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WNBA free agency 2023: Which players are on the market?

Courtney Vandersloot and Breanna Stewart lead the WNBA’s stacked class of unrestricted free agents. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

While WNBA free agency negotiations are well underway, Wednesday will bring a renewed frenzy as the first day that players can sign contracts ahead of the 2023 season.

One of the jewels of the free agent class, Candace Parker has already has selected her next destination. The two-time WNBA MVP plans to sign with the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, with the goal of making the lineup even stronger.

The Connecticut Sun took another top free agent off the board when they used the core tag on Brionna Jones to keep her in the fold.

Still more stars remain up for grabs, including 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart, who has narrowed her choices to the Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty.

The WNBA unveiled the complete rundown of unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents and reserved players ahead of the free agency signing period. Just Women’s Sports breaks them down below.

Unrestricted free agents

An unrestricted free agent can sign with any team. Players are listed alongside their most recent team and their position.

  • Lindsay Allen — Minnesota Lynx, G
  • Rachel Banham, Minnesota Lynx, G
  • Monique Billings — Atlanta Dream, F
  • Lexie Brown — Los Angeles Sparks, G
  • Maya Caldwell — Atlanta Dream, G
  • Jordin Canada — Los Angeles Sparks, G
  • Kaila Charles — Atlanta Dream, G/F
  • Tina Charles — Seattle Storm, F/C
  • Alysha Clark — Washington Mystics, F
  • Nia Coffey — Atlanta Dream, F
  • Sydney Colson — Las Vegas Aces, G
  • Damiris Dantas — Minnesota Lynx, F
  • Kaela Davis — Phoenix Mercury, F
  • Reshanda Gray — Phoenix Mercury, F
  • Brittney Griner — Phoenix Mercury, C
  • Isabelle Harrison — Dallas Wings, F
  • Bria Hartley — Connecticut Sun, G
  • Tianna Hawkins — Washington Mystics, F
  • Moriah Jefferson — Minnesota Lynx, G
  • Jantel Lavender — Seattle Storm, F
  • Emma Meesseman — Chicago Sky, F
  • Tiffany Mitchell — Indiana Fever, G
  • Kia Nurse — Phoenix Mercury, G/F
  • Chiney Ogwumike — Los Angeles Sparks, F/C
  • Nneka Ogwumike — Los Angeles Sparks, F
  • JiSu Park — Las Vegas Aces, C
  • Candace Parker — Chicago Sky, F
  • Theresa Plaisance — Las Vegas Aces, F/C
  • Epiphanny Prince — Seattle Storm, G
  • Allie Quigley — Chicago Sky, G
  • Ivana Raca — Fenerbahçe, F
  • Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe — CJM Bourges Basket, F
  • Kylee Shook — New York Liberty, C
  • Jennie Simms — Phoenix Mercury, G
  • Odyssey Sims — Connecticut Sun, G
  • Azura Stevens — Chicago Sky, F/C
  • Breanna Stewart — Seattle Storm, F
  • Kiah Stokes — Las Vegas Aces, C
  • Brittney Sykes — Los Angeles Sparks, G
  • Stephanie Talbot — Seattle Storm, F
  • Diana Taurasi — Phoenix Mercury, G
  • Kristi Toliver — Los Angeles Sparks, G
  • Yvonne Turner — Phoenix Mercury, G
  • Courtney Vandersloot — Chicago Sky, G
  • Shatori Walker-Kimbrough — Washington Mystics, G
  • Erica Wheeler — Atlanta Dream, G
  • Sami Whitcomb — New York Liberty, G
  • Courtney Williams — Connecticut Sun, G
  • Elizabeth Williams — Atlanta Dream, C

Restricted free agents

A restricted free agents’ previous team can match a contract offer from another team. The player will remain with their previous team if the offer is matched.

  • Emma Cannon — Indiana Fever, F
  • Bridget Carleton — Minnesota Lynx, F
  • Sophie Cunningham — Phoenix Mercury, G
  • Megan Gustafson — Phoenix Mercury, C
  • Natisha Hiedeman — Connecticut Sun, G
  • Marina Mabrey — Dallas Wings, G
  • Teaira McCowan — Dallas Wings, C
  • Shey Peddy — Phoenix Mercury, G
  • Victoria Vivians — Indiana Fever, G
  • Gabby Williams — Seattle Storm, F

Reserved players

A reserved player has received a qualifying offer from their previous team. That team has exclusive negotiating rights with the player.

