The WNBA All-Star teams are set, but the lineup for the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest are still up in the air.​​ Friday’s competition serves as a precursor to the main event on All-Star weekend, with six players participating in the 3-Point Contest and eight in the Skills Challenge (if the WNBA sticks with the same format as last year).

With the entire league to choose from, here is my wish list for the players I’d like to see compete this weekend in Las Vegas.

3-Point Contest

Kelsey Plum, G, Las Vegas Aces

After struggling in last year’s 3-point contest on All-Star weekend, Kelsey Plum deserves a shot at redemption. Despite being an excellent 3-point shooter who averages 43.2% for her career, she was last in the competition in 2022. Teammate A’ja Wilson even said Plum “stunk it up.” The Vegas guard followed that performance up by winning 2022 All-Star Game MVP, but a good showing in this year’s 3-point competition would further erase last year’s struggles. Plum said she’s “not a rack shooter and more of a game shooter,” but why not both?

Lexie Brown, G, Los Angeles Sparks

The Sparks guard was considered a snub in last year’s 3-point contest after shooting 39.8% on the season, thanks to a hot hand in the first half. This year, Brown is even better from beyond the arc, shooting 42% and making 2.3 attempts per contest. An illness has kept Brown off the court since June 14, but if she’s healthy, the guard is a no-brainer addition to this year’s competition.

Karlie Samuelson, G, Los Angeles Sparks

Why not have a little intra-team competition? Brown’s teammate, Karlie Samuelson, would be a perfect candidate. She’s spent the last few seasons fighting for a WNBA roster spot and has found a home this year with the Sparks, shooting an incredible 48.2% from beyond the arc. Samuelson is currently injured, but if healthy enough, she deserves this honor.

DeWanna Bonner, F/G, Connecticut Sun

At 35 years old, Bonner is having the best 3-point shooting season of her WNBA career, averaging 38.2% with 2.2 makes per game. Bonner spent her offseason practicing twice a day to rehab an injury and improve her long-range shooting. Bonner’s desire to find ways to get better after 14 years in the league makes her special, and bringing her into the 3-point contest would be a great way to celebrate the veteran’s season.

Sabrina Ionescu, G, New York Liberty

Another player who is having the best 3-point shooting performance of her career, Ionescu is making 43.9% of her attempts this season, marking a 10% improvement on her average last season. She’s making 3.1 3-pointers per contest, good for second in the WNBA. Ionescu is the reigning Skills Challenge champion, so why not give her a chance to win the shooting portion as well?

Jackie Young, G, Las Vegas Aces

Another intra-squad rivalry would be on display if Young competed alongside Plum, and with the competition being held in Vegas this year, two Aces players would make for an exciting atmosphere. Not to mention, Young has had one of the best career arcs when it comes to 3-point shooting, shooting 25% in 2021 and 43.1% in 2022. This year, she’s an absolute must-guard shooter from beyond the arc, making 48.1% of her attempts.

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If this is Candace Parker's last season, an appearance in the Skills Challenge would be fitting. (Scott Eklund/NBAE via Getty Images)

Skills Challenge

NaLyssa Smith, F, Indiana Fever

The Fever forward participated in last year’s Skills Challenge as a rookie and finished in second place. Smith is having a great second-year campaign in Indiana, leading the team in rebounds per game and ranking second in points per game. Could a skills competition redemption be in her future? It’s certainly a possibility.

Sabrina Ionescu, G, New York Liberty

Speaking of last year’s contest, Ionescu took home the top prize and deserves a chance to defend her title. Having the Liberty guard compete in all three of the weekend’s events is a lot, but she certainly has a case to make the trio of appearances.

Rhyne Howard, G, Atlanta Dream

When it comes to All-Star snubs, no one was more deserving than Howard, who participated in the game last season as a rookie. She’s averaging 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, building on her Rookie of the Year season in 2022. Since we won’t get to see Howard in the All-Star Game, she should at least make an appearance in the Skills Challenge.

