WNBA

2023 WNBA Roster Predictions: Eastern Conference teams

- by Todd Roman

The 2023 WNBA season is right around the corner. Training camps will open up Sunday, April 30, with preseason games starting on Friday, May 7. Each team can carry up to 15 active players during training camps, with final rosters due on May 18. Based on salary cap limits, certain teams will be forced to carry just eleven players this season—all salary cap information provided by Her Hoop Stats.com.

Atlanta Dream

The Dream’s roster currently stands at 15 players. The off-season trade acquisitions of Allisha Gray and Danielle Robinson will boost their starting line-up. Atlanta also re-signed Cheyenne Parker, Nia Coffey, Monique Billings, and AD Durr (training camp contract only). Furthermore, the Dream acquired Iliana Rupert off of waivers from the Las Vegas Aces. The only protected contracts are Parker, Gray, Robinson, Coffey, and Billings. In the recent WNBA Draft, Atlanta picked Haley Jones (6th), Laeticia Amihere (8th), and Leigha Brown (15th). 2022 Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard is a guaranteed lock for their roster and should remain a starter. The Dream has the cap space to carry 12 players.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Danielle Robinson
  • SG: Allisha Gray
  • SF: Rhyne Howard
  • PF: Naz Hillmon
  • C: Cheyenne Parker

Bench:

Aari McDonald, Monique Billings, Nia Coffey, Haley Jones, Laeticia Amihere, Iliana Rupert

12th Player and Last Cut:

Either AD Durr or Leigha Brown.

Chicago Sky

The Sky’s roster currently stands at 18 players. They’ve likely added some players just for training camp until certain players arrive from overseas. The Sky had an active free agency despite losing some top players to other teams (Courtney Vandersloot to New York, Candace Parker to Las Vegas, and Azurá Stevens to Los Angeles). Their acquisitions included Courtney Williams, Elizabeth Williams, Isabelle Harrison, Alanna Smith, and a trade from Dallas for Marina Mabrey. Protected contracts include Courtney Williams, Elizabeth Williams, Harrison, Smith, and Mabrey. Additionally, Ruthy Hebard is under a protected rookie scale contract. Furthermore, Rebekah Gardner was re-signed for the 2023 season and Li Yueru is expected to be re-signed shortly.

For the 2023 draft, the Sky picked Kseniya Malashka (35th)and Kayana Traylor (23rd). Unfortunately, Julie Allemand and Emma Meesseman have opted not to play in the upcoming WNBA season. Lastly, the Sky also signed Italian League All-star Robyn Parks, plus Anneli Maley and Kristine Anigwe to training camp contracts.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Marina Mabrey
  • SG: Courtney Williams
  • SF: Kahleah Copper
  • PF: Isabelle Harrison
  • C: Elizabeth Williams

Bench:

Dana Evans, Rebekah Gardner, Anneli Maley, Alanna Smith, Li Yueru, and Ruthy Hebard.

12th Player and Last Cut:

Robyn Parks or Kayana Traylor.

Connecticut Sun

The Sun lost 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones in a trade to the New York Liberty that saw them acquire Rebecca Allen and Tyasha Harris. Additionally, Jasmine Thomas was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks and Courtney Williams signed with the Chicago Sky. To make up for their losses, the Sun acquired Tiffany Hayes from the Atlanta Dream and also signed Brionna Jones to a max deal and Natisha Hiedeman to a two-year deal. Training camp contracts were given to Lauren Cox, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, and Victoria Macaulay. Connecticut’s draft picks were Alexis Morris (22nd) and Ashten Prechtel (34th). Protected contracts are DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Jones, Allen, and Harris (rookie scale). However, salary cap limits will force the Sun to carry only eleven players this season.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Natisha Hiedeman
  • SG: Tiffany Hayes
  • SF: DeWanna Bonner
  • PF: Alyssa Thomas
  • C: Brionna Jones

Bench:

Tyasha Harris, DiJonai Carrington, Rebecca Allen, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, and Lauren Cox.

11th Player and Last Cut:

Nia Clouden or Alexis Morris.

Indiana Fever

The Fever currently have 19 players rostered for their upcoming training camp. In free agency, the Fever acquired Erica Wheeler, Kristy Wallace, Maya Caldwell, and re-signed Victoria Vivians and Emma Cannon. The Fever had five draft picks in total, including the first time holding the top pick, and selected Aliyah Boston. Likewise, the 2023 season will also see the return of Bernadett Hatar and Chelsea Perry (training camp contracts). Protected contracts are Wheeler, Kelsey Mitchell, Vivians, and Cannon.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Erica Wheeler
  • SG: Kelsey Mitchell
  • SF: Victoria Vivians
  • PF: NaLyssa Smith
  • C: Aliyah Boston

Bench:

Destanni Henderson, Lexie Hull, Emily Engstler, Emma Cannon, Queen Egbo, and Grace Berger (7th overall).

12th Player and Last Cut:

Maya Caldwell, Taylor Mikesell (13th overall), or Bernadett Hatar.

New York Liberty

The Liberty were covered back on March 2 in regard to their potential final roster. Nothing has changed outside of drafting Okako Adika (30th overall) and signing Stephanie Mawuli and Morgan Green to training camp contracts. It still remains that the Liberty will be forced to carry only eleven players this season due to a tight salary cap. Eight protected contracts are on their books: Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney, Stefanie Dolson, Kayla Thornton, and Jocelyn Willoughby (rookie scale). Han Xu and Marine Johannès remain locked into their final roster.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Vandersloot
  • SG: Ionescu
  • SF: Laney
  • PF: Stewart
  • C: Jones

Bench:

Kayla Thornton, Stefanie Dolson, Willoughby, Han Xu, and Marine Johannès.

11th Player and Last Cut:

Epiphanny Prince or Nyara Sabally.

Washington Mystics

The Mystics traded their fourth overall pick (Stephanie Soares) on draft night for future picks. Additionally, Washington acquired Amanda Zahui B. from Los Angeles and signed Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Brittney Sykes. Training camp contracts were given to Evina Westbrook, Jazmine Jones, Stephanie Jones, and China’s Li Meng. The protected contracts in Washington are: Elena Delle Donne, Sykes, Natasha Cloud, Myisha Hines-Allen, Ariel Atkins, and Walker-Kimbrough. The locks on their roster are Shakira Austin and one of Tianna Hawkins or Zahui B. It’s quite possible that the Mystics will be forced to carry only eleven players this season unless one of Hawkins or Zahui B. gets released. Otherwise, Washington can carry twelve players this season.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Cloud
  • SG: Atkins
  • SF: Sykes
  • PF: Delle Donne
  • C: Austin

Bench:

Walker-Kimbrough, Westbrook, Li Meng, Hines-Allen, and one of Hawkins or Zahui B.

11th and 12th Player and Last Cut:

Elena Tsineke (20th overall pick) or Jazmine Jones; Hawkins or Zahui B. (due to cap space).


The 2023 WNBA begins on Friday, May 19.

Check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more women’s sports coverage. Todd Roman is on Twitter too. Follow Todd @TBRBWAY.

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4 Comments on “2023 WNBA Roster Predictions: Eastern Conference teams”

  2. Kayla Thornton is listed twice on the bench for the Liberty? I thought she was versatile, but taking up two spots?

    1. The article was updated earlier today to list Willoughby on the bench list for New York.

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