News of 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones being traded from the Connecticut Sun to the New York Liberty rocked the WNBA this week, not only because she’s a big-name talent but also because of the salary cap implications.
What will the addition of Jones mean for the Liberty — and their rumored pursuit of several top free agents, including Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot?
Jones’ estimated salary for the 2023 season is $211,150. That’s huge for the Liberty because, with the 2023 salary cap rising to $1,420,500, New York still has wiggle room. They can build around Jones and star point guard Sabrina Ionescu (who will make $86,701 in 2023) and still land at least one big-time free agent.
While Stewart is the name who instantly comes to mind, as she met with the Liberty in the 2022 offseason before re-signing with the Storm, Vandersloot and the team have expressed mutual interest, The Next’s Howard Megdal reported Tuesday. And with a bit of salary cap creativity, they could bring in both.
Free agents can’t begin negotiations until Jan. 21, and they can’t sign contracts until February 1. But here’s what WNBA fans need to know about player salaries and revenue sharing before free agency begins in earnest.
Player salaries
When a…
