Each season brings new expertise to the WNBA. This yr additionally introduced a brand new crew. And for the primary time, a member of the growth Golden State Valkyries made ESPN’s rating of the highest 25 gamers within the league.
Because the WNBA All-Star break nears, ESPN’s midseason rankings are based mostly on how gamers are performing this season, not on their profession accomplishments. So some notable names who’re usually in these rankings aren’t on the checklist now.
New gamers coming into the WNBA are making names for themselves, whereas others are getting alternatives in new locations to increase their video games. Accidents all the time impression our rankings, too; gamers who have not competed in not less than half of their groups’ video games had been ineligible, which incorporates the New York Liberty‘s Jonquel Jones and Phoenix Mercury‘s Kahleah Copper.
And whereas we did not contemplate rookies for the preseason checklist, they’re additionally within the combine now. ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel rank the WNBA’s greatest gamers to date in 2025.
Ahead | 6-foot-1
Preseason rating: 2
2025 stats: 23.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.4 APG
For the primary time, Collier tops our rankings after submitting a primary half that has her in pole place for MVP. Collier leads the WNBA in scoring by greater than three factors per sport and is a number one contender to repeat as Defensive Participant of the 12 months, averaging a mixed 3.2 steals and blocks per sport. After ending runner-up for MVP to A’ja Wilson and shedding a WNBA Finals collection that went the gap, Collier has established herself because the league’s greatest participant and the Lynx because the league’s greatest crew. — Kevin Pelton
1:41
Napheesa Collier scores 22 factors vs. the Valkyries
Minnesota Lynx ahead Napheesa Collier leads the Lynx to a win with 22 factors vs. the Valkyries.
Middle | 6-foot-4
Preseason rating: 1
2025 stats: 21.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.4 BPG
No sport may higher sum up the three-time MVP’s celebrity standing than Saturday’s victory over Golden State. She had left Tuesday’s sport vs. New York due to a wrist damage after which missed Thursday vs. Washington, each losses. She returned with 34 factors, 16 rebounds, 4 assists and a pair of blocks to assist the Aces beat the Valkyries 104-102. It was the large efficiency the up-and-down Aces needed to have. As a result of she does it so usually does not imply we must always take it without any consideration. — Michael Voepel
1:40
A’ja Wilson comes up large for Aces with 34-point double-double
A’ja Wilson goes for 34 factors and 16 rebounds within the Aces’ tight 104-102 win over the Valkyries.
Ahead | 6-foot-2
Preseason rating: 5
2025 stats: 15.3 PPG, 9.5 APG, 7.5 RPG
Thomas is flourishing greater than ever in Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts’ system, the place she’s given a great deal of house to function and is surrounded by shooters. The outcome? A stunning yr for the Terps legend who’s main the league in assists whereas taking pictures a career-best 53.8% from the sphere. The Mercury common extra 3-point makes per sport than every other crew, boast the third-best defensive score and have been one of many WNBA’s most nice surprises — and it is largely resulting from Thomas’ brilliance. — Alexa Philippou
1:57
Alyssa Thomas drops career-high 29 in Mercury’s win
Alyssa Thomas scores a profession excessive with 29 factors within the Mercury’s 79-71 win over the Lynx.
Ahead | 6-foot-4
Preseason rating: 3
2025 stats: 19.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.8 APG
Particularly with Jonquel Jones being out for 11 video games, Stewart’s consistency is the inspiration New York depends upon. She has scored in double figures in all however one sport this season. Her taking pictures proportion from past the arc (21.0%) could possibly be higher. However she is taking pictures 53.6% from 2-point vary and ranks within the high 5 within the league in win shares. If the Liberty repeat their title this season, Stewart shall be an enormous motive. — Voepel
Guard | 5-foot-11
Preseason rating: 7
2025 stats: 19.4 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.6 RPG
Averaging a career-high 19.4 factors per sport, Ionescu is exhibiting how her offense can take over a sport when wanted. She recorded back-to-back 34-point video games final month, went 7-for-7 from the free throw line within the remaining three minutes to safe a Liberty win over Golden State and, after a troublesome street journey, posted three 20-point video games final week. Because the Liberty have navigated an injury-riddled season, Ionescu’s depth and effectivity have been vital to conserving New York on observe. — Kendra Andrews
1:59
Sabrina Ionescu’s 28-point sport propels Liberty previous Aces
Sabrina Ionescu finishes with 28 factors and eight assists within the Liberty’s 87-78 win over the Aces.
