2024 WNBA free agency tracker: Candace Parker re-signing with Aces; Elena Delle Donne stepping away

Las Vegas is keeping its superteam intact with the two-time MVP

By Jack Maloney Feb 16, 2024 at 11:09 am ET• 6 min read

The 2024 WNBA free agency period is starting to slow down now that most of the significant business is complete. All we're waiting on now are official decisions from reigning MVP Breanna Stewart and nine-time All-Star Brittney Griner, but they are widely expected to re-sign with the New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury, respectively. 

Over the past two weeks, there have been a number of league-altering moves. The Seattle Storm won the winter by agreeing to deals with Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, two of the best players available this offseason, while Elena Delle Donne shocked the basketball world by reportedly deciding to step away from the game. In another stunner, former MVP Tina Charles announced her return by signing with the Atlanta Dream after sitting out of the 2023 season in what appeared to be a prelude to retirement. 

Elsewhere, Jonquel Jones is back with the Liberty, two-time MVP Candace Parker re-signed with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, reigning Most Improved Player Satou Sabally returned to the Dallas Wings and veteran frontcourt stars DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones re-upped with the Connecticut Sun. 

For much of the league's history, free agency didn't matter all that much. Key players rarely became free agents due to the length of contracts and the number of times a franchise could use the core designation. That all changed with the new collective bargaining agreement in 2020. Now, free agency is a key aspect of the calendar, just like any other league. The past month has been just another reminder. 

When does free agency start?

Teams can start talking to free agents on Jan. 21, but nothing can officially be signed until Feb. 1. Those rules will always be skirted to some extent, but teams caught breaking them will be punished under the league's tampering rules. The Seattle Storm were fined in 2022 for jumping the gun on Sue Bird's re-signing.

How does WNBA free agency work?

WNBA free agency largely operates just like the NBA. There is a moratorium period where teams can speak to players but not officially sign anything, and free agents are grouped into different classifications that dictate how both they and teams can operate. The two main groups are unrestricted free agents, who can speak to and sign with any team they want, and restricted free agents, who can speak to and sign with any team they want, but can have that offer matched by their prior team. 

The WNBA also has a reserved category, which is for players who hit free agency with fewer than three years of service. Often, these are veterans who entered the league later in their careers, but they can also be younger players who, for whatever reason, were not on a typical rookie-scale contract. The prior team has exclusive negotiating rights with said players.