2023 WNBA season preview: Las Vegas Aces on top while Brittney Griner returns for Phoenix Mercury

If you were enthralled by Caitlin Clark and other stars at the NCAA women’s basketball tournament in March, we have good news for you. The 2023 WNBA season is just around the corner, and with it, endless entertainment and enthralling action.

Although the jury is still out on which franchise will be crowned as champions come September 10, the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty are the teams to stop.

So, strap yourselves in and read our analysis on every team in the league ahead of the opening day on Friday, May 19...

• Watch the 2023 WNBA season unfold live on Sky Sports

Las Vegas Aces

The Aces are favourites to successfully defend their title this season, and there are a few reasons why.

Bringing two-time MVP winner Candace Parker into the fold to partner the reigning MVP winner A'ja Wilson is one of them.

An already well-rounded roster training in a state-of-the-art facility now possesses the most sizzling frontcourt duo in the league, which is why we're also projecting them to top the Western Conference.

Of course, no team has won consecutive championship titles since the Los Angeles Sparks did it in 2001 and 2002, but with the combined firepower of Wilson and Parker at their disposal, the Aces would have to have an absolute mare for it to go any other way.

New York Liberty

The Liberty are the only team armed with the appropriate reinforcements to challenge the Aces, and they've done so by making several high-impact free-agent signings.

Enter, stage-right: Breanna Stewart. The 2018 MVP winner is in good company alongside former MVP winner Jonquel Jones and last year's assists leader Courtney Vandesloot.

In combination, the trio will operate as a powerful and dynamic offence, but will they be able to supersede the Aces?

Los Angeles Sparks

The Aces' most significant competition in the West will likely come from the Sparks, who are looking to bounce back from last season's unimpressive campaign by re-signing both Nneka and Chiney Ogumike.

They've also fortified the roster by bringing Azura Stevens from Chicago as secondary support for the starting five ahead of the battle atop the Conference.

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The Phoenix Mercury

Brittney Griner's back.

After being detained in Russia for nearly a year, the Mercury's star player has vowed to be a part of the action this year.

Although she hasn't played basketball for 10 months, updates from the team suggest that Griner will get back up to speed in record time.

She's joined by superstar Diana Taurasi, who's also back for another season and could play a pivotal role in making the West a little more competitive.

Washington Mystics

The Washington Mystics won it all in 2019 and will be looking to emulate that feat in this year's campaign.

Elena Delle and Natasha Cloud have already impressed within the ranks, but including Brittney Sykes and Kristi Toliver might add another dimension to their attack.

Line it up perfectly, and they could have the best defence in the league again.

Chicago Sky

The Eastern Conference is wide open this year, and surprisingly, the Chicago Sky might not be one of the frontrunners.

Although James Wade's team were last year's conference champions, they have bled talent all off-season. Team icons Parker and Vandersloot have departed, as well as Allie Quigley, Steven, and Emma Meessemen.

They've lost their number two, three, four, and five-ranked scorers and will likely spend the season rebuilding.

Dallas Wings

Dallas might not be at the forefront of the action this year, but they're developing a solid team with a new head coach.

Indeed, under Latricia Trammell, the Wings have drafted Maddy Siegrist, who led the NCAA in scoring last season and also have a sound support system in Arike Ogunbowale.

Teaira McCowan remains the focal point of the attack. She made that much evident after the All-Star break last season when she notched the most points per game as a starting center.

The Wings will want to ensure they keep her at the heart of the action while they continue to transform the rest of the roster.

Atlanta Dream

Don't sleep on the Dream this season. Although the odds are not in their favour, their squad suggests that they'll most likely defy the bookmakers.

For starters, they've loaded up in the 2023 WNBA draft with Haley Jones, Laeticia Amihere, and Leigha Brown. Considering their roster already boasts Naz Hillmon and Rhyne Howard, Atlanta could find themselves in surprising territory.

Minnesota Lynx

The Lynx have a tough season ahead of them, and they'll be navigating it without Sylvia Fowles, who they lost to retirement.

Considering that Fowles was the league's career leader in field-goal percentage, total rebounds, defensive rebounds, and double-doubles, the recruitment team must devise a new strategy to get Minnesota challenging for the playoffs.

Fortunately, the franchise has taken the hint. Players aged 26 or younger now make up more than half of the roster, and they aren't all newcomers either.

The likes of Kayla McBride and Rachel Banham are essential to the operation as the Lynx bring in new blood.

Connecticut Sun

The Aces may have edged out the Suns in last season's WNBA finals, but they've spent the off-season cultivating a new era of basketball in Uncasville around veteran stars Brionna Jones, Alyssa Thomas, and DeWanna Bonner.

With LSU's Alexis Morris and Stanford's Ashten Prechtel brought into the mix to help fire them back toward the top end of the league, there's no reason why Connecticut can't reach the finals for the third time in five years.

The roster is one of many places where changes are being wrung. After losing its former head coach and general manager Curt Miller to the Sparks, new faces have filled the gaps.

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Indiana Fever

The Fever received the first pick in the 2023 draft and selected Aliyah Boston. They are rightfully relishing wheeling her out come May 19.

She has all the hallmarks of a skilled starter and has former South Carolina teammate Destanni Henderson alongside her to help dismantle opposing defences.

It's the other end of the court where the alarm bells are going off, evident in the fact that last season, the Fever conceded a league record of 89.1 points per game.

Indiana have since added more bodies to their backcourt, but whether it'll help shore things up is still up for debate.

Seattle Storm

Losing two big players on the roster is always challenging to recover from.

That's where the Storm find themselves this season, with Stewart swapping Seattle for New York and WNBA legend Sue Bird finally retiring after 21 years of playing basketball.

Those are big spots to fill - and they aren't the only departees on the list.

Luckily for the Storm, a few experienced heads are still around to steer them back into calmer waters.

The most realistic result will be finishing below the teams qualifying for the playoffs. Alternatively, the franchise could tank for better odds at a top pick in 2024 with a draft class that includes Clark.

However it unfolds, it should be an mesmerising season of action.