All 12 WNBA teams' chances of winning this season's championship, ranked

2020 record: 6-16

Key players: Jantel Lavender (F), Kelsey Mitchell (G)

What to expect: Indiana's promising young core would need to dazzle far beyond expectations to lead the franchise to its first title since 2012 — and its first playoff appearance in five years. Kelsey Mitchell will do her best to lead the Fever to the top of the Eastern Conference, but with a worse-than-average defense and a young team, she may find herself in a rebuilding year once again.

2020 record: 7-15

Key players: Courtney Williams (G), Chennedy Carter (G), Aari McDonald (G), Tiffany Hayes (G)

What to expect: Atlanta is the proud owner of one of the most gutsy frontcourts in the league. Courtney Williams, Chennedy Carter, and Aari McDonald are sure to put on many a show for Dream fans, but that may not be enough. With a slew of front office changes and the departure of head coach Nicki Collen a week before the 2021 season, this team will likely need a few seasons to build a foundation.

2020 record: 8-14

Key players: Arike Ogunbowale (G), Satou Sabally (F), Charli Collier (F)

What to expect: The Wings have been stockpiling first-round draft picks for years, and now they have a young squad brimming with promise. Dallas bolstered its frontcourt — which already featured 2020 first-round draft picks Satou Sabally and Bella Alarie — with the first and second overall picks in this year's draft: Charli Collier and Awak Kuier. Add that 6-foot-5 pair into the mix with 2020 WNBA leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale and a slew of young guards, and perhaps the Wings are ready to shock the league.

2020 record: 2-20

Key players: Sabrina Ionescu (G), Layshia Clarendon (G), Natasha Howard (F)

What to expect: The Liberty owned the worst record in the league last season, winning just two games in the WNBA's bubble and missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season. But brighter days could be on the horizon. Expect big things from former Oregon Ducks triple-double queen Sabrina Ionescu, who racked up 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game for New York last year before an ankle sprain ended her season in her third game. The Liberty brought her some help this offseason, acquiring Natasha Howard and Sami Whitcomb from the Storm, the league's 2020 champions.

2020 record: 14-8

Key players: Sylvia Fowles (C), Napheesa Collier (F), Crystal Dangerfield (G), Aerial Powers (F/G)

What to expect: The Lynx wouldn't know a rebuild if it smacked them upside the head; they only know how to restock. This offseason, Minnesota recruited Kayla McBride, Aerial Powers, and Natalie Ochonwa to bolster a squad that already featured an MVP candidate in Napheesa Collier, a legend in Sylvia Fowles, and the 2020 Rookie of the Year in Crystal Dangerfield.

Don't sleep on the Lynx. Even you, A-Rod.

2020 record: 13-9

Key players: Diana Taurasi (G), Skylar Diggins-Smith (G), Brittney Griner (C)

What to expect: If the Mercury's big three reaches the high expectations set for them when Skylar Diggins-Smith joined the fold last season, it'll be a challenge to slow down Phoenix. At 6-foot-9, Brittney Griner is still a force in the paint, and Brianna Turner is a blocking machine. Now that Diggins-Smith has had some time to acclimate, the Mercury are sure to be a threat in the Western Conference. And, oh yeah, they have the GOAT in Diana Taurasi — who's still in top form as she embarks on her 17th season.

2020 record: 10-12

Key players: DeWanna Bonner (F/G), Jonquel Jones (F), Jasmine Thomas (G), Brionna Jones (F)

What to expect: The Sun always seem to make their mark in the playoffs even when the WNBA world has counted them out. Perhaps this year will continue that trend. The team's bruiser and rebounding force, Alyssa Thomas, is out for the year after tearing her Achilles. But Curt Miller still has Jasmine Thomas, Brionna Jones, and superstar DeWanna Bonner at his disposal. Plus, with Jonquel Jones rejoining the group, Connecticut's ceiling may be higher than everyone assumes.

2020 record: 15-7

Key players: Nneka Ogwumike (F), Chiney Ogwumike (F/C), Kristi Toliver (G)

What to expect: The Sparks will need time to adjust without superstars Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray on their roster, but they still have plenty of firepower. Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 WNBA MVP, will lead a Los Angeles squad that welcomes back All-Defensive guard Brittney Sykes. All-Stars Chiney Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver have also rejoined the team after opting out of the 2020 season. That may be enough to power through a top-heavy Western Conference, but they'll need to build team chemistry quickly in order to make it happen.

2020 record: 12-10

Key players: Candace Parker (F), Courtney Vandersloot (G), Allie Quigley (G), Diamond DeShields (G)

What to expect: We've reached the point in this list where every team is absolutely stacked. Though the Sky may have more exceptional pieces than any other team in the WNBA, how they'll fit together on the court remains to be seen. Point guard Courtney Vandersloot has led the league in assists per game in each of the last four seasons, and she set a WNBA record with 10 dimes per contest last year. Her wife, Allie Quigley, is a three-time All-Star and one of the foremost sharpshooters in the game. And even though Diamond DeShields is still young — her 2020 season ended early thanks to a quad injury — she has an All-Star appearance under her belt and is expected to blossom into a superstar. On top of all that, James Wade added in Candace Parker — a former MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year — to bolster his already loaded roster.

2020 record: 18-4

Key players: A'ja Wilson (F), Liz Cambage (C), Kelsey Plum (G), Chelsea Gray (G)

What to expect: The Aces finished atop the league during their 2020 season in the Wubble and had themselves an MVP in third-year forward A'ja Wilson. They've gotten even better in the seven months since. All-Star center Liz Cambage and budding star Kelsey Plum are back after missing last year, and two-time Sixth Player of the Year Dearica Hamby is now healthy after sustaining a knee injury in the playoffs. Plus, former Sparks All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray joined the squad in free agency. They're gonna be good. Like, really good.

2020 record: 18-4

Key players: Breanna Stewart (F), Sue Bird (G), Jewell Loyd (G)

How they win: Seattle may have lost some key pieces from its 2020 WNBA championship run, but the Storm are still the favorites to win this year's title. Breanna Stewart, the 2018 MVP and two-time Finals MVP, is in peak form following a 2019 Achilles tendon tear. All-time WNBA assists leader Sue Bird is defying father time at 40 years old. And two-time All-Star Jewell Loyd — the Kobe Bryant protégé dubbed "Gold Mamba" — is coming into her prime. To make matters worse for every other team, the Storm added league legend Candice Dupree and 2019 top-five pick Katie Lou Samuelson to their roster during the offseason.