Each WNBA crew’s free company and offseason priorities: a whole information

We’re simply over a month away from WNBA free company — so let’s check out who every crew has to decide about re-signing (or letting stroll). A number of the gamers on this checklist — like Kelsey Mitchell and Kelsey Plum — might very nicely find yourself on new groups subsequent season, serving to to reshape the WNBA panorama. Others, like Breanna Stewart, are technically free brokers however have made clear they plan on returning to their current squad.

WNBA free company: key dates and phrases

Publicly, the massive date to look out for in WNBA free company is February 1st; groups can start negotiating with free brokers on Sunday, January twenty first, and free brokers can start signing contracts with their groups on Thursday, February 1st.

There are a few different wrinkles within the course of. Groups can use the core designation to realize unique negotiation rights with a participant, even unrestricted free brokers — however gamers can solely be cored twice all through their careers. Moreover, after gamers end their rookie contract, they develop into restricted free brokers. Restricted free brokers can signal with a distinct crew, however their current crew has the correct to match any supply.

Then, there are reserved gamers, or gamers with three or fewer years of service on an expiring contract who can solely negotiate with their present crew. If groups don’t lengthen gamers a reserved qualifying supply, they’ll develop into unrestricted free brokers in February. Groups can ship out qualifying affords between January eleventh and January twentieth to make relevant gamers restricted or reserved.

Atlanta Dream

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

Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Photos

Tina Charles was one of many Dream’s greatest gamers for a lot of final season, and can probably be somebody the entrance workplace seems to be to resign alongside a core comprised of Allisha Grey, Rhyne Howard, and Jordin Canada. At 35 years outdated, Charles is previous her prime — however she’s nonetheless an elite frontcourt menace who averaged 14.9 factors and 9.6 rebounds final season. It’s unlikely that the Dream will re-sign each Parker-Tyus and Powers, their different two free brokers.

Connecticut Solar

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

Photograph by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Photos

No WNBA crew enters free company with a extra unsure future than the Solar. Their total core of DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, and Brionna Jones will enter free company, and Connecticut should determine whether or not they’ll attempt to re-sign their three All-Stars or transfer towards a rebuild. Thomas, an MVP candidate, is likely one of the prime free brokers on the free market, and can undoubtedly be a participant that groups throughout the league are inquisitive about. Re-signing DiJonai Carrington — final 12 months’s Most Improved Participant and a member of the WNBA All-Protection crew — will undoubtedly be a precedence.

Chicago Sky

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

Photograph by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos

The most important excellent query for the Sky getting into free company is what is going to occur with Chennedy Carter. Carter, a restricted free agent, is likely one of the greatest guards accessible on the free market this winter, contemporary off of a marketing campaign wherein she averaged 17.5 factors on 48.7% capturing. The Sky can match any affords that Carter receives from different WNBA groups, and whereas it’s probably they’d achieve this, new head coach Tyler Marsh was comparatively imprecise throughout an look on The Athletic Ladies’s Basketball Present.

“With regard to Chennedy, she’s an important participant, she was an enormous catalyst to what final 12 months’s crew was in a position to do and achieve. And clearly, she’s slated to be a free agent this 12 months,” Marsh mentioned. “So as soon as these talks open up, we’ll check out it. However the focus up to now has been on the gamers who we all know are underneath contract this coming 12 months, and that’s the place the communication has been up to now.”

Dallas Wings

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

Photograph by Ian Maule/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Satou Sabally is not only the Wings’ prime free agent; she’s probably the greatest free brokers in the marketplace. The 2023 Most Improved Participant missed the primary half of the 2024 season recovering from a shoulder harm, however when wholesome she’s one of the crucial versatile and impactful two-way gamers within the WNBA. It’s probably the Wings will core Sabally.

Howard, in the meantime, is extra more likely to stroll. Quickly after the Wings season ended, she posted on social media: “Free company is upon us and I’m wanting ahead to this subsequent chapter with a brand new crew and a brand new metropolis.”

Golden State Valkryies

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

Photograph credit score ought to learn Altan Gocher / GocherImagery/Future Publishing by way of Getty Photos

The Valkyries assembled their brand-new roster earlier this month by way of the enlargement draft, however they have already got to fret about free company and retaining a few of the gamers who they chose. Monique Billings is the one unrestricted free agent within the pack, and a participant of her caliber is usually unlikely to be cored (she averaged 7.4 factors and 5.8 rebounds final season), however it’s actually one thing the Valkyries might discover. Bringing again their reserved and restricted gamers will undoubtedly be a precedence.

