All Scores

WNBA Teams Drop Rosters, Cut Players Before Season Tip-Off

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever looks on from the bench while playing the Dallas Wings during a pre season game
With a standout rookie class, competition for a WNBA roster spot has never been fiercer. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

With the 2024 WNBA season set to tip off on Tuesday, teams from around the league have issued their final rosters. 

While some big name players were subject to cuts, a few repeat bubble players were able to make their respective teams while a couple of surprise rookies also found their way onto opening-day squads. Here's everything you need to know about the each WNBA team's permanent roster, from training day waivers and draftee futures to projected season shakeouts.

Atlanta Dream

The Dream made some interesting offseason moves, adding seasoned post-scorer and 2012 WNBA MVP Tina Charles in an attempt to build on an impressive 2023 run that saw Atlanta through to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. On the flip side, the Dream cut all three of their rookies — Khadijiah Cave, Taja Cole, Elizabeth Balogun — along with training camp recruits Khaalia Hillsman and South Carolina grad Destanni Henderson.

Check out the final roster here.

Chicago Sky

The Chicago Sky have undergone something of a roster overhaul this offseason, kicked off by Kahleah Copper's trade to Phoenix. Newly minted head coach Teresa Weatherspoon’s first season at the helm will be led by Diamond DeShields, as well as star rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, currently sidelined with a shoulder injury

Former No. 4 pick Kysre Gondrezick made the Sky roster this year, while Chennedy Carter also found a landing spot in Chicago. 

Check out the final roster here.

Connecticut Sun

Just six players from the 2023 season have made their way back onto the Sun’s 2024 roster, including 2023 All-WNBA First Team member Alyssa Thomas. While there aren’t any rookies on this roster, Queen Egbo joins the Sun for the first time and alongside Olivia Nelson-Ododa, promises an interesting dynamic on the court. 

Check out the final roster here.

Indiana Fever

The Indiana Fever are carrying 13 players on their roster, with Damiris Dantas’ contract suspended as a result of injury. Headlined by Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and rookie phenom Caitlin Clark, Indiana is betting on their mix of veteran and young players as the team looks to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. 

Check out the final roster here.

New York Liberty

2023 WNBA Finals contenders took their time whittling down their roster on Monday, announcing the final lineup two minutes after the league's 5 PM ET deadline. The result is a refreshed bench designed to fuel their road back to the offseason, balancing experience and star power (Vandersloot, Ionescu, Jones, Stewart, Laney-Hamilton) with some rookie ingenuity by way of 2024 11th overall pick Marquesha Davis.

Check out the final roster here.

Washington Mystics

Washington is entering a new era after losing stars Natasha Cloud and Elena Delle Donne and taking UConn standout Aaliyah Edwards No. 6 overall in the 2024 draft. Edwards will have her shot at returning to the playoffs with the Mystics, making the roster alongside 2022 draft pick Shakira Austin and proven contributors Brittney Sykes and Ariel Atkins. Also of note, former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year with Baylor DiDi Richards, who's back in the league after being cut by the Liberty in 2023.

Check out the final roster here.

Dallas Wings

The Dallas Wings are coming off of a solid 2023 season and are poised to enter 2024 with a lot of buzz. Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally head up a strong rookie class that includes Ohio State leader Jacy Sheldon and undrafted surprise hit Jaelyn Brown. Lou Lopez Sénéchal will also see playing time this season after spending last year out with an injury.

One notable absence is Victoria Brown, who was cut by the team on Sunday.

Check out the final roster here.

Las Vegas Aces

The 2024 WNBA champs are going for the three-peat this year, arming themselves with an arsenal of veteran talent in the face of Candace Parker's unexpected retirement. Two-time league MVP A'ja Wilson leads a pack that spans the likes of Kelsey Plum, Kiah Stokes, and Syd Colson while draftees Dyaisha Fair (Syracuse) and Kate Martin (Iowa) can finally breathe easy after officially making the cut.

Check out the final roster here.

Los Angels Sparks

With high-profile draftees Stanford's Cameron Brink and Tennessee's Rickea Jackson both securing their spots on the final roster, the well-balanced Sparks are looking to drum up chemistry between the young recruits and longtime power players like Dearica Hamby.

Check out the final roster here.

Minnesota Lynx

Versatility is the name of the game in Minnesota, where the Lynx look to dominate the frontcourt with the likes of Napheesa Collier, Diamond Miller, and Alanna Smith. Guard Courtney Williams has also made herself known in preseason action, while No. 8 overall draft pick Alissa Pili (Utah) survived a tough slate of cuts that showed third-round pick Kiki Jefferson (Louisville) and 2021 WNBA champ Ruthy Hebard the door.

Check out the final roster here.

Phoenix Mercury

The Mercury acquired some major players this offseason, adding Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper to a squad that already lists trusted vets Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi in a bid to right Phoenix's 9-31 2023 record. The rookies didn't have an easy go of it, however, with 2024 third-round picks Charisma Osborne out of UCLA and Jaz Shelley out of Nebraska joining former CU Buffs star Mya Hollingshed on the cuts list.

