{"id":608328,"date":"2026-04-16T16:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/608328\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T16:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:28:11","slug":"wnba-free-agency-news-live-updates-aja-wilson-reportedly-signing-3-year-5-million-supermax-contract-to-remain-with-las-vegas-aces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/608328\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA free agency news, live updates: A’ja Wilson reportedly signing 3-year, $5 million supermax contract to remain with Las Vegas Aces"},"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

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Breanna Stewart and Liberty teammate Sabrina Ionescu<\/a> already announced their intent to re-sign with New York, and Wilson has reportedly agreed to re-sign with the Las Vegas Aces on a three-year, $5 million supermax contract<\/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<\/a> also extended a core qualifying offer to star Napheesa Collier<\/a> ahead of the deadline.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and Portland Fire<\/a>.<\/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

Live78 updates\"TarohnWed, April 15, 2026 at 11:48 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Tarohn Finley<\/p>\n

A\u2019ja Wilson will stay with the Las Vegas Aces after agreeing to terms on a three-year, $5 million supermax contract, according to ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania and Andraya Carter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the WNBA\u2019s new collective bargaining agreement, the supermax contract rose from $250,000 in the last CBA to $1.4 million.<\/p>\n

Wilson\u2019s contract is fully guaranteed and sets a record for the largest deal in WNBA history.<\/p>\n

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

\"AndyTue, April 14, 2026 at 3:51 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Andy Backstrom<\/p>\n

The Dallas Wings are spearheaded by youth. They just reunited last year\u2019s No. 1 overall pick, Paige Bueckers, with this year\u2019s No. 1 overall pick, Azzi Fudd, who starred together at UConn.<\/p>\n

But a day after drafting Fudd, the Wings reportedly added a veteran to the fold.<\/p>\n

Dallas has signed three-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark to a one-year deal, according to ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Clark most recently played for the Washington Mystics, but she won a pair of championships with the Seattle Storm and one more with the Las Vegas Aces. The third came in 2023, also when she became the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

\"AndyTue, April 14, 2026 at 12:07 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Andy Backstrom<\/p>\n

Former Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle is signing a one-year, $1 million deal with the Toronto Tempo, according to ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fagbenle is going from one expansion team to another. She averaged 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last year for the Valkyries in their inaugural season.<\/p>\n

\"KariMon, April 13, 2026 at 1:51 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

Mystics forward Shakira Austin is staying in Washington after all, signing a three-year deal with the team, per ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou<\/a>. Austin, who is a restricted free agent, signed<\/a> a max deal with the Toronto Tempo on Saturday, but the Mystics had two days to match it.<\/p>\n

The deal that Washington matched is worth $3.57 million in total, starting at $1.19 million this upcoming season.<\/p>\n

Austin, who the Mystics drafted third overall in 2022, averaged 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocks per game last year.<\/p>\n

\"IanMon, April 13, 2026 at 9:35 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Veteran center Kiah Stokes has signed a multi-year contract with the Golden State Valkyries, the team announced<\/a> on Monday. The deal is reportedly a two-year agreement.<\/p>\n

Stokes, 33, leaves the Las Vegas Aces after five seasons, winning three WNBA championships. She was originally the 2015 first-round pick of the New York Liberty, selected No. 11 overall out of UConn.<\/p>\n

in 10 WNBA seasons, the 6-foot-3 center has averaged 3.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and one block per game.<\/p>\n

\"IanMon, April 13, 2026 at 9:26 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Forward NaLyssa Smith is staying with the Las Vegas Aces, agreeing to a one-year contract, the team announced<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n

Smith joined the Aces after being traded by the Dallas Wings last season. The 25-year-old averaged 8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and shot 37% on 16 3-point attempts.<\/p>\n

Smith was originally a 2022 first-round pick of the Indiana Fever (No. 2 overall) out of Baylor. For her career, she\u2019s scored 11.3 points and grabbed 7.1 boards per game, while shooting 33% on 3s.<\/p>\n

\"IanMon, April 13, 2026 at 9:17 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Kayla Thornton is returning to the Golden State Valkyries for another season. The team announced<\/a> that the 10-year veteran has signed a one-year contract.<\/p>\n

Thornton, 33, was having a career-best season before sustaining a season-ending knee injury<\/a> in July. In 22 games, she averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.<\/p>\n

During her 10 WNBA seasons, the 6-foot-1 Thornton has also played for the Washington Mystics, Dallas Wings and New York Liberty, averaging 7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 4:21 PM PDT<\/p>\n

DeWanna Bonner is also staying with the Mercury, the team announced Sunday. The veteran forward, who was drafted by Phoenix, rejoined the team last summer and is now sticking around.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 4:15 PM PDT<\/p>\n

