The WNBA is back in action on Tuesday night, as the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm headline a series of games that could make or break the current trajectories of several 2025 title contenders.
Seeking an especially strong Tuesday performance is the Fever, as Indiana tries to snap a two-game losing streak against the increasingly confident Storm.
"There are going to be stretches that are really good and there's going to be stretches that aren't as good," Fever guard Caitlin Clark said on Sunday, addressing her recent shooting slump.
While the Indiana and Seattle clash will lead the Tuesday charge, the night will also see young squads sizing up WNBA juggernauts as bottom-table teams look for a leg up:
- No. 8 Indiana Fever vs. No. 5 Seattle Storm, 10 PM ET (NBA TV): The Fever need a win against a Storm side that can't seem to lose, as both teams eye the postseason.
- No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 9 Washington Mystics, 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The up-and-coming Mystics will attempt to hand the Lynx a second season loss, as Minnesota star Napheesa Collier remains day-to-day with lower back stiffness.
- No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 12 Dallas Wings, 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Dream are on a tear, surging up the standings as the struggling Wings attempt to take flight.
- No. 10 LA Sparks vs. No. 11 Chicago Sky, 8 PM ET (NBA TV): The Sparks have cooled after a hot start while the Sky has yet to rev up, with both teams aiming to end a three-game losing streak on Tuesday night.
Teams across the league are hoping to make the most of every minute while also managing injury concerns and absences as the WNBA All-Star break looms.
The WNBA Class of 2025 is already making its mark on the league, with first-year players stepping up and showing out while the Rookie of the Year race — and betting odds — heat up.
No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers has been just as good as advertised, with the Dallas Wings guard leading her class in both minutes played and points per game while also charting league-wide in assists per game, steals per game, and mid-range shots made.
DraftKings currently has Bueckers as the clear WNBA Rookie of the Year race frontrunner at -1,000, though the dynamic DC duo of guard Sonia Citron (+1,500) and forward Kiki Iriafen (+1,000) are quickly gaining traction.
Iriafen won May's WNBA Rookie of the Month award after a series of career-opening double-doubles, while her Washington Mystics teammate Citron has continued to execute in the clutch — most recently posting a career-high double-double performance of 27 points and 11 rebounds in last Sunday's 91-88 overtime win over Dallas.
"Not only is [Iriafen] holding her own, she's excelling," Citron told JWS earlier this month. "And seeing that is just incredible."
"Soni just does all the little things," Iriafen added. "She doesn't shortcut anything, she's doing the fundamentals, she doesn't cheat the game at all."
With EuroBasket set to tip off on Wednesday and injuries mounting league-wide, WNBA teams are filling out dwindling rosters with more short-term contracts — and calling back some familiar faces along the way.
While some European standouts withdrew from EuroBasket consideration — including Phoenix's Satou Sabally and Seattle's Gabby Williams — others, like New York's Leonie Fiebich and Golden State's Temi Fagbenle, will join their national teams for the regional FIBA tournament through the end of June.
Due to these planned absences, WNBA teams temporarily suspend their EuroBasket players' contracts, allowing squads to add others to their rosters.
Players signed due to temporary absences are technically on rest-of-season deals, though the agreements can end whenever the missing athletes return.
In contrast, the league requires that teams release any hardship signings due to injury once squads tally enough healthy original players to satisfy the WNBA's 10-athlete roster minimum.
Featuring a lineup stacked with international talent, Golden State made the most transactions this week, temporarily suspending four regular contracts as 2025 EuroBasket stars departed for the annual competition.
To bolster their depleted bench, the Valkyries brought back 2025 WNBA Draft Cinderella pick Kaitlyn Chen and recent training camp participant Laeticia Amihere on short-term contracts, in addition to guard Aerial Powers and forward Chloe Bibby.
Elsewhere, after losing forward Maddy Siegrist to injury and temporarily suspending the contracts of centers Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsöder, Dallas acquired center Li Yueru from Seattle — with the Wings possibly needing additional hardship signings in the coming days.
The Storm snagged two future draft picks in the Saturday deal — a second-round selection in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2027.
Ultimately, teams are striving to find a balance between stocking up and maintaining consistency, all while operating under the WNBA's roster constraints — with further league expansion fast approaching.
The third-place Atlanta Dream are storming up the WNBA standings, winning their last three games by an average margin of 23.6 points after routing the Washington Mystics 89-56 on Sunday.
Atlanta guard Rhyne Howard opened the weekend by tying the WNBA record for three-pointers made in a single game, recording nine baskets from behind the arc as the Dream took down the Chicago Sky 88-70 on Friday.
Offseason pick-up Brittney Griner has also been busy, passing WNBA legend Lisa Leslie for No. 2 on the league's all-time career blocks list following this weekend's Atlanta victories.
While the Dream have made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, a few key roster additions plus a new coaching hire have Atlanta entertaining a shot at a first-ever championship bid.
The momentum shift has largely been on offense, with the Dream hitting a franchise-record 18 three-pointers while guard Allisha Gray put up a career-high 32 points on Sunday.
