As soon as Breanna Stewart announced her intention to sign with the New York Liberty, a new era began in the WNBA: The era of superteams.

Stewart joins Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney in New York. And so will fellow free agent Courtney Vandersloot, who followed Stewart’s lead.

But the Liberty aren’t the only stacked roster that emerged during free agency. Earlier in the week, Candace Parker decided to sign with the Las Vegas Aces, joining A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. It’s hard to believe the Aces, who are fresh off their first title, could be even better than they were last season, yet here we are.

Barring any blockbuster trades or unexpected signings, expect 2023 to be the season of New York and Las Vegas.

The Liberty boast two former MVPs in Stewart and Jones, a former most improved player and All-Star in Laney, and of course Ionescu, who is coming off her first All-WNBA team appearance and her first All-Star appearance.

As for the Aces, they’ve got two former MVPs as well in Wilson and Parker, two All-Stars in Plum and Young, and last season’s Finals MVP in Gray.

On paper, these teams seem unstoppable. In real life, we will have to wait and see. But while we do, let’s break down each roster.

New York Liberty

Biggest Strength

The one-two punch of Stewart and Jones makes the Liberty an extremely tough matchup. Both players are versatile to the point of being essentially positionless, which makes them extremely tough to defend.

Both can score in the paint, from the outside and in the midrange on offense, and both are capable of creating for themselves and others. They also will be surrounded by excellent passers in Ionescu and Marine Johannès, which should lead to a creative, multi-dimensional offense.

Potential Weakness

Weaknesses for both these teams are hard to find because both are essentially All-Star teams. (Six of the 10 All-WNBA team selections from 2022 are evenly split between these rosters.)

Still, prior to the signing of Vandersloot, the Liberty needed a true point guard. Now they have one, rounding out a lethal starting five, and an excellent sixth player in Johannès. But this brings us to a potential issue for New York: depth. The team will need at least one scorer off the bench in order to compliment the first unit. If the Liberty can find that, then they become even more terrifying.

X-Factor

Laney missed a big chunk of last season after meniscus surgery, but when she was fully healthy in 2021, the forward had the best season of her career, averaging 16.8 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds and earning her first All-Star appearance.

In 2023, opponents will plan their defenses around Stewart, Jones and Ionescu, leaving Laney the opportunity to make a massive impact.

These potential starting lineups are STACKED 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/V9sXPthsou

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) February 2, 2023

Las Vegas Aces

Biggest Strength

With a starting lineup of Parker, Wilson, Gray, Plum and Young, the Aces have a variety of different scoring options, all with their own strengths. They have a true post in Wilson, a versatile scorer in Parker, big-time shot makers in Plum and Young, and a guard with the ability to create and score on contested looks in Gray.

Everyone brings something different to the table. If one facet of the offense isn’t working, Las Vegas simply will shift to a new strategy. And if that doesn’t work, the Aces will have yet more options.

Potential Weakness

For the Aces, their biggest strength has the potential to become their biggest weakness as well. With so many talented players, continuity comes into question. How will these players feed off each other — and most importantly, when the Aces need a basket, who is their go-to option?

The answer could be Wilson, Parker, Gray, or Plum, and if Las Vegas isn’t on the same page about that, then fractures could surface in late-game situations. That being said, having too much talent to choose from is a problem any team would want.

X-Factor

Last season, the Aces had the strongest starting five in the WNBA, but there were questions about their bench. In the end, when they needed someone to step up, Riquna Williams provided an unexpected spark.

Next season, the bench could be just as important, and coach Becky Hammon already has taken steps to make it stronger. The Aces signed an elite defender in Alysha Clark, who brings a veteran presence to a bench unit that is likely to be relatively young. Kierstan Bell, Aisha Sheppard and Iliana Rupert are all players early in their careers who could make an impact off the bench for Las Vegas.

After a dramatic 3-0 win over crosstown rival Manchester United on Saturday, Manchester City is now leading the WSL, sitting three points clear atop the 2025/26 league table while notably extending their advantage over second-place powerhouse Chelsea FC.

The home side scored all three of their goals in the first half, with defender Rebecca Knaak putting City ahead in the 26th minute before attacker Khadija "Bunny" Shaw added to the lead in the 43rd minute.

