The landscape of the WNBA has shifted violently in a matter of days, as a recent financial era collides with aggressive roster rebuilding. For the first time in the league’s history, players are signing contracts that reflect the true commercial scale of the game, whereas front offices are making high-stakes gambles to keep pace with a rapidly evolving talent pool.
The current flurry of activity has produced a clear set of WNBA free agency winners and losers: Liberty land Sabally, Sky make puzzling trade, and the Phoenix Mercury find themselves reeling after a surprising run to the Finals. From the arrival of seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins in Chicago to the New York Liberty building what looks like a dynasty’s depth chart, the league is no longer just growing—It’s transforming.
At the heart of this volatility is a landmark collective bargaining agreement (CBA) finalized in mid-March. The deal established the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women’s professional sports history, triggering a salary explosion that has fundamentally changed the lives of the athletes. For mid-tier players, the shift is not merely a raise; it is a generational leap in financial security.
New York’s Aggressive Pursuit of a Dynasty
The New York Liberty have entered this offseason with a sense of urgency born from a frustrating 2025 campaign. Despite winning the title in 2024, their defense of the crown was dismantled by a relentless string of injuries. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was lost for the entire season, while stars Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones both missed significant time. The resulting instability saw the Liberty slide to a No. 5 seed, eventually exiting the playoffs in a Game 3 defeat to the Phoenix Mercury.
In response, new head coach Chris DeMarco and general manager Jonathan Kolb have moved decisively to ensure the team is never that vulnerable again. The centerpiece of their strategy is the reported acquisition of Satou Sabally, a three-time All-Star whose versatility in the frontcourt is among the best in the world.
The addition of Sabally comes alongside the critical re-signing of Jonquel Jones. While Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have yet to ink their new deals, both have indicated they are staying in New York. By adding a fourth star to a core that already includes some of the greatest players in history, the Liberty have created a roster that serves as its own injury insurance. If Stewart or Jones miss time, Sabally provides a dynamic alternative that keeps the team in championship contention.
Satou Sabally reportedly agreeing to join the New York Liberty
— Alex Philippou (@alexaphilippou) April 11, 2026
Jonquel Jones has agreed to re-sign with the Liberty
— Mad Kenney (@madkenney) April 11, 2026
The Chicago Sky’s High-Wire Act
In Chicago, the front office is operating with a contradictory philosophy. On one hand, the Sky have successfully leveraged a new practice facility and significant cap space to attract elite talent. The signing of 36-year-classic Skylar Diggins, a seven-time All-Star, is one of the most impactful acquisitions in franchise history. Diggins remains an elite two-way guard whose competitive fire is expected to elevate the locker room standards.
The Sky too brought back veteran forward Azurá Stevens, a versatile offensive threat who shot 38.1% from three-point range last season. Stevens provides the necessary spacing to complement the interior presence of Kamilla Cardoso.
However, these wins are overshadowed by a series of trades that have left analysts questioning the long-term vision of general manager Jeff Pagliocca. The most jarring move was the trade of two-time All-Star Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. Trading a cornerstone player after only two seasons for a return that many view as inadequate suggests a breakdown in the relationship between the organization and its star.
The instability continued with a deal that sent the Sky’s 2028 first-round pick to the Washington Mystics for Jacy Sheldon. Sheldon is a capable, physical defender with a career 35.1% three-point average, but the cost of the trade is steep. By giving the Mystics control over multiple future first-round assets—including the No. 3 pick, Sonia Citron, from a previous deal—the Sky are stripping their future to solve immediate needs. This is particularly risky given the projected strength of the 2028 draft class, which is expected to feature generational talents like UConn’s Sarah Strong.
Phoenix and the Cost of Volatility
For the Phoenix Mercury, the current free agency cycle feels like a reversal of last year’s fortunes. After a surprise run to the Finals in 2025, the Mercury are seeing their championship window narrow. The loss of Satou Sabally to New York is a devastating blow; Sabally was the engine of the Phoenix offense, averaging 16.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
The impact of her absence is quantifiable. Last season, the Mercury posted a +7.9 net rating in the 1,039 minutes Sabally played; without her, that number plummeted to -1.6. Combined with the loss of rotation players Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa in the expansion draft, the Mercury are losing the depth that fueled their postseason surprise.
The Mercury have agreed to a deal to bring back Alyssa Thomas
— Seana Hurd (@seanahurd) April 11, 2026
While the re-signing of Alyssa Thomas ensures the Mercury remain competitive, the loss of a dynamic forward like Sabally makes it difficult to envision another deep playoff run in 2026. The team’s 27-17 regular season record last year suggested they were a bubble team that benefited from a healthy stretch at the right time; without their best player, that luck may have run out.
A Financial Revolution for the Athletes
Beyond the roster moves, the most significant winner of this period is the player collective. The new CBA has turned the WNBA’s salary structure on its head, moving the league toward a professional standard that matches its growing popularity. The financial gains are not limited to the superstars; they are life-changing for the rank-and-file players.
| Salary Tier | 2025 Average/Min | 2026 Estimated/New |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Salary | $66,079 | $270,000 – $300,000 |
| Average Salary | $120,000 | $583,000 |
| Supermax Salary | $249,244 | $1.4M – $2.4M |
The human impact of these numbers is stark. Players like Bridget Carleton and Marina Mabrey have signed max deals worth over $1 million this week. To position this in perspective, Carleton earned $125,000 last season; her new contract provides in one year what would have previously taken nearly a decade to earn. This shift allows players to focus entirely on their craft without the necessity of off-season employment, effectively professionalizing the league in a way that will likely increase the quality of play on the court.
As the league moves toward the draft and the start of the 2026 season, the focus will shift to how these “super-teams” integrate. The first confirmed checkpoint will be the official league-wide roster freeze, after which the new-appear Liberty and the experimental Chicago Sky will finally be tested in preseason action.
What do you think of the Liberty’s star-heavy approach or the Sky’s trade strategy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
