It’s WNBA Free Agency time! With still a week or so left before signings can be announced, I thought it would be a neat idea to speculate on where cored players and unrestricted free agents could end up this summer. I did this in 2020 (you can look back to see which ones I was right about and which ones I was very wrong about) and in 2019.
I did not include restricted free agents, reserved players and suspended “contract expired” players. For the full list and explanation of the types of free agents, Richard Cohen of Her Hoop Stats wrote all about in the Her Hoop Stats newsletter here.
Cored Players
Liz Cambage – Las Vegas – The Las Vegas Aces have a new owner and with so much uncertainty around the Olympics, I’m not sure exactly what Liz Cambage will want to do. I don’t think she wants to move and I do think she likes the Aces, but when it comes to the WNBA and Liz Cambage over the years, I think this is a wait and see what happens transaction. I just don’t know. | OFFICIAL: Las Vegas Re-Signs Three Time All-Star Center Liz Cambage.
Natasha Howard – Seattle – I think that Natasha Howard re-signs with the Seattle Storm. | I was wrong about this prediction. She ended up signing in New York after a sign and trade deal with Seattle. | OFFICIAL: New York Liberty Acquire Natasha Howard and Sami Whitcomb (WNBA) | Salary Information: New York Liberty Salary Cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Nneka Ogwumike – Los Angeles – I am pretty sure Nneka will re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks. There’s no way she would want to move out of Los Angeles with her sister being on the team and she’s made her home in LA. | OFFICIAL – Nneka Ogwumike re-signs with the LA Sparks (ESPN)
Unrestricted Free Agents
Natalie Achonwa – Indiana – Natalie Achonwa may get some interest from other teams, but ultimately, I can see her re-signing back with the Indiana Fever. There’s just so much history there for her, going to Notre Dame for her college career and then being drafted by the Fever. | Well, I was very wrong about this prediction. She ended up signing with the Minnesota Lynx. | OFFICIAL – Natalie Achonwa signs with the Minnesota Lynx. (Team release) | Salary Information: Minnesota Lynx Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Kayla Alexander – Minnesota – She will most likely get offers from other teams, it’s just not known what team that could be at this time.
Seimone Augustus – Los Angeles – It is very weird to say the least to see Seimone’s name associated with the Sparks even after she moved teams last season. I can see Los Angeles offering another deal to Seimone, but ultimately it is her decision. I’m not sure where she will end up. | She did end up re-signing with Los Angeles Sparks. | OFFICIAL: Sparks Re-Sign Four-Time WNBA Champion Seimone Augustus (LA Sparks)
Alex Bentley – Alex Bentley is an interesting case. I think some teams will offer her a deal, but I don’t know which ones, exactly. I think she’s worth taking a one year deal with a team. She can still play and ultimately it will come down to a team that is willing to take the risk.
Sue Bird – Seattle – This is easily a no brainer. I think Sue Bird signs a one year deal and retires at the end of the season. Keep in mind, she turned 40 in October and with the uncertainty of the Olympics, Bird will will want to move on. She’s had a long career, she does not need to prove herself and she has a long list of accomplishments to look back on. Plus, she can now focus more on her ESPN analyst role/other projects. | She does not have a contract signed, but she is re-signing with Seattle. | OFFICIAL: Sue Bird is re-signing with Seattle (ESPN) | Salary Information: Seattle Storm Salary Cap Sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Jessica Breland – Phoenix – I’m not too sure about Jessica Breland. I could see Phoenix giving her another deal, but she may want to move on. I’m not sure where she will end up. | She ended up back in Indiana. | OFFICIAL: Fever sign Jessica Breland (Indiana Fever) | Salary Information: Indiana Fever Salary Cap Sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Essence Carson – Connecticut – I think Essence Carson re-signs with Connecticut.
Tina Charles – Washington – Tina Charles will re-sign with Washington and I think Mike Thibault will give her a longer deal. I could see them signing her for 3 years. | Well, I was right about this prediction, but she only re-signed with Washington for only one year. | OFFICIAL: Tina Charles re-signs with Washington (Team release) | Salary Information: Washington salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Karima Christmas – Kelly – Karima Christmas-Kelly can still play and I can see her on a team, but it would have to be a team that has the cap space to sign her as her salary level is a bit higher than previously.
