Mapping The WNBA
2025 Starting Lineups by the Numbers
The WNBA season is underway, and to get you acquainted with who is taking the court I’ve put together a visual guide to every team’s opening day starting lineup. I’ve noted some of my observations, but let me know in the comments what jumps out to you!
The Liberty are the only team starting the “standard” lineup of two guards, two forwards, and a center
The Sun and Aces are trotting out dual Centers, while the Wings, Mercury, and Lynx are going without a true Center
Brittney Griner on the Dream is TALL
No real small-ball lineups, as every team has at least one starter 6’4 or taller; the Wings have the shortest starting lineup, at an average of 6’0
USA! USA!
The Mercury have the most international starting lineup, featuring Cameroon, Australia, and Germany
The Storm are the most experienced team, as all five starters have five or more years of experience playing in the WNBA, and three have ten or more years
The Aces and Lynx also have a lot of experience, with no starter under four years
The Mercury and Mystics each started two rookies
Nearly half (32 of the 65 starters) are on a new team this year
After an offseason of trades and a few injuries, the Mercury have completely reset their opening day starting lineup from last year; Arike Ogunbowale is the only Wings starter returning from last year
On the other side, the Lynx, Liberty, and Aces return all but one starter
There are 13 past #1 overall picks starting this year; The Aces lead the way, starting three #1 overall draft picks (even after trading one away in the offseason)
All five Fever starters went in the top five picks of their draft
Five undrafted players will start on opening day, including three for the Mercury (Monique Akoa-Makani, Sami Whitcomb, and Kathryn Westbeld)
After some big moves this offseason, the Sun starting lineup features four players acquired via trades
No team is really building via the college draft; the Fever are closest, still starting three of their own draft picks
All five Sky, Fever, and Storm starters are used to starting WNBA games; the Valkyries players will have to get used to it
Eight of this year’s starters have started every game in their careers; Caitlin Clark is the only guard to do so
Every team starts at least one former All-Star
The Aces have the most combined All-Star selections amongst their starters, with 21, followed by the Dream and Storm at 16 each
Every starter on the Fever has made an All-Star team