WNBA Free Agency is officially underway, and it’s been a hectic couple of days of league-shattering trades and surprising signings. At SB Nation, we’ll be covering all the important transactions of the WNBA offseason, and breaking down everything you need to know.
When did free agency officially begin?
From Jan. 11 to Jan. 20, teams were able to make qualifying offers and “core” player designations. 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.
Six players were cored Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), and Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm). Core players are offered a one-year supermax contract worth around $249K. Players can either sign that one-year deal with their existing team or sign it under the pretense of a trade request.
On Jan. 21, teams were able to begin negotiating with free agents, but they’re not able to sign any deals. That being said, several major transactions have already been reported. On Feb. 1, contract signings can become official.
Which major moves have been reported so far?
Three-team trade: Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas Aces, Li Yuero to the Seattle Storm
On Sunday night, ESPN reported a three-team trade that sent Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces, and Li Yuero (and the Sparks No. 2 pick) to the Seattle Storm.
Alyssa Thomas, Ty Harris to the Phoenix Mercury for Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen
Thomas — one of the league’s top all-around players — is leaving the Connecticut Sun after 11 seasons, thanks to a sign-and-trade that will land her in Phoenix. Joining her is standout guard Ty Harris, who’s also been with the organization for the entirety of her career. In return, the Sun acquired elite two-way guard Natasha Cloud, former Sun guard Rebecca Allen, and the 2025 No. 12 overall.
Brittney Griner signs with the Atlanta Dream
After spending the first 11 seasons of her WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner is headed to Atlanta to join forces with Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada on the Dream.
Kelsey Mitchell re-signs with the Indiana Fever
Mitchell stated she was going to explore free agency for the first time, but ended up with the franchise.
Courtney Vandersloot leaves New York, returns to Chicago Sky
Vandersloot spent the first decade of her WNBA career in Chicago. Now, after two seasons with the New York Liberty, she’s headed back to where it all began.
Brionna Jones leaves Connecticut Sun, heads to Atlanta Dream
The three-time WNBA All-Star leaves the organization with which she’s spent the first seven years of her career — joining forces with Brittney Griner, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada.
Natasha Howard leaves the Dallas Wings, and signs with the Indiana Fever
Howard, a two-time All-Star and three-time WNBA champion had previously announced she’d be leaving the Wings. On Friday, ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou reported the elite defensive forward was heading to Indiana, where she began her career in 2015.
Nneka Ogwumike re-signs with the Seattle Storm
The 9-time WNBA All-Star is heading back to Seattle for a second season, per her sister, ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike.
Four-team team trade sends Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas to Phoenix, Sophie Cunningham to Indiana, Ty Harris and NaLyssa Smith to Dallas, Natasha Cloud to Connecticut
The Indiana Fever helped facilitate a three-team trade that sent Satou Sabally, Kalani Brown, Sevgi Uzun from Dallas to Phoenix, per ESPN. The Wings acquire Ty Harris, Kiki Herbert Harrigan, NaLyssa Smith and the Fever get Sophie Cunningham and the Mercury’s 2025 No. 19 pick. Carrington is fresh off a Most Improved Player campaign — and she’ll join forces with former backcourt mate Ty Harris and her girlfriend, NaLyssa Smith, in Dallas, per Winsidr.
Full details:
Dallas receives: DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, NaLyssa Smith, reserved rights of Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, No. 12 Pick in 2025 Draft, right to swap 2026 Second Round Pick (CON), right to swap 2027 Third Round Pick
Phoenix receives: Satou Sabally, Kalani Brown, Sevgi Uzun, Alyssa Thomas
Indiana receives: Sophie Cunningham, No. 19 Pick in 2025 Draft, Jaelyn Brown
Connecticut receives: Jacy Sheldon, Rebecca Allen, Natasha Cloud, No. 8 Pick in 2025 Draft (IND)
Restricted free agent Michaela Onyenwere is expected to sign a 1-year deal to return to the Chicago Sky
Onyenwere averaged 6.6 points and shot 36.8% from three in 18.7 minutes off the bench for Chicago last season. Per Winsidr, she’ll re-sign.
Minnesota Lynx sign Natisha Hiedeman, French center Marième Badiane,
Natisha Hiedeman is returning to a second season with the Minnesota Lynx, per the Star Tribune’s Kent Youngblood. Hiedeman, who enters her sixth WNBA season, averaged 4.9 points and 2.4 assists per game last year. Badiane, meanwhile, is a 6’3 center who currently plays for the Turkish club Fenerbahçe, where she’s averaging 5.7 points and 2.3 assists per game.
New York Liberty re-sign Kennedy Burke, per team
Burke averaged 3.4 points in 12 minutes per game for the Liberty last season — and she’ll be back for another run at a championship in New York
Atlanta Dream sign former Washington Mystics guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
Last year, the 29-year-old guard averaged a career-high 7.5 points per game for Washington. Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post was the first to report the move.
