2026 WNBA Free Agency: Expansion, Blockbusters, and a New Era

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The WNBA has entered a historic offseason. With a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in place and the addition of two expansion franchises—the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo—the league is seeing unprecedented movement and record-breaking salaries.

As of today, the Negotiation Period is concluding. While official signings cannot be inked until tomorrow, several landscape-shifting moves have already been reported.

The Blockbuster Trade

The biggest shockwave of the week came from Chicago. The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in a massive deal involving multiple draft picks.

The Fallout: The Sky are reportedly in a full-scale rebuild, with rumors suggesting they are also finalizing a trade to send Ariel Atkins (who they recently Cored) to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Rickea Jackson.

Core Designations & Intentions

The “Core” designation is a powerful tool allowing teams to retain exclusive rights to a player in exchange for a one-year supermax deal (now worth $1.4 million under the new CBA).

Player	Team	Status
A’ja Wilson	Las Vegas Aces	Staying (Returning to defend title)
Breanna Stewart	New York Liberty	Staying (Confirmed no other meetings)
Sabrina Ionescu	New York Liberty	Cored (Expected to stay)
Kelsey Mitchell	Indiana Fever	Cored (Building around Caitlin Clark)
Napheesa Collier	Minnesota Lynx	Cored
Arike Ogunbowale	Dallas Wings	Cored
Kelsey Plum	LA Sparks	Cored

The Expansion Influence

The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo have officially entered the fray. Notably, Portland used their core designation on Bridget Carleton, while Toronto utilized theirs on Marina Mabrey, signaling that the expansion teams intend to be competitive immediately by securing veteran scoring.

Rumors & Unrestricted Free Agents to Watch

With signings beginning tomorrow, these stars are at the center of the rumor mill:

Natasha Cloud: After a stint in New York, rumors are swirling about a potential return to the Liberty to solidify their backcourt, though several teams are hunting for her defensive presence as a veteran.
Kahleah Copper: Coming off a Finals run with Phoenix, Copper is an unrestricted free agent. There is heavy speculation that she might seek a fresh start with a team where she can be the primary offensive focal point.
Brittney Griner: Following a season in Atlanta where her role was diminished, league insiders are watching to see if “BG” returns to a starting role elsewhere or stays to help the Dream’s new-look “superteam” featuring Angel Reese.
Skylar Diggins: Remains the premier point guard on the market. Seattle wants her back, but the expansion Toronto Tempo are reportedly prepared to offer a massive deal to make her the face of their franchise.

Key Upcoming Dates

April 11: Signings may officially commence.
April 13: WNBA Draft (Dallas Wings hold the #1 pick; UConn’s Azzi Fudd is the projected favorite).
May 8: Opening Night of the 2026 Season.