{"id":620495,"date":"2026-04-22T06:32:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T06:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/620495\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T06:32:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T06:32:13","slug":"wnba-free-agency-news-live-updates-fever-reportedly-signing-aliyah-boston-to-6-3-million-extension-liberty-make-big-3-re-signings-official","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/620495\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA free agency news, live updates: Fever reportedly signing Aliyah Boston to $6.3 million extension; Liberty make ‘Big 3’ re-signings official"},"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

Plus, most of the league\u2019s vets strategically aligned their contracts to become free agents in 2026, which means the pool of talent is deep.<\/p>\n

The New York Liberty announced<\/a> Friday that Sabrina Ionescu<\/a>, Jonquel Jones<\/a> and Breanna Stewart<\/a> have all signed multiyear deals to remain with the franchise they led to a WNBA championship in 2024.<\/p>\n

Later in the day, news broke that the Indiana Fever are signing Aliyah Boston to what\u2019s being reported as a four-year, $6.3 million extension<\/a>. That deal will give Boston, a three-time All-Star center, the richest total salary in WNBA history, according to multiple<\/a> ESPN reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson<\/a> reportedly agreed to re-sign with the Las Vegas Aces on a three-year, $5 million supermax contract<\/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

Live coverage is over82 updates\"AndySat, April 18, 2026 at 8:19 AM PDT<\/p>\n

Andy Backstrom<\/p>\n

The Golden State Valkyries announced<\/a> that they have re-signed guard Tiffany Hayes.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s coming back on a one-year deal, as reported by ESPN\u2019s Kendra Andrews<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After winning a pair of national titles at UConn, Hayes spent the first chunk of her WNBA career in Atlanta. She played 10 seasons with the Dream.<\/p>\n

Since, she\u2019s bounced around the league. In 2024, she earned WNBA Sixth Player of the Year with the Las Vegas Aces. Last year with Golden State, she averaged 11.7 points per game while shooting 40.6% from 3.<\/p>\n

\"JackFri, April 17, 2026 at 4:09 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Jack Baer<\/p>\n

\"IanFri, April 17, 2026 at 2:27 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n

Forward Aliyah Boston is staying with the Indiana Fever, agreeing to a four-year, $6.3 million extension, her agents told ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The deal is the largest in WNBA history, according to ESPN’s Shams<\/a> Charania<\/a>. Boston will earn a $1 million salary this season, and 20% of the Fever\u2019s cap in each of the next three years.<\/p>\n

Boston, 24, has averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in three WNBA seasons. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by Indiana out of South Carolina and earned Rookie of the Year honors.<\/p>\n

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

\"TarohnThu, April 16, 2026 at 7:41 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Tarohn Finley<\/p>\n

Napheesa Collier<\/a> reportedly agreed to terms with the Minnesota Lynx<\/a> on a one-year, $1.4 million contract, according to ESPN\u2019s Kendra Andrews<\/a>. She is the third WNBA player to land a supermax deal so far with the new collective bargaining agreement<\/p>\n

Collier returns to Minnesota with championship aspirations, after the team got bounced out of the semifinals last fall despite being the No. 1 team in the standings nearly all season.<\/p>\n

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

\"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","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":620496,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[148052,4655,223979,4657,49,48,9963,14108,70070,2803,12200,3460,3457,4644,82,630,35520],"class_list":{"0":"post-620495","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-a39ja-wilson","9":"tag-aliyah-boston","10":"tag-available-free-agents","11":"tag-breanna-stewart","12":"tag-ca","13":"tag-canada","14":"tag-collective-bargaining-agreement","15":"tag-free-agency","16":"tag-free-agents","17":"tag-indiana-fever","18":"tag-jonquel-jones","19":"tag-las-vegas-aces","20":"tag-new-york-liberty","21":"tag-sabrina-ionescu","22":"tag-sports","23":"tag-wnba","24":"tag-wnba-salary"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620495","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=620495"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620495\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/620496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=620495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=620495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=620495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}