As WNBA free agency starts, a question for every team

After all of the anticipation, free agency is finally here. And it will be frenetic.

Teams have already begun extending qualifying offers and designating core players. They’re also deciding which unsigned players’ rights to retain. Starting Wednesday, they can officially begin negotiating with free agents — an incredibly pivotal period that will last all of three days before signings can start on Saturday.

To get as ready as possible for the chaos that will ensue, we’ve already gone through the top free agents and assessed the likelihood of them moving. Now let’s explore free agency from the opposite view, with one question for each of the 15 teams, in standings order from the 2025 season.

Minnesota Lynx

Can they run it back?

Kayla McBride was crying on the dais after Minnesota’s 2025 season came to an early end in the WNBA semifinals because she said she knew this team wouldn’t look the same again. The Lynx have already lost Bridget Carleton and Maria Kliundikova in the expansion draft. Is it enough to make cosmetic changes around McBride, Alanna Smith and Napheesa Collier — who could miss the first part of the season recovering from her ankle surgeries — or should Minnesota attempt something more ambitious after falling short in two consecutive postseasons?

Las Vegas Aces

Who is willing to take a pay cut?

A’ja Wilson will reportedly be signing a supermax contract. Jackie Young deserves one, as does Chelsea Gray. Jewell Loyd could also ask for that type of money. The Aces can’t give 80 percent of their cap to four players. Even if the three other than Wilson sign regular max contracts, that would still account for 71 percent of the cap, requiring every other player to essentially sign for the minimum. Either the stars are going to settle for less or the Aces will be scouring the bargain bin during free agency.

Atlanta Dream

How do they approach their frontcourt?

Presumably, the Dream didn’t acquire Angel Reese to be a backup, not after giving up two first-round picks. But Atlanta has Naz Hillmon, who will assuredly be back as a restricted free agent. Brionna Jones (last year’s starting center), Hillmon and Reese doesn’t feel like the most versatile frontcourt trio, so the Dream probably aren’t done reshaping their roster around Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard.

Phoenix Mercury

Is there another way to build an Alyssa Thomas team?

When Alyssa Thomas is on a roster, she demands specific skillsets from her teammates. She takes on the majority of the playmaking and requires teammates who make quick decisions but mostly function as play finishers. It isn’t necessarily fair to say that there is a ceiling on a Thomas roster because she has essentially lost in the playoffs only to more talented teams. The Mercury existed in her orbit in 2025, but she had a heavy burden and there weren’t a lot of counters when a team could slow her down. Phoenix has to figure out whether to double-down on surrounding Thomas with 3-and-D players or add more playmaking (Brittney Sykes, for instance, was a nice complement to Thomas at Unrivaled) even if that means changing the way Thomas has historically operated.

New York Liberty

Will the Liberty move Sabrina Ionescu to point guard?

Positions are a little overrated, but it’s worth noting that New York won a title when Sabrina Ionescu was the lead guard alongside a trio of wings, and the Liberty fell short when she shared a backcourt with Courtney Vandersloot and Natasha Cloud. New York has a capable frontcourt ballhandler in Breanna Stewart, not unlike how Draymond Green functions as a point forward next to Steph Curry for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, with whom new head coach Chris DeMarco spent more than a decade. Ionescu seems to think of herself in the Curry mold, but the front office will get to decide what sort of players surround her.

Indiana Fever

Have they solved their power forward problem?

The answer wasn’t DeWanna Bonner, coach Steph White didn’t seem to trust Natasha Howard’s defense, Makayla Timpson is too young, and Sophie Cunningham is probably too small. Assuming Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull stay during free agency, Indiana has four positions in its starting lineup covered (get well soon, Aliyah Boston!). This is the time to throw the bank at Satou Sabally, Azurá Stevens or even Nneka Ogwumike.

Seattle Storm

What’s their timeline?

