The following article is part 2 of 2. Please find the Eastern Conference preview HERE!

The Western Conference has undergone a wealth of change, as some franchises continue to build a new foundation, and others seek to ante up and contend in the postseason.

Headed into this year, much stands out about each team, as the regular season is filled with potential. What are some things to track and note in the Western Conference as the season gets underway?

Dallas Wings

Wings star Satou Sabally is expected to be out until roughly the Olympic break as she recovers from a shoulder injury. Her growth and evolution last season were pivotal in pushing Dallas to the WNBA Semifinals; replacing her is a tall task, but can Dallas find some answers in new directions?

5th overall pick Jacy Sheldon provides a new look in the guard room and has shown an ability early to thrive alongside franchise star Arike Ogunbowale. 

Maddy Siegrist, the 3rd overall pick last season, was fantastic during Athletes Unlimited play and could pack a scoring punch as an off-ball forward. She seems stronger and even more confident in her role in preseason play.

Can Lou Lopez Sénéchal and Stephanie Soares make an impact as rookies after injuries delayed their rookie seasons?

Keep your eyes open for Jaelyn Brown, who commanded attention in Dallas’ game against the Fever, finishing with a game-high 21 points. She’s a big wing who can slash, spot-up, run the floor, and guard the ball. The Wings have options. How do they piece it all together?

Los Angeles Sparks

Dearica Hamby has long been one of the most versatile players in the WNBA, a do-it-all forward who can shoot, score in various ways, defend at a high level, rebound, and pass. With the future of Los Angeles selected with the 2nd and 4th picks in the 2024 Draft, Cameron Brink, and Rickea Jackson, respectively, I’m amped to watch them learn from Hamby.

I often feel that the best way to develop versatility in the frontcourt is to play those developing prospects alongside a player already versatile in practice, not just potential. 

Hamby is an adept screener, which is key to opening up the possibilities of Brink and Jackson’s running ball screen offense. She is also a smart, connective passer, which opens the door for cutting and quick post-entry.

On the defensive end, she can manage bigger assignments but also has some switchability onto wings and guards. Hamby could significantly accentuate that growth as Los Angeles veers into this new era headlined by versatility at the forward spot.

Las Vegas Aces

The Las Vegas Aces are the standard, back-to-back champions and pioneers of how the game evolves.

In the wake of Candace Parker’s retirement, Kiah Stokes is as important as ever. For good reason, A’ja Wilson dedicated her Defensive Player of the Year trophy to Stokes. She is an adept rim protector and one of the better backline defenders in the sport. She came up huge in the playoffs before her foot injury and will be relied upon again.

Megan Gustafson could also play a key role in adding size and versatility to the Aces’ frontcourt depth. Gustafson is coming off her strongest season in the W and a stellar season for the London Lions in British League and Eurocup play. Gustafson is a pure post scorer and incredibly efficient on the block, but she has grown her range over the past few years to add an extra element to her game.

She shot 35% from deep this past season for the Mercury and 50% from deep in overseas play across 22 games. While her shooting is still moderate regarding volume, her increase in efficacy is noteworthy.

Minnesota Lynx

The Minnesota Lynx continue to lean into versatility as a core notion of roster-building, and I’m fascinated to watch that develop this season. Napheesa Collier is a star. Diamond Miller has burgeoning two-way potential. Adding Alanna Smith to this frontcourt provides additional length, rebounding, and rim protection that the Lynx didn’t have in 2023.

If game one of the preseason was any indication, Courtney Williams will be a monumental addition to Minnesota. We know all about what she brings as a guard out of the pick-and-roll, one of the best in the W, but what stood out most was her screening (something we saw from Kayla McBride last year). You don’t often think of guards as great screeners, but the versatility of what guards can do by screening is what makes it hit. With how much the Lynx like to run offense through their forwards, this will be key to watch play out.

Phoenix Mercury

The Mercury revamped their roster with star power this off-season, highlighted by their addition of Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper.

While the offense is expected to be high-powered, I’m most interested in how Phoenix builds out its defense. The Mercury finished last in the league in defensive rating last season, and with new personnel and a new staff, I’m eager to see that side of the court in 2024.

Cloud and Copper are two of the best perimeter defenders in the W, each capable of earning All-Defense nods. Rebecca Allen, acquired via sign-and-trade, is an extremely versatile defender who can make plays all over the court.

With Brittney Griner holding down the paint and protecting the rim, there’s room for Phoenix to be very aggressive on the perimeter with the cushion she provides. This team could be fierce at forcing turnovers and getting out in transition.

Seattle Storm

The Storm are revamped, with stars Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike coming to the Pacific Northwest during free agency to team up with Jewell Loyd. This is a potent trio, and that’s without mentioning Ezi Magbegor who has rapidly ascended as well, earning her first trip to the All-Star game in 2023. How will Seattle mesh their frontcourt and backcourt?

As seen in the first preseason game against the Sparks, the Storm appear eager to build secondary actions into their offense that bring those position groups together. When the ball swung and moved to the next side of the court, Seattle’s bigs were near immediately seeking to run a dribble handoff with whichever guard was stationed in the corner. 

Removing process delays and flowing directly into those actions opens up a world of possibilities for Seattle. Watching how Jordan Horston acclimates in year two will also be intriguing, as her versatility could be key to rounding out lineups.

WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams