The WNBA’s free agency started with a bang, with many of the league’s top players finding new homes for 2025.
The moves have slowed recently, with most teams’ and players’ situations settled for the upcoming season.
With that, here’s the unofficial ranking of teams’ offseason moves from least impressive to most:
13. Washington Mystics
New general manager Jamila Wideman and coach Sydney Johnson were formally introduced Wednesday in a press conference.
The two talked about wanting to get the Mystics back to the WNBA Finals, where they haven’t been since winning it all in 2019.
The plan for how they might do that, though, remains unclear. Washington went 14-26 last season — albeit battered by injuries — but hasn’t made any major roster changes this offseason.
12. Connecticut Sun
After losing their entire starting lineup, the Sun look like a completely different team than the one that took the Minnesota Lynx to five games in the semifinals.
The departures might not be done, either, with Marina Mabrey being the latest Sun player to request a trade amid the mass exodus.
11. Golden State Valkyries
Free agency hasn’t been overly kind to the WNBA newcomers.
The Valkyries reportedly missed on several high-profile free agents, including Kelsey Plum.
They signed 2024 Sixth Player of the Year Tiffany Hayes, but most of Golden State’s roster is made up of players who were reserves on other teams.
10. Las Vegas Aces
The Aces got Jewell Loyd as part of the three-team trade that sent Plum to Los Angeles.
Loyd was a solid addition to already one of the league’s most successful backcourt pairings, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray.
But along with Plum’s departure, the Aces also lost several key reserves this offseason — including Alysha Clark, Sydney Colson, Kate Martin and Hayes.
9. Seattle Storm
The Storm might have lost Loyd, who requested a trade, but Seattle picked up the No. 2 pick in return from Los Angeles, and re-signed Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike. The Storm also signed Clark and WNBA journeywoman Erica Wheeler.
With lingering concern about the team’s depth, it’s hard to say Seattle mightily improved this offseason. Getting the No. 2 pick, though, softens the blow of Loyd’s departure.
8. Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota wasn’t in a situation to make a lot of noise this offseason — and after coming within inches of a championship, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The entire starting lineup that took the Lynx to the Finals last season was under contract for the 2025 season — as well as key reserves such as Natisha Hiedeman, Diamond Miller and Dorka Juhasz.
The Lynx’s biggest offseason addition was French center Marième Badiane, who won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
7. New York Liberty
The Liberty made a run at Satou Sabally, who ultimately signed elsewhere.
New York also unsurprisingly lost Courtney Vandersloot in free agency.
The Liberty will be running it back with their championship core for 2025.
But there are still questions left unanswered. Breanna Stewart and Marine Johannes remain unsigned for this season.
Stewart, the league’s top free agent, is a shoo-in to be back in Brooklyn, but Johannes’ situation is a bit more complicated.
A lot of decisions and evaluations will have to be made at training camp.
6. Dallas Wings
Dallas may have lost Sabally and Natasha Howard this offseason, but the Wings made do with the cards they were dealt.
Dallas got NaLyssa Smith, Ty Harris and other assets as part of a massive four-team trade involving Sabally.
And trading for elite defender Dijonai Carrington helped fill the void left by Howard’s departure.
The Wings also have the No. 1 pick in the draft, headlined by Connecticut star Paige Bueckers.
5. Chicago Sky
The Sky fired Teresa Weatherspoon and didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Chennedy Carter this offseason.
Some of the Sky’s 2024 issues stemmed from a contentious locker room, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bringing in veterans Vandersloot, Kia Nurse and Rebecca Allen to help set a new tone and be leaders for the otherwise young Sky was a smart move.
4. Los Angeles Sparks
Parting ways with the No. 2 pick for Plum was a dicey decision, but Plum is poised to be the face of the Sparks franchise.
Los Angeles went 8-32 last season and hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2020.
But the Sparks should turn a corner this season with Plum, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson and Dearica Hamby.
3. Atlanta Dream
The Dream pulled off arguably the most shocking free agency move when they signed Brittney Griner.
Atlanta also signed Brionna Jones and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.
It’ll be interesting, though, to see how new coach Karl Smesko integrates two non-shooting bigs into his offense after prioritizing shooting 3s during his 17 years at Florida Gulf Coast.
2. Phoenix Mercury
Griner might’ve left, but the Mercury overhauled their frontcourt by winning the Sabally sweepstakes.
As part of the four-team trade, Phoenix received not only the 6-foot-4 unicorn but also added forward Alyssa Thomas and center Kalani Brown.
There’s still some questions about the Mercury’s depth, but the way general manager Nick U’Ren retooled the roster despite Griner’s departure gave Phoenix the chance to make noise this season.
1. Indiana Fever
Indiana brought back its longest-tenured player, Kelsey Mitchell, but also surrounded its young core, featuring back-to-back Rookies of the Year Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, with seasoned veterans and proven winners.
DeWanna Bonner, Howard and Colson have won a combined seven WNBA titles.
Each player also addresses a need Indiana had and makes the Fever a potential 2025 title contender.
