WNBA free agency reaches a fever pitch this weekend as veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike announced her return to the Los Angeles Sparks after one season with the Seattle Storm.
The 14-year veteran and 2016 MVP revealed her decision Friday morning after posting a social media goodbye to Seattle earlier this week. Ogwumike averaged 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds for the playoff-bound Storm in 2025.
Ogwumike now returns to the franchise where she built a Hall of Fame resume, according to SBNation. The move potentially reunites her with sister Chiney Ogwumike, while pairing the 10-time All-Star alongside Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink.
Forward Satou Sabally also bid farewell to Phoenix this week, calling her single season with the Mercury her "best year yet." The departure leaves another major piece available as WNBA free agency negotiations enter the final hours.
Rumors Dominate the 2026 WNBA Free Agency News Cycle
Multiple WNBA trades loom before Monday's signing window officially opens. Reports connect veteran guard Skylar Diggins to Chicago after the Sky sent Angel Reese to Atlanta. Additional rumors link LA forward Rickea Jackson to Chicago in exchange for Ariel Atkins.
Dallas gained cap flexibility following a trade sending forward Diamond Miller to Connecticut for second-year center Rayah Marshall. The Wings are expected to remain active throughout the weekend.
New York is reportedly showing interest in 2025 co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith — despite extending core qualifying offers to stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
The flurry of activity precedes Monday's 2026 WNBA Draft at 7 PM ET on ESPN, where 15 invited prospects including five UCLA champions await their professional destinations.
Teams are stepping up under the new CBA, as the Aces crowned Jackie Young the WNBA’s first $1 million signing in an effort to keep the guard in Las Vegas.
"Breaking: The Las Vegas Aces are finalizing an agreement for Jackie Young to return to Vegas, sources told ESPN. Expected to be a one-year deal at the regular max ($1.19 million)," ESPN reporter Alexa Philippou posted to X on Thursday. "One step closer toward the Aces retaining their Big Three."
Young is the first player in league history to sign a contract worth over $1 million, with the one-year deal reaching the $1.19 million standard maximum. Per ESPN, the unrestricted free agent chose not to take meetings with other teams, remaining focused on the 2025 WNBA champions.
Las Vegas retained Young without tapping into its core mechanism, an option that provides teams an exclusive negotiating window to either re-sign — or sign and trade — top talent.
The core designation — similar to the franchise tag in other leagues — gives teams control over a top player's free agency. It also comes with a one-year supermax framework under the WNBA CBA.
The Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell, New York’s Sabrina Ionescu, Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier, LA’s Kelsey Plum, Dallas’s Arike Ogubowale, and others have already been cored by their respective teams.
The Sky cored veteran Ariel Atkins, though Front Office Sports reported Chicago might trade Atkins to LA in exchange for third-year forward Rickea Jackson.
The league's free agency period officially began on Monday, with teams issuing qualifying offers and core designations before the official signing window opens on Saturday.
The Indiana Fever unveiled plans for a new $78 million, 108,000-square-foot training facility, marking a major investment as the franchise continues to build around its young core — including WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark.
The organization shared a first look at the three-story performance center ahead of its planned 2027 debut. Located in downtown Indianapolis and connected to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the site will serve as a year-round hub for performance, recovery, lifestyle, and team operations.
In a statement, team president Kelly Krauskopf pointed to the project's broader impact.
"This will set a new standard for women’s sports and continue to position Indianapolis at the center of that momentum,” Krauskopf said.
The move reflects Indiana's current direction. The Indiana Fever enter the 2026 season with just a handful of players under contract. This includes Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Makayla Timpson, while the team navigates a pivotal WNBA free agency period.
Clark took to her Instagram stories to weigh in on the news.
"Find me here," she wrote, reposting the team's announcement.
The guard's response offered a glimpse into how the franchise views the investment. As Clark enters her third WNBA season, she remains central to Indiana's long-term plans. Despite injuries, she helped lead the team's 2025 turnaround that included both a playoff appearance and record-setting attendance.
New WNBA CBA Ups the Stakes for Indiana Fever Practice Facility
The facility also comes at a key moment for the league. A new WNBA CBA and rising salaries have increased expectations around resources and player support, with teams investing more heavily in player-focused infrastructure improvements.
