WNBA free agency grades 2026: Live analysis of the biggest free agent signings and trades originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
WNBA free agency is underway in what could be one of the most transformative offseasons in the league’s history.
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More than 100 players have reached free agency following the expiration of their contracts, most of which were timed specifically to end when a new collective bargaining agreement kicked in that would guarantee players the highest salaries in WNBA history.
Below, The Sporting News grades the major deals to date in WNBA free agency, which — depending on the volume of activity — could realign the balance of power in the league.
WNBA free agency grades 2026
Natisha Hiedeman to join the Storm
Natisha Hiedeman, one of the WNBA’s most valuable reserve guards, is leaving the Lynx after two seasons in Minnesota. According to Khristina Williams, Hiedeman will sign with the Seattle Storm. Contract terms have not yet been disclosed.
Hiedeman grade: B-plus
Storm grade: B-plus
Alyssa Thomas to re-sign in Phoenix
The Phoenix Mercury reportedly are finalizing a new contract with superstar forward Alyssa Thomas after the two sides enjoyed a successful 2025 season together.
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Thomas signed with the Mercury as a free agent last year after 11 seasons with the Connecticut Sun. She promptly led the league in assists, finished third in MVP voting and guided Phoenix to the WNBA Finals.
Thomas grade: A-plus
Thomas joined the Mercury in 2025 for a fresh start as the Sun entered a rebuild. Phoenix built a team specifically for her to succeed: the Mercury surrounded Thomas with spot-up shooters and handed her the keys to the offense.
Thomas is the WNBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles for a reason. Melding physical strength with immense basketball IQ, Thomas set a new benchmark last season with a WNBA-record 357 assists. She is the pre-eminent point forward of her era and is a seven-time All-Defense selection. Re-upping in Phoenix made the most sense for her.
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Mercury grade: A
It sounds like Phoenix is going to lose Satou Sabally in free agency, while fellow All-Star Kahleah Copper has a bigger chance to stay but could leave too. Those circumstances made it more urgent for the Mercury to prioritize re-signing Thomas in free agency.
Though Thomas turns 34 this week, “the Engine” shows no signs of slowing down. Phoenix is squarely in a contention window, and the Mercury always find a way to land stars despite never seeming to own draft picks as trade capital. General manager Nick U’Ren and head coach Nate Tibbetts will be tasked with doing so again as Phoenix eyes a return trip to the Finals.
Nneka Ogwumike signs with the Los Angeles Sparks
Former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike is returning to Los Angeles after two seasons with the Seattle Storm, making the WNBPA president the first major free agent to change teams.
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Ogwumike, 35, played the first 12 years of her career in Los Angeles, winning an MVP award and a WNBA championship in 2016. She ranks second in franchise history in points scored and third in points per game.
Ogwumike grade: A-plus
Nneka Ogwumike always wins. For her individually, a return to the Sparks is a dream come true: she comes back to the place where she played her best basketball and again will receive top billing as the franchise player.
Ogwumike’s individual consistency and excellence have made her one of the Sparks’ greatest-ever players, and she isn’t really slowing down as she readies for her 15th pro season. In 2025, Ogwumike averaged 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while continuing to play superb defense. In a vacuum, she helps herself as well as the Sparks.
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Sparks grade: C-minus
I don’t love this for Los Angeles.
Yes, adding a 10-time All-Star undoubtedly will get the Sparks closer to the playoffs. But what is Los Angeles’ idea here beyond just ending a five-year playoff drought?
Moving on from Ogwumike in 2024 signaled a patient rebuild around young players like Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. But the Sparks’ blockbuster trade for Kelsey Plum last year showed that Los Angeles was already losing patience with the youth movement. And now the franchise is set to trade Jackson to Chicago to…just bring back Ogwumike.
It’s hard to see the Sparks’ plan as anything other than a slapdash assemblage of All-Stars and a few young players. Sounds a lot like the Seattle team that Ogwumike left.
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Jackie Young becomes the first player to get a $1 million max contract
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou on Thursday reported that Jackie Young and the Las Vegas Aces had agreed on a new one-year contract worth the regular maximum salary of $1.19 million.
It will keep Young in Las Vegas alongside A’ja Wilson and (most probably) Chelsea Gray as the Aces try to run it back in 2026 and win a fourth WNBA title in five years.
Jackie Young grade: A-plus
Young cashes in and becomes the first player to agree to one of the new maximum contracts. It’s hard not to love this for her. And the deal structure — it’s a one-year agreement — keeps Young in full control of her future.
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That being said, it’s getting hard to see her swapping Las Vegas for another locale. The Aces have made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons and won at least 67 percent of their regular-season games in six of those seasons. Vegas is a well-oiled championship-winning machine, and Young understands that she is a key cog.
Las Vegas Aces grade: A
Despite speculation that Young would pursue a new adventure after winning three championships in Las Vegas, the Aces ponied up the cash to keep the four-time All-Star in Sin City.
Head coach Becky Hammon may have wished for Young to sign a longer-term deal, as the one-year agreement doesn’t offer Las Vegas much assurance about the star guard’s future beyond 2026. But the Aces nonetheless will be thrilled to retain a key member of their 2020s dynasty, a guard with 50-40-90 potential who has been there for many of the franchise’s biggest moments since her rookie season in 2019.
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