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As the Olympics break begins following the WNBA All-Star Game tonight, it has become clear who this year’s title contenders are. These teams have been the best in the league and are only separated by a few games. Each of them has the qualities of a championship squad. But there can only be one that can come out on top. Let’s take a look at who could emerge as the 2024 WNBA Champions.
Las Vegas Aces
Let’s start with the reigning champions, the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces are fresh off winning back-to-back championships and are on the hunt to become the first team to three-peat since the Houston Comets. Vegas had a rough 6-6 start to the season, where many thought that the team was finally facing a decline after two years of dominance. But once Chelsea Gray returned from injury, the Aces looked better than ever.
A’ja Wilson is having another spectacular season, averaging a career-best across the board, and is the frontrunner for MVP. Jackie Young has taken another leap as well, cementing herself as one of the best guards in the league. And Kelsey Plum has continued to provide a strong contribution in her role. It looks as if they have returned to playing their brand of basketball going 9-1 in their last 10 games.
Their core is representing their country as Olympians and while their record isn’t the best, at full strength, they can be considered as such. Getting the three-peat is no easy feat, but the Las Vegas Aces are more than capable of getting it done.
New York Liberty
After losing to the Aces in the Finals last season, the New York Liberty have been on a mission to get back there. This season, the Liberty have been one of the more dominating teams, currently first in the standings with a 20-4 record. Watching this team, you see that they play with more flow and chemistry than they did last season. You can tell that the time together has helped them become better and it couldn’t have come at a better moment. Sabrina Ionescu is having a career year, averaging career highs in points and assists. She’s been playing with more confidence and has taken the much-needed leap many have been waiting on.
For Jonquel Jones, this has been one of the better seasons of her career as well. Averaging 16 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, Jones has been one of the league’s best bigs this season. And of course, Breanna Stewart has been stellar. The Liberty have been able to fix a few of their problems from last season and look like a much better team.
Kayla Thornton and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton have been great in their roles. New York’s depth has improved too. They represented the Eastern Conference once again in the Commissioner’s Cup Final but fell short to the Minnesota Lynx. So best believe they’re hungry to make a title run.
Minnesota Lynx
It was only a matter of time before the Minnesota Lynx would be contending for a title again. After what felt like a short retool period, the Lynx are back as one of the top teams in the league. Coached by the legendary Cheryl Reeve, the Lynx have shown they aren’t a team you can play around with. As previously mentioned, the Lynx took home the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup trophy against the New York Liberty. Naphessa Collier has been playing at an MVP level, with this being arguably her best season since returning from pregnancy.
The team around Phee is good as well with players like Kayla McBride, Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams, and Bridget Carleton. Currently, fourth in league standings, don’t be surprised if they make a deep playoff run or appear in the Finals. This team has continued to hang with the best and has had some impressive victories against teams ahead of them.
Connecticut Sun
Starting the season as the last undefeated team, the Sun have in a sense, come back to Earth. That doesn’t mean they aren’t a dangerous team to play against. The duo of Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner have been great this season. Bonner was selected as an All-Star and Thomas an Olympian. But the biggest story has been the improved play of their young guard, DiJonai Carrington. Carrington is averaging career-best across the board and has been a big help to the Sun’s success this season. The return of Bri Jones has been great for the Sun as well. Recently they acquired the sharpshooting former Notre Dame standout Marina Mabrey via trade. It’ll be interesting to see how Connecticut will use Mabrey, coming from being one of the primary options on the Chicago Sky to a loaded Sun squad. Regardless of how they do, they now have another playmaker that improves their guard core instantly.
We’ve seen how they’ve come close to winning a championship year after year. Could this be the move that gets them over the hump? In this last part of the season, they will have to show they have what it takes to win a championship. And because of that, they shouldn’t be counted out.
It’ll be an interesting month of basketball after the Olympic break seeing where these teams end up in playoff seeding especially because these teams will have to see each other before even reaching the Finals. With the intensity and the stakes rising, it should make for some good basketball. But only one can come out on top as the 2024 WNBA Champions. And regardless of who it’ll be, it will be one of the more impressive title runs we’ll see.
An avid sports fan and journalist who’s main focus is the lovely game of basketball. If I’m not covering the game, I’m either playing ball or watching it.
