Six things to shape women's pro basketball in 2025

The WNBA offseason has been wild, with the New York Liberty winning their first championship and the Women's National Basketball Players Association opting out of the collective bargaining agreement early. This sets the stage for fascinating negotiations that could determine the future direction of the league. Within weeks, more than half of the league's teams were looking for new head coaches. In early December, the Golden State Valkyries -- the WNBA's first new team since 2008 -- held their expansion draft. And later this month, a new 3x3 league featuring high-profile WNBA stars and backed by A-list money, kicks off a must-see offseason experiment. Here's a look at what the new year brings for the women's pro game. 1. WNBA free agency: After unprecedented player movement in WNBA free agency the past two years, the trade market might do more to change teams' fortunes than free agency this year. 2. Unrivaled's inaugural season: When Unrivaled tips off Jan. 17 in Miami, it will mark the start of a new space in women's basketball. 3. Expansion and the launch of the Golden State Valkyries: For the first time since the Atlanta Dream in 2008, the WNBA will debut a new expansion team this spring: the Golden State Valkyries. 4. Seven new WNBA coaches will impact the league: There have been many different hiring patterns for WNBA coaches in the past three decades. But this offseason presents perhaps the most eclectic group. 5. WNBA schedule and playoff changes: The WNBA moves to a 44-game regular season in 2025, up from 40 the past two seasons. 6. League, players work toward new CBA: Shortly after the WNBA Finals concluded, the WNBPA announced what most around the game expected: The union opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement two years early.