• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 25, 2025
Tuned In returns to NYC on September 16. Hear from the biggest names in sports media. Click here to get your spot
exclusive
Athletes

WNBA Cutdown Deadline Could Spur Deals for DeWanna Bonner, Emma Meesseman

The two big-name free agents could find their WNBA homes in July.

Dewanna Bonner
Grace Smith – Imagn Images

The WNBA’s midseason cutdown date is fast approaching, and free agent forwards DeWanna Bonner and Emma Meesseman will factor in decisions for several teams.

All 13 WNBA teams have until July 13, 24 hours before the midpoint of the season, to waive any players on unprotected contracts—which come with no guaranteed money, meaning a team can waive them at any point without penalty. After that date those contracts become fully guaranteed. 

According to multiple league sources, the interest in Meeseman—who is considering a return to the WNBA but has not definitively made up her mind—extends across the league but contenders like the Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, and even the Phoenix Mercury have the best shot at landing the 2019 Finals MVP. There was an expectation around the league that Bonner would end up in Phoenix, according to multiple sources, but at this point discussions around signing the two-time WNBA champion include multiple teams. 

Bonner is a two-time WNBA champion and six time All-Star, but she’s at the tail end of her career. Meesseman, meanwhile, is a Finals MVP fresh off a EuroBasket title run during which she averaged 19.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists. 

It’s unusual for two high-level WNBA players to be available as unrestricted free agents at this point in the season. 

Bonner signed a one-year, $200,000 unprotected contract with the Fever in February, but after nine games—and a benching—she determined it wasn’t a fit. The team designated her unavailable due to “personal reasons” for a stretch of five games from June 10 to June 24 before waiving her on June 25. After a 48-hour period, Bonner cleared the waiver wire, making her an unrestricted free agent. 

Meesseman, meanwhile, never signed with a team during free agency. She hasn’t played in the WNBA since 2022, when she signed with the Sky for one year valued at $185,000. She has been vocal about her issues with the WNBA’s prioritization rule, which forces veterans like herself to prioritize the league over their international commitments. The rule requires players with more than two years of WNBA experience to report to their respective WNBA teams by training camp or May 1—whichever date is later—or face a full season suspension. 

Every year presents unique challenges for players depending on the international schedule. This year, WNBA teams had a number of players deciding whether or not to compete with their national teams in EuroBasket from June 18 to June 29 and other tournaments like the AmeriCup and the Asia Cup.

The New York Liberty, for example, temporarily suspended forward Leonie Fiebich for a seven-game stretch as she competed with Germany in EuroBasket. The Golden State Valkyries took this same approach with forwards Temi Fágbénlé, Cecilia Zandalasini and Janelle Salaün who competed for their respective national teams in EuroBasket. The same goes for the Los Angeles Sparks and guard Julie Allemand. (The prioritization rule didn’t apply to them because they either arrived to training camp on time or have less than two years of WNBA experience.)

The WNBA allows teams to sign players to varied replacement contracts throughout the season when active players are unavailable or injured. But as those players return—in this case from EuroBasket—replacement players must be waived. EuroBasket officially ended Sunday which is why the WNBA transaction page has been active with players being waived as others return from international competition. 

As the July 13th cut down date gets closer, players waived could be an indicator of a more significant move by teams to sign Bonner or Meesseman. 

The Lynx currently have the least amount of cap space with $6,354 available according to HerHoopStats.com. The Liberty are working with $119,394 and the Mercury have $69,779 worth of cap space. 

Both Meesseman and Bonner could sign for the veteran minimum which is valued at $78,831 for one season. But that would also require the team signing them to be under the league maximum of 12-rostered players. All three aforementioned teams are at capacity in terms of roster spots.

If Meesseman is seriously considering a return to the WNBA then the sweepstakes to sign her could interfere with a team—including the Mercury—signing Bonner first. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

CJ McCollum

CJ McCollum Calls NBA CBA He Helped Negotiate ‘Not Perfect’ 

McCollum was the NBA players’ union president from 2021 until June 2025. 
Jul 2, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox fans cheer after a home run by Boston Red Sox designated hitter Wilyer Abreu (52) during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Fenway Park.

Fenway Concession Workers Go on Strike for Dodgers Series

They’re asking fans not to buy food and drink at the games.

Featured Today

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
July 17, 2025

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Trying to Void $35 Million in Guaranteed Money They Owe 

Christian Wilkins missed most of the 2024 season with a Jones fracture.
Hulk Hogan talks up the Hulkamania on Dec. 6, 1994, at the Hard Rock Café in Nashville during a press conference promoting the Dec. 27’s Starcade ’94, a pay-per-view wrestling bonanza at Municipal Auditorium. Hogan will battle archrival Butcher in the main event.
July 24, 2025

WWE Legend Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea Dead at 71

He became a professional wrestler in 1977.
July 25, 2025

Cattle Dermatitis Outbreak Forces Tour de France Route Change

The Tour cut two climbs and shortened the stage by 35 km.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Emma Meesseman
July 24, 2025

Liberty’s Meesseman Coup Is Rare Midseason Jolt to Title Race

Several team-friendly contracts helped New York sign the Belgian star.
Jul 13, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Jannik Sinner (ITA) stands on the South West Hall balcony holding the gentlemen's singles champion trophy, after his match against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)(not pictured) in the gentlemen's' singles final of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
July 23, 2025

Jannik Sinner Reunites With Coach Tied to Banned Doping Spray

Sinner did not miss any Grand Slams due to the ban.
July 23, 2025

Tyrese Haliburton Says His Achilles Tear Wasn’t Caused by Workload

Haliburton spoke on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Venus Williams
July 23, 2025

Venus Williams Becomes Oldest Player to Win WTA Singles Match In Decades

The 45-year-old Williams never technically retired.