Welcome! 🎉 In an effort to stop spamming my friends with constant women’s basketball updates, I’ve created this newsletter. I know—so generous of me. No need to thank me! I’m here to keep you informed on most things WBB.

Table of Contents

• WNBA News

• Team by Team Updates

  • Atlanta Dream

  • Chicago Sky

  • Dallas Wings

  • Golden State Valkyries

  • Indiana Fever

  • Las Vegas Aces

  • Los Angeles Sparks

  • Minnesota Lynx

  • New York Liberty

  • Phoenix Mercury

  • Seattle Storm

  • Washington Mystics

  • More Free Agency Updates

• Unrivaled: Mini Updates

• Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball

• Liberty Corner: You Mind If I Wild Out?

• Hoops & Hype: Media Picks

  • Film Session: WBB Highlights & Insights 📽️

  • On Air: The WBB Podcast Rundown 🎙️

  • Booked & Busy: WBB Reads 👓

  • Drip Report 💧

WNBA News

Free agency kicked off on January 21st, allowing teams to begin negotiating with free agents. However, no deals can be officially signed until February 1st. This also means that Draft picks are now eligible for trade as well.

While we've already seen some significant moves, official announcements are delayed. Only Cored players signed at the supermax and those who have received qualifying offers can finalize their deals before February 1st.

The WNBA also dropped a comprehensive guide detailing the full list of unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents, cored players, reserved players, and signed reserved players.

Team by Team Updates

Atlanta Dream

• The Atlanta Dream has been making some very fun moves lately! First, they signed Shatoria Walker-Kimbro on a one-year contract. It looks like UFA Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is looking at Vegas for her next move.

• The biggest move yet and the surprise of the off-season belongs to the Dream with the signing of free agent Brittney Griner. This will be the first time BG has played anywhere other than Phoneix

• Announced today (1/30) Brionna Jones will be joining the Atlanta Dream! an 8-season vet, this will be her first time playing for another team.

• • Lorela Cubaj, Maya Caldwell (Accepted)

Chicago Sky

The Chicago Sky have reunited with their hometown hero and former Liberty guard, Courtney Vandersloot. She’s looking for a starting role and the chance to retire at home—a move that makes perfect sense. While her deal won’t be official until February 1st, we can expect more moves as the signing period opens, especially with the last major free agent domino, Satou Sabally, still in play.

The Sky did not approach Chennedy Carter and they have parted ways

• Qualifying Offers

  • Dana Evans, Michaela Onyenwere, Nikolina Milić

Connecticut Sun

We all knew the Sun would look drastically different this year, as their star players—DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones, and Alyssa Thomas—are all free agents. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, the Sun have reached the semifinals or finals every year for the past six years but have never been able to get over the hump. After seeing Jonquel Jones leave for the New York Liberty and make back-to-back Finals appearances—culminating in a long-awaited championship—there’s no doubt that Sun players were eager to explore opportunities with other teams.

After having to share their gym with a two-year-old’s birthday party while preparing for the playoffs, Alyssa Thomas made her frustration clear. Knowing she would likely leave, the Sun used their core designation on her to ensure they got something in return (DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones were ineligible to be cored, as they had already been cored twice). The news finally dropped on Tuesday (1/29/25), revealing that Alyssa Thomas would be heading to the Phoenix Mercury along with Ty Harris. (Getting a point guard was a smart move by Coach "Girl Dad.")

After spending her entire career in Connecticut, I know sis is going to love the incredible facilities the Mercury have.

Dear Mohegan Tribe, time is up for broke owners! It’s time to upgrade your facilities.

It’s hard not to feel for Marina Mabrey, who left the Chicago Sky last season to avoid another rebuild—only to find herself in the same situation again. Before that, she was in Dallas facing a similar challenge.

Meanwhile, with Connecticut recently hiring the head coach of the Belgian national team, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Emma Meesseman join him and become the centerpiece of their rebuild. If the Sun commit to a full rebuild, it’ll be interesting to see if Mabrey once again seeks a trade.

• Qualifying Offers

  • Dijonai Carrington has been exploring other options as well, meeting with teams like the Chicago Sky. However, she is a restricted free agent, which means that if Connecticut matches any offer she receives from another team, she will remain with the Sun.

  • Caitlin Bickle accepted her qualifying offer

Dallas Wings

The Wings are having an interesting off-season where more questions remain than answers.

Satou Sabally, a free agent this year, has made it clear that she has played her last game for Dallas. Subsequently, the Wings used their core designation on her. She has revealed that she is meeting with the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty, but it’s very obvious that Brooklyn is her preferred destination.

She was born in Brooklyn, her sister(Nyara) and former college teammate (Sabrina) plays for the Liberty, she plays for Unrivaled—a league founded by Liberty star Breanna Stewart—and she traveled with the team throughout their entire playoff run. That news should be coming VERY soon.

