WNBA Power Rankings, Way-Too-Early edition: Our first look at 2024 - ESPN

NEW YORK — The «superteams» showdown in the WNBA Finals got an unexpected twist due to injuries that kept Las Vegas Aces starters Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes out of Game 4 on Wednesday. Still, the Aces prevailed over the New York Liberty 70-69 to take a step toward dynasty status and become the first back-to-back WNBA champions in 21 years.

With the 2023 season in the books, it's time to look ahead with ESPN's Way-Too-Early WNBA Power Rankings for 2024.

Much can change in the offseason, as we saw this year when New York added Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot in free agency and Jonquel Jones via trade to become the top challenger to the defending champion Aces.

Stewart, the 2023 season MVP, and Jones are both free agents for 2024, although it is expected they will return to New York.

Among other big names in free agency are the Connecticut Sun's DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones and Tiffany Hayes; the Los Angeles Sparks' Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike; the Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith; and the Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne and Natasha Cloud.

The WNBA's 2023 scoring leader, the Seattle Storm's Jewell Loyd, and the Chicago Sky's Kahleah Copper opted to sign extensions with their current teams rather than enter the free agent market.

The 2024 draft could be a blockbuster if every top player who is eligible declares, including 2023 Women's Final Four stars Angel Reese of the champion LSU Tigers and Caitlin Clark of the runner-up Iowa Hawkeyes. But they are among several potential draftees who could opt to exercise the COVID-19 waiver and stay another year in college.

Next season, the WNBA also must manage the monthlong break for the Paris Olympics, making 2024 even more of a test of