NCS Presents: The Hater's Guide to the 2025 WNBA Season

Who do you want to love and who do you need to hate (ethically) this WNBA season? We consulted the Empress of Ethical Enmity, Chauny, to give you a primer on a highly anticipated 2025 in women's hoops

We’re. So. Back!

The 2025 WNBA season has returned with new players, new teams, new looks and new reasons to hate. It is our hope here at No Cap Space WBB that we have retained some fans from last W or college basketball season. But in case you’re new here let me welcome you to the program already in progress.

We’re here for a good time over at NCS and truly believe that healthy rivalries and storylines are a key part of the game.

The key to hating is to do it ethically and that means…

1. Admit you’re hating (so others can decide if they want to engage with you)

And 2. Be informed with your hate.

That’s where this guide will come in handy. Whether you’re a new fan just getting in the mix, or a die-hard trying to spice up your experience, this guide will get you ready to beef with your neighbor and slander with the best of them. So let’s dive right in, shall we?

ATLANTA DREAM

Call the Dream New New *Extreme Lauren London voice* cuz they’re rockin’ all new new s—. They’ve got a new coach and some new starters, with a new system to boot. Preseason saw Brittney Griner shooting threes so it’s going to be a wild ride. All in all the Dream have a fun-loving vibe and seem to have moved on the “power of friendship era” so it’s a little hard to hate that but you can give it a go if you’d like.

Opps – If Shyanne Sellers stays on the roster, then the Golden State Valkyries. If Shyanne Sellers does not remain on the roster, still the Golden State Valkyries and whichever first or second year player BG decides to swing on this year.

Notable storylines – The Valk’s 17th draft pick was waived before a preseason game was even played. As though that wasn’t bad enough, new head coach Natalie Nakase gave a bizarre answer about Sellers doing everything she was asked but it ultimately came down to the fit. Former Atlanta Dream turned Valkyrie Laeticia Amihere dropped 20 in GS’s preseason game the other night. She was inexplicably chained to the bench in Atlanta so a possible revenge game there.

CHICAGO SKY

The Sky are ready to make that leap and get as close as possible to their 2021 championship form. New head coach Tyler Marsh has them looking good so far in the preseason. The franchise is still kinda broke, but they’re working on it and we thankfully haven’t seen that godawful new mascot.

Opps – Indiana Fever. Literally nothing’s changed. Also vets that played for Chicago last year and have since gone elsewhere.

Notable Storylines – Angel Reese has been very vocal on how this year’s vets are a breath of fresh air and fans have not stopped tweeting how happy they are the old regime left so I’m tryna see what happens when they face Vegas and New York and if there’s any detection of mess. The Sky also have a very stupid new mascot that essentially tried to reheat Ellie the Elephant’s nachos and we need to band together as a family and hate that thing into oblivion.

CONNECTICUT SUN

The Connecticut Sun are young and fun this year. They are gonna be led by, I guess, Marina Mabrey, who was denied yet another trade after Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones decided to get tf outta Uncasville shortly after Mabrey joined the team. The rookie class has been providing the young and fun via social content.

Opps – Anybody that hates youth and fun, so, like…Tanisha Wright, I guess.

Notable Storylines – There are zero couples on this team that we know of after having a league-high two for a number of years. The Connecticut “Sister Wives era” is officially joever. But, back to vengeance because I am curious if Mabrey feels a type of way that everyone just left her looking like Will Smith in the empty mansion after she was supposed to be the missing piece to a championship contender. Pay attention to the Phoenix, Indiana and Atlanta games for potential mess.

DALLAS WINGS

Rule 1: Admit your hate upfront.

With that said…

Dallas has turned the Paige and I’m here to scribble all over it with notes accompanied by highlighted box scores because folks? WE HAVE AN AGENDA OUT IN TEXAS! Big Bueckers is finally in the league and it’s time to start cashing the checks that her fans have written in terms of her being better than last year’s ROY. And let me tell ya, her people wrote some big ones.

