The WNBA season 25th anniversary it opens Friday with four games. Are they A storm in Seattle favorite to repeat and win the 2021 title? Will the Las Vegas Aces break through for your first championship? Or will the former dynasty return to the top? A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart are again leaders of the MVP league, but they have company in the race. That is at least what our panel predicts.
ESPN analysts Rebecca Lobo and LaChina Robinson, play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco, ESPN writers Katie Barnes, Kevin Pelton and Mechelle Voepel, and The Undefeated’s Sean Hurd choose how the season will unfold.
Which player is your preseason choice for MVP?
Katie Barnes: Aja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Sean Hurd: Aja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Rebecca Lobo: Breanna Stewart, storm in Seattle
Kevin Pelton: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
China Robinson: Aja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Ryan Ruocco: Breanna Stewart, storm in Seattle
Mechelle Voepel: Breanna Stewart, storm in Seattle
Who is your choice for the Rookie of the Year preseason?
Barnes: DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Sun.
Hurd: DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Sun.
Lobo: Jasmine Walker, Los Angeles Sparks
Pelton: Charlie Collier, wings of Dallas
Robinson: DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Sun.
Ruocco: DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Sun.
Flexible: Charlie Collier, wings of Dallas
Who is your pre-season defensive player of the year?
Barnes: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Hurd: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Lobo: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Pelton: Aja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Robinson: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Ruocco: Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
Flexible: Aja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Which five players will be the All-WNBA first team
Listed by position. One center, two strikers and two guards:
Barnes: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury; A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces; Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm; Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces; Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky
Hurd: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury; A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces; Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm; Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky; Arike Ogunbowale, wings of Dallas
Lobo: Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun; Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm; A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces; Arike Ogunbowale, wings of Dallas; Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky
Pelton: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury; Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx; Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm; Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky; Arike Ogunbowale, wings of Dallas
Robinson: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces; Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm; Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics; Skylar Diggins-Smith, Phoenix Mercury; Diamond DeShields, Chicago Sky
Ruocco: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces; Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm; Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics; Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky; Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Flexible: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm; A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces; Liz Cambage, Las Vegas Aces; Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky; Arike Ogunbowale, wings of Dallas
Which teams will meet in the WNBA Finals?
Barnes: Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces
Hurd: Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx
Pelton: Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx
Robinson: Las Vegas Aces v. Washington Mystics
Ruocco: Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm
Flexible: Las Vegas Aces v. Phoenix Mercury
Which team will win the 2021 WNBA title?
Barnes: Las Vegas Aces
Hurd: Las Vegas Aces
Pelton: Minnesota Lynx
Robinson: Las Vegas Aces
Ruocco: A storm in Seattle
Flexible: Las Vegas Aces
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