For Indiana, timing matters. As the Fever continue shaping their roster via free agency and retaining homegrown talent like Caitlin Clark, the off-court move adds another layer to the organization's comeback story.
Rickea Jackson has emerged as a central name in 2026 WNBA offseason movement, with reports linking the LA Sparks forward to a potential trade.
According to Front Office Sports, the Sparks and Sky are close to a deal that would send Jackson to Chicago in exchange for Chicago guard Ariel Atkins, though no agreement has been finalized.
The potential trade would mark one of the offseason's more notable transactions. Jackson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is coming off a strong second season in LA. She averaged 14.7 points per game in 2025 while finishing ninth in MVP voting.
That production positioned Jackson as a key piece for the Sparks moving forward. She earned All-Rookie honors in 2024 and showed steady growth, particularly in the 2025 WNBA season's second half.
Receiving Atkins would provide LA's roster with veteran experience. Atkins is a two-time WNBA All-Star and one of the league's top perimeter defenders, bringing tested shooting skills to a Sparks team that struggled from 3-point range.
Still, the rumored deal raises as many questions as it does answers for LA. Jackson departing would signal a shift away from building around a young scorer in favor of adding defensive stability.
For the Sky, timing matters. Chicago has already reshaped its roster this week, including young superstar Angel Reese's blockbuster trade, pointing to a broader team reset.
Whether or not the deal materializes, the Rickea Jackson trade rumors reflecs both her value as a player and teams' shifting priorities as they navigate a new WNBA CBA within a rapidly changing roster landscape.
WNBA legend Sue Bird is joining NBC Sports as a studio analyst for the 2026 WNBA season. The Hall of Famer will work with Maria Taylor, who was named lead studio host last June.
"From the talent to the coaching to fan engagement, this league has never been stronger," said Bird. "I'm so excited to get to tell those stories in real time, dig into the details, and give fans a different perspective on everything that makes the WNBA such a special and entertaining league."
Bird spent her entire 19-season WNBA career with the Seattle Storm. The four-time WNBA Champion and 13-time All-Star stands as the WNBA's all-time leader in assists (3,234), career starts (580), and minutes played (18,080). She additionally ranks second in 3-pointers made (1,001) while coming in third in steals (724).
The five-time Olympic gold medalist stands as the only player to win WNBA titles in three different decades.
Since retiring, Bird serves as the first managing director for the USA Basketball women's team. She also holds ownership stakes in both the Seattle Storm and NWSL's Gotham FC.
As part of the league's new media deal, NBCUniversal will air at least 50 WNBA games across the 2026 regular and postseason. NBC pioneered the league's national broadcast from 1997 to 2002 before returning this year.
Current WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham is also preparing for the TV studio, as the Fever star joins NBC subsidiary USA Network as a contributor for select 2026 games.
"You get to break down these elite-level players and why they do what they do. I find it so fascinating," Cunningham told Sports Illustrated. "Maybe there's going to be a career there when I'm done playing basketball."
The Angel Reese era in Chicago ended Monday, as the Sky traded its young WNBA superstar to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for future draft capital.
Atlanta acquired the two-time WNBA All-Star in exchange for its 2027 and 2028 first-round picks. Chicago also received a 2028 second-round pick swap.
Reese dominated the glass during her two seasons with the Sky after being drafted seventh overall in 2024. The LSU product led the WNBA in rebounds per game through both years as a pro, becoming the only player in league history to average at least 12.0 rebounds per game in a season—accomplishing the feat twice.
The 23-year-old forward averaged 14.0 points and 12.8 rebounds across her first two professional seasons while recording 49 career double-doubles. She set WNBA rookie records with 13.1 rebounds per game and 15 consecutive double-doubles in 2024.
Reese Exits Chicago After Last Season's 'Tribune' Fallout
Chicago initially banked on Reese's partnership with fellow 2024 recruit Kamilla Cardoso, but the relationship soured last fall. Reese criticized the struggling organization in the Chicago Tribune, which led to a half-game suspension.
"I'd like to be here for my career, but if things don't pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction," Reese told the Chicago newspaper.
Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko sees Reese as a perfect fit for the Dream's system following their historic 2025 season that produced a franchise-best 30 wins.
