Your one-stop shop for all the big-name news from the 2022 WNBA Free Agency period, officially beginning February 1. Up until then, teams can talk to players, which began on January 15. This year, once again, there's a lot of big names in the pool, and free agency in this league usually gets pretty crazy, so buckle in!
last updated 2/4/22 at 9:30 pm
Sue Bird: Seattle Storm -> Seattle Storm
Not the biggest news that Bird would stay with the Storm- the more important part here is that she stayed in the league at all. After last season, there was a lot of talk about whether the 41-year-old would play another year, and for the first time, the player herself was expressing doubts. On January 7th, she announced that she would be returning to the Storm for her last season. A week later, on the 14th, the Storm confirmed the deal on Twitter. This was notably the day before teams are allowed to begin talking to players by the rules, and although the Tweets were quickly deleted, the Storm will be fined for tampering, possibly up to $300,000, which seems... steep, but rules are rules, I guess?
Tiffany Hayes: Atlanta Dream -> Atlanta Dream
Via Rachel Galligan (@RachGall on Twitter), Hayes is looking like she's staying with the Dream, for this season at least. As of now, there's no details on what the deal will be, but it seems to be in its final stages and will probably be announced when free agency officially begins on the 1st, three days from now. Hayes has been with Atlanta her whole career, since she was drafted 14th overall in 2012.
Sylvia Fowles: Minnesota Lynx -> Minnesota Lynx
Fowles will be staying with the Lynx for her 15th season in the league, which she announced on Instagram with the caption "HOME". It's her 8th season in Minnesota, and they will be very happy to see the reigning DPOY return. The 36-year-old was an unrestricted free agent, which means that she could have signed with any team, and her guaranteed return could mean another championship run for the Lynx. Neither the team nor the player has publicized the details of the contract. (NOW CONFIRMED BY TEAM- will be Fowles' last season in the league)
Angel McCoughtry: Las Vegas Aces -> Minnesota Lynx
Via Khristina Williams (@Khristina on Twitter), the five-time All-Star will be changing teams for the second time in her career. After a Finals run in the 2020 bubble season with the Aces, she was injured in preseason training for 2021 and missed the whole season. This is a similar situation to her departure from the Atlanta Dream, when she missed the entirety of the 2019 season through injury and was with the Aces for 2020. Approaching her 12th season in the league, she should be a huge asset to a Lynx team missing Napheesa Collier. The details of her contract are reported to be finalized, and will probably be publicized after February 1.
(NOW CONFIRMED BY TEAM)
Kiah Stokes: Las Vegas Aces -> Atlanta Dream
The Dream are making more moves here, signing Stokes after she spent some time in Las Vegas. Previously, she had spent her whole career with the New York Liberty, until she was waived midseason in 2021. An unnamed source in the league has confirmed this move, but details aren't available yet.
Jonquel Jones: Connecticut Sun -> Connecticut Sun
In one of the first publicized deals of this year's free agency period, the Sun have officially resigned 2021 league MVP Jones. She was one of only three players in the whole league designated by her team as "cored" going into free agency, which means that they think she is essential to the team's success and culture. Relevantly, this means that the Sun had exclusive rights to resign Jones, whether or not she wanted to leave. She'll obviously be a very large key to the success of this Connecticut team, who made it to the semifinals in 2021. No surprise that she's staying,but it should be interesting to see the details of her contract with the Sun, which hasn't been publicized yet.
Briann January: Connecticut Sun -> Seattle Storm
An unconfirmed move, but it was expected that January couldn't stay with Connecticut if they brough back Jonquel Jones. They're a team that is currently very close to their salary cap. Multiple sources have spoken about January's move, and seems to be another move by Seattle to secure a championship for Bird's last year. January has been on the WNBA All-Defense team six times, and won a championship in 2012 with the Sun. Her arrival in Seattle probably means the departure of Jordin Canada, who saw a loss of minutes in 2021 and probably won't fit under the salary cap anymore. (CONFIRMED BY TEAM - 2022 will be January's last season.)
Stefanie Dolson: Chicago Sky -> New York Liberty
Via Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings on Twitter), the Liberty start their free agency by signing Stef Dolson, a 6'5 New York native. Dolson won a championship with the Sky last year, and also a gold medal with the US women's 3x3 team at the Olympics. She'll add height to the Liberty's roster, and should allow some of their more offensive players to shine while she covers defensive roles.