Guard | 6-foot
Preseason rating: 23
2025 stats: 19.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 42% 3FG
Taking part in for brand new head coach Karl Smesko has introduced out one of the best in Grey, deservedly a first-time All-Star starter after making it as a reserve the previous two seasons. She is averaging profession highs in scoring, rebounding and assists (4.0 per sport). With Smesko certainly encouraging her to let it fly, Grey is trying a career-high 46% of her photographs from lengthy distance whereas additionally averaging as many free throws per sport (5.4) as ever earlier than. If Grey retains it up, she ought to make an All-WNBA crew for the primary time. — Pelton
Ahead | 6-foot-4
Preseason rating: 12
2025 stats: 19.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.4 SPG
Coming off a 2024 season by which she performed simply 15 video games after offseason shoulder surgical procedure, Sabally is placing up a number of the greatest numbers of her profession. In her first season with the Mercury, Sabally is a top-10 scorer who has recorded 10 20-point video games. Pairing her alongside Alyssa Thomas has been a profitable mixture for Phoenix and helped Sabally get again to the extent of play folks have come to count on from her. — Andrews
Ahead/middle | 6-foot-5
Preseason rating: 21
2025 stats: 16.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.1 BPG
Boston’s position with the Fever has by no means been extra vital as Indiana navigated enjoying with out Clark for 9 video games. Boston delivered. She entered the season as an elite defender, however her sport has turn out to be extra well-rounded. She is averaging a career-high 16.2 factors on 58.1% taking pictures to go along with a career-best 3.7 assists. Final month, she scored a career-high 31 factors in a win at Seattle. — Andrews
Guard | 6-foot
Preseason rating: 4
2025 stats: 16.7 PPG, 9.0 APG, 4.8 RPG
Clark is a tough participant to evaluate given her lack of availability resulting from damage — she has appeared in 12 video games, sitting out two stretches of 5 video games. Although she is presently amid a taking pictures droop (13-for-41 from the sphere and 5-for-19 from 3 since coming back from her server damage), she has shined along with her playmaking. She has 19 assists over her previous two video games, together with the seventeenth 10-assist sport of her profession Sunday — her first with not more than two turnovers. — Philippou
Ahead | 6-foot-2
Preseason rating: 8
2025 stats: 17.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 52% FG
Quietly, Ogwumike retains steadily climbing the WNBA’s all-time leaderboards. She’s now seventh in factors and eighth in rebounds, and this season’s All-Star look shall be Ogwumike’s tenth, tied for third most in league historical past. At 35, Ogwumike reveals no signal of slowing up. She’s surpassing her profession averages in each factors and rebounds. Ogwumike stays one of many league’s most effective scorers. Her 52% taking pictures is better of any participant who has tried not less than 100 photographs and not less than 50 3-pointers. — Pelton
Guard | 5-foot-9
Preseason rating: 18
2025 stats: 18.2 PPG, 5.9 APG, 40.5% 3FG
The driving pressure behind a Storm offense that ranks sixth in per-possession scoring after buying and selling main scorer Jewell Loyd, Diggins has been harmful 3-point risk to go along with her playmaking. Diggins is taking pictures 39% on 3s, up from 29% in 2024, and making 1.6 per sport. Per GeniusIQ, simply two ball handlers who’ve used not less than 250 screens have surpassed Diggins’ 1.01 factors per direct likelihood: Caitlin Clark and Courtney Williams. And solely Williams has run extra pick-and-rolls. — Pelton
0:23
Skylar Diggins rises to dam the shot
Skylar Diggins rises to dam the shot, 07/13/2025
Guard | 5-foot-8
Preseason rating: 10
2025 stats: 19.9 PPG, 5.9 APG, 1.4 SPG
When Plum arrived in Los Angeles, the Sparks hoped she would assist treatment their offensive issues from a yr in the past. Whereas the crew has struggled, Plum has crammed that position, main the Sparks in scoring, assists and minutes. Her 19.9 factors per sport are probably the most she has averaged since 2022 (20.2), when she completed third in MVP voting, and rank third within the league this season. — Andrews