Dallas is also said to be meeting with Oydessy Sims who has played with them on multiple hardship contracts, as well as DeWanna Bonner.

• Qualifying Offers

  • Jaelyn Brown( accepted), Sevgi Uzun(Accepted)

Golden State Valkyries

Not much action in the Bay Area just yet, but the Golden State expansion team made a key move as Monique Billings, a free agent selected in the expansion draft, officially signed a one-year deal. She is officially the Golden State Valkyries’ first-ever player!

• Qualifying Offers

  • Temi Fagbenle, Cecilia Zandalasini, Julie Vanloo, Veronica Burton

Indiana Fever

Not all is bad since the Fever learned that Satou was NOT interested in going to Indiana. Meanwhile, star guard Kelsey Mitchell accepted her core designation and, because she officially signed before February 1st, secured the supermax contract of $248,244. Holy Moley Cannoli. (For comparison, Breanna Stewart likely hasn’t signed her core deal yet because she’s expected to take a pay cut rather than the supermax, allowing the Liberty more flexibility to add players.)

Now, the big question: How will the Fever build around Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston? I have more thoughts on why we aren’t seeing a lot of stars or free agents consider Indiana despite having Caitlin Clark. But I’ll save the messy thoughts for February.

Las Vegas Aces

The Aces’ core four is officially no more! Kelsey Plum made it clear she wanted to explore other teams and was cored by the Aces. She was then traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Jewell Loyd and the 2025 13th pick. Not a bad haul.

A lot of folks criticize Jewell for being in a bit of a rut since Stewie and Sue Bird left in 2023, but I think she has a ton of potential to shine with the Aces—especially playing alongside A’ja, Jackie, and Chelsea. Either way, it's still Libs in 4.

The Aces had been considering a trade for BG, but now with the addition of Jewell Loyd, they’re looking at free agent Cheyenne Parker-Tyus from Atlanta as a potential big to pair with A’ja. However, with Loyd’s arrival, Tiff Hayes's return to the Aces is no longer a given—Tiff is actively exploring her options.

Los Angeles Sparks

In a blockbuster trade, the LA Sparks received Kelsey Plum, the #9th pick in the 2025 Draft and a second-round 2026 pick. They traded their #2 Draft Pick and Li Yueru to the Seattle Storm. A reunion for former teammates and besties Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum.

This will be a very interesting squad once Cam Brink comes back. All they need now is a point guard.

Minnesota Lynx

Not much has come out about Minny’s off-season moves. We did see Cheryl fly out to Turkey to meet with free agents like Tina Charles who is currently playing overseas for the Turkish Superteam, Fenerbahce. It will be fun to see what Cheryl has up her sleeves.

Myisha Hines-Allen is reportedly not returning to Minnesota and will be deciding between LA, Dallas, and Phoenix. I am not sure if folks recalled but she was benched during the Finals because she was a complete nonfactor on offense. JJ and Stewie were feasting when she was out there. As a Liberty fan, I loved it. But, I can see why the Lynx decided to move on. My guess is we will see Tina in Minny.

New York Liberty

I AM STRESSED. It was a given that we would lose Vandersloot after she was benched during the Liberty’s Finals run. I fully support the Champ going back home to Chicago to retire.

What has me the most nervous is the cost of signing Satou. There’s no doubt she would strengthen NY’s chances for a repeat, but at what price? GM Jonathan Kolb certainly isn’t trading Leonie Fiebich—he scouted her for four years before signing her, and she played a crucial role in securing the Liberty’s first championship. Kayla Thornton has already been taken by Golden State in the expansion draft. Stewie, Sab, and JJ are all off-limits.

That leaves… Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. And I cannot bear the thought of losing both KT and B in the same offseason. That would be a devastating blow to the fans, the culture, and the team’s chemistry. B’s defensive presence is miles ahead of Satou’s, and she’s the reason we won Game 2 of the Finals. She joined Sabrina in 2021 to help revitalize this franchise—and together, they did what they came here to do: win a championship. But that’s exactly why Dallas would ask for her.

I trust the front office, but I am not okay with losing Betnijah. I’d rather pass on Satou and set our sights on Gabby Williams, who was cored by the Seattle Storm. But there’s a reason I’m not a GM. I don’t like change (lol), but I understand it’s necessary—especially when every other team is retooling specifically to beat us next year.

• Qualifying Offers

  • Jaylyn Sherrod (accepted), Marine Johannès, Rebekah Gardner (accepted), Ivana Dojkić

Phoenix Mercury

Let me tell you something, y’all—the Mercury are messy as hell for trading Natasha Cloud, LOL. I mean, that woman loved playing there. She loved the facility, she was practically their spokesperson. She even went into Unrivaled saying she’d recruit free agents, and now look—she recruited herself all the way to Uncasville.

