Five Things to Watch in the WNBA Offseason
by Sam Cox | by Tyler Doty
New Season, New Team
After the New York Liberty won their first title in 2024, the WNBA was set for a captivating offseason. Following the signing of a TV deal that could be worth a total of $3 billion, the players opted out of the CBA, prompting a winter of negotiations between the league and the WNBAPA.
In December, the league expanded to 13 teams, with the Golden State Valkyries making 11 selections in the Expansion Draft.
After a quiet end to 2024, the free agency news cycle got its first major breaking news when Satou Sabally announced she will be departing the Dallas Wings this offseason. Sabally, an All-WNBA First Team pick in 2023, spent the first five seasons of her career in Dallas, but injuries limited her to 15 games in 2024.
Where does Sabally end up?
The Wings made Sabally a ‘core player’, which is similar to the NFL’s franchise tag. Dallas is still expected to trade the 2023 Most Improved Player.
A talented, two-way wing, Sabally was selected second overall in 2020. The 2023 season was a taster of how good she can be, but it’s the only full season she’s played. Any team that lands Sabally will be taking on a significant injury risk.
The former Oregon forward will significantly raise the ceiling of her new team, too. The Indiana Fever look like a perfect landing spot, while the Golden State Valkyries could make a big statement by pulling off a deal.
Stay informed about offseason trades and team updates for your WNBA predictions!
Changes to the salary structure
The last WNBA CBA was agreed before the pandemic. A lot has changed since then, with record-setting viewership numbers, and a TV deal worth at least $2.2 billion over the next 11 years.
Nneka Ogwumike, head of the WNBAPA, said,
"This is a defining moment, not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress.”
Players are inevitably going to be looking for larger salaries. The minimum ($64,154) and maximum ($241,984) are both expected to increase significantly. ESPN also reported that the players may push to remove the hard cap, either allowing for a more complex structure or opting for a soft cap.
The 2025 season will be unaffected by any disputes, but this storyline is going to have a significant impact on this offseason and beyond. We could see some major changes to how teams can be built.
Jewell Loyd’s trade request
Jewell Loyd requested a trade away from the Seattle Storm after an internal investigation found no wrongdoing by the coaching staff.
Loyd, a two-time NBA champion, had a down year in 2024 but remains one of the league’s best guards. Teams in need of shooting and shot creation should seriously consider giving Seattle a call.
With Loyd’s contract expiring at the end of the 2025 season and a salary of $241,984, it won’t be easy to find a trade partner. The Chicago Sky, Phoenix Mercury, and Los Angeles Sparks are potential fits – whoever acquires Loyd will see their expectations rise for the upcoming campaign.
Rebuild or run it back in Connecticut
DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, and Brionna Jones are all free agents. DiJonai Carrington, coming off a Most Improved Player campaign, is a restricted free agent. Carrington, who was also part of the WNBA All-Defense team, is bound to be a priority, but how will the Sun’s front office approach Bonner, Thomas, and Jones?
The Suns have made the postseason in eight straight campaigns. It’s been an eventful offseason already, with Morgan Tuck stepping up to general manager and Rachid Meziane taking over as head coach.
Meziane led Villeneuve d’Ascq to the French title last season, along with consecutive runners-up placings in the EuroLeague. It was a left-field hiring from the Sun and might suggest the franchise is looking to go in a different direction after a string of near-misses with their trio of All-Stars.
Fever’s huge upside
Led by Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever made it to the playoffs in 2024 despite a 3-10 record to start the season. Indiana is set to have max cap space.
Playing with Clark is inevitably going to be a draw for free agents. While they have their backcourt and center positions covered, the Fever are destined to be players for the top forwards on the market like DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones.
After finishing 20-20 in the 2024 regular season with a -3.4 net rating, the Fever are likely to be one of the title favorites by the start of next season if they use their cap space wisely. This is a perfect opportunity to build the roster around the rookie contracts of Clark and Aliyah Boston.
