A compressed free agency period meant more news would be made right before the season in a shorter amount of time.
This would especially be the case considering the laundry list of over 100 free agents that would be on the board to test the waters. While a number of noteworthy names had decided to re-sign with their incumbent teams, a number of free agents elected to go through negotiations with teams per usual.
Free agency typically spells a great deal of chaos throughout our WNBA and this year’s version, albeit shorter, is no less active. Here are seven WNBA free agency developments that have caught our attention.
Angel Reese Traded to Atlanta Dream
As maligned as the Chicago Sky have become, many a fan were hoping that the Sky and Angel Reese would part ways as she has not exactly always seen eye to eye with the franchise over the years.
Then, it became revealed that the Sky had completed a trade with the Atlanta Dream to send Reese to College Park.
Reese certainly provides a frontcourt upgrade for a team that is bringing back Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray as well as Brionna Jones. As for the Sky, Reese just became the latest in a long list of franchise players that Chicago has fumbled over the years.
Aces Bringing Back its Core
At one point last season, it appeared that the Las Vegas Aces would not even make the playoffs. Then that blowout loss on its home floor to the Minnesota Lynx happened. The rest was history for Las Vegas since then as it claimed its third championship in four seasons.
Only one problem heading into free agency – its entire core would be hitting the free agent market. Since then, the Aces have officially announced the re-signings of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd.
With these signings official, it should only be a matter of time before the Aces announce that they have re-signed A’ja Wilson to a supermax contract.
Brittney Griner to Connecticut
Brittney Griner did not have the best of seasons in 2025 with the Dream, so it would be a fair question of if Atlanta were to bring her back.
Instead, BG decided to test the free agent waters and signed a multi-year contract with the Connecticut Sun.
This has added significance for Griner considering she is a Houston native. With the Sun relocating to Houston to become the Comets in 2027, BG – who played her college ball at Baylor – will be a very popular hometown favorite once again as this full circle move could signal Griner concluding her career in Houston.
Connecticut also signed Kennedy Burke.
Nneka Ogwumike Returns to Los Angeles
It is only fitting that the Los Angeles Sparks’ 30th Anniversary will see the return of Number 30 in the purple, gold and teal hues of Tinseltown’s W team.
Nneka Ogwumike had spent the bulk of her WNBA career with the Sparks but has recently played at the Seattle Storm. Veterans such as Ogwumike appear to be departing from the Emerald City and she is deciding to make her triumphant return to Los Angeles.
The Sparks’ moves in free agency appear to be those of a front office who is confident this team can contend after missing out on the playoffs last season.
Skylar (and Rickea) to the Sky
With all of the criticism leveled at the Sky’s front office, the consensus among fans is that the only way anyone would want to pay for Chicago is if the team massively overpays for talent.
The Sky did make a pair of eyebrow-raising moves. The first was the trade of Ariel Atkins to the Sparks in exchange for Rickea Jackson – who many Sparks fans believed would be part of its core for the next 15 years alongside Cameron Brink.
Another move made by the Sparks was the signing of Skylar Diggins – formerly of the Storm. The Diggins signing is a bit surprising considering would assume she would be ring chasing. Chicago is not exactly of the same contender status as a Las Vegas, New York, Indiana, Atlanta and Minnesota.
The move does re-introduce Diggins to the Notre Dame fanbase – which there is plenty of in Chicago.
Another noteworthy signing for the Sky was DiJonai Carrington.
Toronto Tempo Making Moves
If there is one thing we know about coach Sandy Brondello it is that teams that have her as its head coach are typically contenders rather than pretenders.
The Tempo are in its expansion season so this is a different task as opposed to Brondello’s previous stints with the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty.
Marina Mabrrey was selected from the Connecticut Sun in the Tempo’s expansion draft and it also took advantage of the exodus from Seattle by signing Brittney Sykes.
Toronto may have also made, arguably, its most popular move as Canada’s very own Kia Nurse will be in Tempo threads this season.
Satou Sabally to New York
In the recently completed expansion draft, Nyara Sabally, who was an unsung hero of the Liberty’s first-ever championship in 2024, would be selected by the Tempo.
Jonathan Kolb still was looking to ensure someone with the Sabally last name would be hooping at Atlantic & Flatbush.
It became clear that Satou would not be returning to the Mercury and, instead, decided to bring her talents to the Liberty.
The seafoam, black and copper experienced somewhat of a drop off in 2025 from its 2024 championship season but are bringing back Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu in addition to the Sabally signing. It will also be the first season of Chris DeMarco as Lib coach.