To acquire Alyssa Thomas and Ty Harris, the Phoenix Mercury traded Natasha Cloud, Rebekah Allen (welcome back!), and the 12th pick in the 2025 draft. This was probably a no-brainer for Phoenix, especially since Cloud’s performance last season was just okay. But man, what a blow. She went from private chefs to practicing in gyms with kids' birthday parties.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Natasha gets traded again because, honestly, sis doesn’t seem like she wants to be out there.

Oh, and as BG heads to Atlanta, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Diana Taurasi doesn’t retire before the season starts. Thanks for changing the game, DT.

Qualifying Offers: Natasha Mack (accepted), Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Amy Atwell, Natasha Mack, Celeste Taylor(Accepted)

Seattle Storm

After a clash between Skylar, the coaching staff, the front office, Jewell requested a trade out of Seattle. Similar to Brittney Griner, Jewell was drafted by the Storm and played a key role in securing two championships. However, her challenges began with Breanna Stewart's departure and Sue Bird’s retirement. In 2023, despite Jewell leading the league in scoring, the team tumbled to the bottom of the standings. Meanwhile, a newly formed superteam was eliminated in the first round by the Aces—capped off by a brutal fourth quarter where they were held to zero field goals and managed only two free throws.

• CORED: Gabby Williams

Washington Mystics

The Mystics are out another key player as Shatori Walker-Kimbrough signs a 1-year deal with the Atlanta Dream. Who knows what the Mystics are doing tbh! rebuild? retool? I guess we will find out starting Saturday.

• Qualifying Offers

  • Emily Engstler, Sug Sutton, Bernadett Határ

More Free Agency Updates

• UFA Oydessy Sims is set to meet with the Sparks and the Dallas Wings. I’m no GM, but the Liberty needs to be meeting with sis too, IMO

• Players to watch: Natasha Howard, Isabelle Harrison, Tina Charles, Chennedy Carter, and international players like Emma Meesseman.

• Full list of free agents

• Track transitions and trades with Across The Timeline

Unrivaled: Mini Updates

Quick Refresher:

What is it? Unrivaled is a 3-on-3 full-court league where WNBA stars can play as an alternative to playing overseas. The league will be based in Miami for the 2025 season.

Who is playing? In an IMPOSSIBLY LONG AND DRAWN OUT REVEAL, Unrirvaled revealed their 36-players, 6 team rosters. https://www.unrivaled.basketball/clubs 

Ways to Watch: TNT Sports has acquired the broadcast rights, and will show Monday and Friday games on TNT and Saturday games on truTV. All games will be available for streaming on Max. 

1 on 1: There will be a 1 on 1 competition! Not all players are doing it but you can find more info here

Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball

This year, AU will be based in Nashville with a Tip-off on February 5th at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Tickets are affordable and you can find them HERE.

Here is the full roster for AU

How to watch? FULL SCHEDULE

• 14 games will be broadcast live for FREE on the WNBA APP

• Fanduel Sports Network (formerly Bally Sports) will carry 14 games

• 10 games will be on ESPN+

Week One Capitans have been announced: Isabelle Harrison, Syd Colson, Evina Westbrook, Kiersten Bell

Additional AU Updates:

Liberty Corner: You Mind If I Wild Out?

My Lil’ Liberty Fan Section 🙂‍↕️

Stewie is back at it again dropping emoji hints. I wonder what the tea will be

Que got a street named after her in her hometown!

Jaylyn For AU Basketball Media Day

Nyara for Wslam

Jonquel is still my favorite lmfao

Hoops & Hype: Media Picks

Check out some of the cool podcasts, videos, reads, and fashion I saw this week.

Dearica Hamby has her hearing for her discrimination suit against the Las Vegas Aces. I think she has been dropping hints

Film Session: WBB Highlights & Insights 📽️

Unrivaled coach Teresa Weatherspoon speaks on league, career

Strip Club Rules, 'Unrivaled' Perks & Big Bro Steph Curry | EP 1

Napheesa Collier and Taylor Rooks

Chelsea Gray on Rivlary with Liberty, 'Point Gawd' Nickname with Candace Parker | Trophy Room, Ep. 3

On Air: The WBB Podcast Rundown 🎙️

• The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show: Rachid Meziane’s journey to the WNBA

• In Case You Missed It With Khristina Williams: Fever/Dream: Lexie Hull and Allisha Gray

• A Touch More with Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe: Blockbuster WNBA Trades & Unpacking Unrivaled Ratings

• Full Circle with Lexie Brown & Mariah Rose: Taking Back the Game

Booked & Busy: WBB Reads 👓

Bill- I hate Gay and Black people- Haslam is really trying to own a WNBA team lmfao. Anyway, I love the thought of a Nashville WNBA team!

Drip Report 💧