Opps – Me, the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark’s Fan Club, and maybe each other, who’s to say?

Notable Storylines – NaLyssa Smith joins the Wings after a year being disgruntled for the Fever. Expect a revenge game that’s probably going to end in jokes one way or another. Her girlfriend, Dijonai Carrington, also hates the Fever. Two for the price of one. There’s also the ongoing battle of Paige vs. shooting the ball, which is a storyline I’m watching especially with Arike “Never Met A Shot I Didn’t Like” Ogunbowale by her side.

GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES

The Valks are here and they’re ready to make some noise. The preseason attendance numbers to their very first home game were phenomenal and the creepy Maleficent themed practice facility is starting to grow on me. They did make headlines for cutting their 17th pick Shyanne Sellers before the first preseason game and giving that bizarre excuse so they’ve already made some enemies. That’s efficient!

Opps- Shyanne Sellers and maybe the Los Angeles Sparks on a Battle for California type beat.

Notable Storylines - Laeticia Amihere showed out in front of the hoes to the tune of 20 points in the preseason home opener. This comes after being inexplicably left on the bench in Atlanta. I’m putting in a request for a revenge game.

INDIANA FEVER

They’re back and they’re done being humble. Indiana’s new hashtag for the season is as audacious as Freddy Fever is when he leaves the state without his son. #NowYouKnow will be used against then just as much as it will be used to brag on them and I want everyone to buckle up.

Opps – Everyone. Literally everyone. And with the addition of Sophie Cunningham, whoever didn’t hate them definitely hates them now.

Notable Storylines – Every single one and you will be made aware of all of them 24/7 by the World Wide Leader in Sports.

LAS VEGAS ACES

What a difference a year makes. Ok we’ve gone from virtually unhateable to hated on and the reasons are kinda valid, to be honest. It’s mostly Becky Hammon, though. She had a lot of questionable press conference quotes that rubbed people the wrong way. From saying Dearica Hamby received “over the top care” (cringe) to her subtle jabs at Napheesa Collier during award season, she just kept talking and making it easier to hate.

Opps – Still everyone who hates South Carolina Gamecock fans. I feel like Chicago is creeping up just because of the LSU factor. Definitely and for sure the Los Angeles Sparks as well as the New York Liberty.

Notable storylines – Ok so remember the Dearica Hamby situation, right? Well after news hit that she filed a lawsuit Aces fans booed her during the next matchup and folks, that’s unethical hate and in very poor taste. I have no defense for it and I understand if my Aces become public enemy #1 for that alone. Kelsey Plum then joins Dearica in LA and I don’t think there’s beef but it doesn’t sound like it was 100% good vibes on the way out so circle the Sparks vs. Aces on your calendars. Aces vs. Sky is also gonna be a show because Dana Evans is one of the vets given the unceremonious boot after months of criticism by fans, so let's see if that’s a revenge game. Also Jewell Loyd vs. the Seattle Storm.

LOS ANGELES SPARKS

Two key pieces from the Las Vegas Aces championship teams have linked up in LA and at least one of them still kinda hates them. The team themselves is comprised of fun and likeable first and second-year players, so it’s pretty hard to find an angle to hate.

Opps – Las Vegas Aces. They are close geographically, they are close alphabetically. They cannot escape each other. Maybe Golden State, we’ll see.

Notable Storylines – Rickea Jackson is going to get dunked on. We don’t know when and we don’t know where, but it’s already been decided that it’s going to happen. So sorry, sister.

MINNESOTA LYNX

The defending champion Lynx are looking to repeat after an exciting five-game finals series that had a number of memorable moments. They might see an army rise against them though as the Lynx invited 22 people to training camp and have been cutting them in waves of like four at a time. It’s rather wicked to watch in real time.

Opps – Everyone cut from training camp, because why would you do that? The New York Liberty need to come get their chain back and there is some agenda talk on whether or not Napheesa Collier is threatening to overthrow A’ja Wilson in the MVP title so look out for that.

