WBNA Playoffs - here we go!

[NycUcWbbFan]

Excluding Clark on a rookie contract, there are probably only three players in the league (Stewie, Collier, Wilson) who could say with certainty they’ll be where they are now next season. Whatever happens with the CBA and free agency, their teams will pay whatever price to keep them if they want to stay.

I think there might be more &1 &2 which will be revealed before the 2 expansion drafts (assuming certain CBA features remain the same).

&1 Non max-cored UFAs:

• Las Vegas Aces: Aja Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray
• Los Angeles Sparks: Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Azure Stevens
• Minnesota Lynx: Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Dijonai Carrington, Alanna Smith
• New York Liberty: Sabrina Ionescu, Emma Meesseman
• Phoenix Mercury: Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally

&2 Max-cored Breanna Stewart who is free (no possibility of being cored again) to negotiate with any team is probably going to stay in NY.

 

[ochoopsfan]

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

It's a good question. Last year, in late September 2024 the WNBA announced that the expansion draft was held on December 6th of the same year. Free agent negotiating began in mid-January 2025 with the actual signings starting on Feb. 1. And the WNBA draft was held just after the NCAA championship in April '25.

Now, how do UFA's fit in with this process? I've cobbled together a few points from various articles and/or searches:

• The expansion draft allows for the team(s) to select one unrestricted free agent (UFA) from each team. Still, I guess a GM would have to protect players regardless of their contractual status.
• If Portland or Toronto selects a UFA, that player can be designated a Core Player by the team, which means they'll be signed to a one-year, super-max contract.
• New teams can also trade players selected from selected teams to other teams.

Now, of course, the elephant in the War Room is the new collective bargaining agreement. What will come of that and how will it affect the entire process that I wrote about above? Will teams still have to make UFA's available or will it result in a scenario in which the coffers are bare for expansion teams? I've got to think the whole process is on the back burner until the CBA is signed, sealed, delivered.

Dillon77- - - Yes I agree with you there are about 98% of the players will be free agents after the Finals!
So there is no real planning available for GM's and coaches when players can go wherever the $ is!
A Gm may want to keep 2 or 3 players and those plkayers decide to go somewhere else!
Do players, such as what happened in the NBA several years ago where 3 great players wound up in Miami I think to make them a powerhouse!
It's open season for chaos!