Alysha Clark – Seattle – Good luck to the Seattle Storm on this. Alysha Clark is going to get a ton of offers and good money too. They are going to have a hard time keeping her, so I can see her landing on another team, possibly to a team that will give her a higher salary. |I was right about this prediction. Alysha Clark ended up signing with Washington Mystics for two years. | OFFICIAL: Alysha Clark signs with the Washington Mystics (Team release) | Salary Information: Washington Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Sydney Colson – Chicago – I think Sydney Colson re-signs with Chicago.
Jamierra Faulkner – Chicago – Jamierra Faulkner has retired.
Cierra Burdick – Las Vegas – I can see Cierra Burdick re-signing with Las Vegas.
Alaina Coates – Washington – I can see Alaina Coates re-signing with Washington.
Candice Dupree – Indiana – I strongly believe that Candice Dupree will re-sign with Indiana and it may be for three to four years because Dupree will turn 37 in August and so this will most likely be her final contract. | I was wrong about this prediction. She ended up signing with Seattle instead. | OFFICIAL: Seattle Storm Signs Seven Time All Star Candice Dupree. | Salary Information: Seattle Storm Salary Cap Sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Chelsea Gray – Los Angeles – The Sparks should do everything they can to keep Chelsea Gray. She’s one of the best free agents out there and WNBA teams know it. I do think there’s a strong chance she will end up re-signing with the LA Sparks, but I would not be a bit surprised if she lands somewhere else.| Well, I was half right about this prediction. She signed with the Las Vegas Aces for two years but I was not surprised that she left LA.| OFFICIAL: Chelsea Gray signs with the Las Vegas Aces (Team release)| Salary Information: Las Vegas Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Reshanda Gray – Los Angeles – I’m not sure where Reshanda Gray will sign. Most likely it will be Los Angeles, but I’m not too sure.
Tianna Hawkins – Washington – I strongly believe that Tianna Hawkins will re-sign with the Washington Mystics. | I was wrong about this prediction. Tianna Hawkins signed with the Atlanta Dream for two years. | OFFICIAL: Tianna Hawkins signs with the Atlanta Dream (Team release) | Salary Information: Atlanta Dream Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Bria Holmes – Connecticut – I strongly believe that Bria Holmes will re-sign with the Connecticut Sun. | I was wrong about this prediction. She ended up signing in LA instead. | OFFICIAL: Sparks Sign Bria Holmes | Salary Information: Los Angeles Sparks Salary Cap Sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Megan Huff – I don’t think she ends up on a WNBA team this summer. I could be wrong, however, but at this moment, I don’t see it.
Alisia Jenkins – Phoenix – I also don’t see her on a WNBA team this summer.
Glory Johnson – Atlanta – I think she re-signs with the Atlanta Dream.
Shenise Johnson – Minnesota – She will most likely end up on another team.
Alexis Jones – I think a WNBA team may pick her up, I’m just not sure which one yet, but I can see her on a WNBA team this summer.
Betnijah Laney – Atlanta – I think she re-signs with the Atlanta Dream. | I was wrong about this prediction. She ended up signing with the New York Liberty for three years| OFFICIAL: Betnijah Laney signs with the New York Liberty (Team release) | Salary information: New York Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Jantel Lavender – Indiana – I could see her getting some interest from other teams, but ultimately, I think she will re-sign with the Indiana Fever. | I was right about this prediction. She ended up re-signing with the Fever for three years| OFFICIAL: Jantel Lavender re-signs with the Indiana Fever (Team Release) | Salary Information: Indiana Fever Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Kayla McBride – Las Vegas – Good luck to the Las Vegas organization with this free agent. Kayla McBridge is going to garner a lot of interest after Chelsea Gray and the Aces better come with some good money otherwise I could see Kayla McBridge going to another team. | I was right about this prediction. Kayla McBride left Las Vegas to join Minnesota Lynx on a three year deal. | OFFICIAL: Kayla McBride signs with the Minnesota Lynx (Team release) | Salary Information: Minnesota Lynx Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Emma Meeseman – Washington – I strongly believe Emma Meeseman will re-sign with the Washington Mystics. |UPDATE: Emma Meeseman is not yet sure of her WNBA plans but they will be after the Olympics.
Kaleena Mosqueda Lewis – I think she will re-sign with the Connecticut Sun.
