WNBA Offseason: Top Free Agents Around the League

Justin Lester

On the first day of February, WNBA teams can officially start signing free agents.

Many of the top free agents this offseason are restricted, meaning their current team can match any contract offer from another franchise in order to retain them. There’s also a talented crop of unrestricted free agents that can join any team without limitation.

Here are some of the best free agents – both restricted and unrestricted – and what they can bring to a team.

Alana Beard (Unrestricted)

She’ll be 35 by the time next season begins, but Beard proved in 2016 that she can still play a vital role on a contending team. The former All-Star started every game for the Sparks in their title-winning campaign, and she upped her production during the Finals against Minnesota. Beard scored in double figures in three of five Finals games and nailed the winning shot in Game 1. She also showed an ability to help run the offense, averaging nearly four assists per game in the playoffs.

Essence Carson (Unrestricted)

Similar to Beard, Carson is a former All-Star that provided a reliable, veteran presence for the champion Sparks last year. In her first season with Los Angeles, Carson averaged 8.1 points on 45 percent shooting and 36 percent from downtown. Her outside shooting had been inconsistent in her most recent years with the Liberty, but Carson recaptured the touch last season. During the Finals, she averaged nine points over the final four games while also checking Maya Moore on the other end.

Elena Delle Donne (Restricted)

After earning MVP honors in 2015, Delle Donne followed it up with another outstanding campaign before missing Chicago’s playoff run due to a minor thumb injury. At 6-foot-5 with guard-like skills, Delle Donne is a mismatch for just about every player in the league. And she has the numbers to prove it: 22.5 points per game on 47 percent shooting over the last two seasons. Delle Donne has also ranked among the league leaders in blocked shots every year of her career.

Update (2/2): Delle Donne has been traded to the Washington Mystics. READ MORE

Brittney Griner (Restricted)

The Mercury may have underachieved last season, but Griner remains one of the best frontcourt players in the game alongside Delle Donne. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Griner has been the league’s top shot-blocker ever since the day she had four rejections in her WNBA debut. Her numbers dipped a bit last season, but she still finished with the fifth highest plus-minus rating in the league. Griner also shined at the Olympics as the USA’s leading rebounder and third-leading scorer.

Tayler Hill (Restricted)

After three seasons coming off the bench, Hill thrived in 2016 as the starting shooting guard for the Mystics. She can still improve her efficiency – Hill shot 35 percent from the field last year – but the Ohio State product filled it up with 15.4 points per game after averaging 7.5 the previous season. The dramatic leap in productivity saw Hill finish as the runner-up for Most Improved Player behind Atlanta’s Elizabeth Williams.

Update (2/6): Hill has re-signed with the Washington Mystics. READ MORE

Plenette Pierson (Unrestricted)

Even at age 35, Pierson is a scoring machine in the low post. She’s also started to shoot three-pointers in recent years, connecting on roughly 35 percent of a healthy number of attempts over the last two seasons for the Wings. Pierson might not be a star, but with 14 years of experience, she’s the type of player any WNBA team could use in its frontcourt. Pierson is a two-time champion and played in the All-Star Game as recently as 2015.

Update (2/1): Pierson has signed with the Minnesota Lynx. READ MORE

Sugar Rodgers (Restricted)

Similar to Hill, Rodgers was a candidate for Most Improved Player in 2016 after flourishing in her first season as a full-time starter. She increased her scoring output from 8.1 to 14.5 points per game, which ranked second on the Liberty behind MVP runner-up Tina Charles. Rodgers is capable of exploding for a huge night offensively, as evidenced by the 30 points and seven three-pointers she had against her former team in Minneapolis last year.

Update (2/7): Rodgers has re-signed with the New York Liberty. READ MORE

Kristi Toliver (Unrestricted)

Another free agent for the Sparks, Toliver might be one of the most underappreciated players in the league. Her per-game numbers aren’t off the charts, but the veteran point guard has consistently been among the league leaders in overall plus-minus in the past few years. Last season, she ranked third behind only Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore. Toliver also improved her three-point shooting, ranking fourth at 42.4 percent while attempting almost twice as many as previous seasons.

Update (2/7): Toliver has signed with the Washington Mystics. READ MORE