WNBA free company will start in a couple of weeks — and in flip, the destiny of standout free brokers like Kelsey Plum, Kelsey Mitchell, and Brittney Griner will quickly be determined.
Should you’re hoping to observe alongside, however aren’t certain the place to begin, listed below are the important thing dates, and phrases to know:
Jan. 11-20: Groups could make qualifying gives and “core” participant designations.
Groups can use the core designation to achieve unique negotiation rights with a participant, even unrestricted free brokers — however gamers can solely be cored twice all through their careers. As such, the one free brokers within the 2024 class who’re ineligible to be cored are DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Solar), Tina Charles (Atlanta Dream), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Natasha Howard (Dallas Wings), Brionna Jones (Solar), and Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm).
Core gamers are supplied a one-year supermax contract price round $294K. Gamers can both signal that one-year cope with their present crew or signal it underneath the pretense of a commerce request (so the crew signing them not less than will get one thing in return quite than watching one in every of their high free brokers stroll). A number of star gamers may realistically be cored, together with Alyssa Thomas and Kelsey Mitchell.
Then, there are reserved gamers — these with three or fewer years of WNBA service who’re on an expiring contract. Groups can have till Jan. 20 to increase reserved gamers a qualifying provide, or they’ll grow to be unrestricted free brokers. There are 22 reserved gamers within the WNBA, an inventory that features Veronica Burton (reserved), Emily Engstler (reserved), Julie Vanloo (reserved),
Jan. 21: Groups can start negotiating with free brokers, however can’t formally signal any offers
Feb. 1: Gamers can formally signal contracts
Anticipate a giant wave of signings on February 1st, and the following dates. Some gamers — like Breanna Stewart, who has made clear she needs to remain in New York — will very probably signal contracts immediately on February 1st.
Each WNBA crew’s free brokers:
Atlanta Dream: Free brokers: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (unrestricted), Aerial Powers (unrestricted), Tina Charles (unrestricted), Lorela Cubaj (reserved), Maya Caldwell (reserved)
Connecticut Solar: Alyssa Thomas (unrestricted), Brionna Jones (unrestricted), DeWanna Bonner (unrestricted), Tiffany Mitchell (unrestricted), Astou Ndour-Fall (unrestricted), DiJonai Carrington (restricted), Caitlin Bickle (reserved)
Chicago Sky: Isabelle Harrison (unrestricted), Brianna Turner (unrestricted), Diamond DeShields (unrestricted), Chennedy Carter (restricted), Michaela Onyenwere (restricted), Dana Evans (restricted)
Dallas Wings: Satou Sabally (unrestricted), Natasha Howard (unrestricted), Jaelyn Brown (reserved), Sevgi Uzun (reserved)
Golden State Valkryies: Temi Fagbenle (restricted), Veronica Burton (reserved), Cecilia Zandalasini (reserved), Julie Vanloo (reserved), Monique Billings (unrestricted)
Indiana Fever: Kelsey Mitchell (unrestricted), Erica Wheeler (unrestricted)
Los Angeles Sparks: Kia Nurse (unrestricted), Aari McDonald (restricted), Li Yueru (reserved)
Las Vegas Aces: Kelsey Plum (unrestricted), Alysha Clark (unrestricted), Tiffany Hayes (unrestricted), Sydney Colson (unrestricted), Queen Egbo (reserved)
Minnesota Lynx: Myisha Hines-Allen (unrestricted), Natisha Hiedeman (unrestricted), Olivia Epoupa (reserved)
New York Liberty: Breanna Stewart (unrestricted), Courtney Vandersloot (unrestricted), Kennedy Burke (unrestricted), Ivan Dojkic (reserved), Jaylyn Sherrod (reserved)
Phoenix Mercury: Diana Taurasi (unrestricted), Brittney Griner (unrestricted), Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (reserved), Natasha Mack (reserved), Charisma Osborne (reserved), Celeste Taylor (reserved), Amy Atwell (reserved)
Seattle Storm: Nneka Ogwumike (unrestricted), Gabby Williams (unrestricted), Mercedes Russell (unrestricted), Sami Whitcomb (unrestricted), Joyner Holmes (unrestricted), Victoria Vivians (unrestricted)
Washington Mystics: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (unrestricted), Emily Engstler (reserved), Sug Sutton (reserved)
