WNBA free company will start in just a few 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 start out, listed here 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 realize 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 provided a one-year supermax contract value round $294K. Gamers can both signal that one-year take care of their present workforce or signal it beneath the pretense of a commerce request (so the workforce signing them no less than will get one thing in return relatively 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 may have till Jan. 20 to increase reserved gamers a qualifying supply, or they’ll turn out 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 an enormous wave of signings on February 1st, and the next dates. Some gamers — like Breanna Stewart, who has made clear she needs to remain in New York — will very possible signal contracts straight away on February 1st.
Each WNBA workforce’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)