Chicago Sky sign former Los Angeles Sparks guard Kia Nurse, per ESPN
Nurse averaged 7.6 points on 1.6 rebounds per game last season.
Myisha Hines-Allen, who last played on the Minnesota Lynx, joins the Dallas Wings
Hines-Allen averaged 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds last season — spending the first half of her year with the Washington Mystics before being traded to the Lynx.
DeWanna Bonner signs with the Indiana Fever
Bonner, a six-time WNBA All-Star, departs from Connecticut to join forces with her former head coach Stephanie White in Indiana, ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou first reported.
The Sparks re-signed guard Odyssey Sims, per ESPN
Sims, a 32-year-old veteran, averaged 12.6 points and 5.2 assists in Los Angeles last season.
Tina Charles — the WNBA’s all-time rebounding leader — signs with the Connecticut Sun
Charles was drafted by the Sun in 2010. Now, at age 36 and fresh off of a strong campaign with the Atlanta Dream, to returns to the franchise where it all began.
Sami Whitcomb joins the Phoenix Mercury
Whitcomb, who has spent most of her career in Seattle to date, heads to Phoenix. She averaged 5 points and 1.6 assists off the bench for the Storm last year.
Diamond DeShields signed a one-year deal with the Connecticut Sun
DeShields, a 29-year-old veteran, averaged 4.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on the Sky last season in 14 minutes off the bench.
Sydney Colson leaves the Las Vegas Aces to join the Indiana Fever
The two-time WNBA champion will join the Fever’s bench rotation.
Tiffany Hayes departs the Aces after one season, joining Golden State Valkyries
Hayes, the 2024 Sixth Player of the Year, immediately becomes the team’s most prolific scorer.
Which free agents were (and are) available?
Atlanta Dream: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (unrestricted, signed with Dream), Aerial Powers (unrestricted), Tina Charles (unrestricted, signed with Sun), Lorela Cubaj (reserved), Maya Caldwell (reserved)
Connecticut Sun: Alyssa Thomas (cored, traded), Brionna Jones (unrestricted, signed with Dream), DeWanna Bonner (unrestricted, signed with Fever), Tiffany Mitchell (unrestricted), Astou Ndour-Fall (unrestricted), DiJonai Carrington (restricted, traded to Dallas), Caitlin Bickle (reserved, re-signed)
Chicago Sky: Isabelle Harrison (unrestricted), Brianna Turner (unrestricted), Diamond DeShields (unrestricted, signed with Sun), Chennedy Carter (restricted, did not receive a qualifying offer), Michaela Onyenwere (restricted, re-signing), Dana Evans (restricted)
Dallas Wings: Satou Sabally (cored, traded to Phoenix), Natasha Howard (unrestricted, signed with Indiana), Jaelyn Brown (reserved), Sevgi Uzun (reserved, traded to Phoenix)
Golden State Valkryies: Temi Fagbenle (restricted), Veronica Burton (reserved), Cecilia Zandalasini (reserved), Julie Vanloo (reserved), Monique Billings (unrestricted, signed)
Indiana Fever: Kelsey Mitchell (cored, re-signed), Erica Wheeler (unrestricted)
Los Angeles Sparks: Kia Nurse (unrestricted, signed with Sky ), Aari McDonald (restricted), Li Yueru (reserved, traded)
Las Vegas Aces: Kelsey Plum (cored, traded to Sparks), Alysha Clark (unrestricted), Tiffany Hayes (unrestricted, signing with Valkyries), Sydney Colson (unrestricted, signed with Fever), Queen Egbo (reserved)
Minnesota Lynx: Myisha Hines-Allen (unrestricted, signed with Wings), Natisha Hiedeman (unrestricted, re-signing with Minnesota), Olivia Epoupa (reserved)
New York Liberty: Breanna Stewart (cored), Courtney Vandersloot (unrestricted, signing with Chicago), Kennedy Burke (unrestricted, re-signed), Ivan Dojkic (reserved), Jaylyn Sherrod (reserved)
Phoenix Mercury: Diana Taurasi (unrestricted), Brittney Griner (unrestricted, signing with Dream), Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (reserved), Natasha Mack (reserved), Charisma Osborne (reserved), Celeste Taylor (reserved), Amy Atwell (reserved)
Seattle Storm: Nneka Ogwumike (unrestricted, re-signed), Gabby Williams (cored), Mercedes Russell (unrestricted), Sami Whitcomb (unrestricted, signed with Phoenix), Joyner Holmes (unrestricted), Victoria Vivians (unrestricted)
Washington Mystics: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (unrestricted, signed with Dream), Emily Engstler (reserved, re-signed), Sug Sutton (reserved, re-signed)
We’ll continue to update this page with all WNBA free agency moves over the coming weeks, so bookmark this one.
4 potential destinations for Marina Mabrey after trade request
Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty ImagesConnectictut Sun guard Marina Mabrey has requested a trade, her agent told ESPN. She joined the Sun midseason after asking for a trade from the Chicago Sky, and was highly impactful from the moment she arrived in Connecticut.
