WNBA free company: Biggest questions, predictions and groups more than likely impacted

Free company looms however issues had been comparatively gradual within the WNBA world. And then the dam broke Thursday.

Satou Sabally, thought of one of many high free brokers for 2025, introduced in a media availability for Unrivaled that she won’t be returning to the Dallas Wings, the place she spent the primary 5 seasons of her profession.

A former first-team all-WNBA expertise and Olympian with the German nationwide staff, Sabally will undoubtedly be one of the coveted stars in the marketplace as free company will get underway this month. The more than likely situation: The Wings will core Sabally — akin to the franchise tag within the NFL — and commerce her to her new vacation spot to get one thing in return.

From Jan. 11 by way of Jan. 20, groups could make qualifying affords to restricted-, reserved- or core-eligible gamers. Negotiations formally start Jan. 21, however gamers aren’t in a position to signal offers till Feb. 1.

How a lot change might we see throughout the league? Which different gamers is perhaps on the transfer, and which groups might look drastically totally different in a number of weeks? We’re about to search out out. In the meantime, our ESPN WNBA specialists delve into what to anticipate and look ahead to on this yr’s free company.

Aside from Sabally, who’re the largest names more than likely to discover a new staff in free company — and the place may they land?

Alexa Philippou: I’m intently watching what occurs with Kelsey Plum. Las Vegas Aces followers have not needed to stress about free company lately for the reason that staff’s core 4 all the time signed contract extensions earlier than they hit the market. But Plum did not try this for 2025. There has already been a lot turnover in Las Vegas, with the departures of Becky Hammon’s assistants in Natalie Nakase (to Golden State) and Tyler Marsh (to Chicago). Perhaps Plum would be the subsequent main determine to go away — however doubtless not with out the Aces first coring her to allow them to get one thing in return.

Kevin Pelton: Jewell Loyd is not a free agent, however her commerce request places her on this group. Where Loyd lands might rely on different motion. If Plum pushes to go away the Aces, for instance, Loyd can be a logical alternative in a job much like the one she performed when Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart have been teammates in Seattle. Alternatively, a homecoming for Loyd in Chicago would give a guard counterweight to the Sky’s younger publish duo of Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, or Loyd might give the Golden State Valkyries a confirmed face of the franchise.

Michael Voepel: Brionna Jones, who has spent her eight-season WNBA profession with the Connecticut Sun, is the form of constant, reliable veteran publish participant who could possibly be a key participant for a staff trying to make a championship push. Perhaps the 29-year-old might reunite along with her coach with the Sun the previous two years, Stephanie White, in Indiana.

The free company selections of her Sun teammates Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner may also be intently watched. Bonner, who turns 38 in August, has gained two WNBA titles with Phoenix, whereas Thomas — who will flip 33 in April and has spent her 11-season profession in Connecticut — remains to be searching for her first title.

Which different gamers are you watching most intently?

Pelton: I’m watching the wing place. Free company is flush with younger level guards and veteran publish gamers, leaving wings — significantly sturdy defenders — as probably the most scarce commodity. Now that she’ll doubtless be out there for the beginning of the season, Gabby Williams is the form of two-way position participant discovered on title contenders. Teams that may’t land Williams will doubtless take a look at three-time Aces champion Alysha Clark and Kennedy Burke, who helped the New York Liberty to final yr’s title whereas taking part in for the veteran minimal, as 3-and-D options, until they will work out a approach to get DiJonai Carrington as a restricted free agent.

Philippou: It’s doable that Connecticut’s massive three — Thomas, Bonner and Jones — all transfer on from the group, that means we’re in for a completely new period of Sun basketball starting in 2025. While Bonner loved a prolonged profession in Phoenix earlier than arriving in Uncasville, Thomas and Jones have by no means performed for one more staff, so seeing them in a special uniform would take some getting used to.

Then there are gamers equivalent to Diana Taurasi and Elena Delle Donne. Taurasi’s 2024 marketing campaign was deemed probably her final, however the 42-year-old nice has but to announce her choice on whether or not she’s retiring or will return to play her twenty first WNBA season. Delle Donne, 35, has been in a type of limbo after sitting out the entire 2024 season. What comes of her and her taking part in profession?

Voepel: Sabally turns 27 in April and is in her prime, however she additionally comes with a giant query as a result of accidents she has handled for a lot of her profession with Dallas. She performed 38 video games in her all-WNBA first-team season in 2023, however lower than 20 video games in every of her different 4 years within the league. Does a staff equivalent to Indiana put collectively a commerce provide for Sabally as a key contributor towards a title? Or has she informed the Wings about the place she prefers to go?

Which staff(s) shall be most impacted by free agent motion?

