WNBA free agency is here. MVPs are being traded. All-Stars are on the move. And teams can begin negotiating with players at midnight ET Saturday.
The 2023 WNBA season — the league’s 27th — doesn’t tip until May 19, but offseason transactions are in full swing as we count down to Feb. 1, when players can officially sign contracts and offer sheets.
So far we’ve seen 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones land with the New York Liberty in a blockbuster three-team trade. Former first-round draft picks — including Allisha Gray, Natasha Howard and Jasmine Thomas — have all been traded.
And all eyes are on Breanna Stewart, largely regarded as the top free agent, who will meet with the Seattle Storm, Minnesota Lynx, Liberty and Washington Mystics once the league’s free agency period opens, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Stewart has played her entire career in Seattle since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2016, winning the 2018 MVP award and leading the Storm to two WNBA championships.
Keep it here all offseason long for the latest buzz, news and reports surrounding the WNBA.
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Jan. 20 update
3:01 p.m. ET: Forward Breanna Stewart, largely considered the top-ranked free agent this offseason, will meet with her current team, the Seattle Storm, and the Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics once the league’s free agency period opens Saturday night at midnight ET, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. The free agency of Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot is expected to factor into Stewart’s decision as well, sources said.
⛈️ ? ?️?
— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) January 20, 2023 Jan. 18 update
7:15 p.m. ET: The Atlanta Dream have an agreement in place to obtain Dallas Wings guard Allisha Gray, sources told M.A. Voepel. Details are still being finalized, but the deal also involves draft picks. Atlanta has the No. 3 and No. 8 overall selections in April’s WNBA draft. Gray was the 2017 WNBA Rookie of the Year and a Tokyo Olympics 3-on-3 gold medalist.
Jan. 16 update
2:02 p.m. ET: The Connecticut Sun announce they’re sending longtime point guard Jasmine Thomas — who missed the majority of the 2022 season with an ACL tear — as well as their 2023 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for three young players: 2021 seventh overall pick Jasmine Walker, the rights to 2022 16th-overall pick Kianna Smith and 2022 19th-overall pick Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Smith, the Sun said, is unlikely to play during the 2023 WNBA season after rupturing a patella tendon in December.
Thank you Connecticut Sun! ?☀️ pic.twitter.com/FC6eXkKwMN
— Jasmine Thomas (@jaszthomas) January 16, 2023 Jan. 15 update
5:35 p.m. ET: Forward Jonquel Jones, the 2021 MVP, has been traded from the Connecticut Sun to the New York Liberty in a three-team deal, sources told ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. Jones, a four-time All-Star, requested the trade specifically to New York; she had one more year on her contract with the Sun. The deal will be made official on Jan. 16. As part of the trade, Rebecca Allen and Natasha Howard will be sent from New York to Connecticut and the Dallas Wings, respectively. The Wings also receive the rights to Crystal Dangerfield of the Liberty while sending Kayla Thornton to New York as well as Tyasha Harris to Connecticut. The Sun also receive New York’s No. 6 pick in the 2023 WNBA draft.
2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones is ready for her next chapter in New York ? pic.twitter.com/3x5kgsU4TF
— ESPN (@espn) January 16, 2023 Jan. 13 update
3:15 p.m. ET: The Atlanta Dream announce they have acquired guard Danielle Robinson in a trade with the Indiana Fever, who receive guard Kristy Wallace in the deal. A three-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA All-Defensive Team selection, the 33-year-old Robinson is expected to provide veteran leadership to the team.
Put your hands together Dream fans?#DoItForTheDream pic.twitter.com/Y5zakFAe9j
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) January 13, 2023
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