We already know that the WNBA is one of the smallest pro leagues in the country. Even with the shiny new 13th team joining the mix this year, there are still just 156 total roster spots across the league. That’s 13 teams with 12 slots each (some even roll with 11). And practically, most of those spots are already locked in by the time newbies enter. It’s really a tough crowd out there.

Now, with just a couple of days left before tip-off (May 16, 2025) and the preseason all wrapped up, the Chicago Sky just became one of the teams to lock in their 12-player roster. While all the first-round picks have managed to dodge the early cuts, some fan-favorites couldn’t. It has left everyone asking: What do these final rosters even look like now? Let’s have a look.

Las Vegas Aces roster

The Las Vegas Aces came into training camp stacked with 18 players deep, including draftees Aaliyah Nye and Harmoni Turner, plus training camp signees Jordyn Jenkins and Deja Kelly. But even before the preseason games tipped off, Elena Tsineke and Jenkins were already waived. Then came the next round of tough cuts — Queen Egbo and rookie Harmoni Turner.

But the biggest shocker was Deja Kelly. After a solid showing in the preseason – 24 points, three assists, and even a game-winning shot in the finale, Kelly was the final cut. That one stung, especially for fans. But the Aces’ backcourt was already loaded. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young are on protected veteran contracts. Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans were recently added and protected, too. Adding to the roster complexities, center Megan Gustafson is sidelined with a lower leg injury, and the Aces are required to keep paying her while she recovers.

Plus, they can’t cut forward Kierstan Bell either; her deal’s protected. Still, Deja Kelly’s journey might not end here. Another team could scoop her up.

• Crystal Bradford 
• Dana Evans 
• Chelsea Gray 
• Megan Gustafson 
• Elizabeth Kitley 
• Jewell Loyd 
• Tiffany Mitchell 
• Aaliyah Nye
• Cheyenne Parker-Tyus 
• Kiah Stokes
• A’ja Wilson 
• Jackie Young 
• Kierstan Bell

For now, the Aces have 13 players, including Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who’s currently out due to pregnancy. She won’t count on the active roster, which means the Aces’ opening-night lineup is all set.

Indiana Fever roster

The Indiana Fever drafted three rookies this year… but only one made it through. Heading into opening night, the Fever will roll with just 11 players, the league minimum. They can carry 12, sure, but due to salary cap restrictions, they’ll be kicking things off one short. Last week, the Fever announced they were waiving Bree Hall (their No. 20 pick), veteran guard Jillian Alleyne, and Yvonne Ejim (No. 33 overall).

All signs pointed to it coming down to guard Jaelyn Brown or the team’s first pick in the 2025 Draft, Makayla Timpson(No. 19 overall). And if you’d been paying attention to how head coach Stephanie White and the staff had been hyping up Timpson lately, you probably saw this coming. Timpson made the roster. It could be a money move, too. She’s locked in on a four-year rookie scale deal. That means if the current CBA setup holds, the Fever are getting major value for the next few seasons.

Brown, meanwhile, was on a training camp contract and would’ve only had a one-year deal with uncertain salary terms under the upcoming CBA. So now, the Fever’s opening roster is set at 11.

• DeWanna Bonner 
• Aliyah Boston 
• Caitlin Clark 
• Sydney Colson 
• Sophie Cunningham
• Damiris Dantas 
• Natasha Howard 
• Lexie Hull 
• Kelsey Mitchell 
• Makayla Timpson
• Brianna Turner 

Chicago Sky roster

The Chicago Sky has locked in their final roster, and youth won the day. Hailey Van Lith, the No. 11 pick, and Maddy Westbeld, a second-rounder, snagged the last two roster spots after the Sky waived Jessika Carter, Morgan Bertsch, and Ally Wilson. It was a clear message that they’re betting on potential and development over veteran experience this time around.

This came after two of their other draftees – Ajša Sivka (No. 10 pick) and Aicha Coulibaly (late second-rounder) – didn’t participate in training camp. With that, the Sky’s roster is officially set.

• Rebecca Allen
• Ariel Atkins 
• Rachel Banham
• Kamilla Cardoso 
• Moriah Jefferson 
• Kia Nurse 
• Michaela Onyenwere 
• Angel Reese 
• Hailey Van Lith
• Courtney Vandersloot 
• Maddy Westbeld
• Elizabeth Williams 

Dallas Wings roster

With their 2025 home opener just around the corner, the Dallas Wings trimmed their roster down to 13 players, just one over the league limit of 12. The latest cuts were rookie Madison Scott and Mai Yamamoto. We know that this new-look Wings squad is shaping up to be one of the most exciting teams to watch, and you already know why. Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick, is leading a super intriguing rookie class that’s bringing fresh energy to Dallas.