Candace Parker – Los Angeles – Candace Parker has built her entire home in LA, she has TV analysts roles and other projects going on that would suggest that she will re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks. | I was very wrong about this prediction. Candace Parker left her long time team Los Angeles to go join the Chicago Sky for two years. | OFFICIAL: Candace Parker signs with the Chicago Sky. (Team release) | Salary Information: Chicago Sky Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Cheyenne Parker – Chicago – I think she will re-sign with the Chicago Sky. | I was wrong about this prediction. She ended up signing with the Atlanta Dream for three years.| OFFICIAL: Cheyenne Parker signs with the Atlanta Dream (Team release) | Salary Information: Atlanta Dream Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Theresa Plaisance – Connecticut – I think that she will re-sign with the Connecticut Sun.
Aerial Powers – Washington – I think that she will re-sign with the Washington Mystics. | I was wrong about this prediction. She is rumored to be heading to the Minnesota Lynx. | OFFICIAL: Minnesota Lynx Sign WNBA Champion Aerial Powers.| Salary Information: Minnesota Lynx Salary Cap Sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Epiphanny Prince – Seattle – I don’t know about this one. I could see her back again with Seattle or another team. I’m not sure. | I was right about this prediction. Epiphanny Prince re-signed with Seattle for two years. | OFFICIAL: Epiphanny Prince re-signs with the Seattle Storm. (Team release) | Salary Information: Seattle Storm Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Danielle Robinson – Las Vegas – I think she re-signs with Las Vegas. | I was wrong about this prediction. She ended up signing with the Indiana Fever for three years. | OFFICIAL: Danielle Robinson signs with the Indiana Fever | Salary Information: Indiana Fever Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Sugar Rodgers – Las Vegas – I think she re-signs with Las Vegas.
Kamiah Smalls – Indiana – I’m not sure where she will end up. She could be back with Indiana or not on a team at all this summer. | I was half right about this prediction. She signed with the Connecticut Sun on a training camp contract. | OFFICIAL: Kamiah Smalls signs a training camp contract with the Connecticut Sun (Team Twitter)| Salary Information: Connecticut Sun Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Carolyn Swords – Las Vegas – I think she will re-sign with the Las Vegas Aces.
Diana Taurasi – Phoenix – This is another no brainer. Diana Taurasi will re-sign with Phoenix and it may be for two years as Taurasi will turn 39 this summer. With the uncertainty of the Olympics, like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi will also want to move on. |I was right about this prediction. She ended up re-signing in Phoenix for two more years. |OFFICIAL: Diana Taurasi re-signs with the Phoenix Mercury. | Salary Information: Phoenix Mercury Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Alyssa Thomas – Connecticut – With Alyssa Thomas’s recent injury, the Sun may suspend her for this upcoming season and sign her next season to a longer deal. I don’t see Alyssa Thomas leaving the Connecticut Sun. | I was right about this prediction. Alyssa Thomas re-signed with the Connecticut Sun for four more years. | OFFICIAL: Alyssa Thomas re-signs with the Connecticut Sun. (Team release) | Salary Information: Connecticut Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Jasmine Thomas – Connecticut – I think she will re-sign with the Connecticut Sun. | I was right about this prediction. Jasmine Thomas re-signed with the Connecticut Sun for three more years. | OFFICIAL: Jasmine Thomas re-signs with the Connecticut Sun. (Team release) | Salary Information: Connecticut Sun Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Kia Vaughn – Phoenix – I think there’s a 50% chance of her re-signing with Phoenix, but I could see another team snatching her up. I’m not sure. | I was half right about this prediction. She ended up re-signing with Phoenix for two more years. | OFFICIAL: Kia Vaughn re-signs with the Phoenix Mercury | Salary Information: Phoenix Mercury Salary cap sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Avery-Warley – Talbert – I think she lands on a team, but I don’t know which one.
Riquna Williams – Los Angeles Sparks – I think she may end up re-signing with the Sparks but there’s a chance she may go elsewhere. |OFFICIAL: Aces Ink All Star Riquna Williams to Free Agent Deal | Salary Information: Las Vegas Salary Cap Sheet (Her Hoop Stats)
Amanda Zahui B – I think she will re-sign with the New York Liberty. | I was wrong about this prediction. She ended up signing with the Los Angeles Sparks. | OFFICIAL: Sparks sign Former No, 2 Overall Pick Amanda Zahui B. | Salary Information: Los Angeles Sparks Salary Cap Sheet. (Her Hoop Stats)
Women's Basketball News and Opinions 