Also quietly climbing the WNBA's ranks is the only other team currently on a three-game winning streak, the Golden State Valkyries.
Bolstered by a 76-70 Saturday win over the always-dangerous Seattle Storm, the 2025 expansion side secured a 5-5 season record to claim sixth place on the league table this weekend.
How to watch the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday
Nearly the entire league is in action on Tuesday, as 12 of the 13 teams will face off on WNBA courts.
The Dream will have their work cut out for them as they face the 2024 champion Liberty at 7 PM ET, taking on a New York side eager to bounce back from their first 2025 loss.
As for the Valkyries, Golden State will visit Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings at 8 PM ET.
Both games will air live on WNBA League Pass.
Dallas will take aim at their second win of the 2025 season against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night, with the Wings hoping that the return of starting point guard Paige Bueckers gives them a much-needed boost out of last place in the WNBA standings.
Bueckers missed a total of four games — three in concussion protocol following the Wings' May 29th loss to Chicago, plus one game due to illness — but doctors cleared the 2025 No. 1 draft pick to play earlier this week.
"She's been working behind the scenes and so she's good to go and we'll be all set for tomorrow," Dallas head coach Chris Koclanes told reporters on Tuesday.
While one star returns, however, another falls, as Dallas also announced on Tuesday that guard Ty Harris will miss the rest of the 2025 WNBA season after undergoing surgery on her left knee.
Before the addition of Bueckers shifted her to this season's bench, Harris posted a 2024 average of 10.5 points and three assists per game across 38 starts.
International play will also cause the Wings to lose players, with Dallas joining several other WNBA teams who will see temporary exits as athletes travel overseas for this summer's 2025 EuroBasket, which tips off on June 18th.
Return of Alyssa Thomas to bolster Phoenix Mercury
Roster shifts have also affected the Wings' Wednesday opponents, though, like Bueckers's return to Dallas, the fourth-place Mercury will also see a key player back in their lineup.
With forward Alyssa Thomas returning to the court after missing five games with a calf injury, Phoenix will shoot for a surge in production as they look to add another win to their 6-4 season record.
Despite a strong start, the Mercury have struggled to maintain momentum with both Thomas and guard Kahleah Copper sidelined in recent weeks.
"The plan is for [Thomas] to play," said Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts on Tuesday. "She's been trending in the right direction."
How to watch Dallas Wings vs. Phoenix Mercury tonight
The Phoenix Mercury will host the Dallas Wings at 10 PM ET on Wednesday, with live coverage on WNBA League Pass.
After an injury-filled opening month, more than one WNBA team is hoping for star athletes to return to play this week, bolstering squads as they chase each other in the 2025 league standings.
After a quad strain sidelined her for 14 days, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is eyeing a possible return later this week.
Though the 2024 Rookie of the Year will not compete in Tuesday's matchup against the Atlanta Dream, she is aiming to suit up as soon as Saturday, when the Fever will host reigning champions New York.
Meanwhile, 2025 No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers should also be back on the Dallas Wings' court soon. Despite clearing concussion protocol, the star rookie missed one extra game, sitting out Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Lynx due to illness.
WNBA athletes' impending recoveries aren't good news for everyone, however, as returning from injury has also impacted hardship signings: In anticipation of forward Alyssa Thomas's rejoining the team, as well as the eventual return of guard Kahleah Copper, the Phoenix Mercury waived guard Haley Jones on Sunday.
While some teams were celebrating their stars bouncing back from injury, others are now scrambling from new setbacks.
Two-time WNBA champion Courtney Vandersloot suffered an ACL tear just five minutes into Chicago's loss to Indiana on Saturday, leaving the Sky facing the rest of the season without their starting point guard.
"Whatever is in store in the future for this team, I trust that we will find a way to make this moment mean something in the end," Sky rookie guard Hailey Van Lith said of Chicago's ability to regroup.
The WNBA has struggled with a wave of high-profile absences to start the 2025 season, but small roster boosts could see teams overcome that adversity to bounce back even stronger.
Hoping to flip the script on their 2025 WNBA season, the Chicago Sky will take on the Indiana Fever for the second time this year in a history-making primetime CBS matchup on Saturday.
Looking to avenge their 35-point season-opening loss to Indiana, the Sky will host the Fever in Chicago's famed United Center for the first time in WNBA history.
As for the Fever, they'll aim for a second Sky defeat without star guard Caitlin Clark, who is still day-to-day with a quad injury.
With the bulk of the league chasing just five teams currently sitting above .500 in the early standings, the Sky aren't the only WNBA team looking to make up ground this weekend:
- LA Sparks vs. Dallas Wings, Friday at 9:30 PM ET (ION): Both young squads will look to snap a three-game losing streak and steal some positive momentum on Friday night — though the Wings will have to do so without 2025 No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers, who is still in concussion protocol.
- Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky, Saturday at 8 PM ET (CBS): On a two-game winning streak, the Sky have a chance to even the score against the Fever — and do so in the arena that Michael Jordan made famous.
- Seattle Storm vs. Phoenix Mercury, Saturday at 10 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The 4-4 Storm will attempt to make a statement against a Mercury side that is still finding ways to win, despite a number of sidelined stars.
Though early top performers are leading the 2025 WNBA season charge, there's a lot of room in the middle of the standings for teams to make a statement.
Dallas earned their wings on Tuesday night, notching their first victory of the 2025 WNBA season by beating the still-winless Sun 109-87 in Connecticut's Uncasville home.
Playing on familiar ground, UConn product and 2025 No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 21 points against the Sun, becoming the first WNBA player to top 60 points and 30 assists in her first five pro games in the process.
"I don't think I ever lost [at Mohegan Sun Arena]," Bueckers said after the win. "I was trying to carry that into tonight."
Sun, Sky still seeking first season wins
Now at a 0-5 record thanks to the Wings, the Sun are still hunting their first victory — as is the Chicago Sky, after Tuesday's tight 94-89 loss to the Phoenix Mercury pushed them to 0-4 on the season.
Despite Chicago's downfall, second-year forward Angel Reese put up 13 points and 15 rebounds in the loss, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to record 500+ points and 500+ rebounds.
"[The team's performance] definitely felt better," Reese told reporters. "But obviously we're not satisfied… all of us are winners, we want to win."
With many freshly restructured teams still figuring it out, early skids are normal — but scoring that first win remains the best way to shift momentum.
Can Chicago, Connecticut snag a first victory this week?
Another shot at righting the ship is just around the corner for the Sky and the Sun.
First, Chicago will host the now-victorious Wings at 8 PM ET on Thursday, with live coverage on Prime.
Then on Friday, Connecticut will face a Caitlin Clark-less Fever side in Indiana at 7:30 PM ET, airing on ION.
Dallas rookie Paige Bueckers took charge on Monday, with the 2025 WNBA Draft's No. 1 overall pick proving her worth in the Wings' 79-71 loss to Seattle.
The only Wing to log more than 29 minutes in Monday night's home-opener, Bueckers spent 37 minutes on the Dallas court, tallying a team-leading 19 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals in just her second pro game.
She also joined Mystics newcomer Sonia Citron as the only 2025 rookies to score more than 18 points in a single game so far this season.
On the flip side, 2025's No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga did not feature in the Storm's starting lineup, finishing her night with just one minute of playing time.
The 19-year-old French phenom made the most of her brief appearance with a speedy two points, despite Seattle head coach Noelle Quinn taking a conservative approach to integrating the WNBA's youngest player into the league.
While rookies make headlines, veterans still run the WNBA, with Quinn relying heavily on her experienced starting core to notch Seattle's first victory of 2025.
Leading the Storm was 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike with a 23-point, 18-rebound performance — her 110th career double-double — while Skylar Diggins (21 points, nine assists) and Gabby Williams (17 points, five assists, five rebounds) followed closely behind.
"I love how our vets showed up and willed us through possessions," Quinn said after the win. "I think that there's a lot to build and grow from this game."
How to watch WNBA games on Tuesday
The 2025 WNBA season continues at 7 PM ET on Tuesday, when the Atlanta Dream take on the Indiana Fever while the Las Vegas Aces visit the Connecticut Sun.
Both game will stream live on WNBA League Pass.
WNBA teams continued to trim their 2025 rosters this week, as preseason matchups set the stage for the league's May 16th regular-season tip-off.
After wrapping their 2025 preseason slate on Tuesday, Wednesday saw the Las Vegas Aces waive Harvard alum Harmoni Turner — drafted 35th overall last month — and fourth-year veteran center Queen Egbo.
Turner was the Aces’ third-round pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/buxEKqdVVe
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) May 7, 2025
Other standouts recently shown the door include Indiana Fever recruit Bree Hall (20th overall pick from South Carolina), the Seattle Storm's Madison Conner (29th overall pick from TCU), and Minnesota Lynx rookie Diamond Johnson (undrafted from Norfolk State).
While teams can sign up to 18 athletes to training camp rosters, they must whittle their lineups down to the league's regular-season max of 12 players, a system that sparks lots of movement — both in cuts and additions — in the days leading to tip off.
To that end, after the Golden State Valkyries cut their 17th overall draft pick Shyanne Sellers on Saturday, the Atlanta Dream snatched up the Maryland grad on waivers on Monday — just in time for their final preseason showdown with Indiana on Saturday.
Also receiving good news this week was Dallas's Maddy Siegrist, as the third-year forward saw the Wings exercise her fourth-year rookie option on Tuesday.
Alongside Indiana's 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, Villanova grad Siegrist and the former South Carolina standout are the only 2023 draftees officially on rosters before the 2025 season's start.
Flush with talent and low on roster spots, the WNBA has long been one of the hardest sports leagues to secure a place in — and even more fan favorites are likely to land on the chopping block in the coming days.