WNBA offseason 2026: What's next for champion Golden State and runner-up Atlanta

• ESPN

Oct 31, 2026, 10:36 PM ET

The 2026 WNBA champion has been crowned! The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 on Saturday of the WNBA Finals to win the franchise's first title.

And now all 15 teams will turn their focus to the offseason.

We're breaking down potential moves for each WNBA franchise, including a look at the state of each roster, team needs and priorities for each front office this offseason.

Movement during WNBA free agency in 2027 could be more active than ever given the short turnaround between the new collective bargaining agreement and the start of 2026 training camps.

The draft lottery, which will be held Nov. 15, will determine which team will get the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft. After three expansion teams joined the WNBA in the past two seasons, the league will stick with 15 teams for 2027, but the Connecticut Sun will relocate and become the Houston Comets.

Won the WNBA championship

Golden State Valkyries

2026 regular season: 32-12; No. 2 seed

Postseason results: Won WNBA championship
Free agents: Kayla Thornton (unrestricted), Tiffany Hayes (unrestricted), Cecilia Zandalasini (unrestricted), Kaitlyn Chen (executive rights)
2027 draft capital: Own first-, second- and third-round picks

Season recap: In just their second year of existence, the Valkyries are the WNBA champions -- the first expansion franchise to do so in its first two seasons. After finishing the regular season with the second-best record in the league, the Valkyries beat Dallas in three games in the first round of the playoffs before sweeping defending champion Las Vegas.

In the Finals, they beat Atlanta in six games. Golden State lost Games 2 and 3 of the series -- two games in which the Valkyries said they didn't recognize themselves for the way they played. Ahead of Game 4, the Valkyries had team meetings that were described as "vulnerable," with players urging one another to ignite a new fire and find a new level of fight. They responded by winning the next three games in a row to clinch the title. Gabby Williams scored 30 points in Game 7 to seal WNBA Finals MVP honