Sports09 April, 20261 min read
WNBA Free Agency Opens With Ogwumike Returning To Sparks, Aces Re-Sign Jackie Young
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
New CBA ratified, enabling a compressed offseason with expansion draft, free agency, and the draft. Free agency window opened in early April; teams could sign by mid-April.
WNBA Free Agency Unfolds
The 2026 WNBA free agency period opened amid a flurry of activity following the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement. Nneka Ogwumike announced she would not return to Seattle and was set to re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks. The Las Vegas Aces were finalizing a deal to re-sign Jackie Young on a one-year max contract worth $1.19 million.
The Dallas Wings traded Diamond Miller to the Connecticut Sun for Rayah Marshall. Satou Sabally confirmed she would not return to Phoenix after helping lead the Mercury to the 2025 Finals. Ten of 15 teams had extended core qualifying offers to players including Allisha Gray, Ariel Atkins, Arike Ogunbowale, Kelsey Plum, Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu, Bridget Carleton, Ezi Magbegor, and Marina Mabrey.
Core Designations and Trades
The WNBA's core player designation played a central role in shaping the offseason. The Sparks cored Kelsey Plum, and the Sky were exploring a sign-and-trade involving Ariel Atkins. The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream for first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028.
The core designation comes with a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax. This mechanism can prevent a player from walking in free agency without compensation.
Brand Exposure and Audit Criticism
Rahman Textile produced clothing for European brands including Hessen and BrandBox. Both companies said they were deeply saddened and would review their Bangladesh operations. Hessen's compliance team had audited the factory in March.
Rahman Textile owner Faisal Rahman claimed the factory had passed its most recent safety inspection in January. Clean Clothes Campaign said the audit system was fundamentally broken. The Dhaka Tribune reported that Rahman was being questioned about welded shut exits.