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#WNBA #free #agency #Tracking #move">WNBA free agency 2026: Tracking every move as it happens
The WNBA season is right around the corner, and free agency is finally here. The free agency negotiation period starts on Wednesday, April 8th, and teams can begin signing free agents to new contracts on Saturday, April 11.
Before this, qualifying offers and core player designations were sent out on April 6th and 7th.
Reserved players are players who are out of contract with three years of service or fewer. If they receive a Reserved qualifying offer, those players are subject to that team’s exclusive negotiating rights. If the club declines to offer the player a contract, they become unrestricted free agents.
Restricted free agents are players with at least four years of service whose contract has expired, and who receive a qualifying offer from their previous team. Those players can negotiate with other teams, but their original team can match any offer.
A Core Designation is the WNBA’s version of a franchise tag. An organization can have one veteran free agent whom they have cored on their roster — and thus offered a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax. If a player receives a Core Designation, they can only sign or negotiate a contract with that team during the free agency period.
April 8: Negotiations begin
This page will be updated as information is shared.
April 7: Angel Reese traded, teams extend qualifying offers
The Chicago Sky trade Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.
The Atlanta Dream extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Sika Koné.
The Portland Fire extended a Core qualifying offer to Bridget Carleton
The Washington Mystics extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Bernadett Határ.
The Portland Fire extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Haley Jones.
The Minnesota Lynx extended a Core qualifying offer to Napheesa Collier.
The WNBA season is right around the corner, and free agency is finally here. The free agency negotiation period starts on Wednesday, April 8th, and teams can begin signing free agents to new contracts on Saturday, April 11.
Before this, qualifying offers and core player designations were sent out on April 6th and 7th.
Reserved players are players who are out of contract with three years of service or fewer. If they receive a Reserved qualifying offer, those players are subject to that team’s exclusive negotiating rights. If the club declines to offer the player a contract, they become unrestricted free agents.
Restricted free agents are players with at least four years of service whose contract has expired, and who receive a qualifying offer from their previous team. Those players can negotiate with other teams, but their original team can match any offer.
A Core Designation is the WNBA’s version of a franchise tag. An organization can have one veteran free agent whom they have cored on their roster — and thus offered a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax. If a player receives a Core Designation, they can only sign or negotiate a contract with that team during the free agency period.
April 8: Negotiations begin
This page will be updated as information is shared.
April 7: Angel Reese traded, teams extend qualifying offers
The Chicago Sky trade Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.
The Atlanta Dream extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Sika Koné.
The Portland Fire extended a Core qualifying offer to Bridget Carleton
The Washington Mystics extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Bernadett Határ.
The Portland Fire extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Haley Jones.
The Minnesota Lynx extended a Core qualifying offer to Napheesa Collier.
The WNBA season is right around the corner, and free agency is finally here. The free agency negotiation period starts on Wednesday, April 8th, and teams can begin signing free agents to new contracts on Saturday, April 11.
Before this, qualifying offers and core player designations were sent out on April 6th and 7th.
Reserved players are players who are out of contract with three years of service or fewer. If they receive a Reserved qualifying offer, those players are subject to that team’s exclusive negotiating rights. If the club declines to offer the player a contract, they become unrestricted free agents.
Restricted free agents are players with at least four years of service whose contract has expired, and who receive a qualifying offer from their previous team. Those players can negotiate with other teams, but their original team can match any offer.
A Core Designation is the WNBA’s version of a franchise tag. An organization can have one veteran free agent whom they have cored on their roster — and thus offered a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax. If a player receives a Core Designation, they can only sign or negotiate a contract with that team during the free agency period.
April 8: Negotiations begin
This page will be updated as information is shared.
April 7: Angel Reese traded, teams extend qualifying offers
The Chicago Sky trade Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.
The Atlanta Dream extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Sika Koné.
The Portland Fire extended a Core qualifying offer to Bridget Carleton
The Washington Mystics extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Bernadett Határ.
The Portland Fire extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Haley Jones.
The Minnesota Lynx extended a Core qualifying offer to Napheesa Collier.
The WNBA season is right around the corner, and free agency is finally here. The…
![Angel Reese’s time in Chicago is officially over The Chicago Sky have traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dreams, ending her two-year run as the face of the Sky’s franchise. Reese lands in Atlanta in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.Reese, a rising third-year player, has been one of the league’s most formidable frontcourt players; she’s a two-time All-Star who has averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds in her career.“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said in an official press release. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”The relationship between Reese and the Sky organization appeared fractured ever since she was suspended for a game in September for what the organization termed “statements detrimental to the team.”That came after she sat down for an interview with the Chicago Tribune about the state of the organization. Among her remarks, Reese told the Tribune she is “not settling for the same shit we did this year,” and that the team ”[has] to get great players,” among other comments.The Chicago Sky failed to make the playoffs in both of Reese’s first two seasons, finishing with a 10-34 record last season — the second-worst record in the WNBA.The Dream were 30-14 last year, but lost to the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs. They were led by All-Stars Allisha Gray (18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists), Rhyne Howard (17.5 points, 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds), and Brionna Jones (12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds per game).Atlanta Dream general manager Dan Padover praised Reese in an official statement.“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” said Padover. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production, and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.” #Angel #Reeses #time #Chicago #officially](https://i3.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2232943689.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C10.72992968287%2C100%2C78.540140634259&w=1200&ssl=1 "Angel Reese’s time in Chicago is officially over The Chicago Sky have traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dreams, ending her two-year run as the face of the Sky’s franchise. Reese lands in Atlanta in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.Reese, a rising third-year player, has been one of the league’s most formidable frontcourt players; she’s a two-time All-Star who has averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds in her career.“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said in an official press release. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”The relationship between Reese and the Sky organization appeared fractured ever since she was suspended for a game in September for what the organization termed “statements detrimental to the team.”That came after she sat down for an interview with the Chicago Tribune about the state of the organization. Among her remarks, Reese told the Tribune she is “not settling for the same shit we did this year,” and that the team ”[has] to get great players,” among other comments.The Chicago Sky failed to make the playoffs in both of Reese’s first two seasons, finishing with a 10-34 record last season — the second-worst record in the WNBA.The Dream were 30-14 last year, but lost to the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs. They were led by All-Stars Allisha Gray (18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists), Rhyne Howard (17.5 points, 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds), and Brionna Jones (12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds per game).Atlanta Dream general manager Dan Padover praised Reese in an official statement.“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” said Padover. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production, and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.” #Angel #Reeses #time #Chicago #officially")
