A 2025 WNBA Offseason Primer

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertOctober 18, 2024
© USA TODAY Sports

As the 2024 WNBA season comes to a close, Spotrac is flipping the switch to the 2025 offseason, highlighting current roster details and pending free agents for each team heading toward the winter months.

RELATED: 2025 WNBA Cap Tracker

Roster & Financials Notables

  • The league salary cap for the upcoming 2025 season is $1,507,100, a $44,000 increase from last year. Teams must also spend to a minimum $1,261,400 floor for next season.
  • Rosters must be constructed of at least 11, but no more than 12 players during the season.
  • “Training Camp” contracts & first year rookie contract salaries do not count against the salary cap until the first day of the regular season.
  • Per the CBA these are the minimum salaries for the upcoming season:
    0-2 Years of Service: $66,079
    3+ Years of Service: $78,831
    Maximum Salary: $214,466
    Super-Maximum Salary: $249,244

    RELATED: WNBA CBA Notables

Free Agents Notables

  • Reserved/Exclusive Rights free agents have been tendered a qualifying offer and can only negotiate with their current team.
  • Restricted free agents may negotiate an offer sheet with other WNBA teams, but the current team has the right to match.
  • Unrestricted free agents may negotiate with any WNBA team.
  • Teams may re-sign their free agents to a maximum of 4 years, while the maximum contract for a player joining a new team is 3 years in length.

    RELATED: 2025 WNBA Free Agents

The Golden State Valkyries

The newest member of the WNBA family joins in 2025, with an expansion draft set for December 6th. Each WNBA team can protect a maximum of 6 players who were on their roster on the final day of the regular season. Golden State may select a player under contract, or a pending free agent from each of the 12 teams, and may also flip selected players to other franchises to acquire other assets.

Still TBD: When are protection lists due? Which spot will Golden State draft next April?

New York Liberty

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 3rd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Breanna Stewart (F, 30), Courtney Vandersloot (G, 35), Kennedy Burke (G, 27), Ivana Dojkic (G, 26, Exclusive Rights), Jaylyn Sherrod (G, 22, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 7/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $586,923

The 2025 offseason conversation begins and ends with Breanna Stewart, who heads back to the open market this winter. Stewart took a slightly less than maximum $205,000 salary last season to help the team remain competitive. Will she be willing to do it again? A super-max-salary for Stewart in 2025 ($249,244) would nearly cut the LIberty’s available cap space in half, making it difficult to fill out the remaining 4-5 roster spots with any kind of substance. Regardless, it’s tough to imagine the most balanced, well-coached teams in the league doing too much to damage this roster going forward - especially with a few other contending teams potentially sliding backwards.

Minnesota Lynx

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd, 2nd (from CHI), 3rd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Myisha Hines-Allen (F, 28), Natisha Hiedeman (G, 27), Cecilia Zandalasini (F, 28, Exclusive Rights), Olivia Epoupa (G, 30, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 8/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $401,278

Arguably the best overall roster in the league on paper, the Lynx have a large majority of their team under contract for the 2025 season. With 1st & two 2nd Rd Picks under their belt, don’t be surprised if Minnesota makes one, aggressive, splashy move this offseason to try to separate themselves from the likes of NY, CON, LV next season.

Connecticut Sun

2025 Draft Picks: 2nd (from NYL)
Option Players: None
Notable Free Agents: Alyssa Thomas (F, 32), Brionna Jones (C, 28), DeWanna Bonner (F, 37), Tiffany Mitchell (G, 30), Astou Ndour (C, 30), DiJonai Carrington (G, 26, Restricted), Veronica Burton (G, 24, Exclusive Rights), Caitlin Bickle (F, 24, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 3/12
Protected Veterans: 1/6
Offseason Cap Space: $1,116,264

The Sun mortgaged quite a bit of capital to acquire Marina Mabrey this July, and had moments where they were the most complete team in the league this past season. A nosedive down the stretch led to a semifinal exit in the postseason, but now the fun begins. This is a roster with 3 contracts on it at the time of this piece (only Mabrey protected), setting up a flourish of offseason decisions. It’s rational to assume that a “mini-rebuild” is in order here, especially as it pertains to getting younger, but that won’t be coming via the draft this April. The Sun only possess NY’s 2nd round pick, putting the onus on the front office to work their magic in free agency in order to keep this franchise contending in 2025.

Las Vegas Aces

2025 Draft Picks: 2nd, 2nd (from WSH), 3rd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Kelsey Plum (G, 30), Alysha Clark (F, 37), Tiffany Hayes (G, 35), Sydney Colson (G, 35), Queen Egbo (C, 24, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 7/12
Protected Veterans: 4/6
Offseason Cap Space: $587,925

The Aces fell short in their bid for a 3-peat, but remained one of the most dangerous teams in the league despite a bit of inconsistency this past season. League A'ja Wilson & 27-year-old G Jackie Young are locked up through 2025, but the biggest question (possibly in the entire league) this offseason comes with Kelsey Plum. Las Vegas has the core contract available, locking her in for one season, but any type of (worthy) max extension for the 30-year-old will immediately drain the financial resources for the Aces this winter. 

Indiana Fever

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Option Players: None
Notable Free Agents: Kelsey Mitchell (G, 28), Erica Wheeler (G, 33), Temi Fagbenle (C, 32, Restricted)
Players Under Contract: 9/12
Protected Veterans: 2/6
Offseason Cap Space: $657,639

Well that went well. The young core of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, & Lexie Hull quickly developed into one of the better offensive units in the league. But Clark’s immediate success goes hand in hand with the continued development of Kelsey Mitchell, who figures to be one of the top free agents this offseason. Indiana may need to drop a salary to afford Mitchell’s return, and it might take a core contract to keep her in the mix.

Phoenix Mercury

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Diana Taurasi (G, 42), Brittney Griner (C, 34), Monique Billings (F, 28), Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (F, 26, Exclusive Rights), Natasha Mack (F, 26, Exclusive Rights), Charisma Osborne (G, 23, Exclusive Rights), Amy Atwell (F, 26, Exclusive Rights).
Players Under Contract: 4/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $798,966

The Mercury hung tough for much of 2024 but didn’t have the offensive firepower to stay with the top teams in the league last season. Now they’re faced with the task of needing to potentially replace Taurasi & Griner - while also adding size and depth to a roster that requires at least 7 more players right now. It’s a big draft for Phoenix, and the notion of trading a player for additional picks could very much be on the table here.

Seattle Storm

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd (from WSH)
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Nneka Ogwumike (F, 34), Gabby Williams (F, 28), Mercedes Russell (C, 29), Sami Whitcomb (G, 36), Victoria Vivians (G, 29), Joyner Holmes (F, 26)
Players Under Contract: 5/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $712,377

Seattle pieced together a much improved roster in 2024, including the late addition of Gabby Williams post-Olympics, but her status, along with Nneka Ogwumike, is very much up in the air. The Storm have at least 6 roster spots to fill this offseason, so offering max salaries may prove difficult in the overall landscape of building out a deep enough team to contend.

Atlanta Dream

2025 Draft Picks: 2nd, 3rd
Option Players: None
Notable Free Agents: Cheyenne Parker (F, 32), Aerial Powers (F, 30), Tina Charles (C, 35), Maya Caldwell (G, 25, Exclusive Rights), Lorela Cubaj (F, 25, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 8/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $644,298

The Dream finished off 2024 strong, sliding into the postseason after a rough start. Alongside Jordin Canada & Allisha Gray, youngster Rhyne Howard appears to be a core player to build around, and the Dream will be looking to do just that as they flip over a few older pieces this offseason. Though replacing Tina Charles (if she decides not to return) will be much easier said than done.

Washington Mystics

2025 Draft Picks: Two 1sts (1 from Atlanta), 2nd
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (G, 29), Emily Engstler (F, 24, Exclusive Rights), Sug Sutton (G, 25, Exclusive Rights), Julie Vanloo (G, 31, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 8/12
Protected Veterans: 4/6
Offseason Cap Space: $523,340

Washington got off to a spectacular 0-12 start last season, putting them in a hole they never crawled out of. If the core is healthy, they’re a contending team, but health has been an issue over the past few seasons. The Mystics lack a true playmaking point guard, their biggest priority this offseason.

Chicago Sky

2025 Draft Picks: Their own 1st could be swapped with Dallas. Also own the rights to Connecticut’s 1st.
Option Players: None.
Notable Free Agents: Isabelle Harrison (F, 31), Brianna Turner (F, 28), Diamond DeShields (G, 29), Chennedy Carter (G, 25, Restricted), Michaela Onyenwere (F, 25, Restricted), Dana Evans (G, 26, Restricted), Nina Milic (F, 30, Exclusive Rights)
Players Under Contract: 6/12
Protected Veterans: 2/6
Offseason Cap Space: $923,625

Despite a blossoming young core, the Sky hold 7 free agents (3 restricted) that could very much change the outlook of this team going forward. Dallas has the ability to swap lottery picks with Chicago, virtually ensuring they won’t be drafting #1 overall this April. The Sky need to aggressively seek 3-Point shooting this winter. 

Dallas Wings

2025 Draft Picks: 1st (potential swap), 2nd, 3rd
Option Players: None
Notable Free Agents: Natasha Howard (F, 33), Satou Sabally (F, 26), Jaelyn Brown (G, 26, reserved), Sevgi Uzun (G, 26, reserved)
Players Under Contract: 7/12
Protected Veterans: 3/6
Offseason Cap Space: $611,573

The Wings have a league-high 45.4% chance of winning the lottery thanks to a pick-swap they acquired from the Chicago Sky in last year’s Marina Mabrey trade. Injuries held back this team in 2024, but that might not stop Dallas from aggressively overhauling a large portion of this roster over the next few months.

Los Angeles Sparks

2025 Draft Picks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd (potential CHI 3rd based on lottery results)
Option Players: Li Yueru ($74,019, reserved free agent)
Notable Free Agents: Kia Nurse (G, 28), Aari McDonald (G, 26)
Players Under Contract: 10/12
Protected Veterans: 4/6
Offseason Cap Space: $345,930

The Sparks have a 44.2% chance of winning the #1 overall pick, which likely means the addition of Paige Bueckers for the foreseeable future, and a legitimate young core when including Cameron Brink & Rickea Jackson to move forward with.


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