Our writers give their verdicts on the new season, which tips off Friday night. Can the Lynx or Aces thwart a New York repeat? And will Caitlin Clark avoid a sophomore slump?

… H-O-T-T-O-G-O! The 23-year-old rookie star showed zero signs of freshman jitters in the preseason, playing with the signature poise that made her the No 1 pick. Slotted as an opening-night starter, she’s primed to be Dallas’s primary playmaker with her efficiency and comfort on the court setting her apart early. Bryan Armen Graham