1:42
Kelsey Plum (23 factors) Highlights vs. Connecticut Solar
Kelsey Plum (23 factors) Highlights vs. Connecticut Solar, 07/13/2025
Guard | 6-foot
Preseason rating: Unranked
2025 stats: 18.3 PPG, 45.6% FG, 5.4 APG
Successful has been robust to return by in Dallas, however Bueckers has been stellar in her debut season as an All-Star and the clear favourite for rookie of the yr. She ranks high 10 in scoring and is one in every of three gamers to common not less than 18 factors and 5 assists per sport. In simply 17 contests, she has had eight video games with 15-plus factors and five-plus assists, already tied for third most all time by any rookie. — Philippou
0:21
Bueckers snatches rock from Clark, finishes with and-1
Paige Bueckers snatches the ball from Caitlin Clark and takes it coast-to-coast for a Wings and-1.
Guard | 6-foot
Preseason rating: 9
2025 stats: 17.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.9 APG
It has been a frustratingly inconsistent season for the Aces, however that is not the case with the stoic, business-like play of Younger. She all the time stays even-keel, which Las Vegas depends upon. Whereas her 3-point proportion (30.3%) has dropped, she’s taking pictures 52% from 2-point vary and 90.5% from the free throw line. She scored 30 factors Saturday within the Aces’ win over Golden State. — Voepel
Guard | 5-foot-8
Preseason rating: 13
2025 stats: 19.2 PPG, 45.9% FG, 37.3% 3FG
Mitchell, an All-Star in every of the previous three years, has discovered her taking pictures type because the season has progressed. She boasts seven 20-point performances in her previous 9 video games after recording three such performances in her first 12. Her offensive manufacturing — 19.2 factors per sport matches her career-best scoring common from final yr — has been much more essential for Indiana with Clark out and in of the lineup and nonetheless working again from damage. — Philippou
1:04
Kelsey Mitchell’s 25 factors gas Fever to win at dwelling
Kelsey Mitchell contributes an enormous 25 factors at dwelling for Indiana to assist the Fever with an enormous 99-82 win over Atlanta.
Guard | 6-foot-2
Preseason rating: 20
2025 stats: 16.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.5 APG
New Dream coach Karl Smesko’s offense suits multidimensional scorer Howard nicely. She has most improved her passing this season, averaging a profession excessive in assists. Howard missed Sunday’s sport at New York after injuring her knee in Friday’s sport at Indiana. We’ll see whether or not she will be able to play Wednesday at Chicago after which in Saturday’s All-Star Sport, for which she was chosen as a reserve. — Voepel
0:18
Rhyne Howard comes out of nowhere for large rejection
Rhyne Howard sends away the shot with an emphatic block beneath the backboard.
Guard | 5-foot-11
Preseason rating: 15
2025 stats: 13.9 PPG, 37.9% 3FG, 3.1 APG
McBride wasn’t named an All-Star — many considered her a snub, her present taking pictures droop however — however the Lynx understand how integral she is to their success. The elite two-way guard knocks down 38% of her 3-pointers. There is no doubt that for Minnesota to carry dwelling its fifth championship later this fall, it may’t depend on solely Napheesa Collier. It’s going to additionally want veteran chief McBride to be at her greatest. — Philippou
Ahead | 6-foot-3
Preseason rating: 25
2025 stats: 13.6 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG
Reese has made a sizeable leap up this checklist since our preseason rankings. She is on a sizzling streak, recording eight straight double-doubles together with a 22-point, 15-rebound sport towards the Washington Mystics earlier this month. As soon as once more, she is main the league in rebounds (12.8 per sport), however she has additionally proven enchancment in her facilitating, averaging 3.8 assists (she averaged 1.8 final yr). If Reese retains up this stage of play, she may proceed to rise in these rankings. — Andrews
1:52
Angel Reese, Ariel Atkins go off in Sky’s win over Lynx
Ariel Atkins drops a game-high 27 factors and Angel Reese chips in 19 because the Sky outlast the Lynx, 87-81.