Indiana Fever

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

Photograph by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Photos

The Fever’s prime free company precedence is retaining Kelsey Mitchell, who had the most effective season of her profession in 2024 and teamed up superbly with Caitlin Clark within the backcourt. Mitchell averaged 19.2 factors and shot 40.2% from three, and was a giant a part of the Fever’s midseason turnaround that propelled them to a playoff berth.

Indiana Fever basic supervisor Amber Cox mentioned Thursday that re-signing Mitchell is the group’s “No. 1 precedence” throughout free company. Whether or not Mitchell desires to remain within the franchise the place she started her WNBA profession in 2018 stays to be seen.

Los Angeles Sparks

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

Photograph by Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos

A lot of the Sparks’ core is re-signed by way of subsequent season, however Los Angeles should make some selections about a number of rotation gamers. Kia Nurse was one of many crew’s extra impactful gamers within the second half of the 12 months — and holds profession averages of 9.3 factors and a couple of.5 rebounds. Aari McDonald was one of many crew’s most dependable guards when wholesome, averaging 8.7 factors and three.7 assists for the Sparks final season. The Sparks should make some selections with these two gamers, and who they choose with the No. 2 choose within the 2025 draft might play a task.

Las Vegas Aces

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

Photograph by Ethan Miller/Getty Photos

Whether or not or not Kelsey Plum will return to the Aces is likely one of the greatest questions of free company. Plum, who averaged 17.8 factors final season, remains to be one of many prime guards within the league and was a large a part of the Aces’ two championships. She’ll be one of the crucial sought-after free brokers this winter and is immediately a participant who might elevate quite a few groups league-wide.

Minnesota Lynx

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

Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photos

The Lynx are bringing again their total beginning lineup from final season, they usually’ve already misplaced Cecilia Zandalasini by way of the Valkyries’ enlargement draft. Nonetheless, two of the crew’s rotation gamers will probably be free brokers this winter — Myisha Hines-Allen, who the crew traded for midseason, and Natisha Hiedeman, a scoring punch off the bench. Hines-Allen noticed a diminished position within the Finals, however was typically impactful after being acquired from Washington. Hiedeman performed key minutes off the bench as Courtney Williams’ main back-up.

New York Liberty

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

Photograph by David Dow/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Breanna Stewart is technically the highest free agent in the marketplace, however she’s going to all however re-sign with the Liberty. The 2-time MVP made it clear each time she was requested about free company that she plans on staying in New York, so whereas she’s technically on the checklist, her whereabouts are pretty sure. Courtney Vandersloot, nevertheless, could possibly be a distinct story — Vandersloot is a free agent and will discover curiosity throughout the league after seeing a diminished position within the playoffs.

Phoenix Mercury

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

Photograph by Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos

Brittney Griner has made it sound like she’s more likely to return to Phoenix subsequent season, however she is actually one of many prime free brokers in the marketplace. Diana Taurasi has hinted towards retirement, but when she does determine to play one other 12 months, it’ll probably be with the Mercury, the place she’s spent her total 20-year WNBA profession. Nonetheless, Griner and Taurasi are the crew’s prime two free brokers this winter, and can probably be the primary items the franchise figures out as free company begins.

Seattle Storm

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

Photograph by David Becker/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

The Seattle Storm’s huge three of Jewell Loyd, Nneka Ogwumike, and Skylar Diggins-Smith didn’t yield the outcomes the franchise hoped for in 12 months one, as a substitute shedding to the Las Vegas Aces within the first spherical of the playoffs. Then, the Storm’s offseason took a flip when Loyd reportedly requested a commerce. It’s unclear what the returns on a Loyd commerce will yield, however regardless, Seattle will wish to lock up Ogwumike, who in some ways was the crew’s most constant participant final season. Gabby Williams, who was signed mid-season, may even be a precedence.

Washington Mystics

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

Photograph by Greg Fiume/Getty Photos

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough had a robust 2024 marketing campaign, averaging 7.5 factors in 22.1 minutes off the bench. Emily Engstler (6.2 factors, 4 rebounds) and Sug Sutton (2.3 factors in 13.1 minutes) have been additionally rotational contributors. The Mystics don’t at the moment have a basic supervisor or a coach — so these essential hirings should happen earlier than free company selections are made.