Returning from injury with a vengeance, forward Lauren Hemp sealed the deal for the Citizens with the final goal in first-half stoppage time.

"It's so nice to be back," Hemp said postgame. "Today we showed the mentality that I said at the start we needed to show."

While reigning six-time WSL champions Chelsea have yet to lose a match this WSL season, a trio of 2025/26 draws has the Blues now trailing the current eight-win, one-loss record held by Manchester City.

As for United, the WSL third-place Red Devils were without star goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce in Saturday's loss, after the USWNT net-minder suffered a fractured eye socket in November 8th's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

"She should be fine, it's just trying to make sure she doesn't get another knock in that area," said United manager Marc Skinner, noting that Tullis-Joyce could return as soon as the club's 2025/26 Champions League match against VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

One of this season's NWSL Coach of the Year finalists is moving on up, with Kansas City manager Vlatko Andonovski leaving his position as the Current's head coach to become the club's full-time global sporting director.

Andonovski has been juggling both jobs since joining the Current in October 2023, with the 49-year-old coming off what was arguably his most successful managerial season, leading Kansas City to a first-ever NWSL Shield amidst a record-shattering 2025 campaign.

In his new role, Andonovski will "implement the long-term vision for the club's technical and athletic success, as well as be responsible for player recruitment, roster strategy and scouting."

"It's vital to move into this role to keep growing this club with the aim of being a perennial contender on the global stage and a top developer of talent," Andonovski said in Friday's club announcement.

With the administrative switch in the works prior to last weekend's playoff upset, Andonovski will now join the hiring committee tasked with appointing his successor, while continuing his head coaching duties until Kansas City secures its new manager.

In another front office shift, the Current's head of soccer operations Ryan Dell will immediately take over as the club's GM, with former GM Caitlin Carducci departing the club after one year at the helm.

Michigan women's basketball is on the rise, as the then-No. 14 Wolverines avenged their early 2025 NCAA tournament exit with a stunning 93-54 blowout win over then-No. 18 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Michigan sophomore guard Olivia Olson led the game in scoring with 20 points as the Wolverines put together a true team effort, with six bench players combining for 38 points in the win.

The Big Ten team also dominated defensively, limiting the Fighting Irish bench to just two points while keeping Notre Dame star guard Hannah Hidalgo to a mere 12-point performance.

"We knew exactly what Michigan was going to do," said Notre Dame basketball head coach Niele Ivey afterwards. "We did not have any type of fight defensively, and that's where we have to start."

The Wolverines' victory was especially sweet after Notre Dame ousted Michigan from last season's national tournament with a 76-55 second-round Irish win.

Saturday's fallout also affected this week's AP Top 25 poll, with Notre Dame falling six ranks to No. 24 while Michigan earned an eight-spot bump to No. 6.

After quietly recruiting five-star talents like Olson and Syla Swords in 2024, Michigan — a program that has yet to earn a title at the NCAA or conference level — proved over the weekend that they are entering the 2025/26 season with added depth and experience.

"That's why I committed to Michigan," Swords told JWS at October's Big Ten Media Day. "That's why so many of us came there, because we wanted to be part of something new, part of something that's never been done."

Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is back in action, subbing into her team's 2025 NWSL semifinal win in Saturday's 90th minute as she continues to rehab a sprained MCL — with questions still remaining surrounding her future with the club.

"It felt amazing," she said afterwards. "If I get 30 seconds, or if I get 90 minutes, it feels great to be out there."

Rodman will hope for more involvement in next weekend's NWSL Championship game, taking the pitch for the Spirit in her final match under contact before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

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The USWNT standout's extension negotiations have apparently made it all the way up to the NWSL commissioner, with Rodman garnering interest from multiple UK clubs willing to outspend the US league's salary cap restrictions.

The NWSL's most recent collective bargaining agreement sets each club's current salary cap at $3.3 million, which will titrate up to $5.1 million by 2030.

"Right now, my head's completely down. It's been so distracting being injured, and that's all I can really think about," Rodman said on Saturday, addressing the reports. "Once we get this championship, then I can start making decisions and figuring out what next year looks like for me."

With rumors swirling around Rodman and her future with the Spirit, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman defended the salary cap this week, telling CBS Sports that the parity the cap fosters is "the reason our league is the most competitive league in the world."