Las Vegas Aces president Nikki Fargas poked just a little enjoyable at how difficult it’s for WNBA franchises to organize for the largest free company interval in league historical past.
“You are going to have to have Plan A, Plan B and Plan 9-1-1,” Fargas mentioned. “There’s nothing regular about this offseason, so you’ll be able to’t take a look at it from a standard lens.”
As a result of it was lengthy assumed the gamers would decide out early from their 2020 collective bargaining settlement, virtually everybody not on a rookie contract shall be a free agent. The league should additionally maintain an growth draft for the 2 new franchises that can be a part of the WNBA in 2026.
The league and gamers should agree on a brand new CBA earlier than all of this takes place. However as soon as we get to free company, how chaotic will or not it’s?
“You need to be ready for a number of situations, and completely different plans for every situation,” mentioned Fargas, whose Aces received their third WNBA title in 4 years final week. “There’s so many nice gamers on this league. However most significantly, we wish to maintain our core nucleus collectively.”
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4-time MVP A’ja Wilson is on the prime of that record. The 29-year-old has performed her total eight-year profession with Las Vegas, which drafted her No. 1 in 2018. Will she keep there or can she be lured to a different crew?
Satou Sabally, who simply spent her first season with the Phoenix Mercury after 5 with the Dallas Wings, mentioned it is going to be attention-grabbing to see what dictates completely different gamers’ decisions.
“If you wish to win a championship, you want good gamers round you,” Sabally mentioned. “You additionally wish to get your cash. So what are the targets of individuals? What are they prepared to do? Possibly they wish to carry a crew and put themselves on the radar, which is completely comprehensible.
“Or perhaps they’re extra prepared to provide just a little on the wage facet and have a brilliant crew.”
A lot is unknown, however we are able to speculate on which groups is perhaps most affected by free agent motion — or lack thereof.
Leap to a crew:
ATL | CHI | CON | DAL | GS | IND | LV | LA | MIN | NY | PHX | SEA | WAS
Groups that would change loads
Dallas Wings
With No. 1 decide Paige Bueckers because the clear franchise star — and the Wings having the highest odds for the No. 1 decide within the 2026 draft — this upcoming season shall be about Dallas firming up its imaginative and prescient round Bueckers, and it is a future that features new crew services now below development and hiring a brand new coach to interchange Chris Koclanes. A major offseason query revolves round whether or not Arike Ogunbowale returns to the franchise she has spent her entire profession with. Past that, the Wings have a variety of different younger gamers who can present depth whereas the crew maintains the cap flexibility to take some huge swings in free company. — Philippou
Golden State Valkyries
It is sensible that free brokers previous to the 2025 previous season wished to see how the primary yr went for the growth Valkyries. Protected to say they had been impressed by the ambiance at Chase Middle — which offered out each dwelling recreation and was nicknamed “Ballhalla” — and the success of Golden State, which grew to become the primary growth crew to achieve the playoffs in its inaugural season. So within the upcoming free company, the Valkyries would possibly be capable of herald some larger stars to play for 2025 Coach of the Yr Natalie Nakase. Golden State appears prone to attempt to convey again its prime two scorers from this season: Kayla Thornton, who was restricted to 22 video games due to damage, and Veronica Burton, who received the league’s Most Improved Participant award. — Voepel
Chicago Sky
On one hand, the Sky had dangerous luck with accidents, with Courtney Vandersloot lacking all however seven video games and Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins out for prolonged durations. However GM Jeff Pagliocca mentioned throughout exit interviews that the crew “completely want[s] to enhance the roster” in free company, indicating change is on the horizon. After buying and selling the No. 3 decide for Atkins this offseason, the Sky would doubtless look to re-sign her, and Pagliocca already mentioned they intend to have Vandersloot again as soon as she returns from an ACL tear. Then there’s the large query of what occurs with Reese. She’s not technically a free agent however is somebody who may very well be traded, or request a commerce, after a tumultuous finish to the season left her standing in Chicago in query. — Philippou
Re-signing Kelsey Mitchell — who has performed her total WNBA profession in Indiana — is a precedence this offseason for the Fever. Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesTeams that may not change a lot
Atlanta Dream
The Dream received a franchise-record 30 video games in coach Karl Smesko’s first season, and Allisha Grey had the perfect season of her profession. Holding free brokers Grey, Brionna Jones and Jordin Canada and restricted free brokers Rhyne Howard and 2025 Sixth Participant of the Yr Naz Hillmon would put the Dream in an ideal place for 2026. We’ll see if heart Brittney Griner, who signed with Atlanta this season and moved to a reserve function in August, can even be within the combine to return. — Voepel
Indiana Fever
Given their slew of accidents all through the 2025 season, the Fever did not get to actually see what their revamped roster from this previous free company may have carried out if wholesome, however they nonetheless ended up 5 minutes away from making the WNBA Finals. One factor working of their favor: Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston are nonetheless on rookie offers. Indiana GM Amber Cox made it clear the crew’s prime precedence is to re-sign Kelsey Mitchell, who loved an MVP-caliber season and has spoken glowingly of her relationship with coach Stephanie White and of her time within the group. When requested how a lot roster change she anticipated this offseason, Cox targeted on how particular this 2025 group’s chemistry was, and mentioned that whereas there’s nonetheless a variety of uncertainty surrounding free company, “a variety of these gamers shall be in our plans.” — Philippou
Las Vegas Aces
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Fargas mentioned the Aces have been extraordinarily lucky to maintain former No. 1 picks Wilson and Jackie Younger collectively for seven seasons. Chelsea Grey has performed with these two for 5 seasons. The trio established the inspiration for the Aces even earlier than coach Becky Hammon arrived in 2022. They’ve had relationship with Hammon, as does Jewell Loyd, who performed this previous season for the Aces after spending a decade with Seattle. If the 4 of them keep, Las Vegas picks up the place it left off this season.
