Everything you need to know ahead of all the WNBA drama to come, from the expansion draft to free agency to roster decisions

The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is almost official.

On Monday, the WNBPA ratified the agreement with unanimous approval as over 90 percent of players participated in the vote. Next up is ratification from the WNBA board of governors.

Nevertheless, official or not, the arrival of a new CBA is an opportunity for WNBA fans to eagerly don their fantasy general manager hats.

And, understandably so.

With almost all of the league’s veterans entering unrestricted free agency, on top the arrival of two more expansion teams, plus a $7 million salary cap, $1.4 million supermax, almost $600,000 average player salary and $300,000 veteran minimum salary, there’s plenty of spicy scenario-planning to engage in.

As you begin to construct your ideal roster for all 15 teams, we’ve done our best to provide an overview of where teams and players stand before the expansion draft, estimated to be held on April 6, free agency, forecasted to begin on April 7 and extend through April 18, and the college draft, which is firmly scheduled for April 13.

Teams now will be required to roster at least 12 players. The new CBA also is introducing developmental players, although the stipulations surrounding these two roster spots have yet to be disclosed.

Below, every team’s players are identified by the free agency status: unrestricted, restricted and reserved.

Remember, unrestricted free agents can negotiate a new contract with any team, unless they are cored by their current team. A restricted free agent can sign a contract offer sheet with another team, but their current team has the right to match. A reserved player must negotiate a new contract with their current team. If a team does not present a qualifying offer to a restricted free agent or reserved player, they become an unrestricted free agent, freeing them to negotiate a new contract with any team.

An interesting thing to monitor will be whether unrestricted free agents prioritize maximizing their earning power or signing with a team that aligns with non-financial preferences, from the opportunity to contend for a championship to a situation with a more desired role to perceived roster fit or team location.

Players, of course, can decide what’s most important to them.

How many free agents will sign with whichever team offers them the biggest bag? Can free agents, by threatening to seek a bigger payday with another team, successfully induce their current team into increasing their contract offer? Will players seek longer- or shorter-term deals? What deal lengths will teams prefer? Which franchises will look to lock up players under longer contracts? Will some teams seek to go bigger with shorter deals?

Players that remain on a team’s roster, primarily those on rookie contracts, are also identified below. These players are in line for a raise, boosting them to at least the new minimum salary of $270,000.

Players that a team holds rights to, whether because they were under contract with the team when they last played in the WNBA or were drafted by the team but have yet to sign a WNBA contract, also are listed, as these players can be selected in the expansion draft. Teams’ picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft likewise are noted. Drafted rookies could occupy roster spots, plus a not-insignificant salary slot. The No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft is slated for a $500,000 deal; how the salary scale decreases after the top pick is not yet known. Picks, of course, also can be exchanged in trades that occur during the free agency period.

However, there are still some significant unknowns that will influence team-decisions.

How will draft lottery odds be calculated? Will they still be based on a team’s two-year record? Will the arrival of two more teams, expanding the league-wide roster spots to 180, plus developmental players, increase the value of non-lottery draft picks as a trade assets?

All the rules for the expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo also have yet to be clarified.

Based on the rules of the 2024 expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries, teams will protect six players, including impending free agents. ESPN, however, has projected just five protected players. The expansion teams are expected to be able to select one unrestricted free agent. Players that have been cored twice are ineligible to be drafted by the expansion teams. They are identified below with a *.