Michael VoepelApr 22, 2026, 09:00 AM ETCloseMichael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Other franchises such as the Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky, who both missed the playoffs the past two years, were seeking important changes in hopes of getting back into the postseason.
And teams such as the Phoenix Mercury have a lot of their core back that reached the WNBA Finals but lost an All-Star in Satou Sabally. Did they do enough in the offseason to maintain their success in 2026?
Carter’s talent, especially as a scorer who can get her own shot, is established. But she has had chemistry issues with her previous WNBA teams and didn’t play in the league last year. With that strong veteran core — which now includes Turner — the Aces might believe they can make things work well with Carter.
Much like the Aces, the Liberty’s priority was keeping its core group in free agency. They did that by re-signing center Jonquel Jones, forward Breanna Stewart and guard Sabrina Ionescu. They also have the return of guard/forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who was injured last season but played a big role in New York’s 2024 championship.
The 6-foot-4 Sabally was the No. 2 pick behind Ionescu in the 2020 draft, and now the former Oregon teammates will be reunited. Sabally has averaged 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in her six seasons. She spent five years in Dallas and last season in Phoenix.
Cloud and Burke combined to average 18.2 points and 6.4 assists last season. Sabally should make up for much of that scoring loss, and New York might see its point guard situation as a committee. Burke left for Connecticut, and Cloud has not yet signed with a WNBA team.
The Dream set their franchise record with 30 victories in 2025 and held onto their players from that squad: guards Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada and post players Naz Hillmon and Brionna Jones. It made sense to part ways with Griner, who spent last season in Atlanta after 11 years in Phoenix. Atlanta was already an excellent rebounding team and was able to land Reese, the top rebounder in the league, from Chicago in a trade for future draft picks.
At 6-6, Okot is a rookie who will need work, but she was a good selection for the Dream at No. 13 in the draft. The timing of Jones’ season debut is uncertain due to knee surgery, so Okot might get some of those minutes.
Most intriguing additions: F Monique Billings, F Myisha Hines-Allen, G Tyasha Harris, G Raven Johnson
The Fever locked up 2023 No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston, their top post player, on a new four-year deal and kept franchise stalwart Kelsey Mitchell, the shooting guard who led them in scoring last season, on a one-year contract. Both are huge pluses for Indiana. Guards Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham also are back. And guard Caitlin Clark, who is still on her rookie contract, returns after missing all but 13 games last season with injuries.
With all those familiar faces, the Fever weren’t looking to add another player with superstar stats. But with Howard’s departure, they needed dependable veteran post players who are known for adaptability, which led to signing Billings and Hines-Allen. Veteran Harris and rookie Johnson (the No. 10 draft pick) could provide backup at point guard to Clark and are strong defenders.
The Mercury retained five of their top six scorers from last season: forward Alyssa Thomas, guard Kahleah Copper and forward DeWanna Bonner and guards Sami Whitcomb and Monique Akoa Makani. But Sabally, their leading scorer in 2025 who moved on to New York, was not replaced in free agency, a trade or the draft. Phoenix is counting on a little more production from returning post players Natasha Mack and Kathryn Westbeld and for a couple of new faces to step forward in camp.
The Mercury brought in a mix of undrafted rookies, players from overseas and players who have some WNBA experience but haven’t stuck with a team. That’s why naming their most intriguing pickup was the hardest. The real answer at this point is probably closer to “Who knows yet?” We went with Doogan, who wasn’t drafted but had an outstanding career at Richmond. The Mercury’s two 2026 draft selections are European teenagers who are draft-and-stash picks and won’t be playing in the WNBA this season.
The Sparks clearly are banking on an older group — Ogwumike is 35, Hamby 32 and Plum 31 — to end a five-season playoff drought. On the youth front, Los Angeles might have gotten a steal with the rookie Latson as a second-round draft pick.
The Valkyries didn’t add any star-power names in free agency or the draft. They chose LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson, who has that pizzazz in the draft, but previously had already agreed to trade her to Seattle for fellow rookie Marta Suarez. But the lack of so-called marquee names likely won’t matter as long as Golden State is contending.
