With a new collective bargaining agreement in tow, the WNBA is barreling toward the start of the 2026 season on May 8. But first, the majority of players still need to sign contracts.
Every veteran is a free agent this offseason, with the exception of Kalani Brown and Lexie Brown. Veterans signed deals that ended after the 2025 season to take advantage of higher salaries under the new CBA.
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Some key figures for free agency:
The salary cap will rise from $1.5M to $7M, a 466% jump
Supermax contracts are up 561% to $1.4M, from around $250K
Minimum salaries above $300,000, with the average salary around $600,000
The WNBA announced Sunday that qualifying offers will be due April 6 and 7, the pre-free agency negotiation period will take place from April 8-10 and players will be eligible to officially sign contracts starting April 11.
The expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo is in the books, the collegiate draft is April 13 and the preseason begins April 19.
For more on each team’s free agency situation, check out our team-by-team free agency primer. And click on the team name below to jump to view notable free agents and the latest developments in each city:
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Las Vegas Aces | Phoenix Mercury | Indiana Fever | Minnesota Lynx | New York Liberty | Seattle Storm | Atlanta Dream | Washington Mystics | Golden State Valkyries | Los Angeles Sparks | Dallas Wings | Connecticut Sun | Chicago Sky | Portland Fire | Toronto Tempo
Las Vegas Aces
Under contract: Kierstan Bell, Jackie Young
Restricted: NaLyssa Smith (re-signing)
Notable free agents: A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray (re-signing), Jewell Loyd (re-signing)
Restricted qualifying offer extended: Kierstan Bell, (re-signed) NaLyssa Smith
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Latest news: A’ja Wilson is signing a three-year, $5 million supermax contract with the Aces; Signing Kierstan Bell, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Stephanie Talbot, Brianna Turner, NaLyssa Smith, Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd; Wilson confirmed at Team USA’s media availability that she does not intend to test the free agent market, saying, “I’m not leaving Vegas, so I’m not looking anywhere.”
A’ja Wilson is likely to sign a supermax contract to stay with the 2025 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
(Kenneth Richmond via Getty Images)Phoenix Mercury
Under contract: Kalani Brown
Reserved: Natasha Mack, Kitija Laksa, Monique Akoa Makani, Lexi Held, Karthyrn Westbeld, Kiana Williams
Notable free agents: Alyssa Thomas (re-signing), Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally (signing with Liberty), DeWanna Bonner
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Natasha Mack, Monique Akoa Makani, Kathryn Westbeld, Kiana Williams
Latest news: Sami Whitcomb and Kahleah Copper are returning to the Mercury two-year deals; Alyssa Thomas is reportedly re-signing with the Mercury; DeWanna Bonner is also returning.
Indiana Fever
Under contract: Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Makayla Timpson
Restricted: Lexie Hull
Reserved: Chloe Bibby
Notable free agents: Kelsey Mitchell (re-signing), Sophie Cunningham (re-signing), Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, Natasha Howard
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Core qualifying offer extended: Kelsey Mitchell
Restricted qualifying offer extended: Lexie Hull
Latest news: Sophie Cunningham is returning to Indiana on a one-year deal; Signing Monique Billings and Tyasha Harris; Lexie Hull is returning to Indiana; Fever are reportedly signing Kelsey Mitchell to a one-year supermax deal.
Minnesota Lynx
Under contract: Dorka Juhasz, Anastasiia Olairi Kosu
Reserved: Maria Kliundikova, Jaylyn Sherrod, Camryn Taylor
Key free agents: Napheesa Collier, Alanna Smith (signing with Wings), Kayla McBride (re-signing), DiJonai Carrington, Courtney Williams (re-signing), Natisha Hiedeman (signing with Storm), Bridget Carleton, Jessica Shepard (signing with Wings)
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Jaylyn Sherrod
Core qualifying offer extended: Napheesa Collier
Latest news: Kayla McBride is returning to the Lynx on a two-year deal; Natasha Williams is signing a two-year deal; Courtney Williams is signing a two-year max deal; Napheesa Collier is returning on a one-year supermax deal.
New York Liberty
Under contract: Nyara Sabally (drafted by Toronto Tempo)
Reserved: Rebekah Gardner, Marine Johannès
Notable free agents: Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones (re-signing), Natasha Cloud, Emma Meesseman
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Rebekah Gardner, Marine Johannès
Core qualifying offer extended: Sabrina Ionescu
Latest news: Jonquel Jones is returning on a multiyear deal; Satou Sabally is reportedly signing a multiyear deal with the Liberty; Rebecca Allen and Pauline Astier are signing one-year deals
Stewart and Ionescu confirmed their intentions to remain with the Liberty. “Good luck to everybody else in free agency,” Stewart said, “but I’m not a part of that.”
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The two brought New York its first championship in 2024, though their title-winning coach, Sandy Brondello, moved on to join the expansion Toronto Tempo this offseason. Former Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco will be at the helm for the 2026 season.
Seattle Storm
Under contract: Lexie Brown, Dominique Malonga, Jordan Horston, Nika Muhl
Reserved: Mackenzie Holmes, Zia Cooke
Notable free agents: Nneka Ogwumike (signing with Los Angeles), Skylar Diggins (signing with Chicago), Gabby Williams (signing with Golden State), Ezi Magbegor (re-signing), Brittney Sykes (signing with Toronto)
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Zia Cooke, Mackenzie Holmes
Core qualifying offer extended: Ezi Magbegor
Latest news: Re-signing Ezi Magbegor; Signing Stefanie Dolson; Reportedly signing Natisha Hiedeman to a two-year deal.
