Free Agency 2026

Welcome to what should be the wildest – and potentially most consequential – free agency period in WNBA history.

With the new collective bargaining agreement signed and ratified, a whirlwind offseason is upon us. There’s a lot of business to be done, and not much time before the WNBA’s 30th season tips off May 8.

The expansion draft for the league’s 14th and 15th franchises – the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire – was held on Friday, April 3. The annual college draft is less than a week away, taking place on Monday, April 13.

In between those marquee events, a condensed and potentially league-altering free agency period involving over 100 players will begin. Signings concluding before training camps open on Sunday, April 19.

Key free agency dates to know: 

• April 6-7: Designation Period (Qualifying Offers and Core Player Designations must be sent) 
• April 8-10: Negotiation Period 
• April 11: Signings may begin 

Outside of players on rookie deals and two veterans, the rest of the league is set to hit the free agency market in the first offseason operating under the new CBA’s salary cap and pay structure.

The free agency pool includes players of all types, including former league MVPs, Finals MVPs, All-Stars, starters, rotation players, and role players.

With the negotiation window set to open on Wednesday, here are some intriguing players to watch and a look at the value they can provide, whether returning to their former team or heading to a new destination.

Perennial MVP Candidates:

A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury) & Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty) – All Unrestricted

A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces and Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty

Any list of 2026 WNBA free agents must include these four names – the top three finishers in last year’s MVP race (Wilson, Collier, and Thomas) and Stewart, the most recent MVP winner not named Wilson. However, since the likelihood of them landing with another team seems minuscule, we’re grouping them together here.

Wilson and Stewart have already indicated their desire to return to their former teams. Collier has played her entire career in Minnesota and is coming off a career-best season for a Lynx squad that was two wins away from the Finals when she went down with a season-ending injury. Thomas had a career year in her debut season with the Mercury after approving the sign-and-trade that sent her from Connecticut to Phoenix last year. 

The remaining free agents to watch are listed below in alphabetical order.

Natasha Cloud (New York Liberty, Unrestricted)

After playing the first eight seasons of her career in Washington, Cloud spent the last two seasons in Phoenix and New York, respectively, and has continued to deliver strong two-way impact wherever she plays. A proven playmaker (her 5.3 career assists average ranks seventh all-time) and defensive pest on the perimeter (three All-Defensive Team selections), Cloud should have plenty of suitors ahead of the 2026 season, including a potential return to the Liberty to pair with Sabrina Ionescu (another unrestricted free agent) in the backcourt.

Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury, Unrestricted, Cannot Be Cored)

Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury

Coming off a career year in her debut season in Phoenix in 2024, Copper was one of the few players the Mercury retained as they overhauled their roster ahead of 2025. However, Copper missed the season’s first 11 games due to knee surgery and needed time to mesh with a new-look roster that featured All-Stars Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally. While Copper’s regular-season numbers dipped, she helped the Mercury make a run to the WNBA Finals, where she led the team in scoring at 22.8 ppg. Already known for her ability to attack the basket on drives, Copper also had her third-best season in 3-point shooting at 37.7%, helping keep defenses off-balance.

Skylar Diggins (Seattle Storm, Unrestricted, Cannot Be Cored)

Few guards have balanced scoring and playmaking better than Diggins. In fact, only four players in WNBA history hold career averages of 15+ points and 5+ assists: Paige Bueckers (36 games), Caitlin Clark (58), Sabrina Ionescu (181), and Diggins (335), who has done so over more games than the other three players combined. Coming off her seventh All-Star nod last season, Diggins remains an elite point guard who can bring veteran savvy and a tenacious competitive drive to any team she plays for, whether that is with a return to Seattle (where she missed just one game in her two seasons) or with a new squad.

