WNBA

2023 WNBA Roster Predictions: Western 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 was provided by Her Hoop Stats.com. The Eastern Conference Predictions were released on Saturday.

Dallas Wings

The Wings were once again active during the free agency period. Acquired in the offseason were Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield from New York, Diamond DeShields from Phoenix, and several future draft picks. Their losses included Allisha Gray (to Atlanta), Marina Mabrey (to Chicago), Tyasha Harris (to Connecticut), and Kayla Thornton (to New York). The Wings also signed Teaira McCowan to a multi-year contract.

Dallas also ended up with six total draft picks, including Maddy Siegrist (3rd), Lou Lopez Sénéchal (5th), Abby Meyers (11th), Ashley Joens (19th), Paige Robinson (31st), and they traded two future draft picks for Stephanie Soares (drafted 4th overall by Washington). Arike Ogunbowale, Howard, McCowan, DeShields, and Satou Sabally (rookie scale) are protected contracts. 2020 fifth overall pick, Bella Alarie, announced her retirement during the offseason.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Dangerfield
  • SG: Ogunbowale
  • SF: DeShields
  • PF: Howard
  • C: McCowan

Bench:

Veronica Burton, Sabally, Charli Collier, Awak Kuier, Siegrist, Lopez Sénéchal.

12th Player and Last Cut:

Abby Meyers, Jasmine Dickey, or Ashley Joens.

Las Vegas Aces

Our writer, Nov, broke down the Aces’ potential final roster. Protected contracts are A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Alysha Clark, and Cayla George. Other locks for their roster are Candace Parker, Riquna Williams, and Kiah Stokes. The final two spots essentially come down to one guard and one wing. The Aces’ lone draft pick is Brittany Davis (36th overall). Training camp contracts were given to Sydney Colson, Alexis Peterson, and Courtney Range.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Gray
  • SG: Plum
  • SF: Young
  • PF: Parker
  • C: Wilson

Bench:

Clark, George, Stokes, Riquna Williams, and Colson.

11th Player and Last Cut:

Aisha Sheppard or Kierstan Bell.

Los Angeles Sparks

The Sparks are under an interesting scenario for this upcoming season. They re-signed Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike, and guards Lexie Brown (two-year deal), Jordin Canada, and Reshanda Gray (training camp contract). Additionally, the Sparks traded for Dearica Hamby from Las Vegas and Jasmine Thomas from Connecticut.

Newly acquired head coach Curt Miller also signed Azurá Stevens, Stephanie Talbot, Karlie Samuelson (training camp contract), Layshia Clarendon (training camp contract), Crystal Bradford (training camp contract), and China’s Yang Liwei. Protected contracts are Nneka Ogwumike, Thomas, Hamby, Stevens, and Katie Lou Samuelson.

However, the Sparks recently waived Chennedy Carter, whose contract will still count towards their salary cap unless another team acquires her off of waivers. Furthermore, Dearica Hamby and Katie Lou Samuelson are out on maternity leave. Hamby should be back at some point midseason, while Samuelson is expected to miss the entire season. The new rule by the league will allow them to bring in a temporary replacement for the season. On another note, Stephanie Talbot tore her anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the entire season. Los Angeles was able to suspend her contract for the season, which will not count toward the salary cap. Draftees were Zia Cooke (10th overall), Shaneice Swain (14th), and Monika Czinano (26th). Australia’s Swain is not expected to play this season.

Projected Starting 5:

Bench:

Chiney Ogwumike, Cooke, Yang Liwei, Clarendon or Canada.

10th and 11th players/last cuts*:

Karlie Samuelson or Bradford, Czinano or Gray.

*The last two cuts can presumably end up as temporary replacement players for Hamby and Katie Lou Samuelson.

Minnesota Lynx

The Lynx were fairly quiet during free agency. They re-signed Lindsay Allen, Bridget Carleton, Nikolina Milić, Damiris Dantas, and Rachel Banham. Their lone new acquisition was Tiffany Mitchell from the Indiana Fever. Draft picks were Diamond Miller (2nd overall), Maia Hirsch (12th), Dorka Juhász (16th), Brea Beal (24th), and Taylor Soule (28th).

Natalie Achonwa is expected to miss a partial part of the regular season due to maternity leave. Hirsch, their 12th overall pick, is not expected to play this season. Protected contracts are Kayla McBride, Aerial Powers, Mitchell, Achonwa, and Carleton.

Projected Starting 5:

Bench:

Milić, Miller, Mitchell, Carleton, and Jessica Shepard.

11th and 12th Players/Last cut(s)*:

Banham or Kiana Williams and Juhász or Brea Beal.

*One player can be a temporary replacement for Achonwa while she’s on maternity leave.

Phoenix Mercury

It’s still to be decided whether Skylar Diggins-Smith ever plays again for the Mercury. However, as of now, she’s included in their opening-day roster. The most anticipated return is Brittney Griner. Phoenix also re-signed Diana Taurasi, Sophie Cunningham, Shey Peddy (training camp contract), and Megan Gustafson (training camp contract). Additionally, the Mercury traded for 2021 Rookie of the Year, Michaela Onyenwere, while also signing Kylee Shook, Sug Sutton, Destiny Slocum, Sam Thomas, and Sydney Wiese to training camp contracts.

Protected contracts are Taurasi, Diggins-Smith, Griner, Cunningham, Brianna Turner, and free agent signee Moriah Jefferson (three-year deal). Furthermore, the Mercury can’t keep all four of Gustafson, Onyenwere, Peddy, and Wiese due to salary cap limits. Quite possibly, one of their draft picks, Destiny Harden (27th) or Kadi Sissoko (29th), squeezes into the final roster.

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Diggins-Smith (trade permitting)
  • SG: Taurasi
  • SF: Cunningham
  • PF: Turner
  • C: Griner

Bench:

Jefferson, Gustafson, Onyenwere, Peddy or Wiese, Shook, plus two between Harden, Jennie Simms, Sam Thomas, or Sissoko.

11th and 12th Players/Last cut(s)*:

Peddy or Wiese, plus two between Harden, Jennie Simms, Sam Thomas, or Sissoko.

Seattle Storm

The Storm lost 2019 MVP Breanna Stewart in free agency to New York. Additional losses were Stephanie Talbot to Los Angeles, Sue Bird and Briann January to retirement, and Epiphanny Prince to New York. In an attempt to rebound, the Storm added Kia Nurse, Theresa Plaisance, Sami Whitcomb, and re-signed Ezi Magbegor. Training camp contracts were given to Arella Guirantes, Kaila Charles, Yvonne Turner, and Jasmine Walker.

2022 draftee, Jade Melbourne, was also signed to a rookie scale contract. Another addition was Croatia’s Ivana Dojkić on a training camp deal. Protected contracts are Jewell Loyd, Mercedes Russell, Magbegor, Nurse, and Whitcomb. Their draft picks were Jordan Horston (9th overall), Madi Williams (18th), Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (21st), and Jade Loville (33rd).

Projected Starting 5:

  • PG: Whitcomb
  • SG: Jewell Loyd
  • SF: Nurse
  • PF: Magbegor
  • C: Russell

Bench:

Horston, Plaisance, Guirantes, Dojkić, Melbourne, and Madi Williams.

12th Player and Last Cut:

Walker or Fankam Mendjiadeu.

The 2023 WNBA season 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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