Shift: you’ve probably heard this word a lot in the WNBA recently. Shift in visibility, shift in ratings, shift in power, shift in amenities. The new stars are building something the legends only dreamed of – something they certainly laid the foundation for, but maybe never truly imagined would come to life like this. But, you know, there’s another shift that’s quietly sneaking up on us: a backcourt takeover.
For a league long dominated by forwards and centers when it comes to MVPs and franchise faces, 2025 is starting to feel different. What we’re witnessing now mirrors something basketball fans know all too well: the NBA’s own backcourt revolution. So, is this how the future of the WNBA begins to take shape?
What history tells is
When you think of the greatest to ever do it in the WNBA, a few guard names certainly come to mind – Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Cynthia Cooper and more. But if we’re being honest, that list of true guards considered GOATs is noticeably shorter when compared to the overwhelming era of dominant centers and power forwards the league has seen across decades.
And that’s not by accident.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) talk at half court during a free throw on June 30, 2024, at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
WNBA history, much like the NBA’s, has followed a distinct positional rhythm. Some eras are backcourt-heavy. Others lean into frontcourt power. Here’s how the league’s positional balance has shifted over time:
1997–2000: Guard game strong
Cynthia Cooper: 4-peat, MVPs (1997, 98), Finals MVPs
Teresa Weatherspoon: DPOY, heart of NY
Dawn Staley: elite playmaker, assist queen
2001–2010: Bigs rule
Lisa Leslie: MVPs, historic dunks
Lauren Jackson: MVPs, Storm leader
Candace Parker: ROY + MVP in 2008, rookie takeover
2011–2020: Rise of hybrids
Tamika Catchings: MVP, defense machine
Seattle’s Big 3: Whalen, Augustus, Jackson
Elena Delle Donne: MVPs, stretch-four star
But the real shift came in 2017, when many began to believe that traditional centers were becoming endangered. In their place, a new breed emerged – stretch forwards and hybrid bigs who could defend, shoot, and facilitate. The classic post-up big was fading, and in their place came the era of versatility.
That same year, the WNBA started becoming frontcourt-dominated. From the towering 6’8″ Brittney Griner to the smaller 6’2″ Nneka Ogwumike, dominant forwards took over the league. Heading into the second half of the 2017 season, the top five scorers were all 6’2″ or taller. Size and skill were winning out. “I love it, because I get to play against more bigs now,” said Griner. “When I first came out of college, it seemed like the league was maybe getting smaller. But now, it’s like the big girls are taking over.”
Rising stars like Jonquel Jones and Alyssa Thomas – both named starters in their first All-Star appearances that year – were commanding the paint and redefining frontcourt versatility. It was a clear sign of where the league was headed. By 2020, the picture was even clearer. Among the four most impactful, all-around players in the league, none were guards. A’ja Wilson, Candace Parker, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart were each at the heart of their teams’ success.
Even when it comes to MVP honors, the list tells a pretty clear story. Only two true guards have ever won the award – Cynthia Cooper, who claimed the league’s first two MVPs in 1997 and 1998, and Diana Taurasi in 2009. That’s it. Everyone else? Forwards, centers, or hybrid guard-forwards. Since Taurasi’s win, no pure guard has even come close to owning the spotlight in that way. Instead, the MVP torch passed on to frontcourt stars like Lauren Jackson (2010), Tamika Catchings (2011), Elena Delle Donne (2015, 2019), Breanna Stewart (2018, 2023), and A’ja Wilson (2020, 2022, 2024).
So while guards may drive highlight reels and sell jerseys, when it comes to the league’s biggest individual honor, the paint has ruled. But… is that changing now?
WNBA’s backcourt revolution: Led by Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, and Paige Bueckers
While 2017 marked the rise of dominant frontcourts in the WNBA, the NBA was basking in the height of its guard-led revolution.
The guard-heavy peak of the NBA
Throughout NBA history, each era had a clear positional identity. But by the 2010s, a new wave took over: point guards. As the game sped up and shifted to the perimeter, the league witnessed a backcourt explosion – Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, and more turned the position into the league’s driving force.These were MVPs, franchise leaders, and cultural icons.
By the mid-2010s, half of the league’s top 10 players were point guards, most of them squarely in their prime. Looking back, the 2010s gave us the deepest, most talented guard class the league had ever seen.
Right now, it feels like the W is heading towards the same….
2021 was the year backcourt dominance officially made its comeback. Sabrina Ionescu had just entered the league in 2020 as the No. 1 pick, bringing with her a new wave of playmaking and floor leadership. Around the same time, Sue Bird was preparing to close out her legendary run – retiring as the all-time assists leader and a four-time champ. Forward to 2025, and it’s clear: the W is in its guard-heavy era.
