Every offseason, teams across the WNBA trade for and sign players that they hope will make them more competitive. Sometimes, those transactions pan out (see: the New York Liberty’s 2024 title, which came after the team acquired Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart).
Other times, roster acquisitions don’t have the on-court impact that front office executives anticipate.
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One month into the WNBA season, we put together a power ranking of the 8 most impactful offseason acquisitions. This ranking weighs both individual production and the degree to which each acquisition has changed its team’s fortunes, and is subject to change as the year progresses.
Note: This list does not include rookies, but it does include players who were added in the WNBA expansion.
1. Natasha Howard, Minnesota Lynx
Natasha Howard is averaging 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game — that’s the fourth-most points scored by a player who switched teams in the offseason, trailing only Brittney Sykes (20.1 points), Marina Mabrey (17.6), and Chennedy Carter (17.5). But Howard tops this list because of her defensive impact and because the Lynx have won 7 straight games and hold the best record in the WNBA at 9-2.
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Howard, who is 34 years old, was on the Indiana Fever last year. She was impactful there too, averaging 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, but has upped her numbers across the board after signing with the Lynx in free agency.
2. Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings
Jessica Shepard is having a career season in Dallas. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 13.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, while shooting 57.4% from the field. She also recorded the first 22-20-10 triple-double in WNBA history, and has been a big reason why the Wings are 7-3 to begin the season.
Shepard was a backup on the Lynx last year, where she averaged 8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. But her numbers skyrocketed when Napheesa Collier was sidelined, indicating her ceiling could be higher with an increased opportunity.
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3. Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries
Gabby Williams has been the perfect fit for the Valkyries, anchoring the team’s league-best defense while also providing a boost offensively. She’s averaging 14.5 points. 3.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 38.3% from three.
“Her selflessness and the way she plays just fits perfectly,” Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said last month.
Williams averaged 11.6 points with the Seattle Storm last season before signing with the Valkyries in free agency.
4. Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo
Marina Mabrey signed with the Tempo in free agency and has had a career season, averaging 17.6 points, 3.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Her points per game and field goal percentage are both the highest of her career. The Tempo, in turn, have exceeded expectations and begun the year with a 6-5 record.
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As the offensive powerhouse of the Connecticut Sun last year, Mabrey averaged fewer points (14.4 points) on lower efficiency (36.7%) than she’s averaging this season (she’s shooting 42.7% this year).
5. Carla Leite, Portland Fire
Carla Leite, who was selected by the Portland Fire in the expansion draft, is also having a breakthrough season. She’s averaging 14 points and 5 assists per game (up from 7.2 points and 2 assists last year), and she’s taken over several fourth quarters in the clutch, which has resulted in clutch-time wins over the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun. The 22-year-old is shooting 44.2% from the field, up from 38.7% last season with the Golden State Valkyries.
Leite has been the Fire’s most consistent player and has been a powerhouse on both ends of the floor.
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6. Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
Angel Reese is averaging 13.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. The former No. 7 pick is leading the league in rebounds for the third consecutive year and has been a crucial part of the Dream’s elite defense. The Dream are 7-3, which is tied for the third-best record in the league, and Reese has been a big part of why. Reese could be higher on this list, but the fact that the Dream were already good last year, and she’s not shouldering responsibilities as heavy as some other players in this ranking, has knocked her down.
Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky in the offseason, where she averaged 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game.
7. Brittney Sykes, Toronto Tempo
Brittney Sykes, who is coming off her first All-Star appearance at 31 years old, has been big-time for the Tempo this season. Sykes is averaging 20.1 points (fifth-most in the WNBA), 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
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8. Chennedy Carter, Las Vegas Aces
Chennedy Carter was out of the league last year. This year, she’s averaging 17.5 points and 1.3 steals per game off the bench on one of the most star-studded teams in the league. Carter is shooting a ridiculous 65.1% from the field and 58.8% from three, and the Aces are 8-3, good for the second-best record in the league.
Several other big names found new homes this offseason, a list that includes Skylar Diggins (Chicago Sky), Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Bridget Carleton (Toronto Tempo), and Satou Sabally (New York Liberty). Rickea Jackson (Sky) would also be in consideration, but she tore her ACL just 4 games into the season.
