The WNBA season tipped off this past Friday, and the first few days of action lived up to every bit of the anticipation. The storylines we’ve been tracking all offseason—from major trades to big-name debuts—immediately turned into must-watch basketball. If this opening weekend was a preview of what's to come, the established powerhouses might want to start looking over their shoulders.

In Atlanta, Angel Reese didn’t take long to show why she’s one of the most impactful players in the game. In her debut with the Dream on Saturday, Reese notched a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. It was her 46th career double-double, moving her past Tina Charles for the most ever in a player's first three seasons. The Dream staged a massive rally, coming back from 19 points down to stun the Minnesota Lynx 91-90. Reese sealed the deal herself, blocking a last-second layup at the buzzer. While Allisha Gray led the scoring with 24 points and Naz Hillmon fueled the late-game surge, the Lynx proved they are still dangerous even without the injured Napheesa Collier. Rookie Olivia Miles stepped up in Collier's absence, dropping 21 points and eight assists in an impressive pro debut.

The Phoenix Mercury provided the most shocking result of the weekend. The Las Vegas Aces held their championship ring ceremony on Saturday, but the celebration ended as soon as the game started. The Mercury, who were swept by the Aces in last year's Finals, got their revenge in a record-breaking 99-66 blowout. It was the largest margin of victory in a season opener for Phoenix and the largest defeat ever suffered by a defending champion in their first game back. With the offseason additions finally gelling, the Mercury showed they have the firepower to dominate the league’s elite.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky started their post-Angel Reese era on a high note, picking up a commanding 98-83 win over the Portland Fire. It’s a promising start for a team that only managed 10 wins all last season. Six Sky players scored in double figures, showing off a balanced attack that saw veterans like Elizabeth Williams provide a spark off the bench. Despite rolling out their fourth "new-look" roster in four years and running a short seven-player rotation, the Sky looked cohesive. While the Fire got 13 points from Sarah Ashlee Barker, Chicago’s depth and playmaking answered many of the questions about the franchise's new direction.