The 2026 WNBA free agency period is underway, representing what league observers are calling the most important free agency window in league history. With a new collective bargaining agreement in place, teams can now offer supermax contracts worth $1.4 million, a significant increase from previous seasons.
The free agency process began on April 6 when teams were first permitted to extend qualifying offers and core designations to players. Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, who finished fifth in MVP voting last season, became the first player to receive a core designation from her team.
Several other star players quickly followed Mitchell in receiving core designations, including Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty, Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream, Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks, Ezi Magbegor of the Seattle Storm, Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings, Ariel Atkins of the Chicago Sky, Bridget Carleton of the Portland Fire, and Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo.
In one of the early surprises of the free agency period, the Chicago Sky traded All-Star Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for a pair of draft picks.
Negotiations with outside free agents began on April 8, with several high-profile players already indicating their intentions. Reigning champion Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson told reporters she plans to re-sign with her team, while Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have both indicated they plan to stay with the New York Liberty.
On the other side of the spectrum, Satou Sabally has stated she will not return to the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces secured another key piece of their championship core as they were finalizing a one-year deal to bring back guard Jackie Young, according to ESPN reports.
The 2026 free agency class is the largest in league history due to the new CBA. Nearly every player not on a rookie scale contract became a free agent, including Wilson, Collier, and Stewart. The new agreement has dramatically increased salaries across the board, with the 2026 minimum salary now exceeding $270,000—more than $100,000 higher than the 2025 supermax salary.
The free agency schedule includes key dates: April 6-7 for qualifying offers and core designations, April 8-10 for negotiation periods, and April 11 when players can officially sign contracts and offer sheets. With the $1.4 million supermax contracts available, players like Wilson, Collier, and Stewart are expected to sign these record-breaking deals and remain with their current teams.
As the free agency period continues, teams and players are navigating the new financial landscape created by the collective bargaining agreement, which has fundamentally changed the economic structure of the league and created unprecedented earning opportunities for WNBA athletes.