But the team she joined in in July is no longer intact, with every coach rotation player (other than her) ending up on a different roster ahead of next season.
Read Article >Chennedy Carter and the 3 best WNBA free agents still available, ranked
Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe majority of the WNBA’s top free agents have been signed — with stars like Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally joining the Phoenix Mercury, Kelsey Plum heading to the Los Angeles Sparks, and Kelsey Mitchell and Nneka Ogwumike re-signing with their previous teams.
But, free agency isn’t quite over yet. As of Feb. 5, there are still several highly impactful players who would instantly elevate any WNBA team.
Read Article >The Indiana Fever’s latest free-agent signing is a win for (almost) everyone
Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Indiana Fever has crushed the WNBA offseason so far. They’ve retained their effective core of Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Caitlin Clark — and added Natasha Howard and DeWanna Bonner via free agency and Sophie Cunningham via trade.
The team — which will be led by veteran head coach Stephanie White next season — is already poised to contend for a championship.
Read Article >The best WNBA free agent still available could save one team’s offseason
Photo credit should read Altan Gocher / GocherImagery/Future Publishing via Getty ImagesBelgian forward Emma Meesseman didn’t play in the WNBA last season. But, the 6’4 star, who was the 2019 Finals MVP, could be returning to the league this Spring.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton reported that Meesseman won’t take meetings with WNBA teams until mid-February. But, if a WNBA team does land her, the move would instantly be one of the biggest wins of the offseason.
Read Article >Connecticut Sun fans finally have something to celebrate this offseason
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesFifteen years after she began her WNBA career, Tina Charles is heading back to the Connecticut Sun, where she was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 2010.
Charles, the WNBA’s second-leading all-time scorer and all-time leading rebounder, is signing a one-year deal with the Sun — who entered an offseason of uncertainty that has been headlined most of the Sun’s rotation players departing for other organizations.
Read Article >The DiJonai Carrington trade marks the end of the Connecticut Sun as we know them
Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty ImagesIt was always going to be a summer of turnover for the Connecticut Sun, who saw head coach Stephanie White leave for the Indiana Fever — and entered WNBA free agency with Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones all as unrestricted free agents. But, the roster turnover the team is currently in the midst of is one of epic proportions.
Thomas, who was cored last month, will play for the Phoenix Mercury next season after 11 years in Connecticut, thanks to a sign-and-trade that brought back guards Natasha Cloud and Rebecca Allen. Ty Harris, the team’s starting point guard last season, was also sent to Phoenix as part of that trade — and later to the Dallas Wings in the Satou Sabally trade.
Read Article >Nneka Ogwumike announced her WNBA free agency decision in the coolest way possible
Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty ImagesNneka Ogwumike, a nine-time All-Star and former league MVP, was one of the top free agents on the market heading into WNBA free agency. The two-way wing who last played for the Seattle Storm can do it all, and despite being 34 years old, she’s fresh off one of the most efficient seasons of her career. On Friday evening, Ogwumike announced she was re-signing with the Storm — and she had her sister Chiney Ogwumike, a basketball analyst on ESPN, break the news live on television.
“My answer just got personal when it comes to winners of free agency,’” Chiney said on air. “She wants me to break the news, so I’m gonna do it.”
Read Article >Atlanta Dream acquire another All-Star in surprising WNBA free agency move
Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty ImagesBrionna Jones, a three-time WNBA All-Star who has spent her entire 7-year career with the Connecticut Sun, is headed to the Atlanta Dream, ESPN’s Alexa Phillipou reported.
In Atlanta, she’ll join forces with Brittney Griner — who revealed Tuesday she’s leaving the Phoenix Mercury to head to the Dream — as well as Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Allisha Gray. The moves serves as yet another signal of Atlanta’s desire to win now, and it also marks the Dream’s successful attempt this week at luring a free agent who has spent their entire career with one organization.
Read Article >Indiana Fever star re-signs, will run it back with Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty ImagesKelsey Mitchell has agreed to terms to re-sign with the Indiana Fever after seven seasons with the organization, the team announced Wednesday morning. That comes after the team cored her earlier this month, which means she was offered a one-year supermax contract worth $249,244
Mitchell re-signing was a noted priority of the Fever front office after her career year helped propel Indiana to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Read Article >Blockbuster WNBA trade alters futures of Aces, Storm, Sparks – what we know
Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe entire WNBA landscape dramatically changed on Sunday night, thanks to a blockbuster three-team trade, first reported by ESPN, that will send Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces, Li Yueru and the 2025 no. 2 pick to the Seattle Storm, and Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks.
The trade marks the first time two former WNBA No. 1 picks are involved in the same trade – and it helps bring a wave of energy and excitement to the Sparks franchise. Plum and Loyd both end up in their desired trade destinations, while the Storm will have the opportunity to select one of the 2025 draft class’s top players.
Read Article >
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