Ranking the WNBA’s open head coaching jobs, from best (Caitlin Clark’s Fever) to worst (Sun) | Sporting News

On opening night of the 2025 WNBA season, more than half the league will have a different coach. As it stands, there are seven head coach openings in the WNBA and more movement isn’t necessarily out of the question.

The coaching turnover during the 2024 WNBA offseason signals a shift in the league, which will expand in each of the next three seasons. Perennial contenders, burgeoning contenders and rebuilding teams are each in search of a new coach, and with different situations come different expectations and pressure.

Based on those factors, here’s a look at the best available jobs around the league, from an opportunity to coach Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark and the Fever to a situation in Connecticut that is mired with unknowns.

MORE: Five best Fever coaching candidates to replace Christie Sides

1. Indiana Fever

This one is pretty straightforward. The Fever have Clark and Aliyah Boston, the league’s last two No. 1 picks and Rookies of the Year, and history shows that is a great precedent for future growth and potential.

The free agency of All-Star Kelsey Mitchell makes this a transitional offseason for Indiana but the franchise has already made major front-office moves and appears eager to build upon a season in which it went 20-20 to snap an eight-year postseason drought.

Coaching Clark & Co. comes with a larger spotlight and likely some unwarranted pressure, but the talent in place also means the job could blossom into an opportunity to mold the league’s next perennial contender. It’s all about winning and while Indiana is a few steps from contending for a championship, the right coach could accelerate that path.

MORE: Why the Fever fired Christie Sides after Caitlin Clark’s rookie season

2. Los Angeles Sparks

Yes, LA only managed eight wins in 2024, but it has a number of things working in its favor.

The Sparks have a veteran All-Star in Dearica Hamby and one of the league’s most promising young duos in Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. While Brink’s rookie season ended early due to a torn ACL, Jackson earned All-Rookie honors with an impressive first season.

With those three pillars in place, LA will add another lottery pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, giving it a very bright future.

3. Atlanta Dream

Atlanta made a late push to qualify for the playoffs in 2024 and has an opportunity to build on that in 2025.

Despite an early-season injury to former No. 1 overall pick Rhyne Howard, the Dream made the postseason thanks in large part to the resurgence of veteran Tina Charles and the continued emergence of All-Star Allisha Gray.

The franchise has shown a commitment to improvement and, despite not owning a first-round pick in 2025, could welcome last year’s draft picks who have yet to report for WNBA duties.

4. Chicago Sky

The Sky have one of the league’s best young duos in Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. They barely missed the playoffs despite an early-season absence of Cardoso and a season-ending injury suffered by Reese during their playoff push.

When you factor in Chennedy Carter, it’s clear Chicago is not lacking talent. The issue stems from a level of uncertainty surrounding the franchise. There have been continued personnel changes and callouts from former players about treatment from the organization.

Add the fact that Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon — who was fired after one season — is a tough act to follow, and you have a difficult situation to navigate.

MORE: Why Angel Reese was ‘heartbroken’ over Sky’s firing of Teresa Weatherspoon

5. Washington Mystics

The Mystics narrowly missed the playoffs in 2024 and will pick twice in the top six of this year’s draft. Still, there are some major questions facing them.

After Elena Delle Donne opted to sit out last season, her situation remains unresolved. Aaliyah Edwards had strong moments throughout her rookie season but the franchise needs more star power to have a clearer picture of the future.

Some lottery luck and the right coaching hire would help, but there’s currently too much uncertainty.

6. Dallas Wings

Dallas is another situation that seems difficult to navigate. The team sputtered to a 9-31 record in 2024 largely due to the offseason injury that kept star forward Satou Sabally out of the lineup for 25 games.

Now, Sabally is very open about her excitement to be a free agent, which would be a major hit to the team’s talent level. They’ll pick in this year’s draft lottery but with several questions surrounding the organization, the opportunity to coach Arike Ogunbowale might not be enough to make this spot enticing.

7. Connecticut Sun

It feels strange to place a team that was a bonafide title contender last, but the Sun are on the precipice of a full rebuild. This could change but as it stands, things aren’t looking too promising.

The team has three players under contract next season. All-Stars DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones and Alyssa Thomas are unrestricted free agents, 2024 Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington is a restricted free agent and the team owes its first-round pick to Chicago.

Thomas has called out the organization for the “ultimate disrespect” of having to share practice facilities for community events during the playoffs and head coach Stephanie White, who maintained a previously established culture of winning, has moved on. The Sun may look much different in 2025.