“It begins with, ‘What are our core values, and are they aligned with everybody we have saved and introduced in?'” Fargas mentioned. “And the reply is, ‘Sure.’ We have been in a position to preserve consistency as a result of the gamers really feel valued.” — Voepel
Phoenix Mercury
The Mercury added forwards Sabally and Alyssa Thomas this season, they usually fashioned a robust trio with Kahleah Copper when all had been wholesome. Regardless of returning simply two gamers from 2024, the Mercury’s chemistry was superb, Sabally mentioned, and received all of them the way in which to the WNBA Finals. Holding the important thing gamers collectively needs to be a giant profit for Phoenix.
“I feel we have now a extremely good factor going right here,” Sabally mentioned through the Finals. “Persons are much less inclined to go away this spot simply due to the assets and the consolation that comes with [this franchise]. But in addition actually the tradition. You may inform the workers likes to be round one another, the gamers prefer to be round one another.
“It is a enterprise, and also you always remember that, however you need an surroundings that creates a household ambiance and the place you’re feeling heard, and there is clear communication. Slightly than issues being shady or messy.” — Voepel
Washington Mystics
The Mystics’ finest gamers this previous season had been Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, two of the 5 rookies they’d on contract. Washington has simply three unrestricted free brokers — Alysha Clark, Stefanie Dolson and Jade Melbourne — none of whom are within the prime tier. With three picks within the first spherical of the 2026 draft, Washington would possibly focus essentially the most there so as to add to the younger expertise it already has because it continues the rebuilding course of. — Voepel
GM Jonathan Kolb mentioned in his exit interview that he has the “utmost confidence” Liberty gamers Sabrina Ionescu, above, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones shall be again. However a a lot completely different supporting forged would possibly encompass the trio in New York. Michael Hirschuber/Getty ImagesThe most tough groups to foretell
Connecticut Solar
Although 2025 received off to a rocky begin for the Solar, it ended with a transparent route because the group appears to rebuild round a younger core of Leila Lacan, Saniya Rivers, Aneesah Morrow and Aaliyah Edwards, all of whom are below contract for the foreseeable future. Basic supervisor Morgan Tuck can have choices to make from there on which gamers she desires to encompass them with — for instance, would possibly Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles return to supply a veteran presence? Both approach, the franchise will hope to have extra agency solutions on the place the crew will play past 2026 in order that it may reply free brokers’ questions. — Philippou
Los Angeles Sparks
The Sparks are in an attention-grabbing scenario: They’ve two stars in Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby who appear prone to be re-signed, in addition to two younger constructing blocks in Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. And but the group they fielded in 2025 wasn’t in a position to make the playoffs regardless of arguably having the expertise to take action. The entrance workplace should decide how a lot change is required for L.A. to make it again to the postseason for the primary time since 2020, and bettering on the defensive finish shall be chief amongst these priorities. The Sparks seem like in a greater scenario to make free agent pitches, with Plum signing with them this previous offseason and a stunning new observe facility on the way in which. — Philippou
Minnesota Lynx
This yr, the Lynx introduced again a really comparable crew to the one which misplaced within the 2024 WNBA Finals. That labored out nice, giving Minnesota the perfect regular-season file, till issues went awry within the playoffs. Minnesota’s semifinals loss to Phoenix would possibly push the Lynx to make extra adjustments for 2026. Star Napheesa Collier is predicted to return — she has performed her total profession with the Lynx since she was drafted in 2019 — however Minnesota may look so as to add extra scoring from the small ahead spot and maybe a “true” level guard. Free company may assist the Lynx, they usually even have a lottery decide due to a 2024 commerce with Chicago. — Voepel
New York Liberty
There’s one huge change in Brooklyn we all know with certainty: A brand new head coach will exchange Sandy Brondello. How a lot overhaul can we see from there? Early indications are that the Liberty’s core appears poised to return, as basic supervisor Jonathan Kolb mentioned in his exit interview that he has the “utmost confidence” Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones shall be again.
However even when these three are again within the fold, the forged of characters surrounding them may change based mostly on the crew’s teaching rent. Kolb mentioned New York could be occupied with bringing again Emma Meesseman, whereas additionally acknowledging Meesseman “does not make choices earlier than needed,” and mentioned that the group is “at all times evaluating” who the perfect backcourt accomplice alongside Ionescu is. — Philippou
Seattle Storm
After a first-round loss to the Aces, Storm coach Noelle Quinn was let go. How Seattle strikes ahead may rely a good quantity on who the brand new coach is. The Storm have younger publish participant Dominique Malonga on a rookie deal, however one other, Ezi Magbegor, is a free agent. So are veterans Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins, each of whom will flip 36 subsequent season. Seattle may stick with its core — if these gamers wish to keep — however the Storm additionally would possibly look to make some huge adjustments. — Voepel