Just days after the WNBA season wrapped up, attention has quickly shifted to free agency, with some of the league’s most dynamic players—including Kelsey Plum, Kelsey Mitchell, Alyssa Thomas, and Satou Sabally—headline an exciting free-agent class. Set to kick off in February, the WNBA’s free agency period will see teams across the league strategizing on how to retain or acquire these key players. With an expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries also looming in December, WNBA teams have critical roster decisions ahead.
Teams must navigate several unique free-agency rules, each with implications for both team flexibility and player mobility. These regulations include the core designation, reserved player status, and restrictions tied to rookie contracts, each contributing to the overall strategy for teams looking to retain or reshape their rosters.
Core Designation: Exclusive Control
One of the most impactful mechanisms in WNBA free agency is the core designation. This rule allows a team to hold exclusive negotiation rights with a player, even if that player is an unrestricted free agent. While this designation gives teams more control over top players, it comes with limitations: a player can only be “cored” twice in their career. This rule makes it crucial for teams to decide carefully who to core, often leading to tough decisions about which star players to retain long-term.
For instance, the Las Vegas Aces, fresh off another successful season, are expected to prioritize retaining Kelsey Plum. Using the core designation on Plum could prevent her from exploring other teams’ offers, thus securing her spot on the Aces for another season.
Restricted Free Agents: Balancing Offers
Players finishing their rookie contracts become restricted free agents, allowing them to explore offers from other teams while granting their current team the right to match any offer. This system can create complex bidding scenarios, as teams must decide whether to match external offers or let their players depart. For example, the Indiana Fever could face a significant challenge if other teams pursue Kelsey Mitchell. Matching offers could ensure her return, but the Fever would need to consider budget constraints and long-term plans.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Wings have a key decision on Satou Sabally, another rising star finishing her rookie contract. As Sabally’s talent and performance make her a prime target, Dallas could choose to match potential offers, prioritizing Sabally as a franchise cornerstone.
Reserved Players: Limited Mobility for Emerging Talent
For players with three or fewer years of service whose contracts have expired, teams hold exclusive negotiating rights unless they extend a reserved qualifying offer. Should they decline, these players will enter the unrestricted free agency pool. This rule often applies to younger players, whom teams are eager to develop into future contributors. By extending these qualifying offers, teams can retain promising talent, ensuring a degree of roster stability.
The Expansion Draft’s Impact
Adding to the intrigue of this free-agent season is the upcoming expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries. In this draft, teams are allowed to protect six players from being selected, but that leaves unprotected players vulnerable to being picked up by the new franchise. This will undoubtedly add a layer of complexity to each team’s free agency strategy, as coaches and general managers weigh which players to protect and which to make available. The Valkyries’ entrance into the league could reshape team dynamics and make certain free agents more appealing based on each team’s protected list.
Looking Ahead
The free agency period promises to be transformative for the WNBA, as each team seeks to find the right balance of retaining key talent, exploring new roster additions, and preparing for the Golden State Valkyries’ impact. Players like Plum, Mitchell, Thomas, and Sabally are poised to drive fierce competition, and as February approaches, every team’s front office is surely gearing up for one of the most exciting free agency seasons in WNBA history.
