2026 WNBA Season Preview: A New Era Begins

The 2026 WNBA season, the league's 30th, begins on May 8 following a compressed offseason that included a new collective bargaining agreement, an expansion draft, and a flurry of free agency moves.

The Dallas Wings selected University of Connecticut guard Azzi Fudd with the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, which took place on April 14. The draft and subsequent transactions have reshaped team rosters significantly, with two new expansion franchises—the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo—entering the league.

The 2026 WNBA Draft

The draft, held on April 14, consisted of three rounds and 45 selections. The Dallas Wings, who finished the 2025 season with a 10-34 record, held the first overall pick and selected Azzi Fudd.

First Round Selections

Notable Trade

• The Seattle Storm acquired the draft rights to No. 8 pick Flau'jae Johnson from the Golden State Valkyries in exchange for the rights to Marta Suarez and a 2028 second-round pick.

Records and Context

Azzi Fudd is the seventh UConn player to be drafted first overall in WNBA history. She will reunite with former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers, who was selected first overall by the Wings in the 2025 draft, marking the fifth time in WNBA history a team has held the first overall pick in consecutive years.

UCLA set a WNBA draft record with five players selected in the first round. The university won the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship prior to the draft.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the first overall pick will receive a base salary of $500,000.

Team Transactions and Roster Changes

The offseason saw significant player movement via free agency and trades. The following is a summary of key additions and departures for each team.

Atlanta Dream

• Acquired Angel Reese via trade with the Chicago Sky for future first-round picks
• Added Madina Okot (draft) and Isobel Borlase
• Lost Brittney Griner (to Connecticut), Nia Coffey, and Maya Caldwell
• Team core of Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, and Bri Jones remain under contract through at least 2027

Chicago Sky

• Added Skylar Diggins, Azurá Stevens, Rickea Jackson, DiJonai Carrington, Jacy Sheldon
• Drafted Gabriela Jaquez
• Lost Angel Reese (to Atlanta), Ariel Atkins (to Los Angeles), Michaela Onyenwere, Rebecca Allen
• Re-signed Courtney Vandersloot, Rachel Banham, and Elizabeth Williams

Connecticut Sun

• Added Brittney Griner, Kennedy Burke
• Drafted Nell Angloma and Gianna Kneepkens
• Lost Marina Mabrey (expansion draft) and Tina Charles

Dallas Wings

• Drafted Azzi Fudd first overall
• Signed Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard
• Added Lindsay Allen and Awak Kuier
• Extended Arike Ogunbowale's contract
• Lost Luisa Geiselsöder, Haley Jones, and Ty Harris

Golden State Valkyries

• Signed Gabby Williams to a maximum contract
• Added Marta Suárez and Kiah Stokes
• Lost Carla Leite (expansion draft)

Indiana Fever

• Added Raven Johnson (draft), Monique Billings, and Myisha Hines-Allen
• Lost Natasha Howard (to Minnesota) and Chloe Bibby

Las Vegas Aces

• Re-signed Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, and Jackie Young
• Added Janiah Barker (draft), Stephanie Talbot, Brianna Turner, and Chennedy Carter
• Lost Megan Gustafson, Kiah Stokes, and Aaliyah Nye

Los Angeles Sparks

• Acquired Ariel Atkins from Chicago
• Re-signed Nneka Ogwumike
• Added Ta'Niya Latson (draft) and Erica Wheeler
• Lost Azurá Stevens, Rickea Jackson, and Julie Allemand

Minnesota Lynx

• Drafted Olivia Miles second overall
• Signed Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey
• Lost Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, Natisha Hiedeman, Bridget Carlton, DiJonai Carrington, and Maria Kliundikova
• Napheesa Collier is expected to miss the start of the season due to ankle surgery

New York Liberty

• Added Satou Sabally, Rebecca Allen, Raquel Carrera, and Pauline Astier
• Hired new head coach Chris DeMarco
• Lost Kennedy Burke, Nyara Sabally (expansion draft), and Isabelle Harrison

Phoenix Mercury

• Added Valériane Ayayi
• Lost Satou Sabally, Kitija Laksa, and Lexi Held

Portland Fire (Expansion)

• Added Megan Gustafson
• Drafted Iyana Martín Carrión

Seattle Storm

• Drafted Awa Fam third overall
• Acquired Flau'jae Johnson via trade
• Signed Natisha Hiedeman and Stefanie Dolson
• Lost Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, Skylar Diggins, and Erica Wheeler
• Hired new head coach Sonia Raman

Toronto Tempo (Expansion)

• Added Brittney Sykes
• Signed Isabelle Harrison
• Drafted Kiki Rice

Washington Mystics

• Added Michaela Onyenwere, Lauren Betts, Cotie McMahon, and Angela Dugalić (all via draft)
• Traded Jacy Sheldon to Chicago
• Lost Sug Sutton and Emily Engstler

Remaining Free Agents

As of the reporting, the following notable players were reported as not having signed with a team:

• Natasha Cloud
• Tina Charles
• Emma Meesseman
• Tiffany Hayes
• Temi Fágbénlé

Notable Facts and Context

• The 2026 season marks the WNBA's 30th anniversary
• The league ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, increasing rookie salaries and roster spots leaguewide to 210 for the 2026 season
• An expansion draft was held prior to the regular season for the new Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo franchises
• The regular season begins May 8 with a triple-header: Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty, Washington Mystics at Toronto Tempo, and Golden State Valkyries at Seattle Storm
• The opening night schedule also includes a May 9 game between the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever, which will feature four former No. 1 draft picks: Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Aliyah Boston