WNBA free agency tracker 2026: Live updates on breaking news, signings and trades

WNBA free agency tracker 2026: Live updates on breaking news, signings and trades originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Armed with a new CBA — forged by weeks of negotiating and years of labor organizing — the WNBA is set to be filled with fireworks when free agency kicks off in earnest on April 9.

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Sides were already locked in negotiations with restricted, reserved or core-eligible players. Signings won’t filter in for good until April 12.

Free agency often is an action-packed affair. In 2025, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Plum and Jewell Loyd landed in different spots, as did the rights to Storm standout Dominique Malonga. One year on, movers and shakers have already made their presence felt. Angel Reese’s trade to the Dream proved the kindling to a spring like no other in recent WNBA history. With more than 100 players set to hit the open market during the offseason, expect free agency — and all the moves surrounding it — to be a blazing inferno.

With that, The Sporting News is tracking live updates on all things WNBA free agency. Follow below for an updated list of players to land new contracts in 2026.

MORE: Latest 2026 WNBA mock draft

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WNBA free agency news, updates on signings and trades

Li Yueru, Grace Berger to return to Wings on qualifying offers

Date: April 8

Source: Meghan L. Hall, USA Today

Dallas will bring back rotation pieces Li Yueru and Grace Berger, per Hall. Yueru averaged 20.0 minutes, 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 22 games for the Wings after joining the Wings via trade. Berger, meanwhile, is a former first-round pick who averaged 22.3 minutes per game with Dallas last year.

Nneka Ogwumike to sign with Minnesota?

Date: April 8

Source: Alexa Philippou, ESPN

Source: Former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike is slated to test the waters in free agency after seeing her contract with the Storm expire. A local balloon company looked to have broke news that Ogwumike was signing with Minnesota. However, the image appears to show the Lynx’s pitch to Ogwumike. It is not confirmation of Ogwumike’s signing, however.

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Satou Sabally not expected to re-sign with Mercury, per report

Date: April 7

Source: Annie Costabile, Front Office Sports

For the third time in three seasons, Satou Sabally will be on a new roster. Per Costabile, Sabally is not expected to re-sign with the Mercury, the team she landed on via trade last offseason. Sabally immediately becomes one of the most coveted players on the market, with Costabile reporting that the three-time All-Star and one-time All-WNBA first teamer is expected to have a host of meetings in the coming few days.

Core designations filter in

Date: April 7

Source: Underdog WNBA

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Ahead of the formal start of free agency negotiations, a slew of players have picked up Core qualifying offers. This is the WNBA’s answer to the NFL’s franchise tag, giving teams exclusive rights to negotiate with a player on their roster who would enter free agency otherwise. In return, the player lands a one-year deal at the supermax salary (last year, $249,244; this year, $1.4 million). Teams can still iron out long-term agreements with the player in question. The Core designation also serves as a way for teams to protect their assets, helping ensure a team gets something in return for its best player.

Here’s a look at the players who have been offered Core qualifying deals by their respective organizations:

• Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty)

Dream acquire Angel Reese in trade with Sky

Date: April 6

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Source: Taylor Rooks, Amazon Prime

The Sky dipped further into their rebuild on April 6, dealing two-time All-Star Angel Reese to the Dream in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick and 2028 second-round pick swap.

MORE: Angel Reese trade grades

The move spells the end of Reese’s two-year stint in the Windy City. She emerged as the league’s preeminent rebounder during her time in Chicago colors. She’ll look to offer similar exploits in Atlanta, where she’ll join Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Bri Jones.

Jonquel Jones to re-sign with Liberty

Date: April 5

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Source: Jackie Powell, The XI Sports

New York is slated to bring back star big Jonquel Jones, according to Powell. The Bahamian-born talent is one of the WNBA’s finest players, having captured MVP honors during 2021 and Final MVP honors during the Liberty’s title run in 2024. A five-time All-WNBA selection, Jones is one of multiple New York standouts that was slated to hit the open market, although the likelihood remains that Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu will stay in Liberty colors for the long-run.

Fire, Tempo complete expansion draft

Date:

Source: Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo

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The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo forged the building blocks to their rosters over the weekend via expansion draft. The Fire selected Bridget Carleton with the first pick, while the Tempo went with Marina Mabrey. Here’s a full look at their rosters following the conclusion of their draft:

Portland Fire roster:

Toronto Tempo roster:

MORE: WNBA Expansion Draft grades 2026

Aces set to offer A’ja Wilson supermax

Date: March 18

Source: Callie Fin, Las Vegas Review-Journal 

Days after the WNBA and its player union announced that it had reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement, the Aces are already making plans to lock up four-time MVP A’ja Wilson.

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MORE: WNBA supermax contract, explained

Wilson, like many of the league’s player population, is slated to his the open market in free agency. It seems unlikely she’ll leave, however, with Las Vegas slated to make her the sport’s highest-paid player.