WNBA power rankings: Best pending free agents for every team this offseason
WNBA power rankings: Best pending free agents for every team this offseason
Mitchell Northam, USA TODAYTue, August 18, 2026 at 12:07 PM UTC
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There’s still more than a month left in the 2026 regular season for the WNBA, but it’s never too early to start thinking about next year.
Organizations like the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun — which will move to Houston in 2027 — are likely thinking about the future as they have been eliminated from the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Golden State Valkyries, Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces have already clinched their spots in the postseason.
The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement brought bigger contracts to the league, with salaries topping $1 million for the first time ever. While some players like A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston inked long-term deals this offseason, other players signed one-year deals and will once again be looking for big paydays. With a longer offseason — not a truncated one like this past year due to CBA negotiations — that might make time for free agent bidding wars.
Each team has at least one player they’d like to lock up and keep on their team for the 2027 season.
Here’s each team’s best pending free agent as we take a peek at the upcoming offseason.
1. Minnesota Lynx (29-7)Previous rank: 1 (⬌)
Best pending free agent: Napheesa Collier
After signing a one-year deal worth $1.4 million this year to remain with the Lynx while she rehabbed from ankle surgery, Napheesa Collier will be one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents on the market this offseason. The former UConn forward will turn 30 next month and has spent all eight years of her career with Minnesota where she’s been a five-time All-Star, four-time All-WNBA selection and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. If the Lynx can keep Collier and Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles together for the next few seasons, they'll continue to be in the championship mix.
2. Golden State Valkyries (25-9)Previous rank: 2 (⬌)
Best pending free agent: Kayla Thornton
The UTEP product will turn 34 in October, but she’s played some of the best basketball of her career in her two seasons with Golden State. Kayla Thornton made her first WNBA All-Star team last season and is second in minutes played and rebounds for the Valkyries this season. The 6-foot-1 forward plays a key role for what is widely viewed as the best defensive unit in the WNBA. While Golden State could probably find a replacement-level player, there’s no doubt Thornton has been crucial to their success.
3. Indiana Fever (23-12)Previous rank: 5 (⬆2)
Best pending free agent: Kelsey Mitchell
Like Napheesa Collier, Kelsey Mitchell signed a one-year deal this offseason worth $1.4 million to remain with the Fever. Of the Fever’s Big 3, she’s the only one at risk of leaving this offseason with Caitlin Clark still on her rookie deal and Aliyah Boston locked up through 2029. A four-time All-Star, Mitchell made her first All-WNBA team last season and seems to be in the prime of her career. The Ohio State product is scoring a career-high 24.2 points per game while shooting a career-best 50.3% from the floor and 43.7% from 3-point land. It seems to be in the Fever’s best interests to keep her, Clark and Boston together for as long as possible.
4. Las Vegas Aces (24-12)Previous rank: 4 (⬌)
Best pending free agent: Jackie Young
With A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd under contract through 2028, the focus of the Aces’ offseason will likely be centered around a deal for Jackie Young, who has been a critical component to three championship-winning teams since she entered the WNBA in 2019. A five-time All-Star and two-time All-WNBA selection, Young is averaging a career-high 18.4 points and 6.7 assists per game this season.
5. Atlanta Dream (21-13)Previous rank: 6 (⬆1)
Best pending free agent: Sika Kone
The Dream’s core of starters and key supporting players are under contract heading into next season. Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones and Naz Hillmon are locked down through 2028, while Angel Reese and Jordin Canada have one year left on their deals beyond this season. Young players like Te-Hina Paopao, Madina Okot and Isobel Borlase are under contract for multiple years. That leaves Sika Kone who has played an average of 5.4 minutes per game across 28 contests for the Dream this season. She’s not a player Atlanta is going to break the bank to keep.
6. New York Liberty (22-14)Previous rank: 7 (⬆1)
Best pending free agent: Pauline Astier
In her first WNBA season at the age of 24, Pauline Astier has risen into a starting role with the Liberty and seems to be a strong fit for coach Chris DeMarco’s system and style of play. A guard from France, Astier is averaging 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game and is the Liberty’s top shooter, averaging 55.4% from the floor. With Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones signed on through 2028 and Leonie Fiebich on her rookie deal, Astier is the best player who could leave New York via free agency. She is a restricted free agent, so the Liberty will have the opportunity to match any offer she gets.