Check out the final roster here.

Seattle Storm

A revamped Storm aims to reclaim their place in the postseason this year, pairing league stars Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneke Ogwumike with starting guard Jewell Lloyd in an effort to put points on the board from the jump. UConn alum Nika MĂĽhl, considered somewhat of a bubble player after going No. 14 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is officially sticking around, while fellow rookie Quay Miller (Colorado) failed to make the opening-day lineup.

Check out the final roster here.

‘The Late Sub’ Breaks Down USWNT Roster Cuts and Call-Ups Ahead of China PR Friendly

Attacking midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta looks on during a 2025 USWNT training camp.
Lo'eau LaBonta earned her first USWNT call-up at age 32. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins discusses the importance of the current international window for the USWNT and digs into the players who did and did not make head coach Emma Hayes's latest 24-athlete roster.

Watkins begins with those not invited to this week's senior team camp, with Hayes using the concurrent U23 camp as a "minor league" for athletes who "need a little bit more development or need to be in a different training situation or have different leadership structures."

Watkins specifically digs into the placement of midfielder Korbin Albert and forwards Jaedyn Shaw and Mia Fishel with the U23 squad, as well as the overall omission of goalkeeper Jane Campbell.

Honing in on Albert, Watkins calls her U23 spot a demotion, saying "It's wild to me that someone who started the [2024] Olympic gold-medal match for the USWNT is now playing for the U23s when the senior team is in session."

"I think we're stuck in this question of, 'is she good enough or is she not?'" explains Watkins, noting that "Albert isn't giving [Hayes] those all-around performances that validate that roster spot when there are other players that could be given a look."

In contrast, Watkins backs Hayes's decisions to place the versatile Shaw and Fishel — who's still regaining form from a 2024 ACL tear — with the youth team.

Calling her "the player truly out in the cold here," Watkins worries that 30-year-old Campbell might be facing an "always the bridesmaid, never the bride of the US goalkeeper cycle," with Hayes opting for a largely untested trio of Mandy McGlynn, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, and Claudia Dickey as she continues seeking retired star Alyssa Naeher's replacement.

First-time USWNT call-up Kerry Abello defends Lily Yohannes while head coach Emma Hayes watches during training camp.
Stellar NWSL play earned Orlando defender Kerry Abello a first USWNT nod. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Top NWSL play fuels USWNT roster call-ups

The uncapped Dickey, says Watkins, is one of the players reaping the benefits of Hayes's developmental roster movements.

"She is statistically one of the highest performing goalkeepers in the NWSL this season," notes Watkins about the Seattle Reign starter. "The numbers do not lie. She is one of the best pure shot-stoppers in the league this year, if not the best."

Also snagging a shot at the senior team thanks to stellar NWSL play are Orlando Pride standout and "Swiss Army knife defender" Kerry Abello, Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie, and Kansas City Current captain Lo'eau LaBonta.

LaBonta, who headlined this USWNT roster by earning her first-ever call-up at age 32, is a versatile midfielder with, according to Watkins, a "really, really strong" mentality as well as a "wonderful locker room presence."

Citing Hayes's previous comments about the age of certain players causing her to seek younger athletes, Watkins wonders if LaBonta's call-up isn't simply a long-overdue reward for years of top professional play, and instead, perhaps, a sign that Hayes is "learning that you need a little bit of both [youth and experience]."

"I think [LaBonta's] going to make herself hard to drop," states Watkins. "With 2027 only two years away, I'm not betting against LaBonta. She's going into this camp looking for more call-ups. This is not just a 'job well done' situation for her."

Finally, Watkins mentions that many younger players, like Kansas City's Michelle Cooper and Claire Hutton, and Utah's Ally Sentnor, are back in the mix "because they're playing too well for the U23s. They've been put into senior team camp and they've swam — they have not sunk."

Summer friendlies serve as senior team try-outs

The stakes are high for the 24 athletes in this USWNT camp, with small windows to impress Hayes while facing two tough opponents in the upcoming days: May 31st's clash with China PR and a June 3rd date with Jamaica's Reggae Girlz.

"Who's going to be able to elevate their game even if they don't have a ton of experience?," asks Watkins. "It's up to the senior call-ups to make those players that are in the U23s harder to call back in. And those players in the U23s are going to probably have to show new sides of themselves to get back into the fold."

"This is the Emma Hayes system. And I cannot wait to say who says, 'Nope. This is not just a pat on the back. You're not dropping me.'"

About 'The Late Sub' with Claire Watkins

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes on the USWNT, NWSL, and all things women's soccer. Special guest appearances featuring the biggest names in women’s sports make TLS a must-listen for every soccer fan.

Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women's Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

USWNT Takes the Pitch in Saturday Friendly Against China PR

Catarina Macario and Lily Yohannes smile and pose as they walk into a USWNT training session.
Macario and Yohannes will likely feature in Saturday's USWNT friendly against China PR. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

The world No. 1 USWNT is back in action on Saturday, taking on No. 17 China PR in the first of two early summer friendlies as head coach Emma Hayes continues evaluating talent across the 24-player roster.

