Kelsey Plum, Kelsey Mitchell and every WNBA team’s top free agent
We’re a few days removed from the conclusion of the WNBA season, and free agency is set to begin in February. Every team has key free agents that they’ll want to prioritize, and on top of that, an expansion draft looms in which teams will get to protect six players from potentially being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in December.
There are a couple different key terms to understand as it relates to WNBA free agency.
Teams can use the core designation to gain exclusive negotiation rights with a player, even if they are an unrestricted free agent — but players can only be cored twice in their career. Additionally, once players finish their rookie contract, they become restricted free agents — they can sign with a different team, but their existing team has the right to match any offer.
There’s also reserved players, or players with three of fewer years of service on an expiring contract who can only negotiate with their current team. If teams don’t extend players a reserved qualifying offer, players become unrestricted free agents in February.
The Dream’s top free agent is 35-year-old Tina Charles, who averaged 14.9 points and 9.6 rebounds in the 2024 season. Charles, the second-leading scorer in WNBA history, has stated she wants to return to the WNBA next season, and given how effective she was this past season, it’s very likely Atlanta will want her back.
Chennedy Carter had a sensational year for the Sky, averaging 17.5 points on 48.7% shooting. Carter was a big part of the Sky’s early season success, and she thrived under head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. With T-Spoon fired, there’s a question about how Carter might fare under a different coach — she’s struggled in the past and sat out of the 2023 season after being suspended — but she did enough on the floor for the Sky to warrant her being a priority this offseason.
Alyssa Thomas is almost synonymous with the Connecticut Sun identity at this point.
The five-time All Star is a big reason why the Sun have been a perennial playoff team, but her 11-year tenure with the organization could be coming to an end this season.
As an elite facilitator, rebounder, and defender, Thomas will be have plenty of suitors on the free market. After all, this past season, she averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.6 steals, while anchoring the Sun’s league-best defense. If the Sun re-sign Thomas, it would be an indication that the franchise wants to remain in championship contention next season — but a move away from her could spell the beginning of a rebuild.
Satou Sabally was named WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2023, but her 2024 campaign was severely limited due to a shoulder injury that kept her out of the first half of the season.
Still, she was effective in her return, averaging 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5 assists in 15 post-Olympic games. The 6’ 4 forward, dubbed “The Unicorn”, has spent the entirety of her five-year
WNBA career in Dallas, but could be headed elsewhere this summer.
Kelsey Mitchell is fresh off of a career season, in which she averaged 19.2 points on 46.8% shooting en route to her first postseason berth. Mitchell was a big part of why Indiana was so good after the Olympic break, and re-signing the 28-year-old shooting guard will certainly be the offseason priority for the organization. But, she’s previously stated she wants to explore free agency for the first time in her career, and could end up elsewhere this offseason.
It was an up-and-down season for Kelsey Plum, who averaged 17.8 points and 4.2 assists on 42.3% shooting. But, Plum remains one of the league’s elite guards and will be remain highly-coveted this offseason. Though the Aces have two other Olympic guards in Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, in the postseason.
It was Plum who often served as A’ja Wilson’s secondary scoring option.
Aari McDonald missed 14 games due to injury this past season, but was effective when she played, averaging 8.7 points and 3.7 assists. McDonald started 10 games for the Sparks, and seemed to be a good fit in Los Angeles after three seasons in Atlanta. Because McDonald is a restricted free agent, the Sparks can retain her if it’s a priority. But, they may also want to see an upgrade at the guard position.
Most of the Lynx’s key players are under contract next season. But, Natisha Hiedeman serves as a key exception. Hiedeman is an unrestricted free agent who played a meaningful role in the Lynx’s Finals run, averaging 5.7 points per game on 45.5% shooting in 14.3 minutes during the playoffs. She served as a reliable backup guard to Courtney Williams, and could serve as a spark off the bench for a number of postseason teams.
Breanna Stewart is technically an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Stewart has said she’ll be back. Still, re-signing her will the first offseason to-do list item for the Liberty. Stewart averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this past season, once again making First Team All-WNBA.
Courtney Vandersloot is also an unrestricted free agent this summer
Courtney Vandersloot is also an unrestricted free agent this summer, and her future is more uncertain given her uneven minutes this past season, particularly after she was relegated to the bench in the playoffs.
Brittney Griner is the only member of the Mercury’s core that is going into free agency — with the exception of Diana Taurasi, who seems to be headed toward a retirement that remains unconfirmed. Griner is no longer in her prime, but she’s still an effective big; this past season, she averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. The 34-year-old has already stated she has more basketball ahead of her, and will be coveted by teams looking to bolster their frontcourt.
Nneka Ogwumike was probably the Storm’s most consistent player this past season.
The former MVP averaged 16.7 points on 51.1% shooting and 7.6 rebounds, while often being tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top scorer. At 34, Ogwumike is still one of the better two-way players in the WNBA, and bringing her back will be a priority for Seattle.
The Storm have Ezi Magbegor, Jewell Loyd, and Skylar Diggins-Smith under contract through 2025, so bringing back Ogwumike and Gabby Williams — both unrestricted free agents — will be at focal points of the offseason.
The most important free agent on the Mystics is someone who wasn’t on the team this past season
Elena Delle Donne. Delle Donne sat out the 2024 season, and it’s unclear whether she plans on returning to the league this year. But, if she does return, the 35-year-old could help ignite the franchise to a much better season. After all, she averaged 16.7 points per game on 48.5% shooting in 2023, and is a two-time MVP.
Outside of Delle Donne, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Emily Engstler both emerged as key pieces for Washington, and both should draw some interest league-wide.
