Free Agency 2025

Shock, surprised, aghast— to say the very least! A wild few weeks have probably led to your favorite team receiving a facelift during the 2025 Free Agency period. Superstars were traded, draft picks were dealt, and new contenders emerged. Now that the dust has settled, let’s break down the teams that won free agency. 

Phoenix Mercury 

IN: Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, Sami Whitcomb, Kalani Brown, Sevgi Uzun

OUT: Brittney Griner (ATL), Natasha Cloud (CON), Sophie Cunningham (IND)

The Mercury lost free agent Brittney Griner, the franchise’s two-way cornerstone for the past 11 seasons. Still, they gained an engine in Alyssa Thomas and a unicorn in Satou Sabally to pair with their Olympian Kahleah Copper. They gain solid offense and become a nightmare defensive line-up. Phoenix couldn’t bring back 2014 Mercury champion DeWanna Bonner but instead cashed in on a veteran sharpshooter, Sami Whitcomb. Where they may lack depth, the collective W experience and sheer competitiveness make up for it.

Indiana Fever

IN: Kelsey Mitchell, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham

OUT: Grace Berger (MIN), Katie Lou Samuelson 

The Fever would’ve been on this list even if they just retained Kelsey Mitchell, but they were able to create a monster starting lineup. With the free-agent signings of DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, they’re long, can shoot, and can defend. Howard, a former Defensive Player of the Year (2019), brings the defensive grit to Indiana’s forward spot, something they desperately needed. Last season, the Fever finished 11th in Defensive Rating and heavily relied on out-scoring teams rather than getting stops. Now, with Clark, Mitchell, Bonner, Howard, and Boston, they have both. Scary!

Atlanta Dream

IN: Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough

OUT: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (LVA)

I believe any team that won the BG free-agency sweepstakes would be a winner, and the Dream added two centers to help defend inside. Last season, Atlanta gave up the second-most points in the paint at 34.0 ppg. No way is that going to happen again with Griner and Jones. But I’m most curious how two traditional bigs will fit with the offense of Dream’s new head coach, Karl Smesko. During his 20+ years at Florida Gulf Coast, he didn’t allow mid-range jumpers, only three-pointers and layups. Is Griner going to be shooting more threes this season? She did take and make the most three-pointers of her career in 2024 (9-18). Or will they leave that to Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray? Either way, Griner looked extremely happy with her new team when she announced her signing on Instagram. The best part? They didn’t have to lose anything to sign these two powerhouses. Atlanta is going to be fun to watch. 

Las Vegas Aces

IN: Jewell Loyd, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Tiffany Mitchell, Dana Evans

OUT: Kelsey Plum (LAS), Sydney Colson (IND), Tiffany Hayes (GSV), Alysha Clark (SEA)

Coach Becky Hammon warned us there would be changes after the Aces lost to the Liberty in the Semi-Finals. “We have to really take a sharp look at ourselves, look ourselves in the mirror, see our shortcomings, and then… make the moves necessary, whatever that means, to put the best product that we possibly can,” she said in October. The Aces constructed a historic blockbuster trade of former number-one picks. In a three-team trade, they shipped Kelsey Plum to Los Angeles, received Jewell Loyd from Seattle, and the Storm nabbed the 2025 number two overall pick from the Sparks.

With Plum being traded, it marks the end of an era for the back-to-back champion Aces. Plum was an integral part of Hammon’s slice-and-dice offensive scheme. But, the Sparks got the piece they needed. Her career 40% 3-point shooting average and ball handling skills positioned next to the fiery young backcourt of Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson is a perfect match. 

In this situation, all three teams are winners, but the Aces got even better, in my opinion. Last season, Loyd averaged almost 20 ppg. Her craftiness and high-volume scoring will fit nicely next to A’ja Wilson’s dominance and Chelsea Gray’s passing. Four of the Aces’ new starting five just won Olympic gold together; the chemistry is already there. Plus, adding bigs Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and rookie Elizabeth Kitley, along with guards Tiffany Mitchell and Dana Evans coming off the bench, Las Vegas has the pieces to return to their championship-winning ways.  

Dallas Wings

IN: DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, NaLyssa Smith, reserved rights of Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, No. 12 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and future pick swaps

OUT: Satou Sabally (PHX), Natasha Howard (IND), Kalani Brown (PHX), Sevgi Uzun (PHX), Jacy Sheldon (CON)

New General Manager Curt Miller was able to hold on to the Wings’ number-one pick and acquire some competitive pieces in the process—that’s a win-win! It was obvious that Dallas, who finished 2024 with a dismal 9-31 record, needed to grab help for their star Arike Ogunbowale. They needed a point guard, who, if projections stay correct, will be incoming rookie Paige Beuckers and Ty Harris at backup. They needed defense (last season, the Wings finished dead-last in Defensive Rating); DiJonai Carrington checks that box. Their center, Teaira McCowan, needed some scoring help down low—enter NaLyssa Smith. It’s a new era in Dallas under head coach Chris Koclanes, and I’m excited to see how all these pieces fall into place.

WNBA reporter Jordan Robinson writes columns on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @HeyJordanR. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.