But they’re not quite done yet. The team still has to make one more cut by May 15, and right now, it’s anyone’s guess who’s getting that last spot.

• DiJonai Carrington
• Myisha Hines-Allen
• Teaira McCowan
• Arike Ogunbowale
• NaLyssa Smith
• Tyasha Harris
• Maddy Siegrist
• Paige Bueckers
• Aziaha James
• JJ Quinerly
• Kaila Charles
• Luisa Geiselsoder
• Joyner Holmes

New York Liberty roster

With the final pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft, the reigning champs went international, scooping up French center Adja Kane at No. 24. She may not be a Day 1 contributor, but the Liberty is betting on her overseas development. The Liberty can carry 12 players this season after suspending Betnijah Laney-Hamilton’s contract while she recovers from left knee surgery. 

So that opens up a spot. They entered the week with 14 players on the preseason roster. Monday’s preseason finale was basically make-or-break for a handful of names – Jaylyn Sherrod, Esmery Martinez, Isabelle Harrison, and Leaonna Odom – all fighting for a spot before final cuts. As of now, the official word is still awaited from the Liberty.

• Kennedy Burke 
• Natasha Cloud
• Marquesha Davis 
• Leonie Fiebich 
• Rebekah Gardner 
• Isabelle Harrison 
• Sabrina Ionescu 
• Marine Johannes 
• Jonquel Jones 
• Betnijah Laney-Hamilton 
• Esmery Martinez 
• Leaonna Odom
• Nyara Sabally 
• Jaylyn Sherrod 
• Breanna Stewart 
• Adja Kane

Minnesota Lynx

No team invited more players to training camp than the Minnesota Lynx, which raised a few eyebrows. Why? Because on paper, their rotation already looked pretty set. But that meant a lot of cuts were coming. One big twist was Dorka Juhász sitting out the entire 2025 season due to personal reasons. It’s a quiet loss for a team that isn’t exactly stacked in the frontcourt. As of now, the Lynx roster looks like this:

• Grace Berger 
• Bridget Carleton 
• Napheesa Collier 
• Natisha Hiedeman 
• Kayla McBride 
• Diamond Miller 
• Jessica Shepard
• Alissa Pili 
• Alanna Smith 
• Courtney Williams 
• Marieme Badiane 
• Anastasiia Kosu 
• Karlie Samuelson

Los Angeles Sparks

From the start, it felt like the Los Angeles Sparks had already filled most roster spots. But they picked up pretty promising stars in the draft, too. The Sparks have been craving wing depth, and Sarah Ashlee Barker, their first-round pick, looked like the perfect fit. But it hasn’t been a smooth ride for everyone. While two rookies remain in the mix, Liatu King was recently waived. That said, the Sparks aren’t quite done yet. They still need to make at least one more cut before finalizing the opening day roster.

• Dearica Hamby
• Kelsey Plum
• Azura Stevens
• Julie Allemand
• Rae Burrell
• Cameron Brink
• Rickea Jackson
• Mercedes Russell
• Odyssey Sims
• Sarah Ashlee Barker
• Sania Feagin
• Shaneice Swain
• Emma Cannon
• Maria Kliundikova
• Aari McDonald

Washington Mystics roster

The Washington Mystics are staring down what could be a long rebuild. They made three first-round picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft, but things took a hit when Georgia Amoore suffered an ACL injury before the season even tipped off. There’s still some hope in the backcourt with Jade Melbourne, who might just take on a bigger role this year. But Mystics still need someone who can control the tempo. Names like Lucy Olsen and Zaay Green come up. Neither’s your typical floor general, but both led their college squads in assists per game. For now, after waiving Lauren Jensen, here’s what the roster looks like.

• Stefanie Dolson
• Georgia Amoore
• Brittney Sykes
• Shakira Austin
• Aaliyah Edwards
• Sika Koné
• Jade Melbourne
• Sonia Citron
• Zaay Green
• Kiki Iriafen
• Lucy Olsen
• Khadijiah Cave
• Emily Engstler
• Ashten Prechtel
• Sug Sutton

Connecticut Sun roster

After waiving Bria Hartley, the Connecticut Sun are down to 17 players; still a few cuts away from finalizing things. With news of the franchise being up for sale and nearly all of last year’s starters gone, there’s a real sense of a new era. Outside of a handful of vets, this is one of the youngest groups the Sun has rolled with in a while. Draft picks Aneesah Morrow and Saniya Rivers have generated buzz, but we’ve still got to wait and see how things shape up before opening night.