7. Washington Mystics (20-14)Previous rank: 3 (⬇4)
Best pending free agent: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
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Similar to the Dream, the Mystics’ top players — Sonia Citron, Shakira Austin, Kiki Iriafen, Michaela Onyenwere and Georgia Amoore — are under contract beyond the 2026 season. The best player on the Mystics roster not signed on for next season is the one they acquired from the New York Liberty off waivers, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. How she helps the team and fits into the locker room during the final stretch of this season will likely determine how important she is to the Mystics’ offseason plans.
8. Dallas Wings (20-16)Previous rank: 9 (⬆1)
Best pending free agent: Awak Kuier
In her fourth WNBA season, Awak Kuier seems to be settling into a key role for the Wings under coach Jose Fernandez. She’s started in 18 of the 32 games she’s appeared in, is shooting a career-best 48.9% from the floor and leads the team in blocks with 1.2 per game. She’s a restricted free agent, so Dallas will have the opportunity to match an offer from another team.
9. Portland Fire (15-20)Previous rank: 10 (⬆1)
Best pending free agent: Emily Engstler
On her fourth WNBA team in five seasons, the Louisville product is having a breakout year for the Fire and has established herself as someone who can have a long career in this league as a versatile defender, strong rebounder and serviceable scorer. A lanky 6-foot-1 wing, Emily Engstler ranks fourth in the league in blocks with 49 and is sixth in steal percentage. She’s started all 35 games for the Fire this season and is averaging 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game — all career-highs. Engstler is a restricted free agent so the Fire will have the chance to match any offer.
10. Phoenix Mercury (13-23)Previous rank: 13 (⬆3)
Best pending free agent: Kelsey Plum
Kelsey Plum signed a one-year deal this year worth just under $1 million to remain with the Sparks. Amid a disappointing season for the franchise and with Plum’s free agency pending, they shipped her off to the Mercury before the trade deadline. If Plum doesn’t ink a long-term deal to remain in Phoenix, she’ll be a highly coveted free agent. The five-time All-Star and two-time champion is averaging a career-high 22.3 points per game this season at the age of 31 and remains one of the best 3-point shooters in the league.
11. Chicago Sky (13-22)Previous rank: 9 (⬇2)
Best pending free agent: DiJonai Carrington
The 2024 Most Improved Player has played with four teams in the past three seasons and could be wearing a different jersey yet again next season if she decides to hit the open market instead of remaining in Chicago. DiJonai Carrington remains a strong defender and is shooting a career-best 38.9% from 3-point land this season. There will be teams interested in her services.
12. Los Angeles Sparks (12-22)Previous rank: 11 (⬇1)
Best pending free agent: Nneka Ogwumike
The former league MVP’s second go-around with the Sparks has not gone as planned. Nneka Ogwumike left the Seattle Storm in free agency and signed a one-year deal worth $950,000 to return to Los Angeles where she won a championship and enjoyed the best seasons of her career. The president of the WNBPA will be 37 next year, but she’s playing at a high level. Ogwumike was an All-Star this season for the 11th time in her career and is averaging 16.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 50.8% from the floor and 39.7% from behind the arc.
13. Toronto Tempo (10-23)Previous rank: 14 (⬆1)
Best pending free agent: Nyara Sabally
The 6-foot-5 forward has battled injuries this season, but has started in 20 of the 24 games she’s played in for the Tempo and is averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 39.2% from 3 — all of which are career-bests. A restricted free agent, the Tempo will be able to match any offer Nyara Sabally gets, and coach Sandy Brondello would probably like to keep her around as she continues to establish her culture in Toronto. Sabally won a championship playing for Brondello in New York.
14. Connecticut Sun (8-25)Previous rank: 12 (⬇2)
Best pending free agent: Brittney Griner
Brittney Griner signed a one-year deal to join the Sun this year, but all signs point to her trying to remain with the franchise as they move to Houston next season. Griner is a Houston native and it might be good for the franchise to arrive with a well-known marquee player like Griner — a nine-time All-Star, former champion and the WNBA’s all-time leader in blocks. While battling injuries approaching her 36th birthday, Griner is the Sun’s leading scorer this season.
15. Seattle Storm (7-30)Previous rank: 15 (⬌)
Best pending free agent: Jade Melbourne
Despite Seattle’s struggles this season, Jade Melbourne has found a role alongside Natisha Hiedeman in the backcourt. She’s started in 28 of 36 games and is averaging 9.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Seattle could probably find replacement level talent — or even an upgrade at her position with one of the guards mentioned above — but she is a restricted free agent if they want to keep her around.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA power rankings: Best pending free agents for every team this offseason
Source: “AOL Sports”
