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Over the past three seasons, two teams have dominated the WNBA and been the title favorites: the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty.

Packed with stars who know how to win, Las Vegas and New York are the ultimate title contenders and they have the resumes to prove it. The Aces are back-to-back defending champions, including last year's championship over the Liberty. But on the other side of the country, New York is still a force and has the best record in the league this season.

The two teams meet again, this time with a trip to the 2024 WNBA Finals at stake. The winner is likely to be the favorite in the final round, but a title cannot be assumed. On the other side of the bracket, there are teams trying to slay the dragon, and there are several more hoping to keep the two heavyweights out of the title field next season.

So who could be the next team to dethrone the WNBA giants?

As one of the remaining semifinalists, Minnesota offers one of the best chances at a title simply because it beat New York and Las Vegas this season. The Lynx went 2-1 against the Liberty – including the Commissioner's Cup win – and 3-1 against the Aces.

It was overshadowed by A'ja Wilson's MVP win, but Napheesa Collier finished second in the voting and she showed what a star she is, both on offense and defense. So far, Collier has been eliminated in the playoffs and it doesn't look like there is an answer that can stop her. Kayla McBride continues to get better and the addition of Alanna Smith has helped the defense not only be one of the best in the league, but also difficult to stop beyond the arc. Minnesota has the best 3-point shooting rate in the WNBA, while its opponents have the worst 3-point conversion rate.

The Lynx have not made it to the WNBA Finals since their last win in 2017. Head coach Cheryl Reeve continues to show why she is one of the most brilliant minds in basketball, and her team is very capable of making her the first coach to win five WNBA titles.

Good luck to any offense trying to get through this defense. Before Caitlin Clark's WNBA debut became a memorable one, Connecticut had dealt with nearly every team that stood in its way. Only twice this season did a team score at least 90 points against the Sun, and in both cases Connecticut still won.

Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, DiJonai Carrington and Brionna Jones are a hard core that has played together for years, but no in-season acquisition has been as big as Marina Mabrey. The former Chicago Sky guard has given Connecticut a 3-point shooting threat that ranks in the top 20 in 3-point shooting percentage. She shot 42.4% from behind the arc during the regular season after arriving in Connecticut during the Olympic break in July.

The Suns have cooled off from their stellar start to the regular season when they started 13-1, but still pose a challenge to any offense that lines up against them. They've fallen behind so many times recently, including two WNBA Finals losses in 2019 and 2022. With a complete team, Connecticut now has the best chance to win the elusive first title in franchise history.

At the top of the teams that are not yet in the 2024 playoffs are the Seattle Storm.

Seattle made its biggest jump in 2024, from 11 wins and ninth place in 2023 to 25 wins and fifth place this season. The offseason acquisitions of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike paid dividends and helped ease the pressure on Jewell Loyd. The Storm beat the teams they should have beaten; The problem was that 10 of their 15 losses came against teams that finished above them, clearly showing that they were not yet at the top of the league.

However, Seattle got a big addition as Paris 2024 Olympics star Gabby Williams returned to the team and made an immediate impact. Now the Storm must re-sign Ogwumike and Williams if they want to maintain their core success. If Seattle can build on its 2024 foundation with a roster that sticks together for a full season, it has a chance to crack the next level of contenders.

OPINION: Caitlin Clark's spectacular run is coming to an end. Now she will take time to think

MORE: Caitlin Clark's record-breaking rookie year is over. How much better can she get?

Of course Caitlin Clark has to be here.

The rookie sensation gave Indiana its first playoff appearance in 2016, and everything worked out when the chemistry between the fans was right. They finished the season 17-10 after a 3-10 start. There's no question that the offense is among the best in the league, but the defense needs to improve significantly if the Fever want to reach the next level after giving up 87.7 points per game, second-worst behind the Dallas Wings is. As spectacular as Clark is, she also needs to take better care of the ball after averaging a league-worst 5.6 turnovers per game.

Clark aside, there's something special brewing in Indiana – if it can keep its core together. After a rough start, Aliyah Boston really emerged as a dominant post presence in the second half of the season, but all eyes will be on whether the Fever can re-sign Kelsey Mitchell. She had a career year with the team that drafted her in 2018, and the backcourt could be one of the top duos in the WNBA when she returns. If Mitchell is back in Indiana, expect even more hype surrounding Clark and Co.

This is a complete wild card, but could the Sparks really go from worst to first?

Los Angeles had a very unfortunate 2024, finishing in the bottom half in almost every statistical category, led by first-round pick Cameron Brink, who played just 15 games before suffering a season-ending injury. This prediction depends on many “what if” questions. Currently, the Sparks have the best chance of getting the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, and if they get it, it's likely Paige Bueckers. Of course, there will be a learning curve for the Connecticut star, but she has the potential to be a big boost, similar to what Clark did at Indiana. The Sparks also have a great player in Dearica Hamby, one of the best scorers in the league.

Help Hamby with Bueckers and the return of Brink, and Los Angeles should certainly climb out of the bottom of the WNBA. But a potential playoff run that shocks everyone? It could happen – maybe.

Follow Jordan Mendoza on social media @jordan_mendoza5.

On By John Fenwick

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