2024 WNBA free agency tracker: Storm sign Nneka Ogwumike to form new Big Three in Seattle
The 2024 WNBA free agency period is now underway, which means the long offseason is just heating up. As of Feb. 1, teams can officially sign players to new contracts, and there’s been plenty of action across the league. Most recently, the Seattle Storm continued their impressive offseason by adding former MVP Nneka Ogwumike.
For much of the league’s history, free agency didn’t matter all that much. Key players rarely became free agents due to the length of contracts and the number of times a franchise could use the core designation. That all changed with the new collective bargaining agreement in 2020. Now, free agency is a key aspect of the calendar, just like any other league.
Already some major deals have been struck. Former MVP Jonquel Jones has agreed to re-sign with the New York Liberty, while reigning Most Improved Player Satou Sabally will be back with the Dallas Wings. Skylar Diggins-Smith decided to leave her previous team, the Phoenix Mercury, to sign a reported two-year deal with the Storm. In one of the most surprising moves, former MVP Tina Charles signed with the Atlanta Dream after sitting out of the 2023 season.
We’re still awaiting decisions from four other former MVPs: Breanna Stewart (2018, 2023), Elena Delle Donne (2015, 2019) and Candace Parker (2008, 2013). That’s in addition to seeing what the likes of Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner will do.
One way or another, the league is going to shift this winter. Ahead of all the action and intrigue, here’s everything you need to know:
When does free agency start?
Teams can start talking to free agents on Jan. 21, but nothing can officially be signed until Feb. 1. Those rules will always be skirted to some extent, but teams caught breaking them will be punished under the league’s tampering rules. The Seattle Storm were fined in 2022 for jumping the gun on Sue Bird’s re-signing.
How does WNBA free agency work?
WNBA free agency largely operates just like the NBA. There is a moratorium period where teams can speak to players but not offically sign anything, and free agents are grouped into different classifications that dictate how both they and teams can operate. The two main groups are unrestricted free agents, who can speak to and sign with any team they want, and restricted free agents, who can speak to and sign with any team they want, but can have that offer matched by their prior team.
The WNBA also has a reserved category, which is for players who hit free agency with fewer than three years of service. Often, these are veterans who entered the league later in their career, but they can also be younger players who, for whatever reason, were not on a typical rookie-scale contract. The prior team has exclusive negotiating rights with said players.
Furthermore, in rare instances players’ contracts can expire while they are suspended. When this happens, players are technically found to be “withholding service,” according to the CBA, and are listed as “suspended — contract expired.” In practice, these players are treated much like reserved players, though the prior team does not have to extend a qualifying offer.
Finally, there is the core designation, which is most analogous to the NFL’s franchise tag. If a team uses the core designation on a player, they gain exclusive negotiating rights with them, even if that player was set to be an unrestricted free agent. Teams must use this machination wisely, however, as each player is only allowed to be “cored” two times in their career as of 2024.
2024 WNBA free agents
Cored
| Player | Prior team | New team | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jordin Canada |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Atlanta Dream |
G |
|
|
Elena Delle Donne |
Washington Mystics |
F |
Cored |
|
|
Brionna Jones |
Connecticut Sun |
Connecticut Sun |
C |
Signed |
|
Breanna Stewart |
New York Liberty |
F |
Cored |
Unrestricted
| Player | Prior Team | New Team | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Natalie Achonwa |
Minnesota Lynx |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Lindsay Allen |
Minnesota Lynx |
Chicago Sky |
G |
Signed |
|
Rebecca Allen |
Connecticut Sun |
Phoenix Mercury |
F |
Signed-and-traded |
|
Kristine Anigwe |
Connecticut Sun |
F/C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Rachel Banham |
Minnesota Lynx |
Connecticut Sun |
G |
Signed |
|
Monique Billings |
Atlanta Dream |
Los Angeles Sparks |
F |
Signed |
|
DeWanna Bonner |
Connecticut Sun |
F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Kalani Brown |
Dallas Wings |
Dallas Wings |
C |
Signed |
|
Rae Burrell |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Los Angeles Sparks |
G/F |
Signed |
|
Emma Cannon |
Indiana Fever |
F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Bridget Carleton |
Minnesota Lynx |
Minnesota Lynx |
F |
Signed |
|
Chennedy Carter |
Los Angeles Sparks |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Kaila Charles |
Seattle Storm |
G/F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Tina Charles |
N/A |
Atlanta Dream |
F/C |
Signed |
|
Layshia Clarendon |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Los Angeles Sparks |
G |
Signed |
|
Natasha Cloud |
Washington Mystics |
Phoenix Mercury |
G |
Signed |
|
Alaina Coates |
Las Vegas Aces |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Nia Coffey |
Atlanta Dream |
Atlanta Dream |
F |
Signed |
|
Sydney Colson |
Las Vegas Aces |
Las Vegas Aces |
G |
Signed |
|
Lauren Cox |
Connecticut Sun |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Lorela Cubaj |
Atlanta Dream |
F/C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Damiris Dantas |
Minnesota Lynx |
Indiana Fever |
G/F |
Signed |
|
Diamond DeShields |