Candace Parker, F/C, Las Vegas Aces

This is perhaps the biggest reach on the wish list, but who better to participate in the Skills Challenge than a do-it-all player like Parker? She’s made it clear that she’s nearing the end of her career, so if 2023 is Parker’s last season, it would be a shame for her to go without seeing her compete in some capacity this weekend.

Marine Johannès, G, New York Liberty

Is it really a skills competition without the flashiest player in the WNBA? The French guard does a little bit of everything, and she does it all with style. Johannès is sure to get “oohs and “aahs” every time she steps on the court, making this event the perfect showcase for an exciting player like her.

Courtney Vandersloot, G, New York Liberty

If we are going to have two Liberty guards, why not make it three by adding in the WNBA assists leader? Vandersloot runs the Liberty offense with ease, dishing out 8.5 assists per game. The WNBA veteran certainly has the skills to win this competition, and maybe Allie Quigley would even make an appearance to cheer on her wife. It only seems fair after years of Vandersloot’s support for the queen of the 3-Point Contest.

Satou Sabally, F, Dallas Wings

Other than Smith and Parker, this list is guard-heavy. Enter Sabally, who is the perfect forward for the skills competition. She’s 6-4, but plays more like a guard who shines in the fastbreak and leads the Wings on the run. That makes her a competitive candidate for this event. Plus, Sabally is having the best season of her career, averaging 17.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

Jewell Loyd, G, Seattle Storm

Things are much different for the 4-14 Storm this season, but Jewell Loyd’s talent remains the same. She could easily participate in the 3-Point Contest, averaging 38.8% from beyond the arc and leading the league in 3-pointers made with 3.4 per game. But I’d rather see Loyd show off her complete skill set, like she’s been doing for Seattle all season.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

Alyssa Thomas, Elena Delle Donne and Napheesa Collier headline the 12 reserves who will compete at the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game. The reserves were announced on Saturday following a vote by WNBA head coaches. They will join the 10 All-Star starters — voted on by fans, media, and players — who were revealed last week.

2023 WNBA All-Star Game Reserves

  • DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun)
  • Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
  • Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky)
  • Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics)
  • Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)
  • Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)
  • Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm)
  • Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)
  • Cheyenne Parker (Atlanta Dream)
  • Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)
  • Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun)
  • Courtney Vandersloot (New York Liberty)

Five players will make their All-Star debut in 2023: Gray, Magbegor, Mitchell and Parker, plus starter Aliyah Boston.

Sabrina Ionescu will make her second All-Star appearance thanks to the coach vote after she was ranked 19th amongst guards by her fellow players.

Of the reserves, Elena Delle Donne boasts the most All-Star Selections (nine), while Brittney Griner leads all All-Stars with nine.

While much fan and media attention is spent on comparing starters vs. reserves, that division becomes much less important once the All-Star game tips off. Both starters and reserves earn the “All-Star” label, playing time is typically divided more evenly than regular games, and there’s nothing to keep a reserve from being named All-Star MVP. Erica Wheeler (2019) was the most recent reserve to accomplish the feat.

All-Star captains A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart will draft their teams during a special WNBA All-Star selection show on Saturday, July 8 (1 p.m. ET, ESPN). The WNBA All-Star Game will be played at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 15, with the game airing on ABC (5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET).

Also on Saturday, the WNBA confirmed that Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon (14-1) and Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White (12-4) will serve as All-Star head coaches thanks to their records through June 30. Hammon will coach Team Wilson, while White will coach Team Stewart.

Editor’s note: This story was first published in the first week of the 2023 WNBA season. The Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty will face off for the first time this season at 10 p.m. ET Thursday.

The Superteam Era of the WNBA officially has begun.

Fans have gotten their first glimpses of the new-look New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces squads. And while 10 other teams – like the Washington Mystics, who topped the Liberty 80-64 to open the season – have four months to make their cases, it’s easy to see why New York and Las Vegas are the favorites to battle it out for the WNBA title.

Here’s how they stack up.

