The WNBA had a historic opening weekend, with several records being set. Whether players were setting franchise records, debut records or all-time records, I believe they all point to larger trends that will shape the league this season.

1. Napheesa Collier ties the WNBA record for most points in a season debut. 

It is worth noting that the record she tied belonged to Candace Parker (twice), Maya Moore and Katie Smith. For as much as guards around the league are beginning to have a greater impact (more on that later), the WNBA still belongs to forwards. A guard hasn’t won an MVP award since Diana Taurasi in 2009. And while most WNBA champions have had good guard play, including Kahleah Copper and Chelsea Gray being named Finals MVP in 2021 and 2022, you have to go back to Diana Taurasi, this time in 2014, to find a team that won the finals with a guard as its best player. Collier could very well carry on that tradition, which is why it is significant that the record-holders she tied were all frontcourt players. The 2024 MVP runner-up was one overtime away from winning the championship last year, and the Lynx should contend for the title again this season. Coming into this season I thought that if Collier didn’t win MVP last season, when her team finished three games ahead of the Aces, it would never happen. If she continues to play like she did in the opener against Dallas, she will prove me wrong.

2. Kelsey Plum sets the new WNBA record for most points in a season debut. 

Collier’s share of the record lasted just a couple of hours before Kelsey Plum eclipsed it. While Plum was an integral part of two Aces championships, that team revolved around three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson. In fact, with Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young there, it wasn’t even clear most nights if Plum was the Aces best guard. With the Sparks, Plum has her first opportunity in years to drive an offense, and the early returns have been promising. Plum dropped 37 points in a blowout of the Valkyries and followed that up with 18 points and five assists against the Lynx. I think the Sparks probably need Cameron Brink and some added bench depth to truly contend, but Plum may just prove me wrong.

3. Satou Sabally set the record for most points by a player in her Phoenix Mercury debut.

I think this record is telling for a number of reasons.

First of all, it points to the increased player movement in the league in recent seasons, and with the Mercury in particular. This is Phoenix’s first season since Diana Taurasi retired and Brittany Griner signed with Atlanta. Both of those players debuted with Phoenix as rookies and stayed there for years. While Sabally’s 27 points are impressive, it is important to note that there were plenty of points to be had with two franchise icons out the door.Perhaps more importantly, this should serve as a reminder that Satou Sabally can be one of the best players in the league when healthy. She has topped 17 games in a season just once in her career, but that season, 2023, she earned first-team All-WNBA honors.This game also illustrated how top-heavy the Mercury are. Sabally and Alyssa Thomas became just the fourth pair of teammates in WNBA history to each score 20+ points in their team debuts. They scored 58 percent of their team’s points, and while Kahleah Copper will shoulder much of the scoring load when she is healthy, I still can’t believe the Mercury failed to surround their big three with any proven talent. Phoenix didn’t need much from its role players to thump Seattle, but they will going forward if they are going to actually contend.

4. Caitlin Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach three career triple-doubles.

In doing so, she tied Candace Parker for the third most triple-doubles in WNBA history. 

Honestly, the only takeaway here might be that the Sky are nothing more than a fringe playoff team, but this performance is still worth discussing. New Fever head coach Stephanie White said she wanted to take the ball out of Clark’s hands more this season, and her 23.0 percent usage indicates that may actually be the case. Clark had a 26.2 percent usage as a rookie, including 28.7 percent after the All-Star break.As we mentioned above, it remains to be seen if any guard can guide her team to a championship, but I wouldn’t want to bet against Clark. If she can share the load during the regular season and increase her usage when needed in the playoffs, the Fever have a chance to beat anybody.

5. DeWanna Bonner moved to third on the all-time points list. 

This probably says more about Bonner’s durability and the era that she has played in than anything else, but I still found it interesting.

Bonner is in her 15th WNBA season. She has played in more than half of the league’s seasons. Bonner made All-WNBA twice, and was Sixth Woman of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Bonner has always played with at least one other Hall-of-Famer, first with Diana Taurasi and Brittany Griner in Phoenix and later with Alyssa Thomas in Connecticut. She only scored seven points against the Sky, but if Caitlin Clark really is going to share the offensive load more this season, Bonner should be more than capable of shouldering it.