WNBA 2025: Starters, Shuffles, and Some Shiny NFTs to Drool Over
WNBA 2025 By Roxy Rebound Hey, hoop heads, fantasy freaks and NFT/card collectors! It’s your girl Roxy Rebound, back with the tea on the WNBA’s latest roster shake-ups as we roll into 2025. I’m diving deep into the starters, the player movement drama, and—because we’re Panini stans here—some sweet NFT drops from the 2024 Panini NFT Prizm WNBA collection to pair with the vibes. With everything sold out, the only way to get in the game is to jump to the Marketplace and buy a pack or make an offer on something listed. Expect stats, sass, and a little fantasy flair, ‘cause that’s how we roll. Let’s get it! Atlanta Dream: Big Dreams or Big Mess? Projected Starters: PG: Jordin Canada SG: Allisha Gray SF: Rhyne Howard PF: Brionna Jones C: Brittney Griner Bench Vibes: Holly Winterburn (??), Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Haley Jones, Nia Coffey, Naz Hillmon. Okay, Atlanta’s out here playing Position Roulette. Jordin Canada’s the only true point guard, and Brittney Griner’s the lone center holding it down in the paint. Everyone else? Playing up a spot like it’s musical chairs. Holly Winterburn’s name is floating around, but let’s be real—her Oregon stats scream “bench warmer” more than “playmaker.” Only four of these gals (Canada, Griner, Coffey, Hillmon) are in their natural habitat, and that’s a red flag. The Dream doubled down on their “go big or go home” strat, snagging Griner and Jones to beef up a core that’s got talent—Rhyne Howard’s a dawg, averaging 17.3 PPG last season—but hasn’t clicked yet. If GM Dan Padover’s just patching holes for 2025, cool. But if this is the long-term vision? Yikes. Especially since they hired Karl Smesko, a small-ball wizard. Someone’s gotta explain this to me like I’m five. NFT Spotlight: Rhyne Howard’s Base Prizms Gold (Card #39, /10) isn’t cheap, but it’s a must-cop for Dream fans. Her 1/10 just sold for $300. (3/4/2025) Her star power’s undeniable, and this shiny gem could be a sleeper hit if Atlanta figures it out. With no teals /49 listed in the marketplace, and the /99 orange sitting with a floor price of $75 even though the highest recent sale was $30, there’s just not a real good value on anything listed in the marketplace. Even the Purple /149 is oversold. Stand down for now and if a value presents itself, be ready to pounce. Chicago Sky: Vibes Up, Depth Down Projected Starters: PG: Courtney Vandersloot SG: Ariel Atkins SF: Rebecca Allen PF: Angel Reese C: Elizabeth Williams Bench Vibes: Kia Nurse, Moriah Jefferson, Rachel Banham, Michaela Onyenwere, Kamilla Cardoso, Morgan Bertsch, Alex Wilson (probably won’t make the team). Boom! This team was so thin they were one of two teams without a full depth chart (quiz time: who’s the other?). But they just added Olympian Gold Medalist and Two-Time All Star Ariel Atkins. She brings her 14.9 ppg and 3.1 assists per game, and she’ll unlock the promising potential of Reese and Cardoso. Angel Reese (13.6 PPG, 13.1 RPG as a rookie) and Kamilla Cardoso are the future, and this lineup’s built to let them feast inside. But losing Chennedy Carter’s shot creation (17.2 PPG last year) stings, and new coach Tyler Marsh might mess up the spacing if he starts Onyenwere over Allen. The vibes are better than 2024’s chaos, but the Sky traded their 2025 pick, so… oopsies. Progress, not perfection, right? NFT Spotlight: Angel Reese’s Kaleidoscopic Prizms Gold (Card #1, /10) is fire. 10/10 sold for $370 today, 3/4/2025 and there’s currently one very affordably priced, the 4/10 for $249. Her rookie hype + Caitlin culture feud + that rebounding stat line = collector catnip. Connecticut Sun: Sun’s Out, Fun’s Out? Projected Starters: PG: Natasha Cloud SG: Yvonne Anderson SF: Diamond DeShields PF: Tina Charles C: Olivia Nelson-Ododa Bench Vibes: Lindsay Allen, Jacy Sheldon, Leïla Lacan, Robyn Parks, (Nikolina Milić?). This