At a glance, it might appear that the Sun are in the wrong category. The other three teams in this group are all hoping they’ve done enough to be contenders. The Sun, who went 11-33 last season, are mostly young and not expected to contend in 2026. But the offseason goal for the Sun was doing enough to position them for their 2027 move to Houston. There’s no sugarcoating how difficult this is for Connecticut fans: How loyal can they be to a team that will be in Texas next year?
Most intriguing additions: F Rickea Jackson, G Skylar Diggins, F/C Azura Stevens, G/F DiJonai Carrington
The Lynx confirmed Tuesday that superstar forward Napheesa Collier will be sidelined until at least June after ankle surgery on March 24. The four exiting players listed above, all of whom saw a lot of playing time last season, have moved on either as free agents or because of the expansion draft. The only 2025 returning Lynx starters are guards Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride.
Washington had the most picks (six) in the WNBA draft this season, at least three of whom — first-rounders Betts, Dugalic and McMahon — are expected to make the team. Then add in 2025’s No. 6 pick, guard Georgia Amoore, who is ready to make her debut after missing last season with a knee injury. Sutton started 43 games for the Mystics last season, but realistically none of the departures from the 2025 roster are significant losses. It’s full speed ahead for the younger generation in D.C.
Biggest losses: F Nneka Ogwumike, G Skylar Diggins, G Brittney Sykes, F Gabby Williams, G Erica Wheeler
The Aces won their third championship in four seasons in 2025. The title run didn’t look like the earlier two titles because they struggled during the first part of the season. But it ended in a WNBA Finals sweep. Eight players return, led by the core of four-time MVP center A’ja Wilson and guards Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd. Wilson and Young are back-to-back No. 1 picks who’ve spent their entire WNBA careers with the Aces. Keeping that group together was the most important thing the Aces could have done in the offseason.
The Sparks retained their top two scorers, guard Kelsey Plum and forward Dearica Hamby. They are banking on improvement and a healthy full season from forward Cameron Brink, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft who has been limited to 34 games over two seasons because of a knee injury. They signed a familiar face in forward Ogwumike, a future Hall of Famer who was Los Angeles’ No. 1 pick in 2012 and spent 12 years with the Sparks before playing the past two seasons in Seattle. Plus, they took a bit of a risk: obtaining Atkins in a trade that sent Jackson, a 25-year-old who was the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, to Chicago. Atkins has the more impressive résumé — she has won a WNBA title and Olympic gold medal and is a five-time WNBA All-Defensive selection — but will turn 30 in July.
The Valkyries made the playoffs and outdid external projections in their inaugural season last year. Their WNBA debut was a big success with their results and attendance, and they return seven of their top eight scorers from 2025, led by forward Kayla Thornton and guard Veronica Burton. Adding Williams, who played the past four seasons in Seattle, and center Kiah Stokes, whose previous 10 seasons were split between New York and Las Vegas, are moves to shore up the defense. Williams also can add some scoring pop.
After making the WNBA semifinals in 2023, the Wings were a combined 19-65 the past two seasons. The good of that is they got consecutive No. 1 draft picks in UConn products Paige Bueckers in 2025 and Fudd this year. Guards Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale and forward Maddy Siegrist — the Wings’ top three scorers last season — are back. In offseason speculation, Ogunbowale’s name came up frequently as a big free agent possibly on the move. But the Wings gave her the core designation and then she signed a two-year deal to stay. Bueckers, Ogunbowale and Fudd could form a lethal backcourt. Smith and Shepard are free agent signees who were with Minnesota last year and should do a lot to elevate Dallas’ inside game.
The Sky disappointed a large chunk of their fan base by trading Reese to Atlanta for first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028. But considering how sour it seemed the relationship between Reese and the Chicago front office became last season, the Sky likely had little choice. What could help win back fans are additions such as Diggins, Jackson, Stevens and Carrington. Diggins is from nearby South Bend, Indiana, and is one of the all-time greats from Notre Dame. She’s 35 but her fitness is superb and she’s still one of the league’s best point guards. Jackson is 25 and a potential rising star. Stevens, 30, played three years previously for the Sky, and is coming off the best season of her career last year with Los Angeles. Carrington, 28, is a top defensive player who could use a fresh start after spending last season at Dallas and then Minnesota. Gabriela Jaquez, the No. 5 draft pick, also has a chance to endear herself to Windy City fans with her heart and hustle.