Superteams dominated last year’s WNBA free agency period and then became the buzzword for the entire 2023 season. With stars like Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot going to the New York Liberty and Candace Parker to the Las Vegas Aces, those squads were in the spotlight right until the last day of the season, when the Aces beat the Liberty for the WNBA championship.
This year’s free agency presents some other intrigue. Free agents such as Stewart and Jonquel Jones (both with the Liberty) and Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury) are expected to stay put. But what about Skylar Diggins-Smith, whose tenure with the Mercury went sour last year?
Will former MVPs Parker and Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics) stay put, find new homes or possibly not play?
Could we see players who’ve been “fixtures” for their franchises — such as the Los Angeles Sparks‘ Nneka Ogwumike and Mystics’ Natasha Cloud — leave the only WNBA teams for which they have played? And could there be a free agent “gem” out there who might not get a lot of attention but could be a key missing player for the team who signs her?
Sunday marked the first day players and teams could begin negotiating, and contract offers can be made official starting Feb. 1. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, Alexa…