is grim, fam. The Sun need Nikolina Milić to sign her qualifying offer, or they’re rolling out Caitlin Bickle at backup five. Yikes. Natasha Cloud’s a stud (11.6 PPG, 6.1 APG career), and Tina Charles is eternal, but this roster’s screaming for help. Jacy Sheldon and Leïla Lacan could bring some rookie juice—start Lacan by May, please—but a Mabrey trade for Kalani Brown or Kayla Thornton might be their only hope. No 2025 pick either. Rough. NFT Spotlight: Tina Charles’ Base Fractal Prizms Mojo (Card #36, /25) is the logical buy as of time of press. It’s listed at $45 and is the logical progression with $40 being the most recent sale. She’s still ballin’ at 36—grab this if you can as it also qualifies for a potential future Lotus Challenge. Dallas Wings: Arike’s Redemption Arc? Projected Starters: PG: Paige Bueckers/Olivia Miles/Tyasha Harris (TBD) SG: Arike Ogunbowale SF: DiJonai Carrington PF: Myisha Hines-Allen C: Teaira McCowan Bench Vibes: Maddy Siegrist, NaLyssa Smith, Joyner Holmes, Luisa Geiselsöder. Arike Ogunbowale (22.2 PPG last year) is the heartbeat, and arguable top 10 player of the league, but Tyasha Harris deserves a medal for surviving Dallas’ chaos. If Paige Bueckers or Olivia Miles declares, this squad gets spicy—imagine Bueckers dishing to Arike while Siegrist stretches the floor at the four. Without them? Still more fun than recent Wings teams, but sneaky lottery vibes linger. NFT Spotlight: Ever wanted to own a 1 of 1? Arike’s Top Tier Legendary 1/1 (Card #5, /1) has an asking price of $350, and owner NASHMONEY has been known to strike a deal. Her scoring’s elite, and this card’s an absolute flex for Wings faithful. Golden State Valkyries: New Kids, Big Dreams Projected Starters: PG: Julie Vanloo SG: Tiffany Hayes SF: Kayla Thornton PF: Stephanie Talbot C: Monique Billings Bench Vibes: Veronica Burton, Kate Martin, Chloe Bibby, Janelle Salaün, (Temi Fagbenle?). Expansion squad alert! Golden State’s got enough bodies, but half this roster’s questionable. Temi Fagbenle signing would slide her to the four, bumping Talbot to three. Iliana Rupert or Cecilia Zandalasini could juice it up too. Still, this team’s ceiling is like… five
2025 WNBA SLEEPERS
As of March 3, 2025, the WNBA season is still in its offseason phase, with the 2025 regular season set to begin in mid-May. Since the full rosters, free agency moves, and draft outcomes are not yet finalized, we’ll focus on players who showed potential in 2024, recent trends, and their likelihood to take a step forward in 2025—making them intriguing 2025 WNBA Sleepers for both on-court performance, fantasy sports and card collecting / NFT investment value. Trading cards & NFTs, like Panini’s WNBA trading cards (e.g., Prizm or Select), often gain value from players who exceed expectations, especially if they’re under-the-radar names with growing popularity. Here are five 2025 WNBA sleepers who could outperform expectations in 2025: Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago Sky, Center) Why She’s a Sleeper: Cardoso, a rookie in 2024, averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, showing flashes of dominance as a 6’7” interior force. She was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft and started to find her footing late in the season despite a shoulder injury delaying her debut. With Elena Delle Donne no longer with the Sky and Angel Reese drawing defensive attention, Cardoso could see an expanded role in 2025. NFT Potential: As a rookie featured in 2024 Panini Prizm WNBA (cards #93 and #149), her value could spike if she becomes a double-double machine or an All-Star candidate. Her Brazilian background and marketability add upside. Her Colorblast NFT is sitting at $105 while her Gold /10 is just under $100 at $97. Kamilla Cardoso is our SITE RECOMMENDATION VALUE PICK OF MARCH 2025. Jacy Sheldon (Connecticut Sun, Guard) Why She’s a Sleeper: Traded to the Sun Feb 