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Every WNBA team’s free agency and offseason priorities: a complete guide

Published on

December 17, 2024

Kelsey Mitchell, Kelsey Plum, Satou Sabally, and Brittney Griner headline a stacked WNBA free agency class.

We’re just over a month away from WNBA free agency — so let’s take a look at who each team has to make a decision about re-signing (or letting walk). Some of the players on this list — like Kelsey Mitchell and Kelsey Plum — could very well end up on new teams next season, helping to reshape the WNBA landscape. Others, like Breanna Stewart, are technically free agents but have made clear they plan on returning to their existing squad.

WNBA free agency: key dates and terms

Publicly, the big date to look out for in WNBA free agency is February 1st; teams can begin negotiating with free agents on Sunday, January 21st, and free agents can begin signing contracts with their teams on Thursday, February 1st.

There are a couple of other wrinkles in the process. Teams can use the core designation to gain exclusive negotiation rights with a player, even unrestricted free agents — but players can only be cored twice throughout their careers. Additionally, after players finish their rookie contract, they become restricted free agents. Restricted free agents can sign with a different team, but their existing team has the right to match any offer.

Then, there are reserved players, or players with three or fewer years of service on an expiring contract who can only negotiate with their current team. If teams don’t extend players a reserved qualifying offer, they’ll become unrestricted free agents in February. Teams can send out qualifying offers between January 11th and January 20th to make applicable players restricted or reserved.

Atlanta Dream

Free agents: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (unrestricted), Aerial Powers (unrestricted), Tina Charles (unrestricted), Lorela Cubaj (reserved), Maya Caldwell (reserved)

Tina Charles was one of the Dream’s best players for much of last season, and will likely be someone the front office looks to resign alongside a core comprised of Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Jordin Canada. At 35 years old, Charles is past her prime — but she’s still an elite frontcourt threat who averaged 14.9 points and 9.6 rebounds last season. It’s unlikely that the Dream will re-sign both Parker-Tyus and Powers, their other two free agents.

Connecticut Sun

Free agents: Alyssa Thomas (unrestricted), Brionna Jones (unrestricted), DeWanna Bonner (unrestricted), Tiffany Mitchell (unrestricted), Astou Ndour-Fall (unrestricted), DiJonai Carrington (restricted), Caitlin Bickle (reserved)

No WNBA team enters free agency with a more uncertain future than the Sun. Their entire core of DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, and Brionna Jones will enter free agency, and Connecticut will have to decide whether they will try to re-sign their three All-Stars or move toward a rebuild. Thomas, an MVP candidate, is one of the top free agents on the free market, and will undoubtedly be a player that teams across the league are curious about. Re-signing DiJonai Carrington — last year’s Most Improved Player and a member of the WNBA All-Defense team — will undoubtedly be a priority.

Chicago Sky

Free agents: Isabelle Harrison (unrestricted), Brianna Turner (unrestricted), Diamond DeShields (unrestricted), Chennedy Carter (restricted), Michaela Onyenwere (restricted), Dana Evans (restricted)

The biggest outstanding question for the Sky entering free agency is what will happen with Chennedy Carter. Carter, a restricted free agent, is one of the best guards available on the free market this winter, fresh off of a campaign in which she averaged 17.5 points on 48.7% shooting. The Sky can match any offers that Carter receives from other WNBA teams, and while it’s likely they’d do so, new head coach Tyler Marsh was relatively vague during an appearance on The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show.

“In regards to Chennedy, she’s a great player, she was a huge catalyst to what last year’s team was able to do and accomplish. And obviously, she’s slated to be a free agent this year,” Marsh said. “So once those talks open up, we’ll take a look at it. But the focus thus far has been on the players who we know are under contract this coming year, and that’s where the communication has been thus far.”

Dallas Wings

Free agents: Satou Sabally (unrestricted), Natasha Howard (unrestricted), Jaelyn Brown (reserved), Sevgi Uzun (reserved)

Satou Sabally is not just the Wings’ top free agent; she’s one of the best free agents on the market. The 2023 Most Improved Player missed the first half of the 2024 season recovering from a shoulder injury, but when healthy she’s one of the most versatile and impactful two-way players in the WNBA. It’s likely the Wings will core Sabally.

Howard, meanwhile, is more likely to walk. Soon after the Wings season ended, she posted on social media: “Free agency is upon us and I am looking forward to this next chapter with a new team and a new city.”

pic.twitter.com/FhRuyW26Yp

— NATASHA HOWARD ⚡️FLASH⚡️ (@THoward_6) September 20, 2024

Golden State Valkryies

Free agents: Temi Fagbenle (restricted), Veronica Burton (reserved), Cecilia Zandalasini (reserved), Julie Vanloo (reserved), Monique Billings (unrestricted)

The Valkyries assembled their brand-new roster earlier this month via the expansion draft, but they already have to worry about free agency and retaining some of the players who they selected. Monique Billings is the only unrestricted free agent in the pack, and a player of her caliber is typically unlikely to be cored (she averaged 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds last season), but it’s certainly something the Valkyries could explore. Bringing back their reserved and restricted players will undoubtedly be a priority.

