\ud83c\udfac Setting the stage<\/h2>\n\nThe offseason in one word? Transformational. <\/strong>The WNBA and its players\u2019 association agreed to a groundbreaking seven-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) less than a month ago, ushering in a new (and more lucrative) era of women\u2019s basketball.<\/p>\n\ud83d\udcb0 Money is often the centerpiece of labor negotiations \u2014 and this CBA was no different. <\/strong>The salary cap now sits at $7M (up from $1.5M), supermax deals begin at $1.4M (up from $249K), and the average salary is $600K (up from $120K). Cha-ching.<\/p>\n\n- But with great power comes great responsibility<\/a>: Players will now be fined $500 for each of their first three technical fouls (and then even more as the techs mount), up from $200 last season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83e\udd1d Revenue share was the other big sticking point for the WNBPA<\/a>,<\/strong> and the sides landed at nearly 20%. Rumor has it<\/a>, the new revenue sharing model is expected to generate more than $1B (yes, with a B) in player compensation over the next seven seasons.<\/p>\n\u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83e\ude79 Teams can now carry two extra players<\/strong> thanks to the addition of developmental roster spots. These players can be activated for up to 12 games<\/a> (of each team\u2019s 44 total) per season, helping reduce the need for temporary hardship contracts<\/a> when active players are injured.<\/p>\n\u2708\ufe0f The new CBA also brought some (long overdue) lifestyle upgrades:<\/strong> There\u2019s now explicit standards for team facilities and staffing, fully codified league-wide charter air travel, and first-class accommodations on the road. The glow-up has officially arrived \u2014 and it has extra leg room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\ud83d\udd04 A free agency cheat sheet<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/203298af29845264e3b9379336ad68f75da93bb4-512x390.png?w=600&h=457&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Yalonda M. James\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe lengthy CBA negotiations gave way to a frenetic free agency period:<\/strong> The truncated schedule meant over 100 free agents needed to sign deals in less than a week. Here are a few of the biggest names who made moves:<\/p>\n\ud83d\udc9c Seattle Storm star Gabby Williams<\/strong> inked a multi-year deal<\/a> with the Golden State Valkyries, a move many are calling the most impactful signing of the offseason<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u2728 Joining Williams as one of Seattle\u2019s five departures<\/a>, Nneka Ogwumike<\/strong> (who was drafted No. 1 overall by the LA Sparks in 2012) signed a one-year deal<\/a> to return to the city where her illustrious career began. Reunited and it feels so good.<\/p>\n\ud83e\udebd Reigning Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith<\/strong> is now a Dallas Wing<\/a> after two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, bringing a much-needed inside presence to the Metroplex.<\/p>\n\ud83d\uddfd The rich got richer when Phoenix Mercury standout Satou Sabally<\/strong> signed with the star-studded NY Liberty<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u2601\ufe0f The Chicago Sky front office was booked and busy during free agency, bringing Skylar Diggins <\/strong>(Seattle Storm), Azur\u00e1 Stevens <\/strong>(LA Sparks), Natasha Cloud <\/strong>(NY Liberty), and DiJonai Carrington<\/strong> (Minnesota Lynx) to the Windy City.<\/p>\n\u2600\ufe0f After one season with the Atlanta Dream, Brittney Griner<\/strong> committed to the Connecticut Sun on a one-year contract<\/a>. This Houston product almost certainly has a plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\ud83d\udc5f Even the expansion teams got in on the action: Storm starter Brittney Sykes<\/strong> signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal<\/a> with the Toronto Tempo, a lucrative inking for the Six\u2019s first-ever free agent signing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\ud83d\udccb Top storylines<\/h2>\n![\"The](\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\")
![\"The](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/8de51e0a0e7dc7edc950af3726a76283d7342127-512x341.jpg?w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: David Berding\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u27a1\ufe0f Expansion teams make their debut: <\/strong>The WNBA is officially a 15-team league with the additions of the Portland Fire \u2014 led by expansion draft top pick Bridget Carleton \u2014 and Toronto Tempo, the first W team based outside of the U.S. The more the merrier, right?<\/p>\n\ud83d\udc23 The Washington Mystics\u2019 youth movement: <\/strong>The \u2019Stics are the W\u2019s youngest team with an average age of 24.6. Only Michaela Onyenwere and Shakira Austin have logged more than one season in the W with all six of Washington\u2019s 2026 draft picks making the final roster cut.<\/p>\n\ud83e\udee7 Bubble teams ready to make the leap:<\/strong> Both the LA Sparks and Dallas Wings look poised to reach the postseason after missing out last year. The Sparks fortified their league-worst defense<\/a> from 2025, bringing back Ogwumike and acquiring Ariel Atkins to hoop alongside a healthy Cameron Brink.<\/p>\n\n- Over in Dallas, the Wings inked a defensive juggernaut of their own in Smith before drafting the sharpshooting Azzi Fudd No. 1 overall to pair with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83c\udfc6 Which team could take down the Las Vegas Aces? <\/strong>The star-studded Aces<\/a> are seeking a fourth championship in five seasons. Here\u2019s who could disrupt the dynasty:<\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\uddfd NY Liberty: <\/strong>The Libs are (mostly<\/a>) healthy, kept their core<\/a> intact, and signed the aforementioned Sabally in free agency. What more could the seafoam superstars ask for?