Seattle had two 2025 All-Stars who are now 35 years old and another who is 29. The Storm could try to go all-in on creating a title-contending team with Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins having already sacrificed this year’s first-round pick to bring in veteran Brittney Sykes last season. But it might make more sense to build long term around 20-year-old Dominique Malonga and accumulate assets and young players. The question then becomes if Ogwumike and Diggins want to stick around for that process, especially under a new coaching staff, when Diggins was so close with Noelle Quinn.

Would Jonquel Jones consider meshing with the Valkyries? (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

Golden State Valkyries

Can they make a big splash?

Golden State couldn’t reel in a big fish in 2025, not without a proof of concept or when all the best free agents were core-eligible, and the Valkyries had no assets for a sign-and-trade. But now Golden State has the reigning Coach of the Year in Natalie Nakase, an outstanding arena and facility, and a rocking fan base. Plus, an average WNBA salary can actually afford a comfortable lifestyle in the Bay Area. If the Valkyries can’t attract a big-name free agent this year — Jonquel Jones would be so good on this team — the runway might be even longer for Portland and Toronto.

Los Angeles Sparks

Who will pair with Kelsey Plum in the backcourt?

The Sparks found a rhythm when Julie Allemand entered the starting lineup alongside Kelsey Plum. Plum’s net rating was better with Allemand than any other regular rotation player. But the point guard is now in Toronto, and Los Angeles has to figure out how to use Plum going forward. The Sparks can move her to that spot full time and bring Rae Burrell into the starting five, or try to find another lead guard in free agency. Either way, L.A. needs to be better defensively, whether that comes from going bigger or finding new pieces altogether.

Washington Mystics

Is Shakira Austin part of the future?

The Mystics have two cornerstones in Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, both All-Stars as rookies. Based on his public comments, Michael Winger, the president of Monumental Basketball, appears to be a big fan of restricted free agent Shakira Austin. Washington can afford to pay up to keep Austin with so many other players under rookie contracts, plus three first-round picks in next week’s draft. But the Mystics could prioritize flexibility, which would involve a sign-and-trade of Austin to bring in even more assets during this rebuild.

Connecticut Sun

Will the move to Houston improve free agency outcomes?

Connecticut has been a tough destination to sell to free agents, even when the Sun were winning. Maybe the upcoming move to Houston, where the team will have NBA-level resources and facilities, will incentivize players to sign long-term contracts knowing they have to spend only one more season in Uncasville. The Sun also have an attractive young core of Saniya Rivers, Leïla Lacan, Aneesah Morrow and Aaliyah Edwards.

Chicago Sky

What is the future after Angel Reese?

The Sky went from making trades to protect their entire roster to trading away their best player five days later. It’s unclear what the plan is in Chicago. The organization should finally commit to a rebuild, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Sky once again went for broke since they don’t control their first-round pick in 2027; they sent swap rights to Washington in last year’s Ariel Atkins trade.

Paige Bueckers’ talents and popularity could make her a draw for free agents. (Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)

Dallas Wings

Is Paige Bueckers a free agency draw?

Everyone who talks about Paige Bueckers mentions her personality and magnetism. She draws people together and makes them feel good. You could tell UConn missed her energy during the 2025-26 season (let alone her prodigious talent). A player who is so beloved and also finished second-team all-WNBA should have a gaggle of free agents knocking on Dallas’ door. But the Wings don’t provide the same player experience as other franchises. If Bueckers really is as charismatic as everyone suggests, her presence should win out and help Dallas vault into at least playoff contention.

Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo

Will they try to tank?

Maybe it’s unfair to lump these two expansion teams together now that they have individual rosters. But the overarching question for both squads is whether they will try to contend. The 2027 draft will have incredible talent at the top with Madison Booker (Texas), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) and potentially JuJu Watkins (USC). The 2028 draft could be even better with Sarah Strong (UConn), Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt), Joyce Edwards (South Carolina) and, again, potentially Watkins. Golden State valued contention over tanking for a franchise player, but the 2026 draft didn’t offer the same star potential. Maybe the Fire or Tempo sit out free agency in the interest of a “player development” year.