WNBA Free Agency officially opened up at midnight on February 1, and so much has already gone down that has drastically changed what next season will look like.
We’re still two months away from the 2025 WNBA draft and picks are changing hands like hotcakes. Good teams are acquiring role players to become great teams, great teams are rebuilding at square one, and homegrown talent across the league are finding new places to call home. Here’s the latest in WNBA offseason news.
Satou Sabally traded to the Mercury in a three-team deal
On Friday night, a major three-team deal went down sending two-time all-star forward Satou Sabally from the Dallas Wings to the Phoenix Mercury.
Phoenix would also receive Kalani Brown and Sevgi Uzun from Dallas.
The full trade also included the Indiana Fever, who received Sophie Cunningham from Phoenix alongside the No. 19 pick in the 2025 draft.
The Wings received Tyasha Harris from Phoenix,who was recently acquired from Connecticut in the Alyssa Thomas trade on Tuesday, as well as the rights to Mikiah Herbert Harrigan. They also received NaLyssa Smith and the No. 8 pick in the 2025 draft from Indiana.
Sabally was the second overall pick back in 2020, but had her breakout season in Dallas in 2023. She would win Most Improved and clinch a spot on the All-WNBA First Team. However an injury would keep her sidelined for most of 2024 as she would only suit up in 15 games, averaging 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and a career-high 5.0 assists per game. She would also shoot a career-high 45.2% from three.
With the Mercury, she joins an already stacked frontcourt alongside Kahleah Copper and the newly acquired Alyssa Thomas as Phoenix hard pivots to reinforcing their new core following the departure of Brittney Griner.
As for the Fever, they bring in another shot creator in Sophie Cunningham who is sure to feed off Caitlin Clark in what’s sure to be a high-paced rapid-fire offense in Indiana. The Fever also re-signed Kelsey Mitchell on Wednesday, who thrived last season in the backcourt with Clark.
For the Wings, they bring back their former 2020 draftee in Harris, as well as a young big to replace Sabally in NaLyssa Smith. But this trade wouldn’t be the only move in Dallas’ pocket.
Sun send DiJonai Carrington to the Wings
The reigning Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington was traded from the Connecticut Sun to the Dallas Wings early Saturday morning, alongside the No. 12 pick in the 2025 draft.
The Sun received the No. 8 pick recently acquired from the Feveralongside Jacy Sheldon, the fifth overall pick in last year’s draft.
For Connecticut, the signs point to an obvious rebuild as they’ve now lost four of their five starters from a season ago, with the fifth DeWanna Bonner still sitting in free agency. Sheldon gives them a young guard to incorporate into developing towards the future, as well as the 8th pick which is sure to provide a valuable rotation piece to develop in Connecticut for the next few seasons.
The Wings seem to be setting the team up for success to allow the easiest transition possible for whoever they take with the No. 1 pick in April. With a proven all-star in Arike Ogunbowale, a developing big in Smith and a First Team All-Defense caliber wing in Carrington, it seems the missing piece is just a lead guard to run the show. The reunion of Carrington and Smith as a couple playing alongside each other will also be a fun story to follow.
Other Offseason Moves
Brionna Jones has agreed to sign with the Atlanta Dream. Last year for the Sun, the three-time all-star averaged 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game shooting 53.8% from the field. The Dream will now have a nightmare frontcourt for opposing teams in Rhyne Howard, Jones and Griner.
Natasha Howard has agreed to sign with the Indiana Fever. The Fever grab a defensive-minded forward to replace NaLyssa Smith with experience. Howard is a three-time champion, two-time all-star and won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019. She was a bright spot in Dallas last year averaging 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. As a veteran leader with the young duo of Clark and Aliyah Boston, Howard could raise the ceiling of this Fever team exponentially.
Nneka Ogwumike has agreed to re-sign with the Seattle Storm. When the Storm traded Jewell Loyd last week, many expected them to blow it up and start from scratch. But nine-time all-star and 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike has resigned and looks to aid the Storm in their transitional period. Even at age 33, Ogwumike was still an All-Defensive Second Teamer, All-WNBA Second Teamer and an all-star, and her talent will be very much valued to mentor whoever they select with the No. 2 pick in April.
Courtney Vandersloot has agreed to sign with the Chicago Sky. After a two-year detour in New York, Vandersloot has returned to the franchise that drafted her, looking to fulfill their need for a lead guard. Vandersloot started in 31 games for the Liberty last year, and while her counting stats dropped significantly she was a great fit alongside Sabrina Ionescu and aided their backcourt defensively. With the Sky now having two bigs to build around in Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso as well as Chennedy Carter as a lockdown defensive wing, Vandersloot can aid their pursuit to return to the playoffs.
What other free agents are you guys looking out for on the market? Stay connected with Fantom Sports for more updates as the moves continue to cycle in.
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