What Are The Dates For WNBA Free Agency 2026?

The WNBA 2026 season is underway. With the expansion draft done and dusted, all eyes are now on the free agency and the WNBA draft. Following a historic CBA, Paige Bueckers expressed her excitement for the upcoming season. After all, it was a long battle for the players to finally get what they wanted. 

And the ripple effect of the CBA deal has extended beyond the women’s basketball realm. In a recent statement, NBA star Devin Booker, too, heaped praises on the historic deal. Now, as the wait has begun for the season, the league has announced the free agency timeline.

WNBA 2026 Season In Focus As Free Agency Gets Underway

In a normal year, free agency was supposed to be done a long time ago. Unfortunately, the feud between the WNBPA and the league continued, and it stalled the time significantly. Now then, with things looking sorted, the authorities have finally announced some key dates for the free agency. 

According to the news, the free agency will kickstart on April 6, 2026. The teams can send qualifying offers and core player designations on Monday and Tuesday. Next up, the negotiations of these offers will start from Wednesday and can continue till Friday. Finally, the signings can commence on Saturday. 

The WNBA free agency timeline is set, per @AnnieCostabile.

Monday qualifying offers and core designations can be extended. The negotiation period will start on Wednesday and free agents can begin signing contracts on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/ymBcajqMHf

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 6, 2026

Well, if the dates look rushed, then the league has rushed them this season. With a lot of time wasted, the league is now keen on fast-tracking things. As the new deal provides a much better salary, over 100 free agents are expected to benefit from the same. Moreover, the league also announced that the WNBA Draft is set to take place on April 13. 

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Meanwhile, as teams will try to sign the best of the lot, there are some names that might break the free agency market. 

Who Are The Players To Watch Out For In The WNBA Free Agency?

There will be 100 players up for grabs in free agency. Thus, it goes without saying that free agency looks stacked this time. However, for teams like the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, such a situation is like a dream. And they would like to make the most of it. For example, Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper. The 31-year-old had a stellar season last year. Riding on her shoulders, the Mercury went to the finals. Thus, any team scooping up Copper will be getting nothing less than gold.

Next up, one of the biggest points of interest will be Sabrina Ionescu. Already proven herself to be a superstar, Ionescu was the leading force behind the New York Liberty’s 2024 championship run. Thus, with a lot of possibilities galore, fans will be excited to see what happens next.