lynx as soon as simply anticipated of their dynasty years cannot be taken as a right anymore.
10. Phoenix Mercury
2022 report: 15-21
End result: Misplaced to Las Vegas in first spherical
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 7
Even in the event you did not take into consideration the truth that longtime Mercury star Griner was in jail 1000’s of miles away, it was a drama-filled season for Phoenix. From Tina Charles’ contract divorce round midseason, to Taurasi’s late-season damage, to Skylar Diggins-Smith leaving the group for private causes whereas the Mercury have been combating for a playoff spot, first-year coach Vanessa Nygaard had her fingers full. Diggins-Smith, Diamond DeShields and Brianna Turner are the Mercury gamers underneath contract for 2023. It appears onerous to consider that Diggins-Smith and Nygaard can co-exist for an additional season, so what is going to the Mercury do about that?
11. Indiana Fever
2022 report: 5-31
End result: Missed playoffs
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 12
The Fever parted methods with coach Marianne Stanley early within the 2022 season, nevertheless it did not change something. Indiana was very younger, and whereas the Fever battled to at the least problem groups, they simply did not have the developed expertise to do it. Their subsequent coach has to assist nurture that progress in 2023. No. 2 draft choose NaLyssa Smith had a stable season (13.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG), however the Fever want the lottery to go their manner to allow them to add a possible franchise-changing participant resembling South Carolina submit participant Aliyah Boston.
12. Los Angeles Sparks
2022 report:> 13-23
End result: Missed playoffs
Ultimate regular-season Energy Rating: 11
The Sparks have simply two key gamers underneath contract for subsequent season in guard Chennedy Carter and ahead Katie Lou Samuelson — and neither of them averaged double-figures scoring in 2022. Face-of-the-franchise Nneka Ogwumike is among the many unrestricted free brokers. With a lot to determine, you’ll suppose the Sparks really feel a way of urgency in hiring a brand new GM — however you by no means know with this franchise. The Sparks have not had that place stuffed since coach/GM Derek Fisher was fired in June. Will the Sparks attempt to change coach/GM with one individual once more, or will they rent for each jobs? Previous to 2021-22, the Sparks hadn’t missed the playoffs two years in a row since 1997-98, the league’s first two seasons. The franchise looks like it’s at a crossroads now.