Basketball / Featured / WNBA

WNBA free agency grades (so far)

- by Todd Roman
 

The WNBA’s free agency officially got underway on Feb. 1. A good percentage of the free agents signed that day while others still await the right offer. Several top free agents remain unsigned at the moment. Most notably: Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne (cored), Breanna Stewart (cored), and Brittney Griner. Additionally, only three trades have happened, sending Jordin Canada to Atlanta for Aari McDonald and swapping first-round picks. The other has sent Tiffany Mitchell to Connecticut for Natisha Hiedeman. Lastly, Rebecca Allen was sent to Phoenix for Moriah Jefferson.

GRADES

Atlanta Dream: A-

Re-signed: Nia Coffey

Newly Acquired: Jordin Canada, Tina Charles, Aerial Powers

Lost: Aari McDonald, Monique Billings, Iliana Rupert (overseas commitment)

Reserved Qualifying Offers: AD Durr

Solid trade acquiring Canada. Brought back Coffey plus Charles and Powers gives Atlanta much-needed depth.

Chicago Sky: D

Re-signed: Kahleah Copper

Newly Acquired: Lindsay Allen

Lost: Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams, Ruthy Hebard, Li Yueru (overseas)

Reserved Qualifying Offers: Robyn Parks, Morgan Bertsch, Rebekah Gardner

Sky hasn’t made a splash in free agent yet. They lost two starters from 2023, with Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith going to Minnesota.

Connecticut Sun: C+

Re-signed: Brionna Jones is cored.

Newly Acquired: Tiffany Mitchell, Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, Sydney Wiese, Rennia Davis, Kianna Smith

Lost: Rebecca Allen, Tiffany Hayes (retired), Natisha Hiedeman

Reserved Qualifying Offers: Bernadett Határ

The Sun’s grade will change. Jones and DeWanna Bonner remain unsigned. They added much-needed shooting with Mitchell and Banham.

Dallas Wings: A-

Re-signed: Satou Sabally, Kalani Brown

Newly Acquired: None

Lost: Awak Kuier (personal)

Wings didn’t need anyone new in free agency. Retaining Sabally and Brown locks in eight players from their 2023 season. Diamond DeShields and Odyssey Sims remain unsigned. Finally, Awak Kuier is sitting out the 2024 season for personal reasons.

Indiana Fever: B

Re-signed: Maya Caldwell, Temi Fagbenle (training camp contracts)

Newly Acquired: Katie Lou Samuelson, Damiris Dantas

Lost: None

The Fever are looking very deep for 2024. Adding Samuelson and Dantas, who both missed the 2023 season, gives Indiana some solid depth. The Fever could finally have the pieces to get back into the playoffs.

Las Vegas Aces: B-

Re-signed: Kiah Stokes, Sydney Colson

Newly Acquired: Megan Gustafson, Morgan Jones

Lost: Riquna Williams, Cayla George (overseas), Alaina Coates

The Aces’ top free agent remains unsigned in Candace Parker. A decision for Parker may not happen until early April based on the rehab of her fractured foot. Vegas replaces George with Gustafson.

Los Angeles Sparks: C-

Re-signed: Layshia Clarendon, Rae Burrell

Newly Acquired: Monique Billings, Kia Nurse, Aari McDonald, Taylor Mikesell, Virag Kiss

Lost: Jordin Canada, Nneka Ogwumike, Katie Lou Samuelson, Karlie Samuelson, Jasmine Thomas (retired)

Sparks added the fourth overall pick in the draft and Nurse via a trade with Seattle. Retained Clarendon and Burrell but lost a lot of shooters. Nneka Ogwumike has stated she is not returning to the Sparks. Chiney Ogwumike remains unsigned.

Minnesota Lynx: A-

Re-signed: Bridget Carleton, Nikolina Milić

Newly Acquired: Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Natisha Hiedeman, Liz Dixon, Kayana Traylor

Lost: Tiffany Mitchell, Rachel Banham, Aerial Powers, Jessica Shepard (prioritization)

Lynx get some much-needed depth in the backcourt. Alanna Smith had a standout 2023 season with the Chicago Sky. Minnesota made some sold improvements this free agency period and are reportedly bringing back Cecilia Zandalasini.

New York Liberty: B

Re-signed: Breanna Stewart (cored), Jonquel Jones (*reportedly re-signing), Leonie Fiebich (acquired in 2023 trade), and Okako Adika (2023 draft pick).

Newly Acquired: Ivana Dojkić, Stephanie Mawuli

Lost: Han Xu (overseas), Marine Johannès (overseas), Jocelyn Willoughby

Liberty have brought back their starting five players from 2023. Additionally, they added depth by signing Dojkić and Fiebich. It appears doubtful that Stefanie Dolson will return due to cap space limitations.

Phoenix Mercury: B

Re-signed: None, but Brittney Griner is reported to be re-signing.

Newly Acquired: Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, Christyn Williams

Lost: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Megan Gustafson, Shey Peddy, Moriah Jefferson

Reserved Qualifying Offers: Sug Sutton

Mercury lost Diggins-Smith but was able to bring in Cloud. Phoenix appears to be the frontrunner in acquiring Elena Delle Donne via a trade.

Seattle Storm: B+

Re-signed: Joyner Holmes

Newly Acquired: Skylar Diggins-Smith

Lost: Kia Nurse, Gabby Williams (overseas), Yvonne Turner

Storm acquire the biggest free agent available in Diggins-Smith. Also, Seattle could land the next big free agent in Nneka Ogwumike. The Storm will also have eight players returning from 2023.

Washington Mystics: D

Re-signed: None

Newly Acquired: Karlie Samuelson, DiDi Richards, Emily Engstler, Julie Vanloo

Lost: Natasha Cloud, Elena Delle Donne, Kristi Toliver (retired)

Reserved Qualifying Offers: Li Meng

The Mystics have lost two starters from 2023, with Cloud going to Phoenix and Delle Donne requesting a trade. Their recently acquired four players will add depth for 2024.

Top Remaining Free Agents

  • DeWanna Bonner
  • Diamond DeShields
  • Stefanie Dolson
  • Tianna Hawkins
  • Nneka Ogwumike
  • Danielle Robinson
  • Odyssey Sims
  • Amanda Zahui B.
  • AD Durr

Todd Roman is on Twitter, too. Follow Todd @TBRBWAY.

Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the world of sports. 

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