Starting Five

Las Vegas Aces

Candace Parker, F, 6-4: The 37-year-old forward is looking to be the first WNBA player to win championships with three franchises after signing with the Aces as a free agent. She already has rings with the Sparks and the Sky in 2016 and 2021. Parker, who has been candid about being near the end of her professional career, is a two-time WNBA MVP and seven-time all-WNBA first team member. Over her 15-year career, Parker has maintained a reputation as a player who does everything. Last season she averaged 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.

A’ja Wilson, F, 6-4: Five seasons into her career and A’ja Wilson has already won two MVP awards. The South Carolina product has been dominant since her Rookie of the Year campaign in 2018, but the 2022 season was her best yet. Wilson led the Aces to their first WNBA title, averaging 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.

Chelsea Gray, G, 5-11: After being snubbed for the All-Star game last year, Gray’s second half of the season became a revenge tour. Her play earned the point guard the Finals MVP trophy, as Gray averaged 21.7 points and 7.0 assists per game through the postseason while shooting 61.1% from the field and 54.4% from beyond the arc. Gray showed off her skills as a playmaker for others, and a shot-creator for herself, making over 60% of her contested looks.

Kelsey Plum, G, 5-8: Plum has gotten better every season since she was drafted No. 1 in 2017, and in 2022 she took a major step forward. The guard finished second in the WNBA in scoring with 20.2 points per game while also averaging a career-high 5.1 assists. After coming off the bench in 2021, coach Becky Hammon moved Plum back to a starting role and heavily relied on the guard throughout the season. She played 32.8 minutes per game, which ranked second in the league.

Jackie Young, G, 6-0: Young started the 2023 season on a high note, scoring 23 points in 26 minutes during the Ace’s first game of the season. Young is looking to build on a 2022 season that saw her named the league’s Most Improved Player. That’s largely because of the addition of a 3-point shot to her game. Young shot 25% in 2021 and 23.1% in 2020, but after dedicating herself to the craft, she shot 43.1% from long range in 2022. Young’s ability to shoot 3s adds another weapon to the Aces’ arsenal.

New York Liberty

Betnijah Laney, F, 6-0: Laney has been in the league since 2015 but had a breakout season in 2020 for Atlanta. She’s been a key piece for the Liberty since 2021, and while she missed most of last season with an injury, she’s back in top form and could end up being the unsung hero of this superteam. With big names around her, Laney likely won’t receive the same type of attention, but she will be impactful. The 29-year-old averaged 16.8 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 2021. She also brings toughness, a scorer’s mentality and established chemistry with Ionescu.

Breanna Stewart, F, 6-4: The offseason’s most sought-after free agent landed with the Liberty after playing six seasons with the Storm. Stewart wasted no time establishing herself, setting a franchise record with 45 points in New York’s home opener. She already has won two WNBA titles and was named Finals MVP in both instances. When she signed with the Liberty, the UConn product instantly catapulted the team to the top of the WNBA.

Jonquel Jones, F, 6-6: When Jones was traded to the Liberty back in January, the move set off the superteam era. The opportunity to play with the 2021 MVP enticed Stewart and Vandersloot to sign with the Liberty, and it likely motivated Parker to sign with the Aces in order to give her a chance at a title as well. Jones is a versatile scoring threat who plays both inside and beyond the arc. In her last season in Connecticut, Jones led the Sun to the WNBA Finals and averaged 14.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

Courtney Vandersloot, G, 5-8: The one thing the Liberty needed after signing Jones and Stewart was an elite, pass-first point guard. They got that in Vandersloot, who is third on the WNBA’s all-time assists leaderboard and holds the record for most assists in a single game with 18. Vandersloot played all 12 of her WNBA seasons with the Sky and won a title with Chicago in 2021 before joining the Liberty.

Sabrina Ionescu, G, 5-11: The 2020 No. 1 pick transitioned seamlessly into the league, but last season was telling for the star guard. She plays best off the ball, which is why Vandersloot was such a key addition. Ionescu averaged 17.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 2022, while also posting her lowest turnover mark yet at 3 per contest. Known as the triple-double queen in college, she continues to do a little bit of everything in the WNBA.

