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.
Three-team sends Satou Sabally to Phoenix, Sophie Cunningham to Indiana, and Ty Harris and NaLyssa Smith to Dallas
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.
Connecticut Sun trade DiJonai Carrington, 2025 No. 12 pick to Dallas Wings for Jacy Sheldon, 2025 No. 8 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.
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.
Which free agents were (and are) available?
Atlanta Dream: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (unrestricted), Aerial Powers (unrestricted), Tina Charles (unrestricted), Lorela Cubaj (reserved), Maya Caldwell (reserved)
Connecticut Sun: Alyssa Thomas (cored, traded), Brionna Jones (unrestricted, signed with Dream), DeWanna Bonner (unrestricted), Tiffany Mitchell (unrestricted), Astou Ndour-Fall (unrestricted), DiJonai Carrington (restricted, traded to Dallas), Caitlin Bickle (reserved)
Chicago Sky: Isabelle Harrison (unrestricted), Brianna Turner (unrestricted), Diamond DeShields (unrestricted), 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)
Indiana Fever: Kelsey Mitchell (cored, re-signed), Erica Wheeler (unrestricted)
Los Angeles Sparks: Kia Nurse (unrestricted, signing with Sky ), Aari McDonald (restricted), Li Yueru (reserved, traded)
Las Vegas Aces: Kelsey Plum (cored, traded to Sparks), Alysha Clark (unrestricted), Tiffany Hayes (unrestricted), Sydney Colson (unrestricted), Queen Egbo (reserved)
Minnesota Lynx: Myisha Hines-Allen (unrestricted), 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), Joyner Holmes (unrestricted), Victoria Vivians (unrestricted)
Washington Mystics: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (unrestricted, signed with Dream), Emily Engstler (reserved), Sug Sutton (reserved)
We’ll continue to update this page with all WNBA free agency moves over the coming weeks, so bookmark this one.
