2 min read • May 13, 2025
As the 2025 WNBA season tips off, injuries and recoveries play a crucial role in shaping expectations for each West Conference team. Here we’ll examine where each team in the West stands as the season gets ready to start on Friday.
Dallas Wings - The Wings don’t currently have any major injury concerns to start the season. It’s worth noting that #1 overall draft pick Paige Bueckers does have an injury history from college. She’s torn an ACL and had multiple ankle injuries but figures to have no injury concerns to start the season and what should be an exciting career.
Golden State Valkyries - The newest team in the WNBA begins their first season with one of their most popular players nursing a right hand injury. Kate Martin was held out of the final preseason game with the injury and the severity of which is unknown at this time, but there doesn’t appear to be much cause for concern as the regular season is ready to begin. Their first ever draft pick Juste Jocyte will miss the entire season, but that is due to her remaining overseas and not an injury.
Las Vegas Aces - The Aces first round draft pick a year ago, Elizabeth Kitley missed all of last season with a torn ACL, and while she’s been a full participant in this year’s preseason, her status for opening night is uncertain at the moment. Once ready to return, she should have an exciting start to her career. Megan Gustafson is a season WNBA veteran and currently has an unspecified lower left leg injury that was sustained during practice and is expected to be sidelined indefinitely. It leaves the Aces front court a little thin, though perennial league MVP A’ja Wilson is still there so the team will still be plenty formidable as the season starts.
Los Angeles Sparks - As the WNBA exploded in popularity last season, one of the more exciting players that you could argue was part of that explosion was Cameron Brink. She sustained a torn ACL in the middle of a stellar rookie campaign that saw her being one of the league’s best rim protectors. She’s nearing the end of her rehab cycle and is expected to return in June, roughly 2-4 weeks after this season begins.
Minnesota Lynx - Alanna Smith, starting center, missed the final preseason game with a quadriceps injury, though there’s no indication that she’ll miss the start of the regular season opener vs Dallas. She started all games a year ago and has had an otherwise healthy career.
Phoenix Mercury - The Mercury don’t have any essential roster pieces on the injury report as the season is ready to start. One of their most exciting acquisitions though, Satou Sabally (First Team All-WNBA in 2024) had a rough season a year ago as she was coming back from off-season shoulder surgery prior to the start of last season. This year, she expects to be fully healthy after nearly a year of recovery and a successful run at Unrivaled in January.
Seattle Storm - Veteran free agent signing Katie Lou Samuelson tore her ACL in training camp and will miss the entire season. She figured to be a big part of the Storm rebuild and a veteran presence for the team’s young players. Nika Muhl is a key part of the Storm's defensive scheme and she will also miss the upcoming season as she recovers from a torn ACL sustained a few months ago in the offseason.
Sign up to our FREE Weekly Newsletter here for all of our best injury-insights, free injury-based picks and special offers!
The WNBA just got Betr!
Kick off the season with a Caitlin Clark Free Pick, available to ALL Betr Picks users!
New to Betr? Sign up with code ‘SICPICKS’ for a 100% deposit match up to $77! Click the link below!
SIC PICKS ARE BASED ON INSIDER INJURY KNOWLEDGE FROM FORMER PRO SPORTS TEAM DOCTORS TO GIVE YOU A WINNING EDGE IN SPORTS BETTING!
SIC PICKS are powered by the proven SIC Score algorithms from our exclusive panel of former Pro Sports Team doctors to give you a sports betting edge. Each day our team of doctors analyze the players and teams and share their expert insights to help you make informed bets on the biggest unknown to sportsbooks and sports bettors - player health and injuries!
For our Best Bets including spreads, totals, props and live in game with instant alerts as game day opportunities arise with research notes, sign up to SIC Picks here for less than $2 a day on an annual plan.
Sign up to SIC Picks today to get our picks sent direct to your cell!
Written by