  • Anna Cruz — Minnesota Lynx, G
  • Crystal Dangerfield — New York Liberty, G
  • Rennia Davis — Indiana Fever, G/F
  • AD Durr — Atlanta Dream, G
  • Temi Fagbenle — Indiana Fever, C
  • Rebekah Gardner — Chicago Sky, G
  • Joyner Holmes — Connecticut Sun, C
  • Marine Johannes — New York Liberty, G
  • Jazmine Jones — Washington Mystics, G
  • Rui Machida — Washington Mystics, G
  • Ezi Magbegor — Seattle Storm, F/C
  • Beatrice Mompremier — Atlanta Dream, C
  • Khayla Pointer — Indiana Fever, G
  • Kianna Smith — Los Angeles Sparks, G
  • Sam Thomas — Phoenix Mercury, G
  • Han Xu — New York Liberty, C

‘The Late Sub’ Says Angel City Is Off to a Red-Hot Start to the NWSL Season

Angel City winger Alyssa Thompson celebrates a goal during a 2025 NWSL match.
With three goals in four matches, Alyssa Thompson is leading Angel City's young attack. (Harry How/NWSL via Getty Images)

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins examines Angel City FC's early success in the young 2025 NWSL season.

Off to an undefeated 2025 campaign, a stat only the 2024 championship-winning Orlando Pride and powerhouse Kansas City Current also share, 2022 expansion side Angel City launched itself into the early contender conversation after missing the NWSL Playoffs entirely last season.

Watkins digs into the LA club, chatting through the team's star-studded formation, its early days, as well as its young core, highlighted by star sisters Alyssa and Gisele Thompson — all while weighing if the squad is truly ready to level up into the league's title-seeking echelon.

Angel City is beginning to see some payoff from its early developmental strategy, with Watkins pointing out that taking winger Alyssa Thompson straight out of high school is now providing major returns.

"She's got three goals in four games in 2025, she's the second youngest NWSL player to hit 10 goals and 10 assists in her career," noted Watkins. "Teams are having trouble accounting for her despite knowing that she is their offensive focal point at this moment."

That said, even with Thompson's prowess, Watkins does expect the club's hot start to cool, though she does predict a 2025 NWSL Playoff berth for the LA team.

"They are getting through on moments of brilliance, on chemistry and mental fortitude," noted Watkins. "It's a long season, and those kinds of things can start to slip as you get tired and other teams get used to the way that you play."

About 'The Late Sub' with Claire Watkins

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes on the USWNT, NWSL, and all things women's soccer. Special guest appearances featuring the biggest names in women’s sports make TLS a must-listen for every soccer fan.

Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

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MLB Trailblazer Kim Ng Named AUSL Commissioner

Miami Marlins GM Kim Ng smiles before a 2023 MLB game.
Ex-MLB GM Kim Ng will serve as AUSL’s first commissioner. (Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) hired former MLB executive Kim Ng as its first-ever commissioner on Wednesday, tapping into Ng’s 21 years of top-level experience ahead of the league’s inaugural 2025 season.

After becoming the youngest assistant general manager in baseball history for the New York Yankees in 1998, Ng inked another line into the record books as the first woman GM in any major US men’s sports league in November 2020, when she took over the front office for MLB’s Miami Marlins.

Her three-season tenure in Miami culminated in a 2023 playoff appearance — the Marlins' first in 20 years.

Ng's pivot to softball is a homecoming for the trailblazing 56-year-old exec, who played NCAA softball before breaking down MLB barriers.

"I think after 30-plus years in the business, I also owe it to myself to do some things that I hadn't necessarily had the opportunity to do in the past," Ng told The Athletic about her decision to join AUSL. "And this is, for me, it's a passion."

Prior to her commissioner appointment, Ng served as a senior advisor for AUSL, helping to develop the league into existence from a landscape full of growing parity at the college level, yet few viable pro opportunities.

"Knowing what an established, mature system of governance looks like, I think will be really helpful in establishing this league," Ng added.

Athletes Unlimited softball player Rachel Garcia warms up before a 2024 game.
AUSL offers NCAA alums like ex-UCLA star pitcher Rachel Garcia the chance to go pro in softball. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

AUSL takes the field with 2025 tour

Launching on June 7th — immediately following the 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series — each of the AUSL's four inaugural teams will play 24 games across a seven-week season.

The league's 2025 debut will function as a tour, with regular-season games played across eight different cities before two additional locations are added for the first-ever AUSL All-Star Cup in August.

Each city is auditioning to become one of six permanent markets for the league, which will transition to a traditional location-based set-up in 2026.