Pelton: The Indiana Fever have probably the most upside in free company. With Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark on rookie contracts, Indiana can afford to make use of the core designation on Kelsey Mitchell and add a max (or supermax) participant. The Fever are set at heart and within the backcourt — barring a Mitchell commerce — so they need to be within the combine for the highest forwards in the marketplace. I’m curious to see what sort of a draw taking part in with Clark is at no cost brokers. With the proper addition, Indiana can bolster its possibilities of successful a playoff sequence for the primary time since reaching the Finals in 2015.

Philippou: Loyd’s commerce request means the Seattle Storm enter free company with basically three gamers below contract — Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ezi Magbegor and Jordan Horston (in addition they have Nika Muhl however she is rehabbing an ACL harm). Task one is guaranteeing Nneka Ogwumike, who’s ineligible to be cored, re-signs. Even if that occurs, can the Storm appeal to one other star guard to switch Loyd? And can they shore up their depth after that was a difficulty final yr? Those questions will decide whether or not Seattle can actually contend or if it takes a step again from final yr’s 25-15 marketing campaign.

Voepel: The Phoenix Mercury have made the playoffs 14 of the previous 16 years, but when Taurasi does retire, they are going to enter a brand new period. Center Brittney Griner is anticipated to re-sign with the staff, the place she has spent her total 11-season profession. But will the Mercury be out there for one more top-shelf free agent publish? It’s onerous for a staff to remake its identification after a franchise icon leaves; it took Indiana till 2024 after Tamika Catchings retired in 2016. Can the Mercury land a free agent who retains them firmly within the playoff hunt?

Which groups have probably the most work to do in free company?

Pelton: Connecticut has just one starter (Tyasha Harris) from final yr’s semifinalist staff below contract, plus guard Marina Mabrey. Given that Carrington is restricted, the Sun have management over whether or not she returns, they usually can use the core designation on Thomas. But Jones is totally unrestricted after being cored the previous two years, as is Bonner. It additionally looks like bigger modifications is perhaps in retailer after Connecticut employed Belgian nationwide staff coach Rachid Meziane as White’s alternative. It would not be shocking to see the Sun pursue Belgian star Emma Meesseman if she’s enthusiastic about returning to the WNBA, however creating enough cap room would absolutely imply saying goodbye to one among their present All-Stars.

Philippou: After the Valkyries and Sun, the Chicago Sky at the moment have the next-most cap room and have solely two gamers on protected offers. After simply lacking out on the playoffs and hiring Tyler Marsh to switch Teresa Weatherspoon as head coach, GM Jeff Pagliocca is tasked with constructing a stronger solid to encompass Reese and Cardoso. Can he lure any high expertise? Chicago is in determined want of some 3-point shooters particularly. And how a lot of a precedence will it really be to re-sign Chennedy Carter?

Voepel: The Atlanta Dream do not essentially have a whole lot of work to do — they’ve seven gamers below contract, together with standouts Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray — however with a brand new coach in Karl Smesko, what modifications may they make in free company that maximizes what this staff might be? The Dream made the playoffs final season, however Tanisha Wright nonetheless misplaced her job as head coach (she’s now an assistant with the Sky). Is Atlanta seen as an interesting free agent vacation spot?

How will Golden State influence free company this yr?

Pelton: The Valkyries are going to drive up salaries across the league. They enter with a league-high $1.2 million in cap house, per HerHoopStats.com data, that means they will be on the hunt for stars. Depending on what number of of them it lands, Golden State could possibly be aggressive in focusing on position gamers — or drive different groups to pay extra to switch the important thing contributors they’ve misplaced to the Valkyries. Either manner, the addition of a thirteenth staff is nice information at no cost brokers.

Philippou: I count on the Valkyries to look to take some massive swings in free company this yr. Even if they do not get everybody they need in 2025, this January is perhaps simply the precursor of what is to come back with the vast majority of the league changing into out there come 2026. In a manner, this yr could possibly be about proving to gamers and the remainder of the WNBA how severely they’re taking proprietor Joe Lacob’s purpose of successful a championship in 5 years.

Voepel: The WNBA hasn’t had a real enlargement staff for the reason that Dream in 2008. They struggled that yr, going 4-30, however drafted Angel McCoughtry No. 1 in 2009 and subsequently made the playoffs. Atlanta was then within the WNBA Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013. This was lengthy earlier than the much more sturdy free company motion that got here with the 2020 collective bargaining settlement, but it surely exhibits a brand new staff could make an influence rapidly — and we all know there’s a massive push from Golden State administration to make that occur.

What’s your daring prediction at no cost company?

Pelton: The Valkyries commerce a package deal together with the No. 5 choose to land Plum because the face of the franchise — reuniting her with former Aces assistant coach Nakase, now Golden State’s head coach.

Philippou: We’ll see not less than three big-name stars get cored after which traded to different franchises.

Voepel: The enchantment of taking part in with younger stars Clark and Boston, plus the fan pleasure round Indiana now, will assist the Fever land a giant identify in free company or by way of commerce — one thing that may have appeared impossible a few years in the past.