"We have two different types of opponents ahead of us, so we'll have to be creative in breaking down those teams in different ways," Hayes told reporters earlier this month.

With an average of just 30.7 caps per player, this international window is an opportunity for NWSL favorites to prove their national team value — though the USWNT will be without one up-and-comer: Due to a minor hip injury, Angel City defender Gisele Thompson departed camp on Thursday, with Hayes opting not to replace the 19-year-old in the lineup.

Fresh faces to take on a familiar foe

The US has faced China PR a total of 60 times — more than any country other than No. 7 Canada. China also boasts the second-most US defeats with nine, though they haven't upended the USWNT since 2015.

In total, the USWNT boasts a 38-9-13 all-time record against their longtime rival, including arguably the team's most famous victory: the history-making penalty-kick win in the 1999 World Cup final at the Rose Bowl.

That said, the teams haven't squared off since December 2023 — some six months before Hayes took the helm.

"We have new faces, we have experience, we have veterans, we have young players. I think we're a really amazing blend of all of the above," said midfielder Sam Coffey this week. "I think more than anything, the common denominator in everyone here is just a hunger to get better."

How to watch the USWNT vs. China PR friendly match

The USWNT kicks off against China PR at 5:30 PM ET on Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Live coverage of the match will air on TBS.

LA parks Star Kelsey Plum Returns to Las Vegas in High-Stakes WNBA Weekend

LA Sparks guard Kelsey Plum lines up a free throw during a 2025 WNBA game.
LA Sparks guard Kelsey Plum will face her former team in Las Vegas on Friday. (Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)

Friday's WNBA action promises to bring the heat, delivering a major homecoming for new LA star Kelsey Plum as well as strategic veteran moves and rookies looking to right the ship while newly revamped teams continue to gel.

In the wake of significant offseason movement, the 2025 WNBA season is all about striking a balance between developing young talent and leveraging seasoned stars as former franchise players take on very familiar opponents.

Veteran-heavy teams will shoot to manage workloads this weekend, as powerhouse squads juggle shifting lineups while those that trailed last year fight to rise up the WNBA standings.

Highlighting the Friday night slate are a trio of games, all airing on ION:

  • No. 1 New York Liberty (5-0) vs. No. 7 Washington Mystics (3-3), 7:30 PM ET: The reigning champion Liberty managed to eke out an 82-77 win over 2025 expansion side Golden State without injured stars Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally on Thursday — but can they hold off a Mystics team punching above their weight behind standout rookie duo Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen?
  • No. 10 Los Angeles Sparks (2-4) vs. No. 6 Las Vegas Aces (2-2), 10 PM ET: Sparks guard Kelsey Plum will face her former teammates for the first time on Friday, taking on a Las Vegas side searching for redemption after Seattle spoiled Aces guard Jewell Loyd's own homecoming in last weekend's WNBA action.
  • No. 2 Minnesota Lynx (5-0) vs. No. 3 Phoenix Mercury (4-1), 10 PM ET: Two of the league's top performers will hit the court in Arizona, as perennial MVP candidates Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas go head-to-head for the first time in 2025.

A few teams have already faced adversity this year, but even more have settled into the grind as the longest-ever WNBA season rolls into June.

Chicago Sky to Honor Hometown Hero Candace Parker with Jersey Retirement

Chicago Sky star Candace Parker smiles and looks on during a 2022 WNBA game.
Parker will receive two jersey retirements this season. (Chamberlain Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

WNBA legend Candace Parker is gearing up for a busy summer, as two of her former franchises — the Chicago Sky and LA Sparks — recently announced plans to retire her No. 3 jersey this year.

The Chicago Sky announced on Wednesday that they will raise Parker's jersey in the Wintrust Arena rafters in an August 25th ceremony, honoring the Chicagoland product who helped them win their first-ever WNBA championship in 2021.

"I never imagined one day my jersey would hang in the rafters of my hometown team," said Parker in a statement. "Coming home to Chicago and helping bring the city its first WNBA championship here — it was personal. I'm beyond grateful to the city, the fans, and everyone who's been part of my journey. Chicago raised me, and this will always be home."

Also in on the action is Los Angeles, where Parker spent a 13-year stint that including earning her first league title in 2016. The Sparks previously stated in late March that they would retire Parker's jersey in a June 29th celebration — during LA's game against the Sky.

The Chicago ceremony also coincides with a game against another of Parker's squads: The Sky will face the Las Vegas Aces — the final team Parker led to a WNBA championship in 2023.

Parker is the first Chicago player to have her jersey number retired, as well as the Sparks' third behind Lisa Leslie and Penny Toler.

"Candace is the best all-around player that has ever played in the WNBA," said Sparks co-owner and NBA legend Magic Johnson.

With an impact that still radiates throughout the WNBA, fans and former teammates alike are jumping at the chance to pay their respects to Parker this summer.

Start your morning off right with Just Women’s Sports’ free, 5x-a-week newsletter.