All eyes are on Marina Mabrey to lead this next chapter, but until final cuts are made, the full picture of Connecticut’s roster remains unfinished.

• Yvonne Anderson
• Tina Charles
• Marina Mabrey
• Olivia Nelson-Ododa
• Lindsay Allen
• Diamond DeShields
• Jacy Sheldon
• Leïla Lacan
• Rayah Marshall
• Aneesah Morrow
• Saniya Rivers
• Kariata Diaby
• Bria Hartley
• Madison Hayes
• Amy Okonkwo
• Robyn Parks
• Haley Peters

Golden State Valkyries roster

The newbies are about to make their regular-season debut on May 16 with a squad that doesn’t quite have a face of the franchise yet— but if the preseason taught us anything, it’s that the Valkyries’ fanbase and energy are already stronger than most. Of the three rookies they drafted, only one is still standing in the fight for a final roster spot. In one of the first major shockers of the preseason, the team waived Shyanne Sellers. As for No. 5 overall pick Justė Jocytė, she wasn’t listed on the training camp roster as she’s set to join the squad in 2026.

Now, it all comes down to Kaitlyn Chen, who’s still in the mix as the Valkyries sit at 16 players.

• Monique Billings
• Stephanie Talbot
• Kayla Thornton
• Laeticia Amihere
• Temi Fagbenle
• Tiffany Hayes
• Kate Martin
• Cecilia Zandalasini
• Kaitlyn Chen
• Carla Leite
• Chloe Bibby
• Veronica Burton
• Elissa Cunane
• Kyara Linskens
• Janelle Salaün
• Mamignan Touré
• Julie Vanloo

Phoenix Mercury roster

Of the 19 players who started training camp, 13 were on training camp contracts, and with a new era on the horizon, the Phoenix Mercury are making some big shifts. As the franchise prepares for life without Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, a fresh Big Three is taking shape: Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper are now the faces of the Valley. And while the preseason didn’t exactly go as planned, there’s still a spark of hope in Phoenix. The roster still needs trimming, but the Mercury’s rebuild is clearly underway.

• Kalani Brown
• Kahleah Copper
• Kitija Laksa
• Satou Sabally
• Alyssa Thomas
• Sami Whitcomb
• Monique Akoa Makani
• Lexi Held
• Natasha Mack
• Megan McConnell
• Murjanatu Musa
• Alexis Prince
• Temira Poindexter
• Celeste Taylor
• Sevgi Uzun
• Kathryn Westbeld

Seattle Storm roster

The ACL bug has been Seattle’s biggest hurdle this offseason. It began with the Storm heading into camp without Jordan Horston or Nika Mühl, and then came another blow…Katie Lou Samuelson was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury. Now, just days before their regular-season opener, the Storm finalized their roster. They waived Mackenzie Holmes, Brianna Fraser, and Serena Sundell, after having already released rookie guards Madison Conner and Jordan Hobbs last week.

With these cuts, Seattle is down to 11 players, though only 10 are available to suit up as Samuelson recovers.

• Katie Lou Samuelson
• Lexie Brown
• Skylar Diggins
• Ezi Magbegor
• Nneka Ogwumike
• Gabby Williams
• Alysha Clark
• Dominique Malonga
• Zia Cooke
• Erica Wheeler
• Li Yueru

Atlanta Dream roster

Atlanta made one of the biggest moves of the offseason by bringing in Brittney Griner, a massive get for a team looking to level up. Despite not having a first-round pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, things still panned out in their favor. They snagged Te-Hina Paopao later in the draft, and she’s already proven to be one of the most promising names from the preseason. Another move that briefly stirred excitement was Shyanne Sellers.

After being waived by the Valkyries in a surprise decision, Atlanta quickly picked her up off waivers. But just as quickly as the hype came, it vanished. After what many called the best month of her career, Sellers hit a low point and was waived again by the Dream. Now, with final cuts complete, Atlanta’s roster is locked in at 12.

• Jordin Canada
• Nia Coffey
• Allisha Gray
• Brittney Griner
• Brionna Jones
• Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
• Naz Hillmon
• Rhyne Howard
• Haley Jones
• Te-Hina Paopao
• Taylor Thierry
• Maya Caldwell
  
  

So, get ready to watch the finalized squads hit the court soon, and for the teams still sorting it out, we’ll find out who makes the cut by May 15!