WNBA 2025: Offseason Guide for Eliminated Teams, Analysis and Key Points

The 2025 WNBA season has concluded its regular season, giving way to the playoffs. Of the eight teams contending for the title, only five remain in the fight, after the elimination of Seattle, Atlanta, and Golden State in the first round. Storm, Dream, and Valkyries join Connecticut Sun, Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Washington Mystics, and Los Angeles Sparks, who are now focusing on the offseason. This is expected to be one of the most crucial offseasons in WNBA history. The league and players are negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA); two new teams, Portland and Toronto, will join the league and hold an expansion draft; and there will be an unprecedented number of free agents, given that many players signed one-year contracts after the players’ association (WNBPA) opted to terminate the current CBA last October.

Meanwhile, we analyze the possible moves of each WNBA franchise at the end of its season, including a look at the state of each roster, the needs of the teams, and the priorities of each management.

(Note: All players listed as “reserved” can become free agents if their current team does not extend a qualifying offer to them).

Analysis of the Eliminated Teams:

• Atlanta Dream
• Chicago Sky
• Connecticut Sun
• Dallas Wings
• Golden State Valkyries
• Los Angeles Sparks
• Seattle Storm
• Washington Mystics

Seattle Storm

2025 Record: 23-21 (7th)Free Agents: Skylar Diggins (unrestricted), Ezi Magbegor (unrestricted), Tiffany Mitchell (unrestricted), Nneka Ogwumike (unrestricted), Katie Lou Samuelson (unrestricted), Brittney Sykes (unrestricted), Erica Wheeler (unrestricted), Gabby Williams (unrestricted), Zia Cooke (reserved), Mackenzie Holmes (reserved)2026 Draft Capital: Own third-round pick, plus first-round picks from Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and a second-round pick from Dallas.Season Summary: The beginning of August was a turning point for Seattle. Tied for fourth in the league at the start of the month, a six-game losing streak caused the Storm to falter. They recovered enough to make the playoffs, and perhaps most crucially, secure their draft lottery selection from the Sparks, but were paired with Las Vegas in the first round for the second year in a row. While Seattle was competitive against the top teams in the WNBA in the regular season, beating all playoff teams except Indiana twice, that didn’t translate, as the Aces eliminated the Storm from the postseason for the third time in four years.Template Status: Only two players are under contract for 2026: veteran guard Lexie Brown, who struggled to find consistent playing time this season, and the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, Dominique Malonga. The latter is the centerpiece of the Storm’s next generation, who will add two first-round picks next spring and regain Jordan Horston, selected in the first round of 2023, after an ACL injury in 2026. However, if Seattle wants to continue competing in the playoffs, maintaining the veteran presence provided by All-Stars Diggins and Ogwumike could be crucial.

Directive’s main priority: Find more shooting. The Storm finished ninth in shots made and attempts from the 3-point line, a key factor in ranking eighth in offensive efficiency, ahead of only one playoff team, the Golden State Valkyries. Seattle tried in free agency, but Samuelson suffered an ACL tear and Alysha Clark was out of the rotation before a mid-season trade for Sykes. The Storm’s young core could use a consistent shooter to complement Malonga.Most important question of the offseason: Should Seattle continue with a two-timeline approach? Trading Jewell Loyd for the pick used to get Malonga meant developing the promising teenager, who ranked No. 4 on ESPN’s 25 Under 25 list, while also trying to win now. The optimistic view was that she could become a star quickly enough to complement her friends Diggins and Ogwumike while they are still able to lead a contending team. That became harder to justify during the Storm’s second-half slump. The support of Diggins and Ogwumike was crucial for Noelle Quinn, the second-longest tenured coach in the WNBA after Cheryl Reeve, to keep her job last offseason. If that changes, or if Seattle’s front office decides to move towards a younger group that is more in line with Malonga’s timeline, there could be changes in direction.

Atlanta Dream

2025 Record: 30-14 (third)Free Agents: Brittney Griner (unrestricted), Brionna Jones (unrestricted), Jordin Canada (unrestricted), Allisha Gray (unrestricted), Nia Coffey (unrestricted), Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (unrestricted), Rhyne Howard (restricted), Naz Hillmon (restricted), Maya Caldwell (reserved)2026 Draft Capital: Own first, second, and third-round picks.Season Summary: Under the new leadership of Karl Smesko and a new offensive system, the Dream thrived, achieving their best season in years. They improved in almost every statistical category compared to the previous year, moving from third to first in rebounds (36.6 per game), from 12th to third in assists (21.4 per game), and from 10th to third in three-pointers made (421). They are also second in offensive efficiency, finishing in last place the previous season, and in defensive efficiency. Their 30 wins are also a league record in a single season for a WNBA coach in their first year. They also finally won a postseason game for the first time since 2018.Template Status: Te-Hina Paopao and Taylor Thierry will still be under their rookie contracts, making them the only players guaranteed to return. Paopao, the No. 18 overall pick in 2025, carved out a solid role in her rookie season, starting 17 games and averaging 5.8 points on 43.8% shooting and 2.4 assists.

