{"id":595510,"date":"2026-04-10T20:27:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T20:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/595510\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T20:27:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T20:27:11","slug":"wnba-free-agency-news-live-updates-kelsey-mitchell-signing-supermax-with-fever-jewell-loyd-returning-to-aces-nneka-ogwumike-to-sparks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/595510\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA free agency news, live updates: Kelsey Mitchell signing supermax with Fever; Jewell Loyd returning to Aces; Nneka Ogwumike to Sparks"},"content":{"rendered":"

After months of uncertainty that we\u2019d even have a WNBA season, free agency has finally arrived<\/a>. This will be an unprecedented free agency period, both in terms of the available free agents and the paychecks they\u2019ll be cashing.<\/p>\n

The WNBA and WNBPA finally reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement<\/a> last month, set to run over the next seven years. Through the new CBA, the WNBA salary cap will increase from $1.5 million to $7 million \u2014 meaning the league\u2019s spending in free agency will hit a new all-time high.<\/p>\n

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The first big breaking news item of WNBA free agency hit on Monday, as the Chicago Sky traded All-Star Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream<\/a>. The Sky received the Dream\u2019s 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, while the Dream acquired Reese and the right to swap second-round picks with the Sky in the 2028 WNBA Draft.<\/p>\n

As far as the players available, there\u2019s no shortage of elite star power in free agency \u2014 though it remains to be seen how many of them will actually test the free-agent market despite being \u201cavailable\u201d to negotiate.<\/p>\n

Breanna Stewart and Liberty teammate Sabrina Ionescu<\/a> already announced their intent to re-sign with New York, and Wilson intends to re-sign with the Las Vegas Aces<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Liberty extended a core qualifying offer to Ionescu on Tuesday \u2014 a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax, worth a reported $1.4 million<\/a> under the new CBA. The Minnesota Lynx also extended a core qualifying offer to star Napheesa Collier ahead of the deadline.<\/p>\n

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Most of the league\u2019s vets strategically aligned their contracts to become free agents in 2026, which means the pool of talent is deep, and most team rosters could look dramatically different this year, particularly on the heels of an expansion draft<\/a> for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.<\/p>\n

Check out our team-by-team look at the top free agents from each team here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow along with Yahoo Sports as WNBA free agency opens up following the league’s historic CBA negotiations:<\/p>\n

Live35 updates<\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 1:03 PM PDT<\/p>\n

The Dallas Wings are reportedly signing forward Jessica Shepard to a multi-year deal, per ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou<\/a>. Shepard joins Dallas after five seasons as a key bench player with the Lynx.<\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 12:59 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Guard Natisha Hiedeman \u2014 one half of the Lynx\u2019s notorious \u201cStud Budz\u201d duo \u2014 is joining the Seattle Storm on a two-year deal, per multiple reports.<\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 12:12 PM PDT<\/p>\n

The Indiana Fever\u2019s Big Three is sticking around, with veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell reportedly signing a one-year, $1.4 million supermax deal to stay with the team, per ESPN\u2019s Chiney Ogwumike.<\/p>\n

Mitchell, the Fever\u2019s leading scorer over the past five seasons, is now back under contract alongside Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, who are both still on their rookie deals.<\/p>\n

Read more from Yahoo Sports here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 11:18 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Ogunbowale, has spent her entire seven-year WNBA career in Dallas. The four-time All-Star and 2020 All-WNBA First Team member of scoring champion will reportedly sign a \u201cmulti-year\u201d deal and take lower than the $1.4 million supermax she is eligible for in order to help with other free agent signings.<\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 11:05 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Not only are the Atlanta Dream reportedly bringing back Allisha Gray<\/a>, but they\u2019re also re-signing Naz Hillmon to a three-year deal, according to ESPN\u2019s Kendra Andrews.<\/p>\n

Hillmon is the reigning WNBA Sixth Player of the Year. She averaged 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 2025 for an Atlanta squad that won a franchise-record 30 games before bowing out to the Indiana Fever in the postseason.<\/p>\n

Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, April 10, 2026 at 10:48 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Alisha Gray reportedly agreed to terms with the Atlanta Dream on a three-year contract, according to Andscape\u2019s Sean Hurd<\/a>.\u00a0The deal is a \u201cmax-plus<\/a>\u201d agreement, Hurd reports.<\/p>\n

Gray averaged 18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals in an MVP-contending campaign for the Dream last season. She spent the last three seasons playing for Atlanta after spending her first six seasons with the Dallas Wings.<\/p>\n

The nine-year veteran has been an All-Star the last three seasons, and last year she was first team All WNBA. She also won the 3-point shootout and the skills challenge during WNBA All-Star weekend in 2024.<\/p>\n

Gray will be joining Angel Reese, whom the team recently acquired in a trade<\/a> with the Chicago Sky.<\/p>\n

\"SeanFri, April 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Sean Leahy<\/p>\n

The Toronto Tempo is making big moves in free agency. According to ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou<\/a>, one of the WNBA\u2019s two expansion teams for 2026 opened up the wallet for guards Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes.<\/p>\n

Mabrey and Sykes have agreed to two-year max contracts to form what potentially could be the first million-dollar backcourt with both deals worth at least $1 million annually.<\/p>\n

Read more here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 8:50 AM PDT<\/p>\n

The 33-year-old was traded to Phoenix in Feb. 2025 and played 39 games for the Sun last season. She averaged 15.4 points, 9.2 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game and was an All-Star for the sixth time and named to her third straight All-WNBA First-team<\/p>\n

