Here are five things to look forward to in women’s sports in 2025:
Will South Carolina pull off the rare championship repeat? Or will the parity in women’s basketball result in a sleeper cell spy emerging? The way the season has gone is setting the stage for plenty of madness to unfold come March.
After an underwhelming first season, the Sirens are poised to do a lot better in 2025. It’s worth noting, though, that New York’s PWHL team is competing off the ice as much as on it. The Sirens are trying to claim their stake in the Big Apple’s crowded hockey landscape. Having a permanent home at Prudential Center should help with building buzz among fans.
After years of planning, Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, is set to make its debut in Miami next month. It’ll feature some of the WNBA’s biggest stars, including Sabrina Ionescu. While reception to the new league has been positive, only time will tell whether Unrivaled has developed a recipe for long-term sustainability.
Gauff won her first major title at the 2023 U.S. Open. Gauff failed to defend her title in September and was knocked out of the tournament by Emma Navarro. Still, she finished this year with plenty to celebrate. Her $34.4 million earned made her the highest-paid female athlete in the world in 2024. At only 20, Gauff’s future is bright.
The Valkyries completed the WNBA’s first expansion draft since 2008 last month, an important first step in building their first roster. Golden State — the first of three teams joining the league in the next two years — will make its debut in 2025. Previous expansion teams haven’t had much initial success, but the Valkyries are looking to change that narrative.