With the WNBA season having reached its halfway point, who might find themselves on a new team by the trade deadline?
As we look throughout the WNBA, the possible trade candidates look as strong as they ever have. Who might we see moved by the Aug. 2 deadline? Trade are tough in the W because of cap space limitations, but they happen.
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2026 WNBA midseason predictions for big awards, playoff standings
We’ve compiled a list of 10 players we think could find new homes by the beginning of August, including a couple of splashy free agent signings and some stalwart veterans who could come off the bench for contending teams.
Let’s run through who they are and why they make sense as possible trade candidates.
Diggins getting benched in Chicago and then missing subsequent games with a knee injury invites a lot of questions for her long-term fit with the Sky. Benching one of your marquee free agents and having her negatively post about it just doesn’t bode well for the future for either side. If Chicago could swing a blockbuster trade with Diggins before the trade deadline, you have to imagine they’d try to get it done. Any team needing a starting guard and holding enough cap space to facilitate a deal could add one of the league’s better players for a potential playoff push and beyond, since Diggins’ deal goes through 2027. Of all the big names on our list, Diggins is the one to watch.
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POSSIBLE TEAMS: Mystics, Mercury, Fire
Smith is another big free agent who just hasn’t ever settled with her new team. A starter with the Minnesota Lynx, Smith has taken to a bench role with the Wings and isn’t logging the minutes expected after signing her major deal. A former Defensive Player of the Year coming off the bench just doesn’t make any sense; it’s not hard to see these two sides parting ways by the trade deadline (or in 2027) if Dallas can find a fit for Smith’s gigantic contract.
POSSIBLE TEAMS: Fire, Mercury, Sun
Liberty G Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
Laney-Hamilton’s reduced role with the Liberty and general talk of a possible trade could have her on a new team by the deadline. She played a key role on the Liberty WNBA title team in 2024 and still has good basketball ahead of her. For teams that could use a wing or just versatile scoring depth on the roster, Laney-Hamilton would fit right in.
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POSSIBLE TEAMS: Mercury, Tempo, Mystics
Rivers injuring her ankle this week could set her back for a bit, but she could absolutely use a change of scenery in her second year in the WNBA. She hasn’t scored in double-digits since June 10, and her minutes have been going down in recent weeks. Ahead of Connecticut‘s move to Houston, moving Rivers for draft capital could be a wise move to setting the team up in the future for its new Comets era. We think Rivers still has plenty of upside, too.
POSSIBLE TEAMS: Mystics, Storm, Mercury
Banham is a dangerous 3-point scorer and reliable veteran who could come off the bench for any number of contenders. Chicago could go into sell mode before the deadline; Banham would be a really intriguing fit to boost a guard room at this point in the season. She’s exactly the kind of player who steps in and makes a big difference when it matters the most. Her contract isn’t nearly as prohibitive as other players on this list, too.
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POSSIBLE TEAMS: Mercury, Dream, Aces
Burrell will be a restricted free agent next season, and her very reasonable 2026 cap hit makes her one of the most tradable forwards on the list. She’s a perfect bench candidate for any team lacking frontcourt depth; her ability to score from beyond the arc could come in handy for any team needing a “stretch four” who can also defend well.
POSSIBLE TEAMS: Dream, Fever, Lynx
Fire G Karlie Samuelson
Samuelson might not have a permanent home with a forward-thinking Fire, making her a possible trade candidate. She’s a quality bench guard who provides veteran experience, which you never shake a stick at in the postseason. She’s also still just 31, meaning she could return in 2027 with her new team and provide the same role.
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POSSIBLE TEAMS: Mercury, Mystics, Storm
Harrison is on a Tempo team that’s possibly reached its ceiling for 2026; we wouldn’t be shocked to see her traded to a contender who could use her scoring and defensive prowess. Toronto could get a solid return back for Harrison, as any contending team could use what she provides to the frontcourt rotation.
POSSIBLE TEAMS: Fever, Lynx, Liberty
Paopao has the ability to start in the WNBA; she’s just buried on one of the deepest guard depth charts in the WNBA. She’s a good 3-point scorer and played at South Carolina; guards who played for Dawn Staley always have high basketball intelligence and character. If the Dream swing a trade for an established veteran for their playoff push, Paopao could be a nice return for any team needing young guard depth. She could fit in lots of systems, too.
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POSSIBLE TEAMS: Mercury, Storm, Fire
Our wild-card to be traded is Amoore, who could be a valuable trade asset in a move to get Washington a veteran presence in the guard room. We’re just going to say it: we love the idea of the Chicago Sky sending Diggins to Washington in exchange for Amoore and a draft pick. Diggins would be the perfect compliment to Sonia Citron in the starting backcourt, and Amoore could learn from Courtney Vandersloot as she refines her W game. We think this makes so much sense for both sides if Diggins was amendable to it. However, other teams could use Amoore, too.
POSSIBLE TEAMS: Sky, Storm, Mercury
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 10 WNBA trade candidates (Skylar Diggins!) ahead of the 2026 deadline