Directive’s main priority: The Dream need to find a way to retain their core of Gray, Howard, and Hillmon. Atlanta general manager Dan Padover told ESPN that the trio has been the centerpiece of the franchise’s rebuild over the last four years, and when the Dream selected Howard and Hillmon in 2022 and signed Gray the following year, the plan was to keep them long-term.Most important question of the offseason: How will Griner’s future in Atlanta be? Her arrival last offseason was surprising, and there were even more questions about how she, as well as Jones, two dominant centers, would function in Smesko’s offensive system that relies on shooters. Griner averaged only 9.8 points per game, her lowest point total since her rookie year (12.6). She also played a career-low 20.8 minutes.

Golden State Valkyries

2025 Record: 23-21 (8th)Free Agents: Tiffany Hayes (unrestricted), Kayla Thornton (unrestricted), Monique Billings (unrestricted), Temi Fagbenle (unrestricted), Kaila Charles (unrestricted), Cecilia Zandalasini (restricted), Veronica Burton (restricted), Kaitlyn Chen (reserved), Janelle Salaun (reserved), Iliana Rupert (reserved), Laeticia Amihere (reserved)2026 Draft Capital: Own first, second, and third-round picks.Season Summary: The Valkyries made history in their first season, becoming the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in their inaugural year. With a roster made up of former sixth players, the Valkyries said they always maintained the belief that they would exceed expectations and what previous expansion teams had done, but acknowledged that even they were a little surprised at how quickly the group built their chemistry. This was even more true after Thornton, at that time a candidate for Most Improved Player, missed the season due to a knee injury in July. The award went to her teammate Burton. Golden State had the opportunity to finish as high as sixth in the regular season, but finished eighth due to some end-of-season losses and tiebreakers. Still, even making the postseason in their first year is an incredible feat.

Template Status: Only Kate Martin and Carla Leite are not free agents for the Valkyries. Both were important players in the rotation for WNBA Coach of the Year Natalie Nakase, and Leite also started in six games. But neither of them will be the core of this team. Golden State owner Joe Lacob wants to keep as many players from this roster together as possible, but it will be a difficult task.Directive’s main priority: Bring back as many players as possible, especially Thornton and Burton. If the Valkyries want to keep building on this impressive season, they need to retain these two guards who are the leaders of this team on and off the court.Most important question of the offseason: The Valkyries thought they were a desirable destination even before they played a single game. Now, after this historic season, they believe even more that they can attract big names. Can the management sign a star in free agency? Part of the Valkyries’ story was how successful they were with a roster full of former rotation players. To keep building, they should aim for a game-changing player.

Los Angeles Sparks

2025 Record: 21-23 (9th)Free Agents: Julie Allemand (restricted), Emma Cannon (unrestricted), Dearica Hamby (unrestricted), Alissa Pili (reserved), Kelsey Plum (unrestricted), Azura Stevens (unrestricted), Julie Vanloo (reserved)2026 Draft Capital: Own second-round pick, Seattle’s second-round pick, own third-round pick. Traded their first-round pick to SeattleSeason Summary: Lynne Roberts left Utah and college basketball to coach in the WNBA for the first time. Record-wise, her Sparks improved greatly from last season’s last-place finish of 8-32, and despite starting the summer with a 5-13 record, they had played relatively solid after the All-Star break. They remained in playoff contention until the penultimate night of the season. Still, a franchise that for many years was practically automatic to reach the playoffs has now missed the postseason for the fifth consecutive year.Template Status: Centers Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, and Sania Feagin, and point guard Sarah Ashlee Barker will remain under their rookie contracts. Jackson has had the most success, averaging 14 points and 3.6 rebounds over two seasons. Brink returned from an ACL injury that cut short her 2024 rookie season, playing 19 games this year and averaging 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds. The Sparks hope both lottery picks from the 2024 draft will be long-term cornerstones for the team.

Directive’s main priority: To get back Plum, the team’s top scorer, and Hamby and Stevens, their top rebounders. After the Sparks were eliminated on September 9, coach Roberts said she hopes the franchise can keep its core together, as she believes the Sparks can build a lot on the progress made this season. She also said that her biggest disappointment was some of the close games that the Sparks felt slipped away, but that experience should help next season.Most important question of the offseason: How much better can Brink be? As long as players like Plum, who requested to be traded from Las Vegas last offseason, decide to stay in Los Angeles, perhaps the most important key for Roberts and general manager Raegan Pebley will be Brink’s continued recovery. Brink averaged 7.5 points in 2024 before getting injured, and it seemed like she was really starting to build confidence at the time she got hurt. This year, she returned to action but didn’t seem very comfortable offensively. Brink still has the opportunity to be one of the league’s impact players, which would be a huge boost for the Sparks.