Read more on the move here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 8:47 AM PDT<\/p>\n

The 30-year-old spent last season in Atlanta averaging 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 44 games.<\/p>\n

Before landing with the Dream, Jones spent the first eight seasons of her WNBA career with the Connecticut Sun after being the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2017.<\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 7:37 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Fri, April 10, 2026 at 6:42 AM PDT<\/p>\n

After two seasons away, Nneka Ogwunmike is returning to her original franchise. Ogwunmike is expected to re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks, per her sister, ESPN\u2019s Chiney Ogwumike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ogwunmike was drafted by the Sparks in 2012 and spent her first 12 WNBA seasons with the franchise.<\/p>\n

Ogwunmike, 35, continued her excellent play in Seattle, where she averaged 18.3 points last season and received down-ballot MVP votes.<\/p>\n

Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, April 9, 2026 at 6:48 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

After two seasons with the Seattle Storm, forward Nneka Ogwumike is moving on. Ogwumike posted a \u201cThank you Seattle\u201d message to her social media on Thursday, indicating that she is signing with another team in free agency.<\/p>\n

Ogwumike\u2019s final destination is currently unknown. The veteran forward visited the Minnesota Lynx this week \u2014 as evidenced by the viral leak<\/a> from a balloon company \u2014 but ESPN reports<\/a> that Ogwumike has also gotten interest from the Los Angeles Sparks.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, April 9, 2026 at 5:32 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

The WNBA announced Thursday that league expansion to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia has been approved by the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors, formalizing a move that was announced last summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cleveland is set to start play first, in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. All three teams will share owners<\/a> with their cities\u2019 NBA franchises.<\/p>\n

Thu, April 9, 2026 at 3:53 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Yahoo Sports Staff<\/p>\n

Jackie Young is reportedly staying with the Las Vegas Aces, with the team finalizing a one-year deal with the guard, per ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The contract with Young, a member of the Aces\u2019 core through their three WNBA championships, is reportedly expected to be worth $1.19 million, the regular max for a one-year deal.<\/p>\n

Read more on the deal here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thu, April 9, 2026 at 2:46 PM PDT<\/p>\n

The Las Vegas Aces announced they have re-signed forward Kierstan Bell. Terms of the deal were not revealed.<\/p>\n

Bell, 26, has played all four of her WNBA seasons with the Aces, part of the franchise\u2019s three championship teams. She was the Aces\u2019 2022 first-round pick, selected No. 11 overall out of Florida Gulf Coast. Last year, Bell averaged a career-high 4.2 points and 1.8 points in 35 games.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, April 9, 2026 at 1:47 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

The Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun have completed a player-for-player swap, with both teams announcing the move on Thursday. The Sun pick up forward Diamond Miller in the trade, while Dallas receives center Rayah Marshall.<\/p>\n

Miller, the second overall draft pick in 2023, joined the Wings last year in the trade<\/a> that sent DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx. Marshall was a second-rounder in the 2025 draft, and will carry a lower cap hit for the Wings heading into this season.<\/p>\n

Thu, April 9, 2026 at 9:57 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Yahoo Sports Staff<\/p>\n

The WNBA is slowly releasing names of the 2026 WNBA Draft invitees. Here\u2019s who\u2019s secured an invite so far for Monday night\u2019s draft, set for 7 p.m. ET at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City:<\/p>\n

Raven Johnson (South Carolina)<\/p>\n

Ta\u2019Niya Latson (South Carolina)<\/p>\n

Madina Okot (South Carolina)<\/p>\n

Thu, April 9, 2026 at 9:12 AM PDT<\/p>\n

It appears likely that Ariel Atkins will be heading to L.A., with Rickea Jackson coming back in a trade to Chicago. An eight-year veteran, Atkins spent her entire career in Washington before landing with the Sky last season, averaging 13.1 points per game.<\/p>\n

Jackson was drafted by the Sparks with the No. 4 overall pick in 2024, and garnered MVP votes last year as she averaged 14.7 points per game.<\/p>\n

\"TarohnWed, April 8, 2026 at 3:41 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Tarohn Finley<\/p>\n

The Dallas Wings reportedly agreed to terms with Li Yueru and Grace Berger on training camp contracts. Yueru and Berger served as depth pieces for the Liberty last season. Yueru averaged 6 points and 4.5 rebounds, while Berger averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists.<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Lynx also agreed to terms with Jaylyn Sherrod on a training camp deal. Sherrod signed with the Lynx last season after starting the season with the New York Liberty.<\/p>\n

Wed, April 8, 2026 at 2:47 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Smith was the co-Defensive Player of the Year last year, and has spent the last two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx. She averaged 9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After months of uncertainty that we\u2019d even have a WNBA season, free agency has finally arrived. This will…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":595511,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[724,732,4657,49,48,726,9963,14108,70070,3460,736,729,104252,4644,82,45963,630,35520],"class_list":{"0":"post-595510","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-angel-reese","9":"tag-atlanta-dream","10":"tag-breanna-stewart","11":"tag-ca","12":"tag-canada","13":"tag-chicago-sky","14":"tag-collective-bargaining-agreement","15":"tag-free-agency","16":"tag-free-agents","17":"tag-las-vegas-aces","18":"tag-minnesota-lynx","19":"tag-napheesa-collier","20":"tag-portland-fire","21":"tag-sabrina-ionescu","22":"tag-sports","23":"tag-toronto-tempo","24":"tag-wnba","25":"tag-wnba-salary"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=595510"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595510\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/595511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=595510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=595510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=595510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}