Everything to Know About WNBA Free Agency in 2025

The WNBA Free Agency period is kickstarting the trade game in the WNBA. The free agency period did not carry a large fanbase or attention for quite a long time due to a less competitive environment and a lack of superstar names. However, everything has changed in the league after the arrival of Caitlin Clark as a guard for Indiana Fever. The bench for performance has elevated, viewership has hit an all-time high, and now big names are entering the trade market. WNBA MVPs and multiple All-Star accolades holders like Breanna Stewart, Satou Sabally, Kelsey Plum, Nneka Ogwumike, and Alyssa Thomas.

But before the action begins in February, we have to get to know about the timelines of the important events of the WNBA Free Agency period. Along with the timeline, how this year’s free agency period might make waves in the WNBA world will also be discussed, along with the possible destinations for the players this offseason. Let us immerse ourselves into the world of WNBA Free Agency and what awaits this offseason, especially amid the new CBA talk proposition in the league.

Also Read: Top 10 WNBA Free Agents and Their Stories

WNBA Free Agency 2025 Key Timelines

Usually, the NBA Free Agency period is the time when the players get swapped and traded in a matter of seconds. Although the WNBA scene has not evolved that much, the equation of the teams might change even in days. So let’s take a look at the key dates for which certain actions and restrictions will be implemented in the WNBA world.

January 11-20 Span:

It was the period when the WNBA teams made some qualifying offers in the league. Also, they can decide during this span which players they want to label as the “Core player.” After this period, the Free Agency season turns high.

January 21- February 1 Span:

During this period, the teams can negotiate their deals and finalize any amount with the player. However, no WNBA player will be able to sign any contract with the respective period during this part of the WNBA Free Agency. Even signing the offer sheets is not availed to the players.

Post February 1:

After February 1, 2025, teams can sign certain players with whom they have finalized their deals. Also, if the squad is completed, they can announce the rosters for the whole franchise while gearing up for the training camps.

Penalty for Timeline Rule Breach:

If any franchise breaks the rules of the WNBA Free Agency’s timeline period then they get punished under WNBA’s tampering rules. The most recent example of such punishment happened with the Seattle Storm franchise when they resigned Sue Bird without worrying about the period in which they were signing the player.

Working at the WNBA Free Agency

The working of WNBA free agency largely works on the principle of the NBA league. Therefore, it carries an array of different terms that define the category of players to which they belong. Along with it, the terms also concern players’ rights and activities that they can perform in the free agency period. Here is a breakdown of each free agency lingo in WNBA and the meaning and the context that they have with them:

Moratorium period – The moratorium period in the WNBA free agency period means that the franchises get to talk with the players regarding the negotiations of the deal. However, they cannot finalize the deal or sign any contract with the players. During this Moratorium period, the players are also distinguished into separate categories along with their teams deciding the flow of their actions post-moratorium period.

Also Read: 2025 WNBA Mock Draft: All Rounds and Top Picks

Categorization of the Free Agents:

The categories in which WNBA players are divided are referred to as restricted free agents and Unrestricted free agents. Let’s take a look at the context of these terms:

• Restricted free agents: The restricted free agents have the fortunate opportunity to negotiate or present an offer to any team they want in the WNBA. However, their prior team has the right to match the offer that the new franchise is offering to the restricted free agent during the WNBA free agency period.
• Unrestricted free agents: The unrestricted free agents in the league have the right to negotiate, sign, or finalize a deal with any team they want without any interruption. Also, they are free from any kind of interference from their former team’s deal-matching initiatives.

Apart from the major categorization of players into these major categories, there are certain special categories that players are divided into based on their performance and experience in the league. The categories can be discussed as follows:

• Reserved category: the reserved category of WNBA free agency belongs to the players who have served for less than 3 years before entering into the free agency. This category also belongs to the veteran player who entered late into the leaf or young rupees were not able to secure a usual Rookie scale contract.
  The former teams of these players can exercise the right to negotiate a common deal and present it to the player within the parameters of a qualifying offer.
• Suspended players: The players who are suspended from the league or not playing can lose their contracts. For such players, the status of the playing is represented as “Withholding service” in the league. Also, when it comes to the financial status, their contract is mentioned as “suspended or contract expired.” However, unlike reserved players, the team does not have the compliance to offer a qualifying offer to such players.

There is another category of Core players that needs to be discussed in this section. However, the core designation carries a much bigger context and importance in the league. So we will discuss it separately.

Core Designation Players

The inspiration for the “Core Designation” in the WNBA comes from the NFL league. Through this power, the team has the right to have a player as core in their team and exercise exclusive negotiation rights with such players. Surprisingly, the rights will be availed to exercise the player even if a player is an Unrestricted Free Agent. However, to avoid the monopoly of any team, the WNBA has limited the use of this power for the franchises in the league.

Selection of Core Players: The team gets to choose a core player for their franchise, and they have the limit of choosing only one player. At some point, if the player signs the deal with the team, then that player will remain the core player for that respective team for the period of that contract. Such collaborations come to an end only when the players are traded to any other team or their contracts with their respective teams.

Trading Rights with Core Players: The franchises in the league can trade another team’s core player for their team. This way, they can have two core players on their roster, one of their own and another one from the second team. However, such traded core players can only spend two seasons under the former core player as per the amendment in the year 2022.

Financial Perks to the Core Players: The Core players have the opportunity to get a one-year fully guaranteed supermax contract from their respective franchises. However, the core players can turn down the offer or change the terms of the deal. Also, they can go for a sign-and-trade deal rather than going for a guaranteed contract.

Salary Cap and Financial Dynamics

Usually, the players signed in the Free Agency have financial priority according to their draft positions and how consistent they are in the league. It matters how much they spend on the court as a starting roster. Here are the financial dynamics of the league and the rookie scale contracts that the player might get this season, as per CBS:

Also Read: WNBA Salary Cap- What It Means for Players and Teams

2025 Rookie Scale Contracts:

2025 minimum base salaries

2025 maximum base salaries

Also Read: 2025 WNBA Mock Draft: All Rounds and Top Picks

Biggest Storylines of 2025 WNBA Free Agency

 Every free agency period has its headline-making moves and rumors. Here are some key storylines to watch in 2025:

1. Star Players on the Move
   • After 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner is hitting the free-agent market for the first time.
   • The Chicago Sky team has refused to give Chennedy Carter a qualifying offer, which makes her a free agent this year in 2025.
2. Emerging Teams Making Bold Moves
   • The Golden State Valkyries have to chance to prove that their debut in the league cannot be underestimated and that they can move significant trades in the league.
3. Impact of the New CBA Rules
   • The Women’s National Basketball Players Association announced on Oct. 21 that it had voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement at the end of the 2025 season. Already, the WNBA and the WNBPA have started talks on a new CBA in the hopes of avoiding a work stoppage as reported by CBS.

After the boom that the league experienced in 2024, the new CBA rule amendments seem genuine since the women players have built the WNBA league into a potential market. That’s why Nneka Ogwumike, the WNBPA president, said last year in October, “Opting out isn’t just about bigger paychecks — it’s about claiming our rightful share of the business we’ve built, improving working conditions, and securing a future where the success we create benefits today’s players and the generations to come. We’re not just asking for a CBA that reflects our value; we’re demanding it because we’ve earned it.”

Conclusion

The 2025 WNBA Free Agency is promised to be grand and important for the league. There are many stir-ups and excitements to be developed through the most important players switching from one team to another, tactical decisions to be discussed, and the impact of a recent CBA. Whether one belongs to the enthusiast class or just knows the league well, WNBA free agency is an appreciation of this crucial offseason time for important decisions.

FAQs