The Las Vegas Aces look to firm up dynasty talk and the New York Liberty still seek the franchise’s first title, while dueling stars A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart each go for their third MVP award. The rookie class, led by No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, has capitalized on college visibility to bring more eyes to the WNBA than any previous group of draftees.
The move to charter flights and the impending expansion are also making headlines as the WNBA’s 28th season opens Tuesday, with a 40-game schedule that takes a monthlong break from mid-July to mid-August for the Paris Olympics.
Wilson and Stewart are staples of Team USA; might Clark nab a spot on the Olympic roster to prepare her for a bigger future role? It will depend in part on how she plays for the Fever, who add Clark to last year’s No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston, in hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Las Vegas seeks its third consecutive title with all its key players back except Candace Parker, who recently retired. Can the Liberty — or anyone else — prevent the Aces from being the only team besides the now-defunct Houston Comets to win three titles in a row?
If Las Vegas and New York — which met in the 2023 WNBA Finals — are…
