The season of WNBA revenge tours is upon us
Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images There can only be one champion, but several WNBA teams are out for revenge as the season ramps up. It seems like there are more competing agendas than ever heading into the WNBA season. There is no clear frontrunner for championship prospects, and several teams have a shot at making the finals. More than that, more teams have a potential chip on their shoulders heading into the season than any year in recent memory. Here are the best revenge plots of the WNBA in 2025. Las Vegas Aces redeeming themselves after their off 2024 season The Las Vegas Aces were not only primed to win a third consecutive championship in 2024, they were almost expected to. A’ja Wilson played the best season of her career, averaging a league record of 26.9 points per game on her way to her third career MVP season. Yet, something was off with the Aces as a whole. Chelsea Gray was struggling with a lingering injury she sustained in the 2023 WNBA Finals, and several other players were in and out of the lineup as the season went on. They just never found their rhythm, and at the same time, other teams were leveling up to compete with them. This season, things are already looking better. Gray is back to her usual health, proving so with an Unrivaled championship in the offseason. In two preseason games, Wilson looked in peak form even though she has not been in action since the Aces played in the WNBA semi-finals last fall. They have also added Jewell Loyd to the mix, more offensive punch for a lineup that is already so strong on that front. The Aces of championship runs past may not be back, but this new version of the team might just be even better. After failing to accomplish the three-peat, the Aces have more motivation to get back on top of the WNBA mountain this season and prove they are still the best team in the league. Minnesota Lynx getting another chance at a championship One of the most fun parts of the 2024 season was watching the Minnesota Lynx rise from a presumed middle-of-the-pack team to championship caliber. The went on a winning run after the Olympic break, only losing a few games in the last half of the season. Napheesa Collier was playing MVP-level hoops (and may have won if Wilson wasn’t playing historic-level hoops), and the team’s chemistry was palpable. This all led the team to the WNBA Finals, a nail-biting five-game series against the New York Liberty. Every game was close, both teams were playing their best, and it was truly one of the most enjoyable WNBA series in recent history. Yet, in the deciding Game 5, played in New York City, the game was decided by a controversial call by the officials. The New York Liberty won the championship, but a sour taste was left for the Lynx players and fans. Natisha Hiedeman on the upcoming Lynx season“Yeah it’s definitely a revenge tour. I ain’t gonna lie, that S*** hurt for real, I was sick for like three weeks after. Like sick, like real life depressed… so remembering that feeling and not wanting to feel that again” pic.twitter.com/orx7KIp4m2— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) April 29, 2025 With most of the team remaining the same going into the 2025 season, the Lynx are playing with the memory of that night fresh on their minds. They’ve already told the media that they still think about it, still talk about it, and it still bothers them. They want another chance at that elusive WNBA championship. New York Liberty proving they deserve their dynasty The 2024 WNBA champions received a fair bit of criticism after winning the franchise’s first championship, due to the above controversy. They’ve been accused of not “deserving” their championship, which no player likes to hear. Of course, they would want to go back-to-back anyway, but there is a little bit of that revenge stirring from the way last season ended. They surely want to leave no doubt that they don’t need any help from the refs to win it all. They have a shot too, with most of their core coming back this season. They traded for Natasha Cloud as well, adding a ton of energy to their lineup. Marine Johannes is back with the team after sitting out last year, making the blow of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton missing the season with injury less severe from a team perspective. Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb looks to the future after winning the 2024 #WNBA Championship.We want this franchise to be a "legacy franchise." "We want to be iconic."— Jackie Powell (she/her) (@ClassicJpow) May 3, 2025 New York is looking to rule the WNBA again this season, and do so in a dominating fashion. They don’t want there to be speculation of what could have been if certain plays or fouls were called differently. They may also suggest WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert wear a different outfit to the Finals this time, too.
There can only be one champion, but several WNBA teams are out for revenge as the season ramps up.
It seems like there are more competing agendas than ever heading into the WNBA season. There is no clear frontrunner for championship prospects, and several teams have a shot at making the finals. More than that, more teams have a potential chip on their shoulders heading into the season than any year in recent memory.
Here are the best revenge plots of the WNBA in 2025.
Las Vegas Aces redeeming themselves after their off 2024 season
The Las Vegas Aces were not only primed to win a third consecutive championship in 2024, they were almost expected to. A’ja Wilson played the best season of her career, averaging a league record of 26.9 points per game on her way to her third career MVP season. Yet, something was off with the Aces as a whole. Chelsea Gray was struggling with a lingering injury she sustained in the 2023 WNBA Finals, and several other players were in and out of the lineup as the season went on. They just never found their rhythm, and at the same time, other teams were leveling up to compete with them.
This season, things are already looking better. Gray is back to her usual health, proving so with an Unrivaled championship in the offseason. In two preseason games, Wilson looked in peak form even though she has not been in action since the Aces played in the WNBA semi-finals last fall. They have also added Jewell Loyd to the mix, more offensive punch for a lineup that is already so strong on that front.
The Aces of championship runs past may not be back, but this new version of the team might just be even better. After failing to accomplish the three-peat, the Aces have more motivation to get back on top of the WNBA mountain this season and prove they are still the best team in the league.
Minnesota Lynx getting another chance at a championship
One of the most fun parts of the 2024 season was watching the Minnesota Lynx rise from a presumed middle-of-the-pack team to championship caliber. The went on a winning run after the Olympic break, only losing a few games in the last half of the season. Napheesa Collier was playing MVP-level hoops (and may have won if Wilson wasn’t playing historic-level hoops), and the team’s chemistry was palpable.
This all led the team to the WNBA Finals, a nail-biting five-game series against the New York Liberty. Every game was close, both teams were playing their best, and it was truly one of the most enjoyable WNBA series in recent history. Yet, in the deciding Game 5, played in New York City, the game was decided by a controversial call by the officials. The New York Liberty won the championship, but a sour taste was left for the Lynx players and fans.
Natisha Hiedeman on the upcoming Lynx season
“Yeah it’s definitely a revenge tour. I ain’t gonna lie, that S*** hurt for real, I was sick for like three weeks after. Like sick, like real life depressed… so remembering that feeling and not wanting to feel that again” pic.twitter.com/orx7KIp4m2— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) April 29, 2025
With most of the team remaining the same going into the 2025 season, the Lynx are playing with the memory of that night fresh on their minds. They’ve already told the media that they still think about it, still talk about it, and it still bothers them. They want another chance at that elusive WNBA championship.
New York Liberty proving they deserve their dynasty
The 2024 WNBA champions received a fair bit of criticism after winning the franchise’s first championship, due to the above controversy. They’ve been accused of not “deserving” their championship, which no player likes to hear. Of course, they would want to go back-to-back anyway, but there is a little bit of that revenge stirring from the way last season ended. They surely want to leave no doubt that they don’t need any help from the refs to win it all.
They have a shot too, with most of their core coming back this season. They traded for Natasha Cloud as well, adding a ton of energy to their lineup. Marine Johannes is back with the team after sitting out last year, making the blow of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton missing the season with injury less severe from a team perspective.
Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb looks to the future after winning the 2024 #WNBA Championship.
We want this franchise to be a "legacy franchise."
"We want to be iconic."— Jackie Powell (she/her) (@ClassicJpow) May 3, 2025
New York is looking to rule the WNBA again this season, and do so in a dominating fashion. They don’t want there to be speculation of what could have been if certain plays or fouls were called differently. They may also suggest WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert wear a different outfit to the Finals this time, too.
