Once the WNBA and WNBPA, hopefully, agree to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the biggest free agency market in league history will open.
With the majority of players being unrestricted free agents, we could see massive player movement, the likes of which have never happened before. The potential introduction of a supermax contract that, based on reporting about the league’s most recent proposal, could approach $1.3 million could contribute to even more madness. So, which players better get the absolute max?
These three players who should earn the supermax regardless of the numbers. They should remain with the franchises they played for last year, and if they aren’t re-signed, their respective teams will be making a huge mistake.
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A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
Phoenix Mercury v Las Vegas Aces
Wilson is the best player in the WNBA. In 2025, she won the MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year Award and another title for the Aces.
A’ja continues to put up the numbers to go along with her accolades. Last season, she averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. She also led the league in blocks with 2.3 per game. Did I also mention that she was the WNBA Finals MVP?
It doesn’t matter how expensive it is; it would be too costly for Las Vegas to let Wilson walk. Once free agency begins, their first act should be bringing Wilson back for every cent she has earned.
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Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks)
Los Angeles Sparks v Golden State Valkyries
It’s been half a decade since the Sparks made the playoffs. While that’s the longest drought in franchise history, they’ve begun to make strides.
When LA traded their top pick for Kelsey Plum, they did so hoping she’d be the team’s franchise player. She has been exactly that, averaging 19.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game last season. Plum made the All-Star team as a Spark and has demonstrated that she can lead a team.
How long it’ll take LA to return to relevance in the WNBA is unknown, but what is understood is that Plum must be part of that turnaround.
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Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
Thanks to Collier, the Lynx dynasty is alive and well. She hasn’t won it all for Minnesota just yet, but her team is inching closer to that goal thanks to her level of play.
Last season, Collier made All-WNBA First Team and was the runner-up in MVP voting. She averaged 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and had she not torn tendons in her left ankle in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury, who knows what could have been.
The good news is the Lynx can lock up Collier long term and finish this story the right way, with Collier eventually winning a championship in Minnesota.
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Who else should be supermaxed—or not?
There are plenty of other players who are deserving of a supermax contract. Who do you think is worthy of a huge pay day? Are you wary about giving certain players the absolute most?
Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty is undoubtedly one. The same can be said about Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream and Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever. Should any of these players, as well as others, look to move to a new team if their current one doesn’t offer them the most that they can sign for?
It will be interesting to see how the expected arrival contracts exceeding $1 million changes the landscape of WNBA free agency.
