With preseason underway, the WNBA is officially back for the 2023 season. This season looks to be an entertaining one, with major roster changes happening during the offseason. With the likes of Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot moving to the Liberty, Natasha Howard and Diamond DeShields to Dallas, and Candace Parker to the Aces, there was a lot of movement throughout the league.
This is a total switch-up from how things have run in the offseason in prior years. The 2021 champions, Chicago Sky, were dealt a huge blow, losing three of their biggest players from their championship squad: Parker, Vandersloot, and Allie Quigley. Quigley is sitting out for the season due to personal reasons. The Sky also lost one of their upcoming stars, Azurá Stevens.
Meanwhile, over in Brooklyn, could this be the year that the New York Liberty win their first championship? The signings of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot to the Liberty in the offseason have helped to form a super team in New York.
Western Conference Champions- Las Vegas Aces
MVP - A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
The race for MVP will be very close this upcoming season, for a second time. It will most likely be between the reigning MVP, A’ja Wilson, or Breanna Stewart, similar to last season. Finishing second in rebounding, first in blocked shots, and scoring double digits in 34 of 36 games played last season, she is sure to be making a run for MVP this upcoming season.
ROY - Diamond Miller (Minnesota Lynx)
Diamond Miller was a steal in this year’s draft. She was expected to be drafted in the late first round, so she shocked everyone when she got her name called out at the number two pick. In her professional career debut, Miller dropped 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists. She will definitely be vying to win Rookie of the Year.
DPOY - A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
Reigning DPOY A’ja Wilson seems a shoo-in to repeat the honor this year. In the prime of her career, Wilson is not only dominating the offensive end of the court but pulling her weight on the defensive end as well. With an average of over 9 rebounds per game last season, with an added 1.4 steals and 1.9 blocks, Wilson looks poised to improve on those statistics in the upcoming season.
COACH - Becky Hammon (Las Vegas Aces)
Picking a Coach of the Year will be a very difficult task this season. Becky Hammon will have some competition this year with other coaches in the league stepping up their game. Hammon soared to the top of coaching rankings last season in just her first year as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, who went on to become the 2022 champions.
Eastern Conference Champions- New York Liberty
MVP - Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
Breanna Stewart gained a lot of attention when she signed with the New York Liberty in the offseason. Stewart led the league in scoring in 2022 with 21.8 points/game. With the formation of a new superteam in New York, the Liberty organization is in “win now” mode, and Stewart is sure to lead her new team to a championship this season.
ROY - Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever)
Aliyah Boston was the number one pick in this year’s draft. The Indiana Fever, who are in a rebuild mode, are looking for that player to take charge and help lead their team out of this rough patch. Winning a championship with the South Carolina Gamecocks under legendary head coach Dawn Staley, Boston has experience playing at a high level under pressure. Aliyah Boston will definitely be the player to lead the Indiana Fever to playoff contention.
DPOY - Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
With an off-season move to the New York Liberty, Jonquel Jones will be teaming up with offensive powerhouses Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. In the 2022 season, Jones tied for 3rd in rebounds with 8.6 per game and averaged 1.4 blocks per game. With the added help in the offense, it seems obvious that Jones’ opportunity to excel in the defensive is imminent.
COACH - Sandy Brondello (New York Liberty)
Sandy Brondello has experience working with a championship squad, leading the Phoenix Mercury to a championship in 2014. Entering her second season with the New York Liberty, all eyes are on her, as her team has the opportunity to go to the Finals with her new and improved roster.
*This article was co-written by WSX writers, Jess Simpson and Sadahri Lindsey
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