Phoenix Mercury |
G/F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Jasmine Dickey |
Dallas Wings |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Skylar Diggins-Smith |
Phoenix Mercury |
Seattle Storm |
G |
|
|
Liz Dixon |
Phoenix Mercury |
F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Ivana Dojkic |
Seattle Storm |
New York Liberty |
G |
Signed training camp contract |
|
Stefanie Dolson |
New York Liberty |
F/C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Emily Engstler |
Minnesota Lynx |
Washington Mystics |
F |
Signed training camp contract |
|
Cyesha Goree |
Washington Mystics |
F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Brittney Griner |
Phoenix Mercury |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Arella Guirantes |
Seattle Storm |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Megan Gustafson |
Phoenix Mercury |
Las Vegas Aces |
F/C |
Signed |
|
Linnae Harper |
Washington Mystics |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Tiana Hawkins |
Washington Mystics |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Tiffany Hayes |
Connecticut Sun |
N/A |
G |
|
|
Destanni Henderson |
Phoenix Mercury |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Khaalia Hillsman |
Chicago Sky |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Ashley Joens |
Phoenix Mercury |
F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Jonquel Jones |
New York Liberty |
New York Liberty |
F/C |
|
|
Jantel Lavender |
Seattle Storm |
F/C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Rui Machida |
Washington Mystics |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Abby Meyers |
Washington Mystics |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Taylor Mikesell |
Atlanta Dream |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Chiney Ogwumike |
Los Angeles Sparks |
F/C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Nneka Ogwumike |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Seattle Storm |
F |
Signed |
|
Candace Parker |
Las Vegas Aces |
F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Shey Peddy |
Phoenix Mercury |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Theresa Plaisance |
Seattle Storm |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Aerial Powers |
Minnesota Lynx |
Atlanta Dream |
G/F |
Signed |
|
Epiphanny Prince |
New York Liberty |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Danielle Robinson |
Atlanta Dream |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Karlie Samuelson |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Washington Mystics |
G |
Signed |
|
Katie Lou Samuelson |
Los Angeles Sparks |
Indiana Fever |
F |
|
|
Jennie Simms |
Phoenix Mercury |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Odyssey Sims |
Dallas Wings |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Alanna Smith |
Chicago Sky |
Minnesota Lynx |
F |
Signed |
|
Taylor Soule |
Chicago Sky |
F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Kiah Stokes |
Las Vegas Aces |
Las Vegas Aces |
C |
Signed |
|
Jasmine Thomas |
Los Angeles Sparks |
N/A |
G |
|
|
Sam Thomas |
Phoenix Mercury |
G/F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Kristi Toliver |
Washington Mystics |
N/A |
G |
Retired |
|
Kayana Traylor |
Minnesota Lynx |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Evina Westbrook |
Los Angeles Sparks |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Christyn Williams |
Phoenix Mercury |
Phoenix Mercury |
G |
Signed training camp contract |
|
Courtney Williams |
Chicago Sky |
Minnesota Lynx |
G |
Signed |
|
Gabby Williams |
Seattle Storm |
F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Madi Williams |
Seattle Storm |
G/F |
Unsigned |
|
|
Riquna Williams |
Las Vegas Aces |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Amanda Zahui B. |
Los Angeles Sparks |
C |
Unsigned |
Restricted
| Player | Prior Team | Current Team | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AD Durr |
Atlanta Dream |
G |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Cayla George |
Las Vegas Aces |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Ruthy Hebard |
Chicago Sky |
F/C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Joyner Holmes |
Seattle Storm |
Seattle Storm |
C |
Signed training camp contract |
|
Satou Sabally |
Dallas Wings |
Dallas Wings |
F |
|
|
Yvonne Turner |
Seattle Storm |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Jocelyn Willoughby |
New York Liberty |
G/F |
Unsigned |
Reserved
| Player | Prior Team | Current Team | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Morgan Bertsch |
Chicago Sky |
F |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Maya Caldwell |
Indiana Fever |
Indiana Fever |
G |
Signed training camp contract |
|
Temi Fagbenle |
Indiana Fever |
Indiana Fever |
C |
Signed training camp contract |
|
Rebekah Gardner |
Chicago Sky |
G |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Bernadett Hatar |
Connecticut Sun |
C |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Marine Johannes |
New York Liberty |
G |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Li Meng |
Washington Mystics |
G |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Nikolina Milic |
Minnesota Lynx |
F |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Robyn Parks |
Chicago Sky |
F |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Kianna Smith |
Los Angeles Sparks |
G |
Qualifying offer extended |
|
|
Sug Sutton |
Phoenix Mercury |
Phoenix Mercury |
G |
Signed training camp contract |
Suspended — Contract Expired
| Player | Prior Team | Current Team | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Julie Allemand |
Chicago Sky |
G |
Unsigned |
|
|
Han Xu |
New York Liberty |
C |
Unsigned |
|
|
Astou Ndour-Fall |
Chicago Sky |
Connecticut Sun |
F/C |
Signed |