Bench Players

Las Vegas Aces

Key players: Alysha Clark, Kiah Stokes, Riquna Williams

The one knock on the Aces last season was their lack of bench. It didn’t end up mattering, as the team secured a title, and Riquna Williams ended up playing big minutes in the Finals, but Becky Hammon & Co. still bolstered the bench unit in the offseason. They added an elite defender in 10-year WNBA veteran Alysha Clark. The Aces also retained Kiah Stokes, who brings rebounding and rim protection.

New York Liberty

Key Players: Marine Johannès, Kayla Thornton, Stephanie Dolson, Han Xu

Everyone off the bench for the Liberty brings something different to the court, which is what you want from secondary players. Johannès could easily be a starter for another team, and she’s an elite passer and crafty shot-creator. Thornton is an experienced vet who played six seasons mostly in a starting role for the Wings, and Dolson brings experience as well with nine WNBA seasons under her belt. Han Xu is a question mark for the Liberty, as she hasn’t seen much time in their first two games, but her size (6-10) and unique skill set (which includes 3-point shooting) make her a threat off the bench.

Head Coach

Las Vegas Aces

Becky Hammon set the bar high in her first season with the Aces, leading them to the franchise’s first WNBA title. She’s an experienced coach who spent years as an assistant for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs before taking the Aces job. Hammon also played 15 years in the WNBA and was a 6-time all star. The signing of Candace Parker put the Aces in position to compete for the title again, but it didn’t come without controversy. The Aces traded Dearica Hamby to the Sparks in order to make space for Parker, but a WNBA investigation found that Hamby was mistreated during the trade due to her pregnancy. Hammon denied the claims, but she was suspended for the first two games of the season.

New York Liberty

Sandy Brondello, like Hammon, has experience playing in the WNBA as well as coaching. She played professionally from 1992-2004, and she also represented the Australian National team, winning two silver medals in the Olympics. She got into coaching in 2005 as an assistant for the San Antonio Silver Stars, the franchise that became the Las Vegas Aces. Brondello made her name as a coach with the Mercury, coaching in Phoenix from 2014-2021 and winning a WNBA championship in 2014 before taking the Liberty job in 2022.

Team History

Las Vegas Aces

The Aces joined the WNBA in 1997 first as the Utah Starzz, then became the San Antonio Silver Stars (later just the Stars) before moving to Las Vegas in 2018. The franchise had one conference title in 2008, and then the Aces secured the first title last season.

New York Liberty

The Liberty joined the WNBA in 1997 as well but have stayed put in the New York City area (if not always in their current home borough of Brooklyn). The team has won three conference titles, in 1999, 2000 and 2002, but has yet to win a WNBA title.

In her first game back at Climate Pledge Arena since leaving the Seattle Storm for the New York Liberty, Breanna Stewart dealt with a deluge of emotions.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster of a day for me,” Stewart said after the game, earning her a supportive pat on the back from Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello.

Competing with a black eye she picked up over the weekend, Stewart struggled in the first half of Tuesday night’s game, scoring eight points.

“In the first half, I was just floating. I don’t think I was really doing anything,” she said.

The two-time WNBA Finals MVP gave herself a halftime pep talk to help turn things around: “I was like, ‘C’mon, let’s get my s— together.”

Stewart went on to record 25 points and 11 rebounds in New York’s 86-78 win, handing her old team its third straight loss to start the season.

In doing so, Stewart became just the second WNBA player to record at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a first game against a former team, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The other WNBA player to achieve the feat was Chamique Holdsclaw, who scored 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Los Angeles Sparks against the Washington Mystics in 2005.

Sabrina Ionescu added 20 points in the win, while Courtney Vandersloot contributed 11 assists.

For the Storm, Jewell Loyd recorded 26 points, while Ezi Magbegor added 12 and recorded a career-high 14 rebounds.

“So weird to play against Jewell. We really haven’t done it since college,” Stewart said of her former WNBA teammate. “We still had the competitors in us, but also very light-hearted. Like, at one point, I slapped her in the face, and it was like, you know, we were in practice. I wish her and Ezi and (Mercedes Russell) the rest of them nothing but success.”

Earlier this month, Stewart made some Storm fans a little salty when she told a packed crowd at Barclays Center that she “made the right decision” in choosing the Liberty. But the former Storm star received a warm welcome at Climate Pledge Arena. After the game, she also got a hug from retired teammate Sue Bird, who had a front row seat to Tuesday night’s game.

Stewart isn’t the only player on the Liberty facing down a former team this week. On Saturday, New York defeated Jonquel Jones’ old team, the Connecticut Sun. On Friday, New York will tip off against the Chicago Sky, Vandersloot’s former team.

“We were joking in the locker room about it being a revenge tour,” Ionescu said.

Natasha Cloud knows some people haven’t yet woken up to what’s possible for the Washington Mystics this year.

“Y’all can keep sleeping (on us),” the five-foot-nine guard said after the Mystics defeated the New York Liberty, 80-64, to open the 2023 WNBA season.

“We’re confident in what we have in this locker room and you can continue to talk about the super hero teams. But we know who we are and we know what we bring every single night.”

While the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces made huge offseason moves, the Mystics’ path to the start of the WNBA season was more subtle. Elena Delle Donne, who has dealt with a back injury for three straight seasons, says she is as strong as she’s ever been. And she looked it on Friday night, recording 13 points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals against the Liberty. Cloud, Ariel Atkins, and Kristi Toliver also added double-digit points.

While Liberty fans might have been surprised by the result, Delle Donne wasn’t.

“It’s what we’ve been doing in training camp. And we don’t care about the outside noise,” the two-time WNBA MVP said. “We don’t care about the storylines. It’s not going to change how we show up every single day, take care of one another and get the work we need to get done each day.”

As for the New York “super hero” team?

“This was a huge lesson for us,” Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot said.

“We can learn a lot from this,” echoed Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. “The team with the most chemistry certainly won tonight. We were not very good, and they were very good.”

Chicago Sky center Astou Ndour-Fall opted out of the 2023 WNBA season due to her overseas commitments, becoming one of the first dominoes to fall in the wake of the controversial new rule.

The prioritization rule requires WNBA players to return from overseas play by the time the league opens its season on May 19. Players who fail to do so will be ineligible to play in 2023, and Ndour-Fall will be one of them. Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams could be another.

How does the prioritization rule work? And how did it come to be? Just Women’s Sports breaks down the answers.

How does the prioritization rule work?

The rule requires players to prioritize the WNBA over international leagues. It was codified in the 2020 collective bargaining agreement but goes into effect for the first time for the 2023 season.

Players with more than two years of experience in the WNBA must report to their teams by May 1. If they do not, they will be fined. And if they miss the start of the regular season on May 19, they will be suspended for the year.

In 2024, the consequences will get even harsher: Players will be suspended for the whole season if they do not join their WNBA teams by May 1 or the start of training camp, whichever is later.

What’s the problem?

Many WNBA players head overseas in the offseason to supplement their WNBA incomes. Last offseason, almost half of the WNBA’s 144 players went overseas, per the Associated Press.

Players can make much more money abroad then they do in the U.S.-based league.

Breanna Stewart, for example, signed a supermax one-year deal with the Seattle Storm in 2022. The deal was worth $228,094, just a fraction of the $1.5 million per year she made for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg. Though she left the Russian club for Fenerbahce in 2022, she likely earned another large payday.

The WNBA holds its season in the summer, while international leagues play in the winter, which has allowed players to stay on the court throughout the year. But some international leagues’ late-season schedules have conflicted with the start of the WNBA season in recent years.

How did it come to be?

The prioritization rule was negotiated as part of the WNBA’s latest CBA, which was signed in 2020 and runs through 2027.

“The owners really stepped up on the compensation side for the players in this collective bargaining cycle, and I think the kind of quid pro quo for that was prioritization, showing up on time for our season,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said ahead of the 2022 WNBA Finals.

The WNBA Players Association agreed to the clause as a concession to the league so they could make gains in other areas of the CBA.

