Seven months ago, the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in the deciding Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals. It prompted celebration in the Big Apple for New York’s first league title — and lamentation in Minnesota. Angry about a late foul called in regulation, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve blasted the officiating, saying, “This s— was stolen from us.”
Ready for the Liberty and Lynx to try and run it back? They are the front-runners to reach the 2025 WNBA Finals, according to ESPN’s panel of experts, who are feeling Minnesota as the preseason favorite. But there are big challengers, too, including the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces and the team that seems to have the most preseason buzz, the Indiana Fever.
The WNBA’s 29th season begins with three games Friday, headed by No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers‘ debut for the Dallas Wings, who host Minnesota. In Saturday’s doubleheader on ABC, we will get a look at the defending champion Liberty against the Aces (1 p.m. ET), followed by last season’s rookie stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese facing off as Indiana hosts the Chicago Sky (3 p.m. ET).
ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Katie Barnes, Kevin Pelton, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel make their predictions for which teams could contend for the title and…