Indiana Fever

Free agents: Kelsey Mitchell (unrestricted), Erica Wheeler (unrestricted)

The Fever’s top free agency priority is retaining Kelsey Mitchell, who had the best season of her career in 2024 and teamed up beautifully with Caitlin Clark in the backcourt. Mitchell averaged 19.2 points and shot 40.2% from three, and was a big part of the Fever’s midseason turnaround that propelled them to a playoff berth.

Indiana Fever general manager Amber Cox said Thursday that re-signing Mitchell is the organization’s “No. 1 priority” during free agency. Whether Mitchell wants to stay in the franchise where she began her WNBA career in 2018 remains to be seen.

Los Angeles Sparks

Free agents: Kia Nurse (unrestricted), Aari McDonald (restricted), Li Yueru (reserved)

Most of the Sparks’ core is re-signed through next season, but Los Angeles will have to make some decisions about a few rotation players. Kia Nurse was one of the team’s more impactful players in the second half of the year — and holds career averages of 9.3 points and 2.5 rebounds. Aari McDonald was one of the team’s most reliable guards when healthy, averaging 8.7 points and 3.7 assists for the Sparks last season. The Sparks will have to make some decisions with those two players, and who they select with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft could play a role.

Las Vegas Aces

Free agents: Kelsey Plum (unrestricted), Alysha Clark (unrestricted), Tiffany Hayes (unrestricted), Sydney Colson (unrestricted), Queen Egbo (reserved)

Whether or not Kelsey Plum will return to the Aces is one of the biggest questions of free agency. Plum, who averaged 17.8 points last season, is still one of the top guards in the league and was a massive part of the Aces’ two championships. She’ll be one of the most sought-after free agents this winter and is instantly a player who could elevate a number of teams league-wide.

Minnesota Lynx

Free agents: Myisha Hines-Allen (unrestricted), Natisha Hiedeman (unrestricted), Olivia Epoupa (reserved)

The Lynx are bringing back their entire starting lineup from last season, and they’ve already lost Cecilia Zandalasini via the Valkyries’ expansion draft. Still, two of the team’s rotation players will be free agents this winter — Myisha Hines-Allen, who the team traded for midseason, and Natisha Hiedeman, a scoring punch off the bench. Hines-Allen saw a diminished role in the Finals, but was generally impactful after being acquired from Washington. Hiedeman played key minutes off the bench as Courtney Williams’ primary back-up.

New York Liberty

Free agents: Breanna Stewart (unrestricted), Courtney Vandersloot (unrestricted), Kennedy Burke (unrestricted), Ivan Dojkic (reserved), Jaylyn Sherrod (reserved)

Breanna Stewart is technically the top free agent on the market, but she will all but re-sign with the Liberty. The two-time MVP made it clear whenever she was asked about free agency that she plans on staying in New York, so while she’s technically on the list, her whereabouts are fairly certain. Courtney Vandersloot, however, could be a different story — Vandersloot is a free agent and could explore interest across the league after seeing a diminished role in the playoffs.

Phoenix Mercury

Free agents: Diana Taurasi (unrestricted), Brittney Griner (unrestricted), Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (reserved), Natasha Mack (reserved), Charisma Osborne (reserved), Celeste Taylor (reserved), Amy Atwell (reserved)

Brittney Griner has made it sound like she’s likely to return to Phoenix next season, but she is certainly one of the top free agents on the market. Diana Taurasi has hinted toward retirement, but if she does decide to play another year, it’ll likely be with the Mercury, where she’s spent her entire 20-year WNBA career. Still, Griner and Taurasi are the team’s top two free agents this winter, and will likely be the first pieces the franchise figures out as free agency begins.

Seattle Storm

Free agents: Nneka Ogwumike (unrestricted), Gabby Williams (unrestricted), Mercedes Russell (unrestricted), Sami Whitcomb (unrestricted), Joyner Holmes (unrestricted), Victoria Vivians (unrestricted)

The Seattle Storm’s big three of Jewell Loyd, Nneka Ogwumike, and Skylar Diggins-Smith didn’t yield the results the franchise hoped for in year one, instead losing to the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs. Then, the Storm’s offseason took a turn when Loyd reportedly requested a trade. It’s unclear what the returns on a Loyd trade will yield, but regardless, Seattle will want to lock up Ogwumike, who in many ways was the team’s most consistent player last season. Gabby Williams, who was signed mid-season, will also be a priority.

Washington Mystics

Free agents: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (unrestricted), Emily Engstler (reserved), Sug Sutton (reserved)

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough had a strong 2024 campaign, averaging 7.5 points in 22.1 minutes off the bench. Emily Engstler (6.2 points, 4 rebounds) and Sug Sutton (2.3 points in 13.1 minutes) were also rotational contributors. The Mystics don’t currently have a general manager or a coach — so those critical hirings will have to take place before free agency decisions are made.

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