Executives around the WNBA largely expected this offseason’s market to serve as a tune-up for next winter. At the start of the offseason, only two non-rookie contract players had deals that extended past 2025. Seismic change loomed.
But after an avalanche of moves, significant shifts have come an offseason early as a hectic week of free agency is reshaping the upcoming season.
In six days, 10 multi-time All-Stars — Satou Sabally, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Brionna Jones, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Tina Charles and Courtney Vandersloot — changed teams via trade or the open market.
Veterans who had only played for one team, including Griner (11 years in Phoenix), Thomas (11 years in Connecticut) and Loyd (10 years in Seattle), are with different franchises. Plum had spent her career only with the Aces, and Sabally was a five-year mainstay in Dallas.
Yet, they’ll all be wearing new uniforms in 2025. And maybe only for 2025.
All of the star players so far in free agency have signed one-year deals, which means they’ll be back on the market next year. The short-term contracts allow them to maximize their long-term earning potential.
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Grading and analyzing every WNBA free agency signing: Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum, Alyssa Thomas on…