Notable Storylines – Napheesa Collier co-founded the Unrivaled basketball league and may have opened up Pandora’s box of negativity. Everybody was talking smack to everybody and I’m curious if that carries over into the season. She’s gotta get her lick back against Angel Reese if true, because she’s become quite the thorn in her side recently.

NEW YORK LIBERTY

Rule 1: Admit your hate upfront…

Sabrina Ionescu shot 1-19 in the WNBA Finals in front of a live studio audience. No laugh track was needed as I provided one myself. The Liberty are going to be missing a key piece in Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, plus Kayla Thornton is now a Valkyrie, so they’ve lost a bit of their edge. This means Sabrina needs to step it up and play like the franchise player they’ve been trying to sell her as, or the pack I’m smoking will heat up the planet by at least two degrees.

Opps – Still Me. I carry the overwhelming majority of the hate they receive within my heart at all times. It sustains me, it entertains me. It comforts me when I’m down and takes me to another level when I’m already up. If there is no one hating on the Liberty that means my account has been suspended. Even then, if you open your window and listen closely, you’ll hear me hating in the distance.

Notable Storylines – There’s a thing going on with the Minnesota Lynx. Husky on Husky violence and what not. Expect there to be some battles. Also Isabelle Harrison was one of the Sky players Chicago fans were trying to toss out like DJ Jazzy Jeff so see if she’s got smoke for them. Also Natasha Cloud was not expecting Phoenix to trade her so there’s that matchup to look forward to as well.

PHOENIX MERCURY

The Mercury are still weird. Coach Ribletts has declared war on the midrange and I don’t like it. This is also the first time in a LONG time that there will be no Diana Taurasi or Brittney Griner suiting up and that is also weird.

Opps – Seattle. I don’t expect Skylar Diggins’ disdain to have died down even if it is a new team. Anybody could get it. Dallas and possibly Connecticut. Natasha Cloud said she was shocked when they Mercury traded her to New York so go ahead and add the Liberty to the list too. Suddenly Phoenix is fighting for their life.

Notable Storylines – Alyssa Thomas joins the team from Connecticut and Satou Sabally from Dallas and I’m not sure how their former teammates feel about it, but circle those games just so we can check the vibes. Also throw Indiana in there so we can see how AT performs against her wife.

SEATTLE STORM

Suspect still got a lot goin on. It was a messy, messy breakup between the Storm and former star guard Jewell Loyd. Loyd filed complaints against head coach Noelle Quinn and staff accusing them of bullying and harassment. This led to an investigation, the investigation found no evidence to support the claim and Loyd said "that's my time, I’m outta here.” The Storm quickly dried their tears and welcomed Dominique Malonga to the new era and made threats of dunking on everyone.

Opps – Las Vegas. We got a little taste of Skylar vs. Jewell during Unrivaled and I would like to see several more installments.

Notable Storylines – Speaking of Unrivaled, Skylar was talking heavy as the Lunar Owls went darn near undefeated before losing to the Roses when it mattered most. So that would mean Chicago, Indiana and Washington would be on her list as well as Phoenix, who she was probably going to hate again anyway.

WASHINGTON MYSTICS

Last year the Mystics were the most competitive 0-10 team in the history of sports. This year might be more of the same. D.C. legend Elena Delle Donne announced her retirement a few weeks ago and will not get the proper sendoff she deserves. The 2x MVP led the Mystics to its first title in franchise history in 2019 and didn’t get a celebration for that either as the players jetted off to their respective overseas commitments. Seriously, EDD was one of those ones. I will always remember her big dawging Breanna Stewart and baptizing my goat A’ja Wilson en route to that 2019 title. She’s a legend and hopefully she will be properly celebrated at some point.

Opps – Indiana. I don’t know where this came from, but I’m encouraging it to continue. That type of negativity doesn’t come around every day.

Notable Storylines – Mystics really just vibin until the draft…again.