Everybody the Liberty, Sky, Lynx signed on the primary official day of WNBA free company

Many of the highest-impact motion of WNBA free company was reported on the week previous the official begin to free company. Six 2024 All-Stars have switched groups within the final week; on Sunday, Kelsey Plum landed with the Los Angeles Sparks in a three-team commerce that despatched Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces. On Tuesday, Alyssa Thomas ended up in Phoenix after a sign-and-trade that introduced Natasha Cloud to Connecticut. Then, Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones signed with the Dream, Courtney Vandersloot with the Chicago Sky, and Satou Sabally with the Dream as a part of one other sign-and-trade.

On Saturday, a number of strikes turned official affecting a slew of the league’s position gamers. Listed here are just some of the transactions that got here into impact.

Minnesota Lynx signal Natisha Hiedeman, French heart 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 factors and a pair of.4 assists per recreation final 12 months. She was one of many Lynx’s most necessary postseason contributors, averaging 5.7 factors on 45.5% capturing in 14.3 minutes off the bench in a playoff run that noticed Minnesota fall simply in need of a championship.

Youngblood reported that the Lynx are additionally anticipated to signal French heart Mariéme Badiane. Badiane is a 6’3 heart who presently performs for the Turkish membership Fenerbahçe, the place she’s averaging 5.7 factors and a pair of.3 assists per recreation. She’d probably come off the bench for the Lynx, backing up Alanna Smith.

New York Liberty re-sign Kennedy Burke

Kennedy Burke averaged 3.4 factors in 12 minutes per recreation for the Liberty final season — and she or he’ll be again for one more run at a championship in New York. Burke, a former 2019 second-round choose, was one of many Liberty’s dependable bench gamers.

The Atlanta Dream signal Shatori Walker-Kimbrough

Walker-Kimbrough performed for the Washington Mystics for the final 4 seasons — and for 7 of her 9 WNBA seasons. Final 12 months, the 29-year-old guard averaged a career-high 7.5 factors per recreation for Washington. The Washington Submit’s Kareem Copeland was the primary to report the deal.

The Chicago Sky signal Kia Nurse, re-sign Michaela Onyenwere

Nurse has performed for 4 WNBA groups in 6 seasons, and subsequent 12 months, she’ll add a fifth. ESPN reported Saturday that the 6’0 guard is headed to the Chicago Sky. Nurse averaged 7.6 factors on 1.6 rebounds per recreation final season.

Winsidr’s Rachel Galligan additionally reported that the crew can be re-signing Micael Onyenwere, who averaged 6.6 factors and shot 36.8% from three final season.

Allen-for-Allen commerce between Chicago Sky, Connecticut Solar

Annie Costabile of the Chicago Solar-Instances was first to report a two-team commerce between the Chicago Sky and Connecticut Solar. The Sky are buying and selling for Rebecca Allen in trade for Lindsay Allen. (Rebecca Allen was briefly acquired by the Solar through Phoenix within the commerce that despatched Alyssa Thomas to the Mercury). As a part of the commerce, the Solar additionally earn the rights to ahead Nikolina Milic.