Atlanta Dream
Under contract: Te-Hina Paopao, Taylor Thierry, Angel Reese
Restricted: Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon (re-signing)
Reserved: Maya Caldwell, Sika Koné
Notable free agents: Allisha Gray (re-signing), Brionna Jones (re-signing), Brittney Griner (signed with Sun), Jordin Canada
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, Lorela Cubaj, Sika Koné
Core qualifying offer extended: Allisha Gray
Latest news: The Dream are reportedly signing All-Star Allisha Gray to a multi-year, “max-plus” deal; Naz Hillmon is also set to return, as is Brionna Jones; The Dream acquired Angel Reese, who’s under contract, from the Sky in exchange for Atlanta’s first-round picks in both 2027 and 2028. The teams also swapped second-round picks in 2028.
Washington Mystics
Under contract: Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, Jacy Sheldon (traded to Sky), Lucy Olsen, Shakira Austin
Restricted: Sug Sutton, Shakira Austin (signing with Tempo)
Reserved: Emily Engstler, Madison Scott
Notable free agents: Alysha Clark, Stefanie Dolson (signing with Storm)
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Bernadett Határ, Madison Scott, Shakira Austin
Latest news: Shakira Austin is signing a three-year deal to return to the team; signed Michaela Onyenwere on a multiyear contract.
Golden State Valkyries
Under contract: Carla Leite, Kate Martin
Restricted: Veronica Burton, Cecilia Zandalasini
Reserved: Janelle Salaün (re-signing), Laeticia Amihere, Kaitlyn Chen, Iliana Rupert (re-signing)
Notable free agents: Kayla Thornton (re-signing), Tiffany Hayes, Temi Fagbenle
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Janelle Salaün, Cecilia Zandalasini, Ilianan Rupert, Kaitlyn Chen, Veronica Burton, Laeticia Amihere
Latest news: Re-signed Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton; signing Gabby Williams to a multiyear deal; re-signing Iliana Rupert and Janelle Salaün.
Los Angeles Sparks
Under contract: Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Sarah Ashlee Barker, Sania Feagin
Reserved: Rae Burrell, Julie Vanloo, Alissa Pili
Notable free agents: Kelsey Plum (re-signing), Dearica Hamby (re-signing)
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Rae Burrell, Julie Vanloo, Alissa Pili
Core qualifying offer extended: Kelsey Plum
Latest news: Kelsey Plum is returning to the Sparks on a team-friendly deal; Sparks are re-signing Dearica Hamby; Nneka Ogwumike is returning to the Sparks after spending her first 12 seasons in L.A.
Dallas Wings
Under contract: Maddy Siegrist, Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, JJ Quinerly, Rayah Marshall
Reserved: Luisa Geiselsöder, Li Yueru, Halley Jones, Grace Berger
Notable free agents: Arike Ogunbowale (re-signing)
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Grace Berger, Li Yueru
Core qualifying offer extended: Arike Ogunbowale
Latest news: Alanna Smith is joining the team on a three-year max contract; Arike Ogunbowale is re-signing with the team on a seven-figure, multi-year deal; Wings signing Jessica Shepard on a multi-year deal; Dallas picked up second-year center Rayah Marshall, who is still on her rookie deal, in a trade with the Sun.
Connecticut Sun
Under contract: Aneesah Morrow, Saniya Rivers, Aaliyah Edwards, Leila Lacan, Diamond Miller (acquired in trade with Wings), Brittney Griner
Restricted: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Haley Peters
Reserved: Mamignan Touré
Notable free agents: Marina Mabrey (signing with Toronto), Tina Charles
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Restricted qualifying offer extended: Mamignan Touré, Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Latest news: Signing Kennedy Burke; Connecticut is reportedly signing All-Star center Brittney Griner to a seven-figure deal. Also, the Sun acquired Diamond Miller in a trade with the Wings; Miller is under a one-year team option on the fourth year of her rookie deal.
Chicago Sky
Under contract: Kamilla Cardoso, Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld
Reserved: Sevgi Uzun
Notable free agents: Courtney Vandersloot (re-signing), Rebecca Allen, Kia Nurse, Ariel Atkins
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Core qualifying offer extended: Ariel Atkins
Latest news: DiJonai Carrington is joining the Sky on a one-year deal; Courtney Vandersloot is returning to the Sky; Skylar Diggins is signing a two-year deal with Chicago; The Sky acquired Jacy Sheldon in a trade with Washington, which receives a 2028 first-round pick. Azurá Stevens is signing a three-year deal with the Sky; the Sky traded Angel Reese, who’s under contract, to the Atlanta Dream.
Portland Fire
Under contract: N/A
Notable free agents: N/A
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Reserved qualifying offer extended: Luisa Geiselsöder, Sug Sutton, Maya Caldwell, Haley Jones, Chloe Bibby, Emily Engstler
Core qualifying offer extended: Bridget Carleton
Latest news: Megan Gustafson is signing a two-year deal with Portland; Bridget Carleton signed a three-year max deal.
Toronto Tempo
Under contract: Nyara Sabally, Aaliyah Nye
Notable free agents: N/A
Reserved qualifying offer extended: Lexi Held, Kitija Laksa, Nikolina Milić, Julie Allemand, Maria Kliundikova,
Core qualifying offer extended: Marina Mabrey
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Latest news: Isabelle Harrison signing one-year deal; the Tempo are reportedly signing Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes to two-year max contracts.