WNBA free agency technically begins on Jan. 21, 2025, when players and teams can begin negotiations on new contracts. However, nothing will be official until Feb. 1 when players can actually sign their new deals. But, like with the NBA, plenty of deals will be agreed to in principle and be announced in this interim period before they become official.
This year's WNBA free agent class features some serious star power, including Natasha Howard, Brionna Jones, Nneka Ogwumike, DeWanna Bonner, Courtney Vandersloot, Brittney Griner, Tina Charles, Kia Nurse, Diana Taurasi (if she decides to return for another season) and more. However, some of the biggest names — Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum, Kelsey Mitchell, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas and Gabby Williams have received a "core" designation from their teams which prevents them from signing elsewhere for at least one year.
But Sabally has already told the Wings she won't return and requested a trade. Mitchell and Plum are also candidates to be traded despite their core designations. In addition, Jewell Loyd has asked the Seattle Storm for a trade and NaLyssa Smith of the Fever (the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft) seems likely to be moved.
All that is to say, whether by trade or free agency, there is likely to be a ton of player movement stretching into early February.
However, this may all just be a prelude for an even wilder free agency period next year. Because a new CBA will take effect before the 2026 season, bringing with it significant salary increases, many free agents are likely to sign one-year deals so they can re-enter the market next season and maximize their earning potential. That means we could see most of the same free agent class again next year, plus players like Jackie Young, Arike Ogunbowale, Kahleah Copper, Skylar Diggins-Smith, A'ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Kayla McBride, Chelsea Gray, Napheesa Collier, Jonquel Jones and more.
The WNBA Draft will be held Monday, April 14, with the Dallas Wings holding the No. 1 pick. Training camps open April 27 and the regular season begins on May 16.
Latest WNBA free agency signings and trades
Feb. 4 — More depth for the Indiana Fever
- Sydney Colson signed with the Indiana Fever
Feb. 3 — More new faces for the Connecticut Sun
- Diamond DeShields signed with the Connecticut Sun
Feb. 2 — The Indiana Fever keep building
- Tina Charles signed with the Connecticut Sun
- DeWanna Bonner signed with the Indiana Fever
- Emma Cannon signed with the Los Angeles Sparks
- Anneli Maley signed with the Los Angeles Sparks
- Sami Whitcomb signed with the Phoenix Mercury
Feb. 1 — The floodgates opened!
- Shatori Walker-Kimbrough signed with the Atlanta Dream
- Courtney Vandersloot signed with the Chicago Sky
- Michaela Onyenwere re-signed with the Chicago Sky
- Kia Nurse signed with the Chicago Sky
- Myisha Hines-Allen signed with the Dallas Wings
- Odyssey Sims signed with the Los Angeles Sparks
- Natisha Hiedeman re-signed with the Minnesota Lynx
- Marième Badiane signed with the Minnesota Lynx
- Kennedy Burke re-signed with the New York Liberty
Feb. 1 — And the trades kept coming!
- The Dallas Wings acquired DiJonai Carrington, the No. 12 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and a 2026 second-round pick swap, sending Jacy Sheldon and the No. 8 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft to the Connecticut Sun
- The Chicago Sky acquired Rebecca Allen, sending Lindsay Allen and Nikolina Milic to the Connecticut Sun
Jan. 31 — Satou Sabally is on the move in 3-team trade
Satou Sabally's trade request has been granted, with the Wings sending her to the Phoenix Mercury to join Alyssa Thomas, who was acquired in a separate trade earlier in the week. In return, the Wings are recieving Tyasha Harris and Kiki Herbert Harrigan from Phoenix, as well as NaLyssa Smith and the No. 8 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft from the Indiana Fever. For jumping into the deal, the Fever are getting Sophie Cunningham and the No 19 pick in the draft from Phoenix and Kalani Brown Sevgi Uzun from Dallas.
The Wings and Mercury are signaling a clear interest in staying competitive here, rather than rebuilding after the departure of stars like Sabally from Dallas and Brittney Griner from Phoenix. But the Fever, have made a strong statement that they're ready to compete now rather than continue to build slowly around Caitling Clark and Aliyah Boston.
Jan. 31 — Seattle Storm keep at least one star
The Storm traded away Jewell Loyd last week in a three-team deal that brought back the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. This seemed to signal a rebuild was coming but they went out and re-signed veteran forward Nneke Ogwumike to a one-year deal, complicating their timeline a bit. Ogwumike was one of the top free-agents available, averaging 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game last season, shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Jan. 31 — Indiana Fever add another key piece around Caitlin Clark
The Indiana Fever have reportedly agreed to terms with Natasha Howard, adding a key two-way impact piece to their frontcourt. A fantastic, versatile defender with an established offensive game Howard will likely take over as the starting power forward next to Aliyah Boston. She struggled with injuries last season but still averaged 17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game with the Dallas Wings last season.
Jan. 30 — Atlanta Dream add more frontcourt depth
The Atlanta Dream added Brittney Griner earlier this week, now they've reportedly landed another of the top free-agent bigs — Brionna Jones, formerly of the Connecticut Sun. Jones was limited to just 13 games because of injury in 2023 but bounced back in a big way in 2024, averaging 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game and making her third career All-Star team. Jones brings more size, depth and talent but still leaves the Dream extremely short on outside shooting in the frontcourt.
Jan. 29 — Courtney Vandersloot headed home
After a two-year hiatus with the New York Liberty, and her second ring, Courtney Vandersloot is headed home. ESPN is reporting she is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Chicago Sky, where she spent the first 12 years of her career. Vandersloot is the franchise's all-time leader in minutes played, assists and steals. She also needs just 52 more points to pass her wife, Allie Quigley, and become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
Jan. 29 — Indiana Fever hang on to Kelsey Mitchell
Mitchell, the No. 2 pick int he 2018 WNBA Draft, has re-signed with the Indiana Fever, locking in one of the best backcourts in the league next to Caitlin Clark. She thrived next to Clark last season, setting career-highs in points per game (19.2) and true shooting percentage (58.3 percent), helping lead the Fever back to the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Jan. 28 — Brittney Griner leaves the Phoenix Mercury
Brittney Griner made her decision, joining the Atlanta Dream and leaving the only WNBA team she's ever played for — the Phoenix Mercury. Griner's deal with Atlanta is for one year which will allow here to re-enter free-agency next season when a new CBA will be in place with a large bump in salaries expected.
Jan. 28 — Alyssa Thomas is on the move
ESPN is reporting that the Phoenix Mercury are finalizing a deal to land Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen and the No. 12 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The Suns also sent Tyasha Harris with Thomas to the Mercury. This could be the first in a series of big moves and might mean Brittney Griner's time in Phoenix is over.
Jan. 26 — Jewell Loyd traded to the Aces in three-team deal, Kelsey Plum to Sparks
We haven't seen any big free agents signed yet but several stars are on the move. Sunday night, the Seattle Storm granted Jewell Loyd's trade request, sending her to the Aces where she'll replace Kelsey Plum, who was routed to the Los Angeles Sparks. The Storm received Li Yueru from the Sparks, as well as the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and the Aces first-round pick in 2026. The Aces also received the No. 13 pick in this year's draft in addition to Loyd. The Sparks came out of the deal with Plum, the No. 9 pick in this year's draft and 2026 second-rounder.