The 2025 WNBA season was a historic one for the sport, creating a lot of hope for the future. This season saw the beginning of a modern dynasty, new teams bursting onto the scene, record-breaking growth and many rising stars.
The Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA finals in a 4-0 sweep over the Phoenix Mercury on Oct. 10. This dominant win is the Aces’ third finals win in the last four years, cementing themselves as one of the best teams in WNBA history. This dominance has been largely in part due to superstar A’ja Wilson, who won her second finals MVP and fourth regular season MVP in her seven years in the league. Wilson led the league in scoring, averaging 23.4 points per game, and was ranked first and second for rebounds and blocks, respectively. According to ESPN, her continued success throughout her career has placed her in the GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation. The Aces’ consistent triumphs despite the frequent roster changes have shown this team’s resilience and connection, which will help them try to repeat as champions next season.
Before the 2025 season began, the Golden State Valkyries were introduced as the 13th team in the WNBA, and they made an immediate impact. They ended with a record of 23-21, the best record ever by a newly-established team in their first year, emphasizing their promising future in this league. The Valkyries made the playoffs in their debut season, but lost to the Minnesota Lynx in the first round. Yet, simply making the playoffs created a lot of optimism for the emerging fanbase, and the team can continue to develop with time and new players. Some breakout stars that contributed to their accomplishments are guard Veronica Burton and forward Janelle Salaün. Both of them dominated early with effective scoring and ferocious defense, defying all odds and making the playoffs when no one thought they would.
This past season broke many viewership records, building on the explosive growth last year. As reported by Athlon Sports, the average viewership in the regular season was 794,000, a 21% increase from the previous year. The most-watched game was between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky on ABC, which drew 2.7 million viewers, the highest viewership for a WNBA game since 2000. The playoffs also saw exponential growth in viewership, averaging 1.2 million viewers per game, a 5% jump from last year, according to Sports Illustrated. Social media engagement was a big factor in this viewership jump. Young superstars such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are big contributors to the rise, using their platforms to emphasize their talents and skills.
These rising stars are changing the trajectory of the WNBA, even in their young careers. Caitlin Clark led the league in assists with an average of 9.3 per game and showed her dominance every time she stepped onto the court. Her shooting ability brings a lot of excitement to the WNBA and thousands of viewers to the game. Similarly, Angel Reese led the league in rebounds with an average of 12.3 a game and put up multiple double-doubles (10 or more points, rebounds, or assists). Her presence has also brought many to watch the WNBA in the short time she has been in the league because of her early dominance. Many rookies came onto the scene and dominated in their first year, most notably Paige Bueckers. Bueckers averaged 19.2 points and won Rookie of the Year, cementing herself as the next big name in the league. Other notable rookies include Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Dominique Malonga, who all had incredible seasons.
The 2025 season was one for the record books; from high-intensity games to phenomenal fan interactions, this season certified the WNBA as a league that will only continue to grow in the years to come.