“The league was in a place of not negotiating without it,” WNBA legend Sue Bird said of prioritization. “We wouldn’t have got the money, the maternity leave, without it. I’m not defending it… I want the WNBA to be the only league people play in. I want it to thrive so we never have to go overseas.”

What’s next?

Several players have indicated that as long as salaries in international leagues eclipse those in the WNBA, the prioritization clause will remain an issue.

Emma Meesseman, who has not signed with a WNBA team for the 2023 season, has said the rule is unfair to non-American players.

The New York Liberty’s new-look roster is off to a rough start, with a few of its stars limited in training camp due to injuries.

Both Courtney Vandersloot and Jonquel Jones are not at full capacity as New York embarks on its superteam era. Vandersloot took a hit to the face during Monday’s workouts, Winsidr’s Myles Ehlrich reported, and the Liberty shut her down for the day out of caution.

On Tuesday, the Liberty announced that the guard has been placed in concussion protocol.

Additionally, Jones told reporters Monday that she is playing limited minutes, as she sustained an injury “like a stress reaction” in her left foot during the WNBA Finals last year. The 2021 WNBA MVP was in a boot “for a little while,” she said, and Sunday’s opening to training camp was “really like my first time going up and down the court.”

“I’m still restricted on it right now,” she said. “But every day, I’m building on it, adding more time.”

Jones was traded to the Liberty from the Sun in the offseason, generating buzz around what the team would look like. The buzz only increased when Vandersloot and two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart signed with the team. 

Still, Jones does appear to be working out with the team, even if in a limited capacity. For Liberty fans, injuries are unfortunately familiar territory. Last season, the team didn’t play in a single preseason game, as it did not have enough healthy players on the roster.

Now that the dust has settled on WNBA free agency, it’s time to dig into how teams did before the draft takes place in April and the regular season tips off a month later.

The 2023 free-agency period brought fireworks, with some of the league’s biggest stars transferring markets and creating WNBA superteams in the process. Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot joined Jonquel Jones in New York, and Candace Parker made the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces even more dangerous (though the Aces organization is under investigation both for its treatment of Dearica Hamby and reportedly for circumventing the salary cap). Other teams retooled through trades and signings, trying to keep up with the two frontrunners.

Which teams won and lost free agency? Our team of WNBA experts — Rachel Galligan, Lyndsey D’Arcangelo and Eden Laase — debate and hand out final grades below.

Biggest winners

Rachel Galligan: New York Liberty

The Liberty won free agency, and it’s not even close. Owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai laid out a vision for the franchise when they acquired it in 2019, and that plan kicked into high gear this offseason. New York secured top free agents Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot to add to their arsenal of talent, which includes newly acquired MVP forward Jonquel Jones.

There was also the four-team trade involving Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix and New York, which ended up being a low-key victory for the Liberty. New York acquired the rights to Leonie Fiebich and a 2025 first-round pick swap from Phoenix. With the Mercury’s post-Diana Taurasi future in question, that pick could end up as a lottery selection.

Lyndsey D’Arcangelo: New York Liberty

The Liberty set the bar this offseason, no question. They not only acquired the top players on their wish list in Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot, but they also handled themselves professionally and transparently throughout the entire process. New York has clearly demonstrated its position as a player-first organization that is investing in both the franchise and the league’s future.

Eden Laase: New York Liberty

The player that put the Liberty’s offseason over the top for me was Vandersloot. Once they acquired Jones and signed Stewart, the team’s only potential weakness was the lack of a true point guard, since Sabrina Ionescu plays better off the ball. They solved that problem with perhaps the best pass-first point guard in the league.

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In 2022, the Lynx had their worst season under Cheryl Reeve since 2010. (Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)

Biggest disappointment

Galligan: Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm

The Lynx were unable to sign any top free agents despite reports that they were in the mix. Minnesota’s last three free agencies have been below average, and now they have a number of heavy contracts limiting their cap space. Essentially, Minnesota appears to be trying to run it back with the same core roster but without Sylvia Fowles, who retired after last season. Tiffany Mitchell and Lindsay Allen were the Lynx’s biggest pick-ups alongside Damiris Dantas and Nikolina Milić re-signing. With the way the roster is currently constructed, I don’t see the needle moving much in Minnesota.

