WNBA free agency will begin just three days after the expansion draft and end two days before the WNBA Draft. Tim Heitman / Getty Images
April 6, 2026Updated 12:12 am EDT
The WNBA and players union agreed Sunday evening to start free agency Monday, the league announced.
Qualifying offers, along with core player designations, will be sent during the designation period starting Monday. Negotiations will follow from Wednesday to Friday, and players will ink their deals starting Saturday, two days before the WNBA Draft.
On the heels of the 2026 WNBA expansion draft, this year’s free agency is poised to be a massive reshuffling of rosters. Over 100 players — more than 80 percent of the league — are free agents during this signing period. The league’s recently ratified collective bargaining agreement, which saw a $5.5 million increase in salary caps, positions many players for a significant salary raise. The addition of two teams to the league for 2026, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, will add new destinations for players as the league now mandates a 12-player roster.
Apr 6, 2026
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