Athletes

WNBA Free Agency Tracker: Welcome to the Million-Dollar Era

Nneka Ogwumike announced that she’s joining the Los Angeles Sparks and Jackie Young agreed to a $1.19 million max deal with the Las Vegas Aces.

By Colin Salao

Apr 10, 2026 | 01:00 pm

UPDATED Apr 15, 2026 | 02:49 pm

Arizona Republic

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Several major dominos have fallen in WNBA free agency.

Nneka Ogwumike was the first major name to switch teams after she announced Friday that she will return to the Los Angeles Sparks, the team she led to a title in 2016, after spending the last two seasons in Seattle. It appeared as though Ogwumike, 35, was exploring other options after the BalloonGate scandal surfaced Wednesday. She confirmed Thursday on social media that she was leaving Seattle.

Dozens of other players have already agreed to deals with new teams including Skylar Diggins, who moved to the Chicago Sky, and Satou Sabally, who joined the New York Liberty.

Ogwumike, the WNBPA president, agreed to a one-year, $950,000 deal, short of the $1.19 million max contract under the new CBA she helped negotiate. But with more than 100 free agents in the 2026 offseason, several players secured million-dollar contracts.

The first was four-time All-Star Jackie Young, who agreed to a one year, $1.19 million deal to return to the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. Young’s MVP teammate A’ja Wilson agreed to a three-year, $5 million deal with the Aces almost a week later.

There are even bigger contracts called the supermax which are worth $1.4 million. These contacts are worth 20% of the salary cap, up from 16.5% in the previous CBA.

Three players have signed deals above the regular max so far: Allisha Gray, Ezi Magbegor, and Kelsey Mitchell. Gray signed a three-year, $3.7 million deal to return to the Atlanta Dream, Magbegor re-signed with the Storm for $3.75 million, and Mitchell signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal with Indiana after receiving the core designation.

Speaking on NBC’s NBA pregame show late last month, Fever star Caitlin Clark called it the Fever’s “first priority” to re-sign Mitchell.

“She’s kind of my running mate in the backcourt,” Clark said.

Below are the other notable names who have agreed to deals during the 2026 free agency. Not all contract terms have been reported.

On The Move

DiJonai Carrington (one year, $650,000), Chicago Sky (formerly Minnesota Lynx)
Skylar Diggins (two years, $1.86 million), Chicago Sky (formerly Seattle Storm)
Azurá Stevens (two years, $1.86 million), Chicago Sky (formerly Los Angeles Sparks)
Brittney Griner (one year, $1.19 million), Connecticut Sun (formerly Atlanta Dream)
Alanna Smith (three years, $3.7 million), Dallas Wings (formerly Minnesota Lynx)
Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries (formerly Seattle Storm)
Monique Billings (two years, $1.6 million), Indiana Fever (formerly Golden State Valkyries)
Nneka Ogwumike (one year, $950,000), Los Angeles Sparks (formerly Seattle Storm)
Erica Wheeler (two years, $1.2 million), Los Angeles Sparks (formerly Seattle Storm)
Natasha Howard (two years, $1.4 million), Minnesota Lynx (formerly Indiana Fever)
Satou Sabally, New York Liberty (formerly Phoenix Mercury)
Bridget Carleton (three years, $3.7 million), Portland Fire (formerly Minnesota Lynx)
Natisha Hiedeman (two years, $1.5 million), Seattle Storm (formerly Minnesota Lynx)
Marina Mabrey (two years, $2.4 million), Toronto Tempo (formerly Connecticut Sun)
Brittney Sykes (two years, $2.38 million), Toronto Tempo (formerly Washington Mystics)