2026 WNBA Free-Agent, Trade Grades for Every Top Move So Far
The dust has settled on the first wave of WNBA free agency, so let's grade the biggest moves from the past week—from trades to signings—ahead of Monday's draft.
The Chicago Sky were the most active team, making three trades and three major signings. The Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks and Toronto Tempo have also been busy early on.
There's still plenty to be decided, though. At the time of publishing, it's unclear where Shakira Austin, Natasha Cloud, Emma Meesseman, Kayla Thornton and Tiffany Hayes will play this season.
With that said, let's get into the grades.
New York Liberty Sign Satou Sabally: A+
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Contract details: TBD
The rich get richer. Satou Sabally will join forces with Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich in New York, making them the immediate championship favorite.
It shouldn't take long for New York to click, either. Sabally already has chemistry with just about everyone. She played with Ionescu at Oregon, Fiebich on the German national team and Stewart on European powerhouse Fenerbahçe in 2023.
The Liberty are about to have four starters at 6'4" or taller next to a 5'11" point guard, and somehow they're not giving up any athleticism, shooting or defensive versatility. Just absurd.
Dallas Wings Sign Alanna Smith: A+
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Contract details: 3 years, $1.25 million average annual value (AAV)
Anytime you can add a Defensive Player of the Year, it's a no-brainer. Dallas has never had a defender like Alanna Smith, and it's not particularly close.
The Wings have finished last in half-court defensive efficiency in each of the past two seasons and haven't fielded even a league-average defense since moving to Dallas in 2016. The perimeter defense still may not be good enough to fix that in 2026, but this is a clear step in the right direction.
Offensively, Smith's screening, cutting and spot-up shooting should create more space for Paige Bueckers to operate in the mid-range—and ideally open up more opportunities for her at the rim.
Golden State Valkyries Sign Gabby Williams: A+
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Contract details: 3 years, $1.25 million AAV
The Golden State Valkyries had a top-three defense in their first season and now add Gabby Williams, the best wing defender in the world.
They now have two All-Defensive-caliber players, with Veronica Burton at the point of attack and Williams flying all over the court.
There are real questions about how that pairing works offensively, though. Williams shot just 38.9 percent on half-court field goal attempts last season, while Burton was at 37.2 percent.
Williams' arrival should also help bring along 2025 first-round pick Justė Jocytė on the defensive end. The two were teammates at ASVEL Lyon, and while Jocytė is a gifted offensive player, defense will be her biggest hurdle early on.
Los Angeles Sparks Sign Nneka Ogwumike: A-
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Contract details: TBD
After two seasons in Seattle, Nneka Ogwumike returns to Los Angeles, where she won an MVP and WNBA Finals in 2016.
At 35 years old, Ogwumike is still one of the league's most efficient and smartest offensive players. She even had a career season as a shooter in 2025, knocking down 39.4 percent of her catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy.
Ogwumike is still a smart team defender, but she's not quite the same athlete she was in her prime. It'll be interesting to see how the Sparks manage a frontcourt of Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink and Ogwumike. Do they start all three together, or bring Brink off the bench?
Atlanta Dream Acquire Angel Reese
5 of 12Atlanta: A+
Chicago: F
Chicago Signs Skylar Diggins and Azurá Stevens: B+
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Diggins contract details: 2 years, $930,000 AAV
Stevens contract details: 3 years, $1.05 million AAV
Chicago made its biggest free agency splashes in years, signing Skylar Diggins and Azurá Stevens to multiyear deals.
Diggins, who turns 36 in August, is still a high-level point guard, earning an All-Star selection while averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 assists in 2025.
Stevens also returns to Chicago, where she spent three seasons and helped win a championship in 2021. At 6'6", she is one of the league's elite stretch bigs, and her floor-spacing should create cleaner scoring opportunities for Kamilla Cardoso.
These moves probably don't push Chicago anywhere near contention, but they do make the team meaningfully more competitive. There's no question the Sky has improved over the past few days.
Rickea Jackson and Ariel Atkins Swap
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Los Angeles Sparks: A-
Chicago Sky: A-
Los Angeles sent Rickea Jackson to Ariel Atkins in a deal that makes a ton of sense on both sides.
The Sparks needed a reliable off-ball scorer and high-level defender who can handle tough matchups. Atkins fits that role seamlessly as an experienced veteran. On Chicago's side, if they hadn't cored Atkins, they likely would've lost her for nothing, and Jackson is an intriguing upside swing for a team in need of shot creation.
If you separate this move from how Chicago originally acquired Atkins—by trading the pick that became Sonia Citron plus the rights to swap 2027 firsts—it's solid value for the Sky in a vacuum.
Chicago Sky Trade 2028 First For Jacy Sheldon
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Washington Mystics: A+
Chicago Sky: F
Chicago continues to make deals with Washington that make little sense. This time, they sent their own 2028 first-round pick for third-year guard Jacy Sheldon.
Sheldon is a solid, rotation-level guard, but she's not the type of player you move your own first-round pick for—especially in a draft class with UConn's Sarah Strong.
Chicago is clearly trying to win now to prevent its 2027 first from conveying to Washington, but there's no guarantee this is even a playoff team this season, let alone in 2027.
If it were Atlanta's pick from the Reese trade, that deal might make more sense, but that's not the case here. Even if there's just a 5 percent chance that pick turns into Strong, Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge, or Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes, you can't move it for a backup guard.
Minnesota Lynx Sign Natasha Howard: B
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Contract details: 2 years, $717,500 AAV
Minnesota struck out on Ogwumike and Williams in free agency, which led them to pivot to Howard.
She's an excellent finisher and a versatile defender across multiple coverages, and she also has experience in Cheryl Reeve's system from 2016-17. Howard will start the four while Napheesa Collier recovers from offseason surgery on both ankles.
But there's a chance that this doesn't come together offensively in Minnesota's scheme. Howard shot just 15 percent from three last season (6-40) and has long been an inefficient mid-range scorer.
Portland Fire Sign Bridget Carleton: C+
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Contract details: 3 years, $1.25 million
Bridget Carleton, Portland's No. 1 overall pick in the expansion draft, signed a max contract that keeps her with the team through 2028.
After a breakout 2024 season, she took a step back last year, averaging 6.5 points and 3.6 rebounds on 40.2% shooting from the field.
Carleton is a steady role player who can knock down spot-up threes and defend, but Portland clearly believes there's more upside than she's shown so far. To this point, there's been limited evidence that she can scale as a higher-usage creator. She doesn't take many pull-up threes, and she rarely pressures the rim or draws fouls.
On its face, it's a reasonable deal. Portland doesn't have many major contracts on the books, and the franchise is clearly prioritizing development and a team build through the draft.
However, the risk is the efficiency drops as her role expands, making the deal look rich in hindsight for a role player. But if Portland lands a top-tier scoring prospect in the 2027 draft, there's no denying Carleton is the type of complementary piece you want around your young star.
Toronto Tempo Sign Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey: C+
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Sykes contract details: 2 years, $1.19 million AAV
Mabrey contract details: 3 years, $1.20 million AAV
Toronto is clearly trying to compete right away, making significant financial commitments to build out a veteran backcourt around Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey.
Sykes is one of the league's best perimeter defenders and consistently pressures the rim, while Mabrey brings real shot-making ability and scoring punch.
The concern with both players is efficiency. Sykes was among the least efficient mid-range scorers in the league, while Mabrey ranked as one of the least efficient pull-up shooters in 2025.
There's a real scenario where the fit doesn't click and the team is left carrying those contracts into 2027. This could limit Toronto's financial flexibility heading into next offseason.
Other Key Moves
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Atlanta brings everyone back: A+
Atlanta has signed Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Bri Jones and Naz Hillmon to long-term contracts, locking up their core through the 2028 season. Jordin Canada was also signed to a two-year deal on a reasonable contract.
No team re-signed as many long-term pieces as the Dream. After finishing third in the regular season last year, they're positioned to be in the title mix again this season.
Indiana signs Ty Harris: A+
Ty Harris reunites with head coach Stephanie White in Indiana, where she could be the best backup guard in the league. At 5'10", she gives the Fever real lineup flexibility with her ability to play with or without the ball.
Las Vegas re-sign Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd: B+
The Aces re-signed Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd to three-year deals that run through the 2028 season. Gray will be under contract through her age-35 season, while Loyd is locked in through age 34.
These deals make sense for a team still in title contention, and keeping that core intact is a clear priority in Las Vegas.
Connecticut signs Kennedy Burke & Brittney Griner: B+
The Sun have a strong nucleus of young talent, between Leïla Lacan, Saniya Rivers, Aneesah Morrow and Aaliyah Edwards. Each are outstanding athletes, but all have significant shooting questions. Kennedy Burke hits 41.3 percent of her catch-and-shoot threes, and plays solid team defense to pair with it.
Connecticut also signed Brittney Griner to a two-year contract, setting her up for a return to Houston in 2027. She's no longer the defensive monster she was in her prime, but the Sun could use a veteran presence who can ease pressure on their young core and provide post scoring.
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