After some jokes about Plum\u2019s one-year, team-friendly $999,999 deal<\/a>, the veteran guard hit back with a joke of her own.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 4:04 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Mercury star Kahleah Copper is re-signing with Phoenix, the team announced Sunday. The contract is for two-years, per ESPN\u2019s Kendra Andrews<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Copper joined the Mercury in 2024, and averaged 15.6 pointer per game last season.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 3:53 PM PDT<\/p>\n

After two years with the Mystics, guard Jade Melbourne is heading back to the Seattle Storm, per ESPN\u2019s Alex Philippou<\/a>. The protected one-year deal is worth $500,000.<\/p>\n

Melbourne started her career with Seattle in 2023, after the Storm drafted her out of Australia\u2019s WNBL.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 3:45 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Former Aces center Megan Gustafson is joining the Portland Fire on a two-year deal, per ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou<\/a>. With the expansion team, Gustafson will earn $500,000 in the first year of the deal, which is protected, and $525,000 in her second year.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 12:18 PM PDT<\/p>\n

After a year with the Fever, veteran All-Star forward Natasha Howard is signing a two-year, $1.4 million deal with the Lynx, per ESPN\u2019s Ramona Shelburne<\/a>. Howard averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game off the bench for Indiana last year.<\/p>\n

The deal marks Howard\u2019s return to Minnesota, where she played for two seasons. She won an WNBA championship with the team in 2017.<\/p>\n

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

The Chicago Sky and former Minnesota Lynx guard DiJonai Carrington have agreed to a one-year contract, ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou reports. Terms of the deal were not reported.<\/p>\n

Carrington, 28, joins her fourth WNBA team. She played her first four seasons with the Connecticut Sun, then split 2025 between the Dallas Wings and Lynx. She was the league\u2019s Most Improved Player and a first-team All Defensive selection in 2024.<\/p>\n

Carrington averaged 9.8 points, 4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.4 steals per game while shooting 38.6% from the field and 31.9% from 3 last season.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 12:06 PM PDT<\/p>\n

After four years in Atlanta, veteran forward Nia Coffey is heading to Minnesota, per ESPN\u2019s Kendra Andrews<\/a>. Coffey\u2019s two-year deal is above the veteran minimum, per Andrews; under the new CBA, the veteran minimum is set to be around $300,000 annually.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 10:46 AM PDT<\/p>\n

All-Star guard Kayla McBride is returning to the Minnesota Lynx for a sixth season. She has agreed to a two-year deal with the team, her agent told ESPN\u2019s Ramona Shelburne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

McBride, 33, scored 14.2 points per game last season with 2.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals. She also shot 40% on 261 3-point attempts, making more than 100 from long-range for the second straight season.<\/p>\n

The 12-year career began her career with the San Antonio Stars, who became the Las Vegas Aces. She was the team\u2019s 2014 first-round draft pick (No. 3 overall) out of Notre Dame.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 9:51 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 9:44 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Isabelle Harrison reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Toronto Tempo, according to ESPN\u2019s Andraya Carter.<\/p>\n

Harrison averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in her last season with the New York Liberty. Harrison played for Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello for the Liberty.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 9:35 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Courtney Williams will return to the Minnesota Lynx. Williams will reportedly agree to terms with the Lynx on a two-year max contract, according to ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou.<\/p>\n

Williams is a two time All Star and has spent the last two seasons with the Lynx. Last season, she averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds.<\/p>\n

Sun, April 12, 2026 at 9:23 AM PDT<\/p>\n

The Chicago Sky reportedly acquired Rickea Jackson in a trade for Ariel Atkins, according to ESPN\u2019s Alexa Philippou.<\/p>\n

After having one of the youngest rosters in the league last season, the Sparks have target revamped their roster with championship experience this offseason. In addition to bringing in Atkins, the Sparks have re-signed Kelsey Plum and signed Nneka Ogwumike, who spent her first 12 seasons with the franchise.<\/p>\n

The Sky continue their rebuild with Jackson after trading Angel Reese for a pair of first-round picks on Monday.<\/p>\n

Read more here.<\/a><\/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":608329,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[223979,4657,49,48,14108,70070,3460,736,729,104252,4644,82,45963,630,35520],"class_list":{"0":"post-608328","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-available-free-agents","9":"tag-breanna-stewart","10":"tag-ca","11":"tag-canada","12":"tag-free-agency","13":"tag-free-agents","14":"tag-las-vegas-aces","15":"tag-minnesota-lynx","16":"tag-napheesa-collier","17":"tag-portland-fire","18":"tag-sabrina-ionescu","19":"tag-sports","20":"tag-toronto-tempo","21":"tag-wnba","22":"tag-wnba-salary"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608328","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=608328"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608328\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/608329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=608328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=608328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=608328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}