The 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery is complete, and so too is the Golden State Valkyries‘ expansion draft, which means it’s officially time to move on to the next major part of the offseason: free agency. This year’s class is once again filled with a number of stars, including Breanna Stewart, Nneka Ogwumike, Satou Sabally and Kelsey Plum, just to name a few.
Here are the key dates to know ahead of free agency:
- Jan. 11-20: Teams can make qualifying offers and “Core” player designations
- Jan. 21: Teams can begin negotiating with free agents, but no deals can be signed
- Feb. 1: Players can officially sign contracts and offer sheets
Here are the various types of free agents to know:
- Unrestricted free agent: Can talk to and sign with any team
- Restricted free agent: Can talk to and sign with any team, but their previous team has the right to match any offer they receive
- Reserved free agent: Players who hit free agency with fewer than three years of service. Their previous team has exclusive negotiating rights as long as they extend a…