Ahead | 6-foot-3
Preseason rating: 22
2025 stats: 16.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.7 APG
The Sparks have not had back-to-back victories but this season. If that they had a bit extra consistency, Hamby might need been an All-Star for the fourth time. As it’s, she is enjoying at a excessive stage once more. And if the Sparks can enhance within the second half, Hamby shall be one of many causes. — Voepel
Ahead | 5-foot-11
Preseason rating: Unranked
2025 stats: 14.0 PPG, 4.5 APG, 2.6 SPG
Having Williams in coaching camp from the beginning has paid off for each her and the Storm. Lengthy a pressure in EuroLeague and with the French nationwide crew, Williams has translated that to the WNBA, incomes her first All-Star look. Williams is the one participant averaging higher than 2 steals per sport, placing her in the mix for Defensive Player of the Year. The versatile Williams has recorded point-rebound and point-assist double-doubles, and her scoring common is definitely a profession excessive. — Pelton
Ahead | 6-foot-3
Preseason rating: Unranked
2025 stats: 13.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.4 APG
One other participant who may have simply been an All-Star, Jones has delivered to Atlanta her trademark subdued excellence on the inside. Whereas there might need been preliminary questions on how she’d slot in coach Karl Smesko’s system, she has thrived — and is even beginning to launch extra 3s. She is one in every of 4 gamers with not less than eight double-doubles, alongside Reese, Boston and Thomas, whereas her 51.7% taking pictures makes her one of many WNBA’s most effective gamers. — Philippou
Guard | 5-foot-9
Preseason rating: Unranked
2025 stats: 17.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.5 APG
Sykes leads the Mystics in scoring and assists however shouldn’t be an All-Star, though her two rookie teammates Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are. She has been teammate and supportive of them, however search for that snub to gas a robust season. She has been a driving pressure in main the Mystics to an 11-10 document, which is a lot better than what most had been projecting. — Voepel
Guard | 6-foot-1
Preseason rating: Unranked
2025 stats: 14.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 88% FT
Citron and teammate Kiki Iriafen are the primary pair of rookie All-Stars straight out of faculty in WNBA historical past. Though Iriafen was the early standout, Citron’s manufacturing has remained extra constant over time. The No. 3 decide has instantly been one of many league’s most effective scorers, posting an efficient area objective proportion of 53% after factoring in 3-pointers whereas additionally taking pictures practically 90% on the charity stripe. — Pelton
1:59
Mystics maintain on to beat Storm
Brittney Sykes’ 19 factors assist elevate the Mystics previous the Storm.
Ahead | 6-foot-1
Preseason rating: Unranked
2025 stats: 14.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.5 SPG
Thornton and the Valkyries have been among the finest surprises in sports activities. The Valkyries are within the playoff hunt, and Thornton is having one of the best yr of her profession, incomes her first All-Star choice. If extra alternative is what Thornton wanted to have a breakout yr, getting chosen by Golden State within the growth draft was one of the best factor that might have occurred to her. Thornton has established herself because the crew’s go-to offensive choice whereas additionally defending the opponents’ high scorers. If the Valkyries preserve discovering success, Thornton will keep on this checklist for the remainder of the season. — Andrews
Guard | 5-foot-8
Preseason rating: Unranked
2025 stats: 14.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.0 APG
Williams is without doubt one of the motors for the first-place Lynx, and so they want her at each ends of the courtroom. She is their second-leading scorer and ranks first on the crew in assists, plus her protection is essential. Williams additionally does job rebounding from the guard place, and that may assist push Minnesota’s offense. — Voepel