"Angel's ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor is elite," Smesko said in a team statement. "Her energy, toughness and instincts will thrive in our system."
What's Next for Angel Reese in Atlanta
The Dream dramatically improved from its offensive rating under Smesko's leadership.
"I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization," Reese said. "I'm focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I've got to the Dream."
Reese is expected to join her new team ahead of April 25th's preseason tipoff, entering an Atlanta roster featuring Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Sixth Player of the Year Naz Hillmon.
The Dream is slated to open the 2026 WNBA season on May 10th, as Atlanta takes on the Minnesota Lynx.
Procter & Gamble is broadening its presence in women's sports, entering into a landmark multi-year, multi-brand partnership with the WNBA.
The deal redefines how P&G shows up across sports, culture, and the lives of fans as the league embraces unprecedented momentum.
The partnership also expands P&G's presence beyond Mielle's existing relationship as the league's Official Textured Hair Care Partner since July 2023. For instance, Secret — the No. 1 Clinical antiperspirant brand — and Olay — the award-winning skincare brand — launched products created in collaboration with WNBA stars A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) and Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings).
As the Official Period Care Sponsor of the WNBA, Tampax will be taking over the 2026 WNBA Draft presented by State Street Investment Management SPY, while brands including Downy, Gillette Venus, Olay, and Tide plan to roll out additional initiatives throughout the season.
“The WNBA is experiencing incredible growth, and this partnership is a powerful opportunity for our brands to show up in ways that celebrate the game and reach the WNBA’s highly engaged, passionate, and diverse fanbase,” Mindy Sherwood, President of North America and Chief Sales Officer, Procter & Gamble, wrote in today's press release.
"There is a natural alignment between the elite performance of WNBA athletes, and the superior performance P&G brands deliver, and together, we can elevate both."
The news arrives as the WNBA gears up for another explosive season, coming off of last year's record viewership, sold-out arenas, and cultural influence extending far beyond gameday. The league's fanbase has transformed dramatically in both size and composition over recent years, creating new opportunities for brands to connect with fiercely engaged audiences.
"We're focused on working with partners who elevate our brand visibility, deepen fan engagement, and drive long-term growth," first-ever WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison told JWS in an exclusive interview.
"P&G offers an unmatched portfolio of trusted household brands. That gives us the opportunity to reach fans in new ways through integrated storytelling, retail presence, and everyday consumer touchpoints."
Prioritizing forming lasting bonds over simply slapping logos on league properties, P&G and the WNBA crafted a marketing strategy that strives to capture what fans truly care about.
"Authenticity is critical," Stacey Reherman, Vice President of Sports Marketing, Procter & Gamble told JWS. "There must be a genuine connection between brand benefits and what really matters to the fans we are trying to serve. "
P&G's widespread portfolio also lends itself to personalized activations surrounding world-famous personalities and blockbuster events rather than taking a generic WNBA-branded approach.
"P&G's portfolio is incredibly diverse, which gives us the ability to meet fans in unique, authentic, and culturally relevant ways," Edison said.
"With such a broad range of brands, P&G's portfolio allows us to tailor partnerships around individual athletes and WNBA tentpole events in a way that feels personalized."
Edison highlighted how holistically P&G viewed the players throughout the partnership's development. The company recognized that WNBA fans follow athletes on and off the court, making note of their personal lives, relationships, favorite brands, fashion choices, and backstories — not just their stats.
"What stood out most was how intentional P&G was about centering the players throughout this process," Edison said. "This partnership really leans into that."
The partnership targets existing fans, new audiences, and former fans re-engaging with the league, with data showing that the WNBA fanbase ranks among the sports world's most engaged, passionate, and diverse as it continues to expand — the perfect audience for P&G's broad brand lineup.
"This growth, coupled with the league's massive reach and viewership, broadens the ability of our brands to reach new audiences," Reherman said.
Through partnership, P&G brands are investing in the continued growth of the game by amplifying player storylines, engaging fans, and driving retail growth.
What's more, Edison sees this new partnership as a bellwether forecasting where women's sports stands in the current global marketplace — and where it's headed.