Washington Mystics

2025 Record: 16-28 (10th)Free Agents: Shakira Austin (restricted), Alysha Clark (unrestricted), Stefanie Dolson (unrestricted), Emily Engstler (reserved), Jade Melbourne, Madison Scott (reserved), Sug Sutton (restricted)2026 Draft Capital: Own selections in all three rounds: Seattle’s first-round pick, New York’s first-round pick (via trade with Connecticut), Minnesota’s second-round pickSeason Summary: The Mystics really had two different seasons. Until August 5, with a 13-15 record, they were fighting for a playoff spot behind three All-Stars: rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen and first-time veteran Brittney Sykes. After trading Sykes to Seattle to get the Storm’s first-round pick for 2026, Washington then struggled down the stretch. The Mystics ended the season with a 10-game losing streak, which could allow them to move up in the draft lottery order, pending the Sparks’ season finale. The late slump can’t take away the excitement for Citron and Iriafen, both locks for the All-Rookie first team.

Template Status: After having two of the top four draft picks this year, Washington will add young talent again in the spring. Seattle’s late fall will give the Mystics three draft picks in the top 11 to join Citron and Iriafen. The other long-term cornerstone for Washington is center Austin, who finally enjoyed a healthy season and averaged a career-high 12.7 PPG. As a restricted free agent this offseason, the former No. 3 pick is only 25 years old. With so many rookie contracts on the books, the Mystics have the option to be aggressive in free agency.Directive’s main priority: Explore the 2026 draft. Citron and Iriafen were ranked among our top 10 players under 25 last month, but Washington could still use another high-level prospect. If the Mystics move up in position to select that player in the spring, it can greatly contribute to determining their offseason strategy. If Washington comes out of the lottery with the number 4 or number 5 pick, the front office may aim to strike again in 2027 when USC star JuJu Watkins could be available.Most important question of the offseason: How much can the Mystics expect from Georgia Amoore? The team’s third first-round pick in 2025, No. 6 overall, Moore suffered an ACL tear late in the season during training camp. Washington’s limited ball-handling options after the Sykes trade helped cause the late losing streak. If Amoore is a long-term starter at point guard, the Mystics can focus their resources on adding alongside Citron on the wing. However, given the timing of Amoore’s injury, she may not play in a competitive game before the 2026 preseason.

Connecticut Sun

2025 Record: 11-33 (11th)Free Agents: Lindsay Allen (unrestricted), Tina Charles (unrestricted), Bria Hartley (unrestricted), Marina Mabrey (unrestricted), Olivia Nelson-Ododa (restricted), Haley Peters (restricted), Mamignan Toure (reserved)2026 Draft Capital: Own two first-round picks (via Phoenix and via Minnesota), one second-round pick, one third-round pick

Season Summary: It has been a difficult season for the Sun. They were 2-8 in their first 10 games and won 11 games overall, and yet, it was difficult to count them out at the end of the season. They played close to the Liberty on August 25 and beat the Mercury at home on September 6. Through the losses, a young core emerged in Leila Lacan, Aneesah Morrow, and Saniya Rivers. The Sun signed former UConn star Aaliyah Edwards before the deadline and also included rookie Rayah Marshall. This group of players was a much-needed bright spot, considering that this year’s winning percentage (.256) was the lowest in franchise history.Template Status: The Sun have a clear core of young players and question marks everywhere. They also only have players with rookie contracts under contract for next season: Lacan, Morrow, Rivers, Edwards, and Marshall. All others are free agents of some kind. How those pieces fall will dictate the front office’s next moves, but expect General Manager Morgan Tuck to try to keep Nelson-Ododa, Charles, and Mabrey.Directive’s main priority: The Sun need to build around their young core through the draft and seek value in free agency. Signing Charles before the 2025 season is a good example of value paying off. And because Uncasville may not be an attractive destination for top-tier free agents, the Sun will have to be creative in attracting international prospects.Most important question of the offseason: What is the future of the franchise? The Sun are embroiled in a conflict surrounding a potential sale. It’s not clear if it will happen, or to whom, or if the Sun will be in Connecticut, New England, or somewhere else entirely. What is clear is that the Connecticut Sun will remain the Connecticut Sun and will play in Uncasville for the 2026 season. However, beyond next season, things are much more uncertain, which could further complicate the recruitment of talent in free agency.

Chicago Sky

2025 Record: 10-34 (12th)Free Agents: Rebecca Allen (unrestricted), Ariel Atkins