2026 WNBA offseason, free agency tracker: Liberty re-sign stars on max deals; Fever extend Aaliyah Boston
Follow the latest deals as with the biggest free agency period in WNBA history underway
wayfinder-platform.cbssports.comHere’s a concise update on 2026 WNBA free agency as of mid-April 2026.
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Biggest moves and signs
- Aces star A’ja Wilson reportedly secured a three-year, $5 million supermax, the largest contract in league history, to stay with Las Vegas. This locks in their core and sets a high payroll benchmark for 2026. [ESPN/Charania reports cited in multiple trackers]
- Kelsey Plum agreed to re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks on a one-year deal below the supermax to provide payroll flexibility, aiming to help the team pursue other high-impact additions. [Shams/ESPN reporting]
- Arike Ogunbowale is signing a seven-figure, multiyear deal to return to the Dallas Wings, choosing a structure that supports roster-building around her. [ESPN Philippou reporting]
- Naz Hillmon re-signed with the Atlanta Dream on a multi-year deal, keeping the reigning Sixth Woman of the Year in Atlanta. [Kendra Andrews reporting]
- Jonquel Jones is expected to re-sign with the New York Liberty, continuing her key role alongside Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. [Jackie Powell reporting]
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Other notable developments
- Natisha Hiedeman was widely reported to be joining the Seattle Storm, adding backcourt playmaking depth to a team looking to compete in 2026. [Khristina Williams reporting]
- Free agency followed a new CBA framework, with expedited timing and a compressed off-season, culminating in signings around mid-April. This accelerated timing influenced several multi-year max deals and core retention moves. [ESPN/League coverage]
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Team-by-team snapshot (high level)
- Las Vegas Aces: retained core with Wilson; added salary flexibility elsewhere after reshaping the roster around her. [ESPN/Charania]
- Los Angeles Sparks: Plum’s return on a reduced one-year deal; aim to augment with additional star additions. [ESPN/Charania]
- Dallas Wings: Ogunbowale re-signing strengthens their star trio; roster-building around her continues. [ESPN Philippou]
- Atlanta Dream: Hillmon stays; defensive/size and guard depth likely priorities to complement her. [Kendra Andrews]
- New York Liberty: Jones return signals commitment to stability with their big three; depth pieces around them remain a focus. [Jackie Powell]
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How this could affect the season
- Core-star retention combined with strategic signings could push several teams into title contention, particularly if health aligns with the front offices’ payroll decisions. Expect ongoing reports on trades and late-week signings as teams finalize rosters ahead of the May season tip-off. [General tracker trend from multiple outlets]
Illustration (example)
- A visualization idea: a bar chart showing each team’s total projected 2026 payroll after free agency, with highlighted players who re-signed on max or near-max deals. This would help compare cap strategy and roster-building approaches across the league.
Would you like me to pull the latest verified signings and contract figures into a CSV for you, or generate a chart showing team-by-team payroll projections? I can also summarize how these moves impact each team’s title odds for 2026.
Citations: The above reflects live-tracker reporting from multiple outlets including ESPN, The Sporting News, CBS Sports, and USA Today covering 2026 WNBA free agency developments. [ESPN tracking reports and article summaries across multiple dates]