Emma Meeseman: Washington Mystics -> Chicago Sky
The day after Chicago lost a big with Dolson, they got one back: Meeseman. At 6'4, she's only an inch shorter than Dolson and should cover a lot of the same roles. Terms of the contract haven't been publicized yet, but she will be the third Finals MVP on the Sky's roster, along with Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper. She's also used to being teammates with Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot; all three play together in Russia for UMMC Ekaterinburg. The terms of her contract are currently unknown.
Kahleah Copper: Chicago Sky -> Chicago Sky
Speaking of Finals MVPs, the Sky’s breakout player last year and Finals MVP Copper is reportedly (Chicago Sun Times) signing a multi-year contract with the Sky again. She was cored, and it’ll be massive for Chicago to keep her, given the fact that she started every game for them for the last two seasons. She’s absolutely integral to the team’s success. The terms of her contract have yet to be announced.
Breanna Stewart: Seattle Storm -> Seattle Storm
To the relief of Storm supports everywhere, Stewart will be spending at least one more season in yellow and green. Reported first by Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes on Twitter), the superstar will be coming back to the Storm on the supermax salary, $228k, on a one-year contract. Obviously keeping her was really important to the Storm, but the fact that after all of her talks with teams like New York, what does the fact that her contract only lasts a year mean? It'll be interesting to see what happens to Seattle after the departure of Bird at the end of this season.
A'ja Wilson: Las Vegas Aces -> Las Vegas Aces
The 2020 season MVP is "close to finalizing" a deal to return for her fifth season in Las Vegas. She was a restricted free agent for this free agency period, which means that the Aces had the first chances to talk to her and convince her to come back. It seems like she has a big potential to become a legacy player for Vegas, since she's already so important to them. Keeping her is a huge win, and an Aces team with Wilson at her peak like this will be an automatic title contender. (REPORTED BY @RACHGAL: Wilson signed with the Aces on a two-year, fully protected contract for $196k and $202k.)
Jewell Loyd: Seattle Storm -> Seattle Storm
The final member of the Storm's "big three" will be returning for the 2022 season. She was an unrestricted free agent, just like Stewart, and she also had talks with other teams. The Storm announced her return on February 1, the first day of the free agency, but there had been rumors circulating beforehand. It's looking like the Storm are building a really strong team for this season, but it feels painfully temporary. Loyd will help in any case, though. She was cored by Seattle and is frequently their most productive player, especially from three.
Arike Ogunbowale: Dallas Wings -> Dallas Wings
Ogunbowale wasn't a free agent this year, but big news nonetheless as she signed a contract extension with the Wings agreeing to play through 2025. If not for this, her contract, which is still a rookie contract, would have been over at the end of this 2022 season. Originally reported by Dorothy Gentry (@DorothyJGentry on Twitter), this shows Ogunbowale's obvious commitment to the team and their succes, and she'll be absolutely crucial to this young team if they're going to become championship contenders. She was the MVP of the 2021 All-Star game, and this extension will take her through her seventh year in the WNBA and with the Wings.
Rebecca Allen: New York Liberty -> New York Liberty
After waiving two young players, Jaz Jones and Neah Odom, to free up cap space earlier in the day, on February 4, the Liberty officially resigned Allen. According to Jackie Powell (@ClassicJpow on Twitter), the signing was a two-year protected deal for $141k the first year and $137k the second. It'll be her seventh year with the Liberty, and head coach Jonathan Kolb labeled getting her back as a "high priority" a few days ago, and lauded her as "vital" when announcing the re-signing.
Tina Charles: Washington Mystics -> Phoenix Mercury
Charles was the highest scorer of the 2021 WNBA season, and her signing is the most recent of a string of frankly insane acquisitions by the Mercury. She'll be slotting in a lineup with Diamond DeShields, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner (notably the second-highest scorer of 2021), and if that wasn't enough, possibly the greatest of all time Diana Taurasi. Charles took a significant pay cut to join Phoenix, from her previous $175k down to $108k, reported by Rachel Galligan (@RachGal on Twitter). The contract is for one year, Charles' 12th in the WNBA. It'll be supremely interesting to see how this 2022 Mercury team performs, but it'd be assumed that Charles could be nothing but a help.
