WNBA free agency begins Monday, just one week before the 2026 WNBA Draft.
It will be a frantic week as more than 100 players are on the market, their contracts having been tied to the expiration of the previous collective bargaining agreement in 2025.
Now, players will benefit from a new CBA, which allows for a $5.5 million increase in team salary caps. Both veterans and rookies will see huge jumps in pay.
Under the new CBA, the No. 1 pick in the draft will earn $500,000 annually. When the Indiana Fever took Caitlin Clark at No. 1 overall in 2024, she earned just over $76,000 per year.
And standout players, such as A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, will see increases from the $200,000 range to more than $1 million.
Monday and Tuesday are the designation period, during which qualifying offers can be made and core players designated. Players and their representatives can negotiate from Wednesday to Friday, and contracts can be executed beginning Saturday.
Already, Wilson has said she plans to re-sign with the Aces, while New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu said they are staying put.
–Field Level Media
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