WNBA Free Agency 2026 Shake-Up: Which Superstars Will Bolt?

The 2026 WNBA free agency class is not just an offseason event—it is a cataclysmic moment poised to redefine the league's competitive landscape. With the Collective Bargaining Agreement potentially being renegotiated, opening up new financial opportunities, and two hungry expansion teams—the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire—entering the fold, an unprecedented number of superstars are set to become unrestricted free agents. For many of the WNBA's biggest names, this free agency period will be the chance to secure a massive new contract, find a new home where they can be the unquestioned franchise centerpiece, or make the one final move necessary to chase a championship. The perfect storm of player empowerment, a looming new CBA, and the cap flexibility of new franchises makes major departures seem not just likely, but inevitable.

Arike Ogunbowale has been the high-volume scoring engine for the Dallas Wings since she was drafted, consistently putting up spectacular numbers despite the team's often-middling results. However, the Dallas franchise's trajectory has fundamentally shifted toward building its future around 2025 Rookie of the Year, Paige Bueckers, signaling that the offense is likely to be run through a more efficient, team-oriented system. Ogunbowale's isolation-heavy, high-usage style of play no longer perfectly aligns with the organization's long-term vision. For a player entering her prime who wants to be the undisputed number one option and command a max contract, securing a fresh start where she is truly prioritized is the logical next step.

The most likely new destination for Ogunbowale is the Chicago Sky, a team that is desperate for a perimeter alpha scorer. Chicago’s foundation is set with the stellar frontcourt duo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, who provide ferocious rebounding and interior defense. The missing piece is an elite guard who can create her own shot, draw defensive pressure away from the paint, and reliably close out games in the fourth quarter. Signing Ogunbowale solves this problem instantly, providing the Sky with the proven superstar scoring threat they need to balance their attack. This move creates a dynamic "Big Three" of an established star and emerging young talent, immediately vaulting the Sky into contention.

The Seattle Storm are confronting an overwhelming free agency class, forcing them to make difficult, potentially painful roster decisions to stay under the salary cap. While Ezi Magbegor is one of the league's best young two-way centers, a perennial All-Defensive talent who is still developing her full offensive repertoire, she may be a necessary casualty in their efforts to retain veteran stars or reshape their roster. Magbegor is ready for an elevated role and a significant salary bump, and the open market is the best place for her to receive both, as a team, as Seattle may not be able to offer her the lead role she desires. She will receive heavy interest from every team with cap space, making her departure from the Storm highly probable. Magbegor is the perfect target to become the foundational face of the new Toronto Tempo expansion franchise. Toronto will have the flexibility of an enormous salary cap and the critical need for a marketable, high-impact player to build their entire system around. Magbegor’s unique blend of youth, two-way versatility, size, and athleticism makes her an ideal choice to anchor the defense and serve as the offensive hub in her first season as a franchise player. By offering her a max contract and the undisputed lead role, Tempo secured a player who can lift their defensive ceiling and give the new organization a high floor from day one, proving they are serious about immediate competitiveness.

Guard Kia Nurse is widely expected to embrace the opportunity to play for her home country’s new team after a challenging few seasons, which included a move to the Chicago Sky. While Nurse remains a tough, energetic player and a fierce competitor, her role in Chicago was never fully defined amid the team’s various injuries and changes. Her market value is now perfectly aligned with an expansion team that needs a high-profile, recognizable veteran to help establish its culture and connect with the fan base. The Toronto Tempo will make signing Nurse one of their top priorities for reasons that go beyond just her on-court contribution. She can serve as a key veteran presence and a foundational cultural leader, making her one of the most important signings for the new franchise. This move makes all the sense in the world for both the player and the organization, providing Nurse with a guaranteed starting spot and the chance to become a national sports icon, while giving the Tempo immediate credibility.

Guard Marina Mabrey has proven she is one of the most talented and dynamic perimeter players in the league, but she may feel constrained by the hyper-defensive, low-tempo identity of the Connecticut Sun. Mabrey is an aggressive scorer who thrives in transition and high-paced offensive sets, and she might be seeking a team that will give her greater offensive freedom and a higher volume of shots. The Sun will undoubtedly try to retain her, but the opportunity for a new system may prove too enticing to ignore. A compelling new destination is the Los Angeles Sparks, a team that continues to search for a new identity and a star playmaker to lead their rebuild. The Sparks have the appeal of the Los Angeles market and the potential cap space to bring in a player of Mabrey's caliber. Placing Mabrey into a more modern, up-tempo offense would unleash her full scoring potential, giving the Sparks the backcourt centerpiece they desperately need to begin climbing the standings.

The 2026 free agency class is set to deliver on all the hype, promising a level of player movement that could dismantle perennial contenders and instantly elevate struggling or brand-new franchises. The reverberations from these decisions will not just affect the upcoming season but will set the course for the WNBA's next era of competition. With two new expansion teams in Toronto and Portland creating an unprecedented demand for talent, the entire league's competitive balance is on the cusp of a dramatic shift. Existing powerhouse teams face the unenviable task of deciding which core players they can afford to keep, knowing that the new teams are flush with cap space and eager to offer max contracts to established stars. This confluence of a potential new CBA, rising league revenue, and the largest free agent class in WNBA history means that the 2026 season will look drastically different from any that came before it. Which stars do you predict will shock the league with a surprising relocation, and what new super teams will rise from the rubble of the old order?