1st, she was selected No. 5 overall in 2024, Sheldon had a quiet rookie year (3.2 PPG in 13.5 MPG), overshadowed by stars like Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally. However, her college stats at Ohio State (17.8 PPG, 44.7% FG) suggest she’s a sharpshooter waiting to break out. With the Sun adjusting and in the middle of a complete rebuild, Sheldon could step into a bigger scoring role. NFT Potential: Low current hype means her cards are quite affordable now, but a breakout could drive demand, especially if she becomes a fan favorite in Dallas. Her Base Prizms Mojo /25 has a current floor still sub $100 at $90 while her variation (pose picture) actually has a higher floor at $120. Typically the variation/pose NFT is lower priced. Alissa Pili (Minnesota Lynx, Forward) Why She’s a Sleeper: Pili, the No. 8 pick in 2024, played sparingly (3.5 PPG in 6.7 MPG) as a rookie due to the Lynx’s deep roster, which won the 2024 championship. Her college career at Utah (21.4 PPG, 47.8% FG) showcased her scoring versatility, and with veterans like Napheesa Collier mentoring her, she could emerge as a key bench scorer or starter if injuries hit. NFT Potential: Her Polynesian heritage and potential to shine on a contending team make her a sleeper for collectors. Her 2024 Panini cards are extremely undervalued relative to her upside. Her Base Prizm GOLD /10 has a current floor price of just $25. DiJonai Carrington (Dallas Wings, Guard) Why She’s a Sleeper: Traded to the Wings February 1st. Carrington averaged 12.7 PPG in 2024, stepping up as a spark plug off the bench and occasionally starting. Her defensive tenacity (1.6 SPG) and improved three-point shooting (32.8%) suggest she’s on the cusp of a breakout. She’s considered one of the top on-ball-defenders in the league. With new surroundings in Dallas, Carrington could see even more minutes this season. NFT Potential: Her growing social media presence and highlight-reel plays could boost her card value (e.g., 2024 Prizm parallels). She’s still flying under the radar compared to Sun stars. Teaira McCowan (Dallas Wings, Center) Why She’s a Sleeper: McCowan posted 10.8 PPG and 7.3 RPG in 2024, often as a reserve behind Natasha Howard. At 6’7”, she’s a rebounding machine with soft touch around the rim. If the Wings lean into her physicality or Howard’s role shifts, McCowan could become a consistent double-double threat—something she’s flirted with for years. NFT Potential: Her cards are fairly inexpensive now, (her Base Prizm Orange /99 has a floor price of only $15) but a leap to starter-level production could make her a hot commodity, especially if Dallas contends in 2025. Investment Notes for Panini NFTs Timing: The 2024 Panini Prizm WNBA set released in February 2025 includes rookies like Cardoso, Sheldon, and Pili, while veterans like Carrington and McCowan appear in base sets and inserts. Buying low on these players’ NFTs before the season starts could yield returns if they break out. Risks: Performance isn’t guaranteed—roster changes, injuries, or coaching decisions could limit their minutes. NFT values also depend on collector hype, which often trails behind on-court success for lesser-known players. Strategy: Look for low-serial-number or jersey-number-matches for higher upside. Rookies tend to have more volatility, so Cardoso and Pili might offer the biggest potential swings. Please note: These picks are speculative based on current trajectories as of March 3, 2025. Keep an eye on free agency (ongoing through early 2025) and the April 2025 WNBA Draft, as team dynamics will clarify their opportunities. Our coverage of both WNBA and Panini NFT will continue to expand this season. We are also looking at adding fantasy draft and Pick’Em games this season for WNBA. Let us know in the Discord if you enjoy this content! We’ll be hosting giveaways all season long to collectors who participate in the Discord.