PWHL Sets Date for 2025 Draft, Announces Details

2024 PWHL Draft No. 1 pick Sarah Fillier skates in a 2025 New York Sirens game.
Princeton alum Sarah Fillier was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft. (Troy Parla/Getty Images)

The PWHL dropped its 2025 Draft details on Tuesday, with the league’s third-annual entry draft set to take over Ottawa, Canada — home of the Charge — on June 24th.

Eligible NCAA standouts and other pro hockey prospects have until May 8th to declare for selection, following the PWHL’s May 3rd regular-season finale.

Notably, the second-year league follows the Gold Plan when it comes to determining draft order. Under this system, teams eliminated from the playoffs have an incentive to continue hunting wins, as franchises who amass more points post-elimination secure higher draft picks.

The New York Sirens and 2024 champions Minnesota Frost currently sit below the postseason cutoff line, meaning both teams could snag the most draft capital when the league returns from international break later this month.

Team USA's Abbey Murphy skates during a 2023 game against Canada.
Team USA's Abbey Murphy is the likely 2025 PWHL Draft No. 1 pick, unless she returns to the NCAA. (Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

NCAA stars likely to top 2025 PWHL Draft selections

Last year, the New York Sirens selected Princeton star Sarah Fillier as the overall No. 1 pick, with the rookie forward having an immediate impact in her debut pro season.

Fillier currently ranks second in individual points scored on the 2024/25 PWHL stat sheet, trailing only US hockey legend and Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight.

As for who will join Fillier and Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Heise — the inaugural 2023 PWHL Draft No. 1 pick — atop this year's draft, two NCAA standouts are likely contenders.

Should she declare, University of Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy is the projected 2025 No. 1 pick.

However, Murphy could return to the Golden Gophers for a final NCAA season following her international duty with the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship semifinals-bound Team USA.

Should Murphy defer her pro debut, 2024/25 NCAA MVP Casey O'Brien is the likely top selectee, having already declared for the draft.

The Wisconsin captain wrapped up her NCAA campaign as this season's leading scorer, claiming 88 points on 26 goals and 62 assists en route to this year’s national championship — the third NCAA title of her college career.

LSU Hunts Repeat Title as 2025 NCAA Gymnastics Championships Kick Off

UCLA gymnastics star Jordan Chiles poses during her balance beam routine at a 2025 NCAA meet.
Jordan Chiles’s UCLA squad is hunting their first NCAA title since 2018. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Eight top squads are edging closer to Saturday’s 2025 NCAA gymnastics championships team trophy, with the pivotal semifinal round kicking off on Thursday afternoon.

No. 2-seed Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida, No. 7 Missouri, and No. 11 Alabama will hit the mat first, before 2024 winners and the 2025 bracket's No. 1-seed LSU goes to work to defend their title against No. 4 Utah, No. 5 UCLA, and No. 8 Michigan State.

The top two teams from each of Thursday's semifinals will advance to compete for the national title on Saturday.

LSU's Haleigh Bryant does a split-leap during a December 2024 gymnastics exhibition meet.
LSU's Haleigh Bryant will defend her 2024 all-around title on Thursday. (Reagan Cotten/University Images via Getty Images)

Semifinal meets will crown individual NCAA champions

First, however, five individual NCAA trophies will be bestowed on Thursday night, as the semifinal meets will determine the 2025 all-around and event champions.

In addition to the athletes on the eight qualifying teams, four all-around competitors and 16 event specialists will join the race for solo NCAA hardware, with each earning an invite as the top performer in their respective category at one of the sport's four Regional tournaments.

These individual contenders will follow a qualified team's rotation schedule during their semifinal meet.

Leading the all-around pack is LSU star and 2024 individual champ Haleigh Bryant, though she'll face stiff competition in her bid for a back-to-back championship.

Standing in Bryant's path are Oregon State's Jade Carey, Arkansas's Joscelyn Roberson, Denver's Madison Ulrich, and Washington's Mary McDonough, alongside qualified team athletes like UCLA's Jordan Chiles — Carey’s 2024 Olympics teammate.

Bryant will also defend her shared 2024 vault title, though her co-champion on that event, Cal's Mya Lauzon, will instead compete for beam and floor hardware this week.

All other 2024 event winners are also back, with LSU's Konnor McClain and Florida's Leanne Wong seeking to repeat on beam and floor, respectively. Wong will also hunt another trophy on bars, alongside last year's co-champ, Utah's Grace McCallum.

How to watch the 2025 NCAA Gymnastics Championships

The first 2025 NCAA gymnastics semifinal starts at 4:30 PM ET on Thursday, followed by the second semi at 9 PM ET.

Live coverage of both semifinal meets will air on ESPN2.

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