"It sends a clear message that women's sports aren't niche — they're a major part of the cultural conversation," she said. "The WNBA is shaping culture and having a global powerhouse like P&G alongside us reinforces just how far the league has come and where it's headed."
Additional details on brand activations and storytelling moments are set to roll out throughout the 2026 WNBA season.
Just over a month before tipoff, the Toronto Tempo announced that former Raptors president Masai Ujiri has joined the 2026 WNBA expansion team's ownership group as a principal owner.
Ujiri led Toronto's NBA franchise to its only championship in 2019 before departing last summer to focus on his basketball nonprofit, Giants of Africa.
"I believe deeply in the vision behind the Tempo: creating female leaders, elevating women not just on the court, but across the organization, and building championship culture from day one," Ujiri said in a team statement.
As part of his duties with Toronto Tempo, Ujiri will spearhead Tempo Rising, a global coaching mentorship program designed to support emerging women-identifying and non-binary coaches. The initiative aims to shape the future of basketball by developing coaching talent in communities worldwide.
The announcement comes as the 2026 expansion franchise prepares for its inaugural season. Toronto joins the league alongside the Portland Fire as the WNBA's 15th team.
Ujiri joins an ownership group that already includes other notable figures from the sports and entertainment world. YouTube creator and actress Lilly Singh became a minority owner in May 2025, before Quebec sports icons Geoff Molson and France Margaret Bélanger invested last September.
The franchise hired Monica Wright Rogers as general manager in February 2025. In January 2026, the team subsequently added Ciara Carl and Brian Lankton as assistant coaches.
The Tempo tips off its debut WNBA season this May inside Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.
The once-cloudy WNBA future is clearing up, as details surrounding Wednesday's CBA deal continue to emerge after days of marathon negotiations.
According to ESPN, this season's salary cap will balloon to $7 million. Even more, with a league minimum salary of $300,000 and supermax contracts starting at $1.4 million, 2026 WNBA paydays will average around $600,000 — up from $120,000 in 2025.
As for revenue sharing — a wedge issue throughout the talks — the players will receive nearly 20% of gross revenue across the CBA's seven-year span.
Current rookie contracts will also scale to the new rookie rates, with the lowest salaries upgraded to at least $300,000.
Now the real work begins, as the league scrambles to execute a two-team expansion draft, college draft, and free agency period before preseason tips off on April 25th.
One big name is already off the free agency market, however, as the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Wednesday that the defending champion Aces will offer 2025 MVP A'ja Wilson a supermax deal as soon as possible.
"What we just accomplished is going to change the lives of so many players," Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark said this week. "That's what we set out [to do] from the beginning, was making sure every player felt the change in the CBA, and that's exactly what has happened."
After more than 100 hours of marathon talks, the WNBA and WNBPA's battle to lock in a new CBA is reportedly nearing its end.
"We have aligned on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement together," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters early Wednesday morning. "We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward."
"We're proud of ourselves," said WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike. "We always told you all we were going to stand on business, and that's what this looks like."
After blowing past multiple league deadlines, Engelbert confirmed that this week's deal will keep the schedule intact for the 2026 WNBA season.
CBA reportedly secures 20% revenue share, 500% salary bumps
While all formal terms are still in the finalization process, early details of the new CBA emerged late Wednesday morning.
According to ESPN, the league's 2026 salary cap will be $7 million — a nearly 500% increase over 2025's $1.5 million cap.
The average player salary also saw a 500% increase to $600,000, with the WNBA minimum exceeding $300,000 after some athletes banked a mere $66,000 in 2025.
The league's top stars, on the other hand, will be able to earn upwards of $1.4 million under the new WNBA supermax — almost six times the $249,244 salary last season's elite players could garner.
Even more, the incoming CBA will reportedly enshrine an average revenue share of nearly 20% — a massive win for the players union on what became the primary wedge issue throughout the negotiating process.
As for next steps, the players and the WNBA board of governors now need to ratify the agreement before operational moratoriums can lift.
Once the CBA is signed, the WNBA will have less than two months to hold a free agency period and the league's April 13th college draft — as well as a two-team expansion draft to stock the incoming Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo — all before preseason training begins.
Assuming all goes according to plan, the 2026 WNBA regular season will tip off on Friday, May 8th.