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \ud83d\udcad Atlanta Dream:<\/strong> Ready to build on a franchise-record 30 wins in 2025, the Dream added Angel Reese to a roster that features bona fide buckets in Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \ud83e\udd75 Indiana Fever:<\/strong> Caitlin Clark is back after an injury-riddled 2025 season, creating a lethal trio with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The offseason in one word? Transformational. <\/strong>The WNBA and its players\u2019 association agreed to a groundbreaking seven-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) less than a month ago, ushering in a new (and more lucrative) era of women\u2019s basketball.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcb0 Money is often the centerpiece of labor negotiations \u2014 and this CBA was no different. <\/strong>The salary cap now sits at $7M (up from $1.5M), supermax deals begin at $1.4M (up from $249K), and the average salary is $600K (up from $120K). Cha-ching.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd1d Revenue share was the other big sticking point for the WNBPA<\/a>,<\/strong> and the sides landed at nearly 20%. Rumor has it<\/a>, the new revenue sharing model is expected to generate more than $1B (yes, with a B) in player compensation over the next seven seasons.<\/p>\n \u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83e\ude79 Teams can now carry two extra players<\/strong> thanks to the addition of developmental roster spots. These players can be activated for up to 12 games<\/a> (of each team\u2019s 44 total) per season, helping reduce the need for temporary hardship contracts<\/a> when active players are injured.<\/p>\n \u2708\ufe0f The new CBA also brought some (long overdue) lifestyle upgrades:<\/strong> There\u2019s now explicit standards for team facilities and staffing, fully codified league-wide charter air travel, and first-class accommodations on the road. The glow-up has officially arrived \u2014 and it has extra leg room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Source: Yalonda M. James\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The lengthy CBA negotiations gave way to a frenetic free agency period:<\/strong> The truncated schedule meant over 100 free agents needed to sign deals in less than a week. Here are a few of the biggest names who made moves:<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc9c Seattle Storm star Gabby Williams<\/strong> inked a multi-year deal<\/a> with the Golden State Valkyries, a move many are calling the most impactful signing of the offseason<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2728 Joining Williams as one of Seattle\u2019s five departures<\/a>, Nneka Ogwumike<\/strong> (who was drafted No. 1 overall by the LA Sparks in 2012) signed a one-year deal<\/a> to return to the city where her illustrious career began. Reunited and it feels so good.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udebd Reigning Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith<\/strong> is now a Dallas Wing<\/a> after two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, bringing a much-needed inside presence to the Metroplex.<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddfd The rich got richer when Phoenix Mercury standout Satou Sabally<\/strong> signed with the star-studded NY Liberty<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2601\ufe0f The Chicago Sky front office was booked and busy during free agency, bringing Skylar Diggins <\/strong>(Seattle Storm), Azur\u00e1 Stevens <\/strong>(LA Sparks), Natasha Cloud <\/strong>(NY Liberty), and DiJonai Carrington<\/strong> (Minnesota Lynx) to the Windy City.<\/p>\n \u2600\ufe0f After one season with the Atlanta Dream, Brittney Griner<\/strong> committed to the Connecticut Sun on a one-year contract<\/a>. This Houston product almost certainly has a plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc5f Even the expansion teams got in on the action: Storm starter Brittney Sykes<\/strong> signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal<\/a> with the Toronto Tempo, a lucrative inking for the Six\u2019s first-ever free agent signing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Source: David Berding\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u27a1\ufe0f Expansion teams make their debut: <\/strong>The WNBA is officially a 15-team league with the additions of the Portland Fire \u2014 led by expansion draft top pick Bridget Carleton \u2014 and Toronto Tempo, the first W team based outside of the U.S. The more the merrier, right?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc23 The Washington Mystics\u2019 youth movement: <\/strong>The \u2019Stics are the W\u2019s youngest team with an average age of 24.6. Only Michaela Onyenwere and Shakira Austin have logged more than one season in the W with all six of Washington\u2019s 2026 draft picks making the final roster cut.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udee7 Bubble teams ready to make the leap:<\/strong> Both the LA Sparks and Dallas Wings look poised to reach the postseason after missing out last year. The Sparks fortified their league-worst defense<\/a> from 2025, bringing back Ogwumike and acquiring Ariel Atkins to hoop alongside a healthy Cameron Brink.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6 Which team could take down the Las Vegas Aces? <\/strong>The star-studded Aces<\/a> are seeking a fourth championship in five seasons. Here\u2019s who could disrupt the dynasty:<\/p>\n\n
\ud83d\udd04 A free agency cheat sheet<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\ud83d\udccb Top storylines<\/h2>\n
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