Seattle added Kia Nurse, retained Ezi Magbegor and lost one of the best players in the world to New York in free agency. The Storm got nothing in return for Brenna Stewart because of their decision not to core her last year. They have no point guard after the retirement of Sue Bird (for which there had been plenty of time to prepare), and unless they make some late additions, this team could be in trouble of falling out of contention.

Silver lining for both? If there is a year to wind up in the draft lottery, 2024 is the time to do it.

D’Arcangelo: Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm

Both the Sky and the Storm knew their big stars might not stay and didn’t seem to have good back-up plans in place. The Sky’s roster has been completely dismantled and yet, in their recent trade for Marina Mabrey, they gave away a handful of future (and much-needed) draft picks. The Storm have no true point guard on the roster, even when they knew Sue Bird wasn’t coming back. They essentially threw all of their eggs in the Courtney Vandersloot basket and came up empty.

Laase: Chicago Sky

Losing Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot and rising star Azurá Stevens in free agency was a big blow to the 2021 WNBA champions. They have a franchise player to build around in Kahleah Copper, but none of their signings or acquisitions thus far have put this team over the edge. It seems like the organization is signing whichever players it can instead of building a team.

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Los Angeles has quietly had a strong free agency, signing Azurá Stevens and trading for Dearica Hamby. (Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)

Biggest surprise

Galligan: Dallas Wings

The Wings’ overall roster movement this offseason was unexpected. I anticipated Marina Mabrey to return and did not expect Diamond DeShields to be on the move, let alone end up in Dallas. The Wings are clearly making a long-term investment in fifth-year center Teaira McCowan, which is understandable given her production, but there are no guarantees for how this team gels together on the floor under new head coach Latricia Trammell. Dallas continues to hoard draft picks, including three first-round selections in this year’s draft.

D’Arcangelo: Los Angeles Sparks

In his introductory press conference, new Sparks head coach Curt Miller talked about his excitement and anticipation for free agency. After leaving Connecticut for Los Angeles in October, he was ready to make some moves. Acquiring Jasmine Thomas and Dearica Hamby showed he meant it. But luring Azurá Stevens out of Chicago and away from other teams was downright impressive.

Laase: Los Angeles Sparks

All eyes have been on the Liberty and the Aces, but Miller is quietly putting together a solid team in Los Angeles. Picking up Hamby, Thomas and Stevens, and then re-signing both Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, are all wins for the new coach. The Sparks are heading in the right direction after two straight losing seasons.

Best signing or acquisition

Galligan: Azurá Stevens (Chicago Sky)

New York’s Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot signings are the easy choice, but I’m going to go with Azurá Stevens to Los Angeles. Given the free-agency market this year, Stevens was highly sought after, with half of the teams in the league making a play to recruit her. It’s a positive sign that Los Angeles was able to attract a free agent of Stevens’ caliber this early on in their rebuild under new general manager Karen Bryant and coach Curt Miller. Stevens gives the Sparks a unique weapon and a great complement to Nneka Ogwumike.

D’Arcangelo: Candace Parker (Las Vegas Aces), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)

Candace Parker is a huge get for the Aces, who are the favorites to repeat as WNBA champions outside of New York. Aside from Stewart and Vandersloot, Parker was the biggest signing in free agency and makes Las Vegas even more talented than they already were. But I have to give Atlanta credit as well. Allisha Gray, whom the Dream acquired in a trade with Dallas last month, is an undervalued player with a huge upside. Don’t sleep on a Gray/Rhyne Howard backcourt.

Laase: Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)

This signing was especially critical because it sent all the other offseason moves in motion. Jones made New York an even more desirable location for Stewart and Vandersloot and likely played a part in Parker signing with the Aces, who give her the best shot at a title this season when competing against New York. The Liberty set off an era of superteams in the WNBA when they traded for Jones.

