May 8 is the day many a WNBA aficionado had circled on their calendars the moment the new collective bargaining agreement was agreed to.
Even though May 8 was the tentative day where the season was set to tip off, it was practically a moot point sans a CBA.
With one now, we see that the W’s 30th anniversary campaign will indeed go off without a hitch. The whirlwind of a month that was April is about to transition into May and there are a number of intriguing storylines that have us thinking as we are close to tip off of the 2026 season.
Aces Going Four in Five?
The 2025 version of the Las Vegas Aces encountered one of the more stunning turnarounds of any team in recent memory.
Following that blowout loss to the Minnesota Lynx on their home floor, it was a real question if the Las Vegas dynasty was still intact.
That loss made the Aces remember who they are – and the rest of the league could do nothing but watch.
Las Vegas has brought back its core four of A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd plus the addition of Chennedy Carter. The Aces look like favorites to be the final team standing again.
Is This The Year for Caitlin Clark?
When a name is tagged as generational the way Clark is, the expectation is ultimately that said generational player will begin competing for championships.
That has to be the expectation in Indiana – especially after the deep playoff run the Fever embarked on with Clark injured. Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell are also back for more.
One thing that the Fever will not be short of is national television exposure. Every single one of Indiana’s 44 games will be available in some form or fashion on national television or streaming.
New Coaches
How will the new coaches fare with their respective teams? Chris DeMarco, a former NBA assistant with the Golden State Warriors is walking into an ideal situation with a New York Liberty team that will be contenders from start to finish – especially with the addition of Satou Sabally and the return of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.
Then there is Jose Fernandez with the Dallas Wings who has Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Arike Ogunbowale to work with.
Sonia Raman is in the first year of her head coaching tenure with a Seattle Storm team that looks to establish Flau’jae Johnson as the new face of its franchise.
Expansion Expectations
Expansion franchises are supposed to be playing with house money. But considering how the Golden State Valkyries made the postseason and nearly won a playoff game against Minnesota last season, expectations are heightened for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.
This may especially be the case for the Tempo considering they bestowed its head coaching position to Sandy Brondello who has won with the Liberty and Phoenix Mercury. Wherever she goes, wins certainly follow.
Unfinished Business
We know about the Lynx dynasty of the 2010s where they won all of its championships in odd-numbered seasons. Lately, it has been a case of postseason heartbreak for coach Cheryl Reeve and crew.
How the Lynx lost in that thrilling five-game series to the Liberty two years ago has to still sting in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Last season’s semifinal defeat to the Mercury had to leave a bad taste in their mouths as well.
Minnesota on paper will be a contender once again but Minnesota will only look like Minnesota once they are at full strength with a healthy Napheesa Collier. At least they are bringing back Courtney Williams as well but the Lynx did take a bit of a hit in April.
Sunset Season
Houston awaits. This will be a very emotional season for the Connecticut Sun as it will be the final year the team plays in New England.
Ideally, this will be a season where the Sun do reclaim the contender status it had throughout much of the last several years. Adding Brittney Griner is a high-profile signing and she plans to stay with the team after it completes the move to BG’s hometown.
Connecticut could prove us wrong but it is more than likely the Sunset Season will likely be a lottery season with the Houston move looming.