Oct 20, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) celebrates after defeating the Minnesota Lynx in overtime to win the 2024 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Sure, many names like Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Mitchell, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Kelsey Plum, Arike Ogunbowale, Jackie Young, and so many others are lighting it up. But when it comes to the ones truly defining this moment, three guards stand at the center of it all:
Sabrina Ionescu: Leading the Liberty’s back-to-back charge
Sabrina Ionescu was built for moments like this. She was the driving force behind New York’s gritty Game 3 win over the Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Finals – a clutch 80-77 victory that brought the Liberty within reach of their first-ever championship. And when they finally sealed the deal, uou just knew: this squad wasn’t done. Now in 2025, it’s all about the repeat and Sabrina’s been at the heart of it.
The Liberty were off to the best undefeated start in franchise history until Fever took them down (but still that’s just one loss in the loss). One statement win was a 48-point blowout that set a new team record and marked the second-largest win margin in WNBA history. And leading the charge is none other than Sab. The former Oregon Duck has been lights out, dropping back-to-back 30-point games and orchestrating the offense like a maestro.
Even when she’s had off nights, she’s taken the heat, faced the pressure, and come back with even more fire. She’s redefining the modern guard role. If she keeps this up, Sabrina won’t just be known for her handles. She’s on her way to becoming one of the greatest guards and three-point specialists the W has ever seen.
Caitlin Clark: Finally, a guard MVP incoming?
We might finally have another guard win MVP – something that hasn’t happened since Diana Taurasi took the crown. It’s only Year 2 for Caitlin Clark, but the Indiana Fever phenom is already neck-deep in the MVP conversation. At just 23, Clark has the second-best odds to win the 2025 WNBA MVP.
Sure, a quad strain kept her sidelined for five games, and her odds dipped from +195 to +400 during that stretch. But she bounced back quickly. In her return on June 14, Clark lit up the Liberty with a monster 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Now, her MVP stock is on the rise again. Her odds have climbed.
MVP ODDS
1. Napheesa Collier -320
2. Caitlin Clark +250
3. Breanna Stewart +5,000
4. Aja Wilson +7,500
5. Sabrina Ionescu +9,500
6. Alyssa Thomas +15,000
— CT Smith (@scaryman42) June 18, 2025
Also, Clark leads the entire MVP market with 54.5% of all tickets and 62.3% of the betting handle. And here’s where it could really swing: Indiana’s about to face Collier and the Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup Final. If Clark and the Fever pull off that win, it could be the final nudge she needs to jump ahead of Phee in the MVP race.
So, are we about to witness the guard era produce its first MVP in over a decade?
Paige Bueckers: The star rookie
While the Rookie of the Year race is competitive, Bueckers is firmly in the conversation and history is on her side. Over half of all No. 1 picks in WNBA history have taken home the award. Her rookie season may have started off rocky with a quiet debut and a concussion that sidelined her for four games but she quickly erased any doubts about her potential.
Despite the early setbacks and playing on a Dallas team still trying to find its footing, Bueckers has proven exactly why she was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Through nine games, she’s averaging 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1 block per game, while shooting 47.5% from the field. Among rookies, she leads in scoring, assists, and steals, ranks fourth in rebounding, and sits fifth in field goal percentage.
May 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks on during the second half against the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
But beyond that, Paige is already doing what No. 1 picks are supposed to do: become the face of the franchise. She’s the star of Dallas, the heartbeat of their rebuild, and with the way she’s playing, she looks ready to take over the league for years to come.
Era of guards isn’t ending
The best part is…this is just the beginning. In the coming years, coming down the pipeline are even more backcourt phenoms. Azzi Fudd, JuJu Watkins, Flau’jae Johnson, Olivia Miles – just to name a few – are on their way. These future stars are already making noise at the college level and are poised to shake up the W just like Clark, Ionescu, and Bueckers are doing now.
Still, it goes without saying: in a league that thrives on versatility and evolution, All-WNBA honors should be truly positionless. Operating under the current All-WNBA structure – which requires two backcourt and three frontcourt selections – some players inevitably get the short end of the stick. As fans and media lean into whatever position group is dominating the moment, deserving names are often left out.
Through it all, not to forget, along with watching and embracing a guard era, it’s the evolution of the game itself that pulls us in.
The post The Year of Guards: Are Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, & Paige Bueckers Claiming WNBA Back? appeared first on EssentiallySports.