Brittney Griner (Atlanta Dream, Unrestricted, Cannot Be Cored) 

Brittney Griner #42 of the Atlanta Dream

Part of Phoenix’s roster shakeup in 2025 was the departure of Griner, who left the Mercury after 11 seasons to join the Dream. While Atlanta earned a franchise-record 30 wins and secured the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, Griner put up career-low numbers in minutes (20.8), points (9.8), rebounds (5.2), and blocks (1.2), and finished the season coming off the bench. While Griner has spoken fondly about her time in Atlanta, will she look to return to the Dream or seek a larger role elsewhere?

Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream, Restricted) 

The Dream did not wait for free agency to begin to make an offseason splash, acquiring Angel Reese in a trade with Chicago on Monday. The addition of Reese brings a fourth 2025 WNBA All-Star to Atlanta, along with Howard, Allisha Gray, and Brionna Jones – if those three free agents all remain in Atlanta. The Dream can make the final call on Howard, as she is a restricted free agent, meaning Atlanta can match any offer she receives from another team. In addition to leading the WNBA in 3-pointers made per game (3.1) and averaging over 17 points for the third straight season, Howard grew as both a playmaker (career-high 4.6 assists per game) and defender (earning All-Defensive Second Team honors) as her game continues to evolve.

Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty, Unrestricted) 

Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty

Ionescu was one of three players last season – along with fellow former No. 1 overall WNBA Draft picks Kelsey Plum and Paige Bueckers – to rank in the top 10 in both scoring (18.2 ppg) and playmaking (5.7 apg). Ionescu’s offensive orchestration was key to New York’s 2024 title run and has helped her earn four straight All-Star selections and All-WNBA Second Team honors. Despite shooting a career-low 29.9% from 3-point range last season, the two-time 3-point contest champion remains a deep threat who opens the floor for her teammates. Speaking of teammates, Ionescu joined Breanna Stewart in expressing her desire to return to New York next season. But if she did consider moving to another team, there would be a line of suitors.

Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty, Unrestricted, Cannot Be Cored) 

Jones (2021) is one of only five active players to have won WNBA MVP, joining four-time winner A’ja Wilson (2020, 2022, 2024, 2025), teammate Breanna Stewart (2018, 2023), and fellow free agents Nneka Ogwumike (2016) and Tina Charles (2012). Despite being limited to 31 games due to ankle injuries last season, Jones remains one of the most versatile bigs in the game when healthy. She finished fifth in the league in 3-point percentage (42.4%), had nearly as many 3-pointers (53) as she did buckets in the restricted area (63), and finished seventh in rebounding (8.1 rpg). Can the Liberty keep their MVP frontline of Stewart and Jones intact and try to make another title run? Don’t forget, it was Jones who won Finals MVP after New York’s championship in 2024.

Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever, Unrestricted)

Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever

With Caitlin Clark sidelined for much of the season, Mitchell put the Fever on her back and nearly carried the team to the WNBA Finals. Fueled by her career-best 20.2 points per game, Mitchell’s efforts earned her a fifth-place finish in MVP voting and the first All-WNBA First Team selection of her career. After proving she can be the centerpiece of a title contender, will Mitchell be content to make another Finals run alongside a healthy Clark and Aliyah Boston, or does she have visions of leading her own squad – à la Kelsey Plum, who left a championship team in Vegas to take a larger role in Los Angeles a year ago?

Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings, Unrestricted)

Ogunbowale has been a bucket since she walked into the WNBA as the fifth pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft – her 19.9 career scoring average ranks fourth all-time behind only A’ja Wilson, Cynthia Cooper and Breanna Stewart (three players with a combined eight MVPs). However, Arike is coming off a season in which she averaged a career-low 15.5 ppg while missing 15 games due to injury. With 2025 No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers as the new centerpiece in Dallas – and another No. 1 pick coming in just over a week – will Ogunbowale remain in the only WNBA city she’s known? Or will she look to return to her usual scoring form in a new destination?

Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm, Unrestricted, Cannot Be Cored)

Nneka Ogwumike #3 of the Seattle Storm

After earning her 10th All-Star appearance (tied for third most all-time) and eighth All-WNBA selection (tied for fifth most all-time) in her 14th season, Ogwumike spent her offseason negotiating the new CBA in her role as president of the WNBA Players Association. Now that she can shift back into player mode, the veteran forward proved last season that she has plenty left in the tank, finishing ninth in scoring (18.3), 13th in rebounding (7.0), and eighth in total minutes played as she appeared in all 44 games for the Storm. An impact player on both sides of the court, will Ogwumike return to Seattle for a third season or seek a new opportunity?

Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks, Unrestricted) 

After playing eight years and winning two championships in Las Vegas, Plum agreed to a sign-and-trade to Los Angeles last offseason, giving her a chance to be the No. 1 option on a team for the first time in her career. The result? Plum led the Sparks in both scoring (19.5 ppg) and assists (5.7 apg) – ranking in the top 10 in both categories – while also leading the league in clutch scoring (70 points in 88 minutes). While the Sparks (21-23) made a 13-win improvement from the year before (8-32) without Plum, they fell just short of making the playoffs. Without a first-round draft pick, retaining Plum and adding talent around her in free agency will be primary theobjectives for the Sparks this offseason.

Satou Sabally (Phoenix Mercury, Unrestricted)

Satou Sabally #0 of the Phoenix Mercury

Sabally’s versatile game was on full display in her first season in Phoenix, finishing in the top 25 in scoring (16.3 ppg, 13th), rebounding (5.9 rpg, 21st), steals (1.3, 18th), and 3-pointers made (67, 14th), while earning her second All-Star appearance. She elevated her game in the playoffs, averaging 19 points and seven rebounds during the Mercury’s run to the WNBA Finals. However, her first Finals appearance was cut short as she suffered a devastating concussion near the end of Game 3 that ended her WNBA season and forced her to sit out the Unrivaled season. Assuming a full recovery from the concussion, Sabally will be a player Phoenix hopes to retain, but should have other suitors as well.

Azurá Stevens (Los Angeles Sparks, Unrestricted)

Teams seeking a versatile post player who can protect the rim, clean the glass, and stretch the floor should have the 6-foot-6 Stevens on their vision board. She enters free agency coming off her best WNBA season in her eighth campaign. Stevens put up career-best numbers in scoring (12.8 ppg), rebounding (8.0 rpg, 8th), and 3-point shooting (74 total 3-pointers made on 38.1% shooting, which ranked 13th and 18th, respectively). She was also one of only six players to average at least one steal (1.1, 24th) and one block (1.3, 11th). After taking a major step forward in her third season in L.A., will Stevens look to return to the Sparks or will there be other offers that try to lure her away?

Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx, Unrestricted)

Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx

Williams was a key component of Minnesota’s run to a league-best and franchise-record 34 wins last season. Not only did she earn her second All-Star selection, she also finished second in the league in assists (6.2 per game), while leading the league in mid-range buckets and ranking 14th in 3-point percentage. Her combination of scoring, playmaking, athleticism and swagger not only made her invaluable to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, but also made her a fan favorite.

Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces, Unrestricted) 

In 2022, Young was named Most Improved Player in her fourth WNBA season. It’s no coincidence that her individual leap coincided with Las Vegas winning the first of its three championships that same year. Young is one of the WNBA’s top two-way players – an elite perimeter defender with a versatile offensive game that perfectly complements four-time MVP A’ja Wilson and backcourt partner Chelsea Gray. Not only is Young one of the league’s top 3-point shooters, she finished 18th overall (3rd among guards) in points in the paint last season. Averaging 16.5 points (12th), 5.1 assists (11th), 4.5 rebounds (5th among guards), 1.8 3-pointers (13th) and 1.3 steals (15th), Young’s across-the-board contributions are nearly impossible for any player to replicate, which is why she is so valuable for Las Vegas and will draw plenty of attention as a free agent.