Julie Allemand: Indiana Fever -> Chicago Sky
Diamond DeShields: Chicago Sky -> Phoenix Mercury
Bria Hartley: Phoenix Mercury -> Indiana Fever
Technically it's free agency news, because DeShields was a free agent. She'll be getting a fully protected, two-year deal with Phoenix for $150k and $154k. She was an All-Star in 2019 and won a championship with Chicago in 2021. She'll be part of the 100% All-Star lineup in Phoenix in 2022, with Charles, Diggins-Smith, Taurasi, and Griner. Allemand was a member of the All-Rookie team in 2020, and joins her fellow Belge, Meeseman, in Chicago. She'll be on a contract for $61k in 2022. Hartley had to go in order for Phoenix to build their superteam, because of salary cap space. Indiana will receive her in addition to four future draft picks.
Liz Cambage: Las Vegas Aces -> Los Angeles Sparks
Reportedly (via Holly Rowe, @sportsiren on Twitter) in talks with the Los Angeles Sparks. After reports of the Aces not expressing an interest in re-signing Cambage, the door has been open for teams, and it seems that the Sparks have agreed on a deal. According to Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne on Twitter), Cambage "verbally agreed" to a contract with Los Angeles. This move comes after a controversial Tweet made by Cambage about the disproportionate salaries for WNBA players vs coaches, which concerned the current Aces coach.
Courtney Vandersloot: Chicago Sky -> Chicago Sky
Holly Rowe reported during the WNBA Free Agency special on ESPN that the Chicago Sky, Vandersloot's current team, gave her a "disrespectful" offer, and she's considering an offer from her team in Europe, UMMC Ekaterinburg, who wants to pay her to sit out of the 2022 WNBA season. Vandersloot is widely regarded as one of the best point guards in the league, so this would be a huge loss. (Via Khristina Williams [@Khristina on Twitter], both Vandersloot and her wife Quigley are now likely to be in Chicago for 2022.)
Jordin Canada: Seattle Storm -> Los Angeles Sparks
Canada, a Los Angeles native, will be returning home after the Storm rescinded her qualifying offer this past week. Seattle ran out of cap space, especially after adding Briann January to their roster. Canada would have been third or fourth down the PG list at Seattle, so a move has seemed imminent for a while. Her deal with Los Angeles is reportedly for one year.
Crystal Bradford: Atlanta Dream -> Chicago Sky
Reportedly agreed to a training camp contract with the Sky.
Layshia Clarendon: Minnesota Lynx -> Minnesota Lynx
Reportedly agreed to a contract.
Sophie Cunningham: Phoenix Mercury -> Phoenix Mercury
Reportedly agreed to a contract.
Kiah Stokes: Las Vegas Aces -> Atlanta Dream
Reportedly agreed to a contract.
Elizabeth Williams: Atlanta Dream -> Washington Mystics
Reportedly agreed to a one-year contract.
Myisha Hines-Allen: Washington Mystics -> Washington Mystics
Reportedly agreed to a multi-year contract.
Mercedes Russell: Seattle Storm -> Seattle Storm
Reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with $160k per year.
Te'a Cooper: Los Angeles Sparks -> Los Angeles Sparks
Signed training camp contract.
Nia Coffey: Los Angeles Sparks -> Atlanta Dream
Reportedly agreed to a multi-year, six-figure deal.
Tianna Hawkins: Atlanta Dream -> Washington Mystics
Officially signed with the Mystics, details unreleased.
Courtney Williams: Connecticut Sun -> Connecticut Sun
Reportedly signed for one fully protected year for $103k.
Emma Cannon: Indiana Fever -> Indiana Fever
Re-signed with the Fever on a multi-year contract.
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough: Washington Mystics -> Washington Mystics
Re-signed for her fifth season in the league, and second consecutive in DC.
Riquna Williams: Las Vegas Aces -> Las Vegas Aces
Re-signed for her second year with the Aces.
Lindsay Allen: Indiana Fever -> Indiana Fever
Re-signed on a one-year contract.
Monique Billings: Atlanta Dream -> Atlanta Dream
Re-signed for her fifth year with the Dream and in the league.
Stephanie Talbot: Seattle Storm -> Seattle Storm
Re-signed on a one-year deal for $72k, per Em Adler (@em_adler on Twitter).
Kia Nurse: Phoenix Mercury -> Phoenix Mercury
Was a restricted free agent, re-signed on an undisclosed deal.
Check back here for all the updates!