WNBA: The Wildest Offseason Moves, Ranked!
The WNBA offseason has been absolutely wild—and in the best way possible. From blockbuster trades to new free-agent signings, teams have made some major power moves. It’s safe to say this free-agency period has been nothing short of surprising. Many of the league’s biggest stars have found new teams, reshaping the landscape of the entire WNBA and making the competition even fiercer.
Here, we rank the top 10 free-agent moves of the offseason:
Honorable Mentions:
•Brionna Jones signs with Atlanta, further strengthening the Dream’s frontcourt.
•Tiffany Hayes & Monique Billings signed by Golden State Valkyries.
•Seattle extends a Core qualifying offer to Gabby Williams, keeping her defensive presence on the roster. Additionally, Seattle also retained Nneka Ogwumike.
•Natisha Hiedeman signs with Minnesota, providing the Lynx with a solid backcourt option.
•Dana Evans traded to the Las Vegas Aces for two first round picks.
10.Courtney Vandersloot Returns to Chicago
The New York Liberty will miss a calming presence in their locker room. With Courtney Vandersloot returning to the Windy City and signing with the Chicago Sky, the organization secures a solid point guard. It’s no stretch to say that Vandersloot is one of the best point guards to ever play in the WNBA.
The veteran floor general, known for her elite playmaking, will be a tremendous asset to the Sky next season. Beyond her on-court contributions, she will help set the locker room culture and mentor younger teammates. Vandersloot also brings an elite basketball IQ.
With two franchise cornerstones in Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, both players will benefit from Sloot’s leadership. Pairing two dominant bigs with Vandersloot’s pick-and-roll mastery will make for a dangerous combination.
9.DEWANNA BONNER BRINGS VETERAN LEADERSHIP TO INDIANA
The Indiana Fever made one of their best offseason moves by signing DeWanna Bonner. The six-time All-Star and two-time champion adds tremendous value to their roster. First and foremost, she is a great leader who enhances team chemistry. Additionally, at 6’4”, Bonner brings defensive versatility, with the ability to guard multiple positions.
Her experience in high-stakes playoff moments will also be invaluable in clutch situations. Adding a player of her caliber, who still has a few strong years left, is a crucial move. For this young Fever team, her veteran presence is a game-changer.
8.DiJonai Carrington Traded to Dallas
When the Dallas Wings traded for DiJonai Carrington, they made one of their best moves in recent years. Carrington is on the verge of a breakout season. Last year, she had her best season as a professional, winning the WNBA Most Improved Player award and earning a spot as the only guard on the All-WNBA Defensive First Team. Her defensive ability is unquestioned, unrivaled, and unmatched.
Carrington ranked 8th in defensive win shares last season, the only guard in the top 10. She shared this elite company with several WNBA defensive powerhouses, including Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Napheesa Collier.
Last season, Carrington averaged a career-high 12.7 points per game, and that number is expected to continue rising. A few key improvements could elevate her game to an entirely new level. She will need to refine her outside shot and increase her field-goal percentage, which would likely earn her a spot on an All-Star team for the first time.
With her energy, defensive intensity, and ability to score in transition, Carrington is a perfect fit for a young, up-tempo Dallas squad. The Wings might be in a rebuilding phase, but by adding Carrington, they’re doing it the right way.
7.Natasha Howard Joins Indiana’s Frontcourt
About three days into free agency, people began to question what moves the Indiana Fever would make. They didn’t have to wait long. The first domino to fall for the Fever was the signing of Natasha Howard.
Last season with the Dallas Wings, Howard averaged 17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals—all while playing after recovering from a broken foot. At 33 years old, Howard is a seasoned veteran with a wealth of experience.
The Fever had a major need for a forward who could defend and provide leadership, and Howard addresses both of those needs. As a former Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time WNBA champion, she brings invaluable experience to the franchise.
For the Fever, they now have a forward who can literally guard everyone on the floor. From point guards to centers, Howard still has the ability to do it all. With her addition, the Fever will be able to switch more effectively on the perimeter—especially with DeWanna Bonner also joining the team.
Additionally, Howard has the ability to stretch the floor while still being able to face up and knock down jump shots. Indiana has found a player who fits their system seamlessly. With these moves, the Fever have built a squad with real playoff aspirations.
6.Brittney Griner Signs With Atlanta
Brittney Griner said she wants lemon pepper wings!
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Atlanta is a city known for them—but more importantly, it’s home to one of the most talented teams in the WNBA. With the addition of Griner, this Atlanta Dream squad is set to take a huge step forward.
Rhyne Howard had been recruiting Griner for years, and now it has finally come to fruition. The Dream now have a center in Griner, who remains one of the best defenders in the league.
Last season, Griner averaged 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. She shot 57% from the floor and was among the league leaders in PER. She also averaged 1.5 blocks per game.
One major aspect of her game that she has been developing since 2018 is her three-point shot. Last season, Griner attempted 18 shots from beyond the arc, making nine of them—a solid 50% shooting rate. While the Dream already have one of the best shooters in the game in Allisha Gray and may not need Griner to shoot threes regularly, the fact that she continues to expand her game at this stage of her career speaks to her elite work ethic.
Bringing in her experience as a former champion, Defensive Player of the Year, and one of the 25 greatest players in WNBA history will help Atlanta in numerous ways. With Griner’s presence in the paint, the Dream have instantly upgraded their frontcourt, making them an even more serious playoff threat.
5.Kelsey Mitchell Stays in Indiana
here was no way the Indiana Fever were not going to try and bring Kelsey Mitchell back into the fold. As the team’s leading scorer for the past nine seasons, Kelsey has been an instrumental piece of this franchise.
The sharpshooting guard re-signed with Indiana and had one of her best seasons as a professional. Last season, Mitchell recorded an insane stat line. She posted shooting splits of 40% from the three-point line (on nearly 7 attempts per game), 46% from the floor, and 83% from the free-throw line. She also finished 10th in MVP voting and made the All-Star team for the second consecutive year in her career. The fact she played one season with her backcourt mate, Caitlin Clark, and nearly achieved a 50/40/90 split for the year is a remarkable accomplishment.
Indiana now gets to keep one of the league’s most underrated scorers. They also get to keep the best backcourt in the WNBA. The road to a championship with Kelsey Mitchell is far easier than without her. The backcourt chemistry between Mitchell and Clark will continue to grow, and it will be exciting to see how they develop together in year two.
4.Kelsey Plum Takes Over in LA
One of the best guards in the league, Kelsey Plum, desired a fresh start. Plum recently informed the Las Vegas Aces, the team she was drafted by, that she no longer wishes to play for their organization. Now a member of the Los Angeles Sparks, Plum brings leadership to the team, making her one of the biggest stars in women’s sports. For one of the proudest franchises in the WNBA, Plum is the answer to restoring them to glory.
On the court, she fills a significant need. The Sparks were desperately in need of a dynamic guard in their backcourt, and now they have that with Plum, a 2x Champion, 3x All-Star, and former 1st-team All-WNBA player.
Moving forward, the question is whether she will play point guard or shooting guard. If she plays point guard, she should not be forced to facilitate, as her true strength lies in scoring. However, having her bring the ball up and initiate the offense could be beneficial for the Sparks. This would allow Rickea Jackson to move to the shooting guard spot and create more minutes for either Rae Burrell or Azura Stevens at small forward. With Cameron Brink and Dearica Hamby in the frontcourt, this lineup would benefit the team. Additionally, having another dynamo off the bench in point guard Odyssey Sims adds depth to the squad.
Either way, having a three-level scorer like Plum, along with her championship mentality, makes LA a real threat in the Western Conference.
3.Jewell Loyd Traded to Las Vegas
Jewell Loyd’s departure from Seattle remains one of the biggest developments of this WNBA offseason. Now a member of the Las Vegas Aces, she will be looking to begin her revenge tour.
Loyd, coming off a WNBA playoff run and an Olympic gold medal, is still one of the best players in the entire league. The Aces have swapped her for Kelsey Plum and revamped their starting lineup. Playing alongside talented guards like Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young will help Loyd find easier looks.
Additionally, the fact that Jewell will be playing with A’ja Wilson, the reigning MVP and the best player in the WNBA, will make her life even easier.
2.Alyssa Thomas Joins Sabally in Phoenix
The Phoenix Mercury’s acquisition of Alyssa Thomas is an absolute game-changer for the team. Thomas, the triple-double queen, has been an MVP candidate throughout her career and is a perennial All-WNBA performer. In addition, Thomas brings a wealth of playoff experience, having led her teams to the WNBA Finals and the semifinals several times.
Not only do the Mercury now have her on their roster, but they’ve also added another Olympic gold medalist in Kahleah Copper. This dynamic duo is set to be a force, putting the competition on notice throughout the season.
Moreover, the Mercury have several other valuable pieces that will help them go further and contend for Championship glory, as they’ve done in the past. Here’s hoping that Thomas can secure a ring before her time is up.
1. Satou Sabally Lands in Phoenix
The most coveted asset of the offseason was none other than Satou Sabally. The Unicorn is a player who, when healthy, is one of the best in the game. In her lone season where she played 30+ games (two years ago), she earned First Team All-WNBA honors and led the Dallas Wings to the semifinals.
The fact that the Phoenix Mercury were able to acquire a player of her caliber at the beginning of her prime is downright scary. Keep in mind, they don’t just have Sabally, but also other weapons that complement her game.
Alyssa Thomas, who recently joined Phoenix, is one of those complementary pieces. The Mercury also have their resident star, Kahleah Copper. The fact that Sabally will be in the weight room and facilities, learning from some of the best in the game, is a game-changer. Copper, who won a Finals MVP, will serve as an excellent mentor. Thomas, whose game is similar due to her versatility (though Sabally is more finesse and has a better jump shot), will also be a tremendous influence on her development.
Sabally is a triple-double threat every time she steps on the court, and she has the ability to guard multiple positions. The Phoenix Mercury absolutely won the offseason by securing her services.
Final Thoughts
This WNBA offseason has completely reshaped the league. Superstars have been on the move, and teams have stacked their rosters. New contenders have emerged, and the competition has only intensified. But despite all these moves, the bigger question remains: has anyone leapfrogged Minnesota or New York?
Nonetheless, the race for the 2025 WNBA championship is officially underway, and this season is set to deliver must-watch basketball.
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