10 storylines heading into the WNBA season

The 23rd WNBA season is upon us, and there's quite a lot of excitement to go along with it.

There are new faces in new places, including at the top of the league's front office, but there are also some prominent names we won't see in action early on, or at all, in 2019. There's also reason to believe more people than ever will watch the WNBA this season, either from in front of their televisions, smartphones or laptops — or in person.

Here's a look at some storylines we're following as the season begins this weekend.

Stewie and the injury bug
The Seattle Storm's chance of repeating as WNBA champs got tougher when 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart (21.8 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game) was lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles suffered while playing in Russia in April. It's not only a huge loss for the Storm but also for the league in general. And questions arise about whether there is more the WNBA can do — in the form of compensation — so fewer players need not turn to overseas basketball to supplement their league income. Stewart, however, is not the only big name around the league dealing with a serious injury. Atlanta star Angel McCoughtry is still recovering from her knee injury suffered late last season, and Phoenix great Diana Taurasi will miss the beginning of the season after undergoing back surgery. Meanwhile, Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks will miss three to five weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in the preseason.

Can the Storm still rise?
Stewart's absence isn't the only concern for the Storm, and the other goes well beyond the basketball floor. Head coach Dan Hughes was recently diagnosed with cancer, and this month he had a tumor removed in his digestive tract, according to the team. It's uncertain when Hughes will return to the bench, but the Storm will move on. Sue Bird continues to defy her age, Jewell Loyd is worthy of stepping up her game and Natasha Howard has blossomed into an above-average performer in the league. Seattle is trying to become the first team since Los Angeles in 2001 and '02 to repeat as WNBA champion.

Hail to the new commish
The WNBA season will begin with a new commissioner in place. Cathy Engelbert, the first woman CEO of world-wide professionals services Deloitte, replaces the void left when Lisa Borders resigned in October. Engelbert, who played basketball at Lehigh under current Notre Dame coach Muffett McGraw, will oversee a league at somewhat of a crossroads as it goes through collective bargaining talks and tries to sustain viability as the premier professional women's basketball league in the world.  

Collecting those bargaining chips
Back to those collective bargaining negotiations with the WNBA players' union. Said union opted out of the agreement after last season, and a new one needs to be agreed upon before the 2020 slate. That shadow currently hangs over this season, while higher pay and benefits remain at the forefront of the players' side. As mentioned earlier, a good chunk of the WNBA's talent pool plays overseas after the season, but the league can't afford more risk of injury, as was the case with Stewart.


Visibility can lead to viability
While the players are striving toward bettering their experience in the WNBA, the league is aiming to make sure the product is more appealing to fans — outside of the play on the court. The WNBA has a new logo and brighter, more vibrant uniforms. The league also announced a multiyear partnership with CBS Sports for television coverage beginning this season. CBS Sports Network will provide national coverage of 40 WNBA games in 2019. The network's first game will be this Saturday, May 25, when Minnesota visits Chicago.

Cambage sheds her Wings
One of the biggest offseason storylines has a resolution and could resonate throughout 2019. Two-time All-Star and 2018 MVP runner-up Liz Cambage (23.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg) finally had her wished granted and was traded by the Dallas Wings to the Las Vegas Aces on May 16. In return, the Wings got point guard Moriah Jefferson, forward Isabelle Harrison and first- and second-round picks in 2020. The 6-foot-8 Cambage has long had issues with the WNBA, specifically from a monetary standpoint, and did not feel Dallas was the right place to continue her career in the league. Cambage joins an Aces franchise that last made the playoffs in 2014 while in San Antonio but did take versatile Notre Dame standout Jackie Young with the No. 1 overall pick this season.    

Diggins-Smith will be back
Cambage isn't the only star Dallas will be without to open the season. Guard Skylar Diggins-Smith recently gave birth to her first child, but she's expected to be back in action at some point during the 2019 campaign. Diggins-Smith averaged 17.9 points and a team-leading 6.2 assists. Though her absence certainly leaves a void offensively for the Wings, they are hoping first-round pick Arike Ogunbowale can make an immediate impact.

Moore wants more from life
Maya Moore is one of the best players in the history of the WNBA but is taking the year off to focus on family and some apparent ministry goals. Moore averaged 18.4 points and shot 45.3 percent during her eight-year career with Minnesota. The absence of the four-time WNBA champion and 2014 MVP is a blow to the Lynx, which went 18-16 in 2018 and lost to Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs. They are also moving on from the retirement of Lindsay Whalen. Moore, meanwhile, signed a new deal with the club shortly before her February decision to skip the 2019 season.    

These rookies are for real
Looking for a few rookies who can make an impact in the WNBA this season? Young was Las Vegas' top pick, but with Cambage now in the mix, the former Notre Dame star does not necessarily need to be one at the pro level — right away. Louisville's Asia Durr should provide instant offense in New York, and Katie Lou Samuelson can potentially do the same for Chicago, Of course, Ogunbowale will be fun to watch in Dallas. With Moore taking time away in Minnesota, Napheesa Collier could very well become the go-to scoring option for the Lynx in 2019.

The new guys in town
There are three new head coaches on the WNBA scene this season, and all are males. WNBA veteran Brian Agler is now running things in Dallas after stepping down as coach of the Sparks, who hired former Los Angeles Lakers player and New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher for that opening. Though Fisher might have burned some bridges in the NBA, the Sparks hope he's the right guy to bring them back to prominence in the WNBA. In Chicago, former Minnesota assistant James Wade is looking to get the Sky back to the playoffs after a two-year absence.