The WNBA season is right around the corner and free agency is finally here. The free agency negotiating period begins Wednesday, April 8, and teams can begin signing new contracts with free agents on Saturday, April 11.
Prior to this, qualifying offers and core player designations were sent out on April 6-7.
Reserved players These are players who are out of contract with three years of service or less. If they receive a qualifying Reserved offer, those players are subject to that team’s exclusive negotiating rights. If the club refuses to offer the player a contract, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Restricted free agents They are players with at least four years of service whose contract has expired and who receive a qualifying offer from their previous team. Those players can negotiate with other teams, but their original team can match any offer.
TO Primary designation It’s the WNBA’s version of a franchise tag. An organization may have a veteran free agent that they have placed on their roster and therefore offer him a fully guaranteed one-year contract that is worth the supermax. If a player receives a Central Designation, he will only be able to sign or negotiate a contract with that team during the free agency period.
April 11: More official signings
Azurá Stevens agreed to a three-year deal to return to the Chicago Sky, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou
Laura Juškaitė has signed a training camp contract with Toronto Tempo
Lexie Hull re-signs with the Indiana Fever
The Chicago Sky have acquired point guard Jacy Sheldon from the Washington Mystics. In exchange, the Mystics receive Chicago’s 2028 first-round pick.
Dearica Hamby returns to the Los Angeles Sparks on a three-year, nearly $3.5 million contract, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou.
Monique Billings signs with Indiana Fever, according to Tony East
Satou Sabally has signed with the New York Liberty, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou
Skylar Diggins has signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Sky, the team announced
Jonquel Jones will re-sign with the New York Liberty, according to Madeline Kenney of the NY Posts
Veronica Burton has signed a multi-year contract with the Golden State Valkyries, the team announced
Bridge Carleton has signed a three-year maximum contract with the Portland Fire, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou
Ty Harris has signed with the Indiana Fever, according to Chloe Peterson of Indy Star Sports
Kennedy Burke agreed to a one-year deal with the Connecticut Sun, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou
Stefanie Dolson has signed with Seattle Storm, according to Khristina Williams
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus re-signs with the Las Vegas Aces, according to Callie Fin of the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Nyadiew Puoch signed his rookie-level contract with the Portland Fire, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou
Alanna Smith has signed a three-year max contract with the Dallas Wings, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou
April 10: Free Agency transactions begin
Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes have agreed to max contracts with Toronto Tempo, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou.
Nneka Ogwumike agrees to sign with Los Angeles Sparks, according to her sister, ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike
Brionna Jones agrees to finalize a deal to return to the Atlanta Dream, according to ESPN’s Sean Hurd.
Alyssa Thomas agrees to deal to return to Phoenix Mercury, according to ESPN’s Sean Hurd
Allisha Gray is finalizing a three-year deal to return to the Atlanta Dream, according to ESPN’s Sean Hurd
Jewell Loyd is finalizing a three-year deal to return to the Las Vegas Aces, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou
Naz Hillmon is finalizing a three-year deal to return to the Atlanta Dream, according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews
Arike Ogunbowale is finalizing a seven-figure, multi-year deal to return to the Dallas Wings, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
Kelsey Mitchell is finalizing a one-year supermax contract to return to the Indiana Fever, according to ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike.
Jessica Shepard is finalizing a multi-year deal to join the Dallas Wings, according to ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou
Elizabeth Williams is finalizing a two-year deal with the Chicago Sky worth $1.2 million, according to ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike.
Natisha Hiedeman has signed with Seattle Storm, according to Khristina Williams
Chelsea Gray agreed to a contract worth more than $3 million over three years, according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.
Awak Kuier will re-sign with Dallas Wings, according to Khristina Williams
Brittney Griner has signed a seven-figure deal to join the Connecticut Sun, according to Terrika Foster-Brasby
Jordin Canada has signed a two-year, $1.2 million-plus deal with the Atlanta Dream, according to ESPN’s Kareem Copeland
April 9: Free Agency negotiations continue
Mamignan Touré signed with the Connecticut Sun
Kierstan Bell signed with Las Vegas Aces
The Connecticut Sun traded Rayah Marshal to the Dallas Wings for Diamond Miller
Jackie Young has reportedly agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Aces at the regular maximum ($1.19 million), according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
April 8: Negotiations begin.
Maya Caldwell signed with the Portland Fire
Sika Kone signed with the Atlanta Dream
Jaylyn Sherrod signed with the Minnesota Lynx
Grace Berger signed with the Dallas Wings
Li Yueru signed with the Dallas Wings
April 7: Angel Reese traded, teams extend qualifying offers
The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.
Toronto Tempo extended a reserved qualifying offer to Maria Kliundikova.
The Toronto Tempo extended a reserved qualifying offer to Julie Allemand.
Toronto Tempo extended a qualifying offer reserved for Nikolina Milić.
The Atlanta Dream extended a reserved qualifying offer to Sika Koné.
The Atlanta Dream extended a reserved qualifying offer to Lorela Cubaj.
Portland Fire extended basic qualifying offer to Bridget Carleton
The Connecticut Sun extended a restricted qualifying offer to Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
The Connecticut Sun extended a qualifying offer reserved for Mamignan Touré.
The Las Vegas Aces extended a restricted qualifying offer to NaLyssa Smith.
The Las Vegas Aces extended a restricted qualifying offer to Kierstan Bell.
The New York Liberty extended a Core Qualifying Offer to Sabrina Ionescu.
Seattle Storm extended a reserved qualifying offer to Mackenzie Holmes.
The Golden State Valkyries extended a restricted qualifying offer to Veronica Burton.
The Portland Fire extended a reserved qualifying offer to Emily Engstler.
The Golden State Valkyries extended a reserved qualifying offer to Kaitlyn Chen.
The Portland Fire extended a reserved qualifying offer to Chloe Bibby.
The Dallas Wings extended a Core qualifying offer to Arike Ogunbowale.
The Golden State Valkyries extended a reserved qualifying offer to Iliana Rupert.
Seattle Storm extended a Core qualifying offer to Ezi Magbegor.
The Washington Mystics extended a restricted qualifying offer to Shakira Austin
The Washington Mystics extended a reserved qualifying offer to Madison Scott.
The Atlanta Dream extended a Core Qualifying Offer to Allisha Gray.
The Washington Mystics extended a reserved qualifying offer to Bernadett Határ.
April 6: Qualified offers
The Portland Fire extended a reserved qualifying offer to Haley Jones.
The Portland Fire extended a reserved qualifying offer to Maya Caldwell.
The Golden State Valkyries extended a reserved qualifying offer to Janelle Salaün.
The Golden State Valkyries extended a reserved qualifying offer to Cecilia Zandalasini.
Phoenix Mercury extended a reserved qualifying offer to Natasha Mack.
The Phoenix Mercury extended a reserved qualifying offer to Monique Akoa Makani.
The Toronto Tempo extended a Core Qualifying Offer to Marina Mabrey.
The Phoenix Mercury extended a reserved qualifying offer to Kathryn Westbeld.
The Phoenix Mercury extended a reserved qualifying offer to Kiana Williams.
The Toronto Tempo extended a reserved qualifying offer to Kitija Laksa.
The Portland Fire extended a restricted qualifying offer to Sug Sutton.
The Toronto Tempo extended a reserved qualifying offer to Lexi Held.
The Atlanta Dream extended a restricted qualifying offer to Rhyne Howard.
The Atlanta Dream extended a restricted qualifying offer to Naz Hillmon.
The Dallas Wings extended a reserved qualifying offer to Grace Berger.
The Dallas Wings extended a reserved qualifying offer to Li Yueru.
The Portland Fire extended a reserved qualifying offer to Luisa Geiselsöder.
The Los Angeles Sparks extended a reserved qualifying offer to Alissa Pili.
The Los Angeles Sparks extended a Core Qualifying Offer to Kelsey Plum.
The Los Angeles Sparks extended a reserved qualifying offer to Julie Vanloo.
The Los Angeles Sparks extended a reserved qualifying offer to Rae Burrell.
Minnesota Lynx extended a reserved qualifying offer to Jaylyn Sherrod.
Minnesota Lynx extended a Core qualifying offer to Napheesa Collier.