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James Wade has chosen to forgo a rebuild despite losing multiple stars in free agency. (Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

Most perplexing move

Galligan: Chicago Sky’s three first round picks and five total picks for Marina Mabrey

The Sky gave up their 2023 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, 2025 first-round swap rights, 2024 third-round pick and 2025 second-round pick for Marina Mabrey at a time when a host of elite college talent will be coming up through the draft. While there is reason to commend coach James Wade’s desire to win, this trade fleecing is hard to look past. He plans on winning now and retooling his roster through free agency for years to come, a vision that will largely depend on the franchise’s ownership changes and added investment.

We knew Chicago’s championship era would come to an end — with Candace Parker, Allie Quigley, Azurá Stevens and Courtney Vandersloot all walking away this offseason — but the decision to give up future assets in the midst of a complete overhaul is baffling. A move of this magnitude will be scrutinized for years to come.

D’Arcangelo: Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx

I’m a big Mabrey fan, but the Sky giving away the farm for a player who has yet to make an All-Star team is mind-boggling. As for the Lynx, it’s the lack of moves for me. They most likely tried to make plays for some big names but were unable to seal the deal, and now they’re left to compete in the league’s new superteam era with just two All-Stars on their roster (Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride).

Laase: Chicago refusing to accept the idea of a rebuild

There is no shame in rebuilding. It’s part of the game, particularly when you lose three starters at the same time, as James Wade and Chicago did. While Wade’s desire to be competitive with the team he has is understandable, his refusal to admit that his squad will need time to develop is puzzling.

Team grades

Atlanta Dream

B — Galligan
B+ — D’Arcangelo
B — Laase

Dallas Wings

A- — Galligan
B+ — D’Arcangelo
A — Laase

Los Angeles Sparks

A — Galligan
A — D’Arcangelo
A — Laase

Phoenix Mercury

B — Galligan
B- — D’Arcangelo
B — Laase

Chicago Sky

C- — Galligan
D — D’Arcangelo
D — Laase

Indiana Fever

B- — Galligan
B- — D’Arcangelo
B — Laase

Minnesota Lynx

F — Galligan
D — D’Arcangelo
D — Laase

Seattle Storm

D — Galligan
D — D’Arcangelo
D — Laase

Connecticut Sun

B+ — Galligan
B — D’Arcangelo
C — Laase

Las Vegas Aces

A — Galligan
A- — D’Arcangelo
A — Laase

New York Liberty

A+ — Galligan
A+ — D’Arcangelo
A+ — Laase

Washington Mystics

B — Galligan
B — D’Arcangelo
B — Laase

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

Lyndsey D’Arcangelo is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports, covering the WNBA and college basketball. She also contributes to The Athletic and is the co-author of “Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League.” Follow Lyndsey on Twitter @darcangel21.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

Top WNBA free agent Courtney Vandersloot will not re-sign with the Chicago Sky, she announced Tuesday night.

The 33-year-old point guard spent her first 12 seasons with the Sky, but her Instagram post confirmed her expected departure.

“Although I never planned for this day to come, I have decided that it is time for me to pursue a new beginning,” Vandersloot wrote.

The free agency signing period began Wednesday. While Vandersloot did not say where she intends to sign, her announcement signaled the first tremor ahead of potentially seismic roster shifts across the league.

Vandersloot recently signed with Turkish club Fenerbahçe for the European season. When she heads to Turkey later this month, she will join forces with another top free agent in Breanna Stewart. Their partnership could provide a glimpse into the future, as reports have indicated the pair’s interest in playing together in the WNBA.

In contrast to those reports, Vandersloot was linked to the Storm on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after Stewart signed with the Liberty. But her agent debunked that rumor, saying the point guard had not yet made her decision.

Since the Sky made Vandersloot the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Gonzaga, she has been one of the best point guards in the league. She has led the league in assists six times in 12 seasons, and she has averaged 6.6 assists per game in her career.

The four-time All-Star helped lead the Sky to the 2021 WNBA championship alongside teammate and wife Allie Quigley, who is also a free agent.

“To the Sky organization who drafted the little guard from a mid-major and believed in me from the jump, I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” she wrote. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have realized my dreams because of you.”

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