Continuing with tradition, the 2025 WNBA off-season was anything but quiet. Blockbuster trades, bold signings, and sweeping rebuilds kept the league buzzing with anticipation. Yet, while several teams made moves to retool their rosters, the spotlight remained fixed on three franchises – Indiana, Chicago, and Dallas.

Much of that hype stemmed from standout rookie seasons by Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, which pushed Indiana and Chicago to shape their rebuilds around their young stars. Dallas, meanwhile, struck gold in the draft lottery, landing the No. 1 pick and selecting Paige Bueckers to headline their future. So, each of these teams entered the off-season with a clear plan, some more calculated than others.

Now, here we are, past the midseason, with Indiana learning to navigate without Clark, while Chicago and Dallas are still trying to turn talent into wins. But how much has what unfolded in the months between seasons set the tone for what could be a defining, or a forgettable, year?

Which 2025 WNBA trades had the most positive impact on team performance?

After missing the playoffs last season, the Chicago Sky were determined to revamp their backcourt and inject some dynamic scoring into the lineup. They did just that by acquiring two-way guard Ariel Atkins from the Washington Mystics, giving up the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, a future second-rounder, and a pick swap. The move signaled a clear intent, and they didn’t stop there. Chicago doubled down on veteran leadership by bringing in Courtney Vandersloot, adding her elite playmaking and steady locker-room presence.

While the Sky haven’t exactly taken off this season, much of that stems from Vandersloot’s absence due to injury and head coach Tyler Marsh struggling to strike the right balance between his experienced core of Atkins and Elizabeth Williams, and the young core of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. In Vandersloot’s absence, Atkins has stepped up impressively, taking over point guard duties and averaging a career-high 3.5 assists per game. She was also instrumental in snapping Chicago’s early 0–4 skid, pouring in 21 points per game during a key three-game stretch that helped get the team back on track.

As for the Fever, Sophie Cunningham landed in Indianapolis on January 31 as part of a headline-grabbing four-team trade. Her Fever debut didn’t come without speed bumps; she missed two weeks early in the season due to injury, but she came back swinging. In fact, she played a key role in helping Indiana capture the in-season Commissioner’s Cup title, putting up 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench in a win over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx.

She’s become a reliable two-way presence, consistently playing over 20 minutes a night and adding a spark whenever she checks in. Whether it’s timely threes, physical defense, or just keeping the energy up, she’s been a steady contributor to Indiana’s evolving identity and Stephanie White’s rotations.

For Dallas, however, their trade jenga seems to be wobbling. Take Tyasha Harris, for instance. The 2020 first-round pick made her way back to Dallas in a February four-team shuffle that felt promising on paper. But after just five games – where she quietly dropped 4.6 points and 2.6 assists per outing while leading the Wings in three-point shooting at a scorching 45.5% – her season was cut short by a knee injury. As for the rest of the trade haul? Well… keep reading.

Which trades or signings backfired or failed to produce the expected results?

When we talk about trades going sour this WNBA season, it’s hard to overlook the DeWanna Bonner-sized elephant in the room! Fever’s Amber Cox and Kelly Krauskopf had one goal in mind for this season – to add a bunch of veteran leadership to the team while Clark learns and grows. Their vision was pretty solid, as they added some heavy hitters in DB and Natasha Howard.

Sadly, Indiana wasn’t the place to be for DeWanna Bonner. The fifteen-year WNBA vet had a rocky start with the team, and just after nine games, she made her way out from the team.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, Nalyssa Smith had to leave for the Aces. Once the No. 2 overall pick back in 2022 and a rising star with Indiana, Smith made a pit stop in Dallas just in time to share the spotlight with 2025’s top pick, Paige Bueckers. She put up a modest 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds across 18 games while the team battled through an avalanche of injuries. Her biggest impact? Probably the good vibes in the locker room, as the Wings couldn’t quite figure out how to use her consistently on the court. But wait, there’s more drama.

The Wings have also shipped off DiJonai Carrington to Minnesota. In return, they got Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round pick. In the process, Dallas also waived Teaira McCowan. Carrington had been one of the few bright spots this season, averaging 10.4 points, 5.1 boards, and enough defensive hustle that earned last year’s Most Improved Player and a spot on the All-Defense team. But as Dallas continues its identity crisis, even the most improved aren’t immune to the trade winds.

Which rookie trades or draft-related moves showed long-term potential or concern?

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. Drafting Paige Bueckers was quite clearly the only move that made absolute sense for Dallas. There was just too much potential to ignore, too much talent to pass on, and Miller made the right decision. Not to mention, Bueckers’ rookie performance so far has been phenomenal, earning her an All-Star starting spot in just her first year. Then there is JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James as well. These three rookies have stepped up big time for the Wings. They had also drafted Aaronette Vonleh and Madison Scott, but quickly waived them.

The Sky definitely came into this season with a mixed bag. Some of their moves were absolutely brilliant, such as drafting and signing Hailey Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld, showing that they were willing to stick to the process and take a chance on their rookies. However, adding Ajsa Sivka and Alicha Coulibaly to the roster caused some confusion for fans. The Sky knew that neither might suit up this season since Sivka is busy repping Slovenia and Coulibaly is rehabbing an ACL injury from January.

Coming to the Indiana Fever, they probably are extremely happy with their Mikayla Timpson decision. She has carved out her name in the Fever’s bench by staying patient and doing what she does best. After spending the early part of the season mostly watching from the bench, Timpson has recently flipped the script. She’s now seen double-digit minutes in five of her last nine outings. In the recent win over the Sky, she clocked 22 minutes, dropped a career-best 14 points, and threw in four boards and three steals for good measure.

What were the best trades for the Indiana Fever?

After drafting a franchise player, life definitely does get a lot easier for any front office. Kelly Krauskopf and Amber Cox had a clear path in front of them ahead of this season. After all, Caitlin Clark is an extremely young and promising talent; all she needed was a strong core and some championship experience on the roster.

Sydney Colson, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, and DeWanna Bonner were folded into the Indiana Fever side, aiming to provide just that. And even though they didn’t all end up delivering on the expectations set for them, the Fever definitely flourished.

A big factor for them this season, one that won them the Commissioner’s Cup, was the addition of Natasha Howard. The three-time WNBA champ has been holding the fort down in Caitlin Clark’s absence, putting up consistent double-doubles and running the offense as well. Cunningham, on the other hand, stepped into the role of the ‘protector’ for the team, and has been a fan favorite as well!

The six-foot-one point guard is putting up some solid numbers coming off the bench and has proven that she’s willing to fight for her team and teammates. On the other hand, DeWanna Bonner had to be waived because of a poor fit, but even that benefited the Fever! It allowed them the cap space to sign Aari McDonald and shift their focus towards the younger generation as well.

Did the Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings make the most of their signings?

Even though the Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings were both proactive in making off-season roster decisions, it’s safe to say that their planning has not been successful. Both teams are hovering around the very bottom of the entire league despite the generational talent of both Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers. Could that, in part, be due to the roster that they assembled?

Well, it’s tough to say. Chicago’s backcourt has been marred by injuries during this entire season. Courtney Vandersloot tore her ACL, while Ariel Atkins has been dealing with knee issues as well recently. However, beyond that, Coach Marsh hasn’t been using her effectively.

Thing is, even though Ariel Atkins has had some standout moments, especially in half-court plays, the way she has been used on the court just doesn’t make the most of what she brings to the table. Atkins can create shots for herself, but she’s not your typical iso-heavy player who takes on defenders one-on-one all game. That’s not really her vibe. She thrives when the offense moves—like when she comes off screens and gets the ball in motion. During one small stretch around May 26, when she got to do more of that, it really showed. She looked comfortable, effective, and way more involved.

As for Dallas, as mentioned earlier, almost all their gambles have fizzled out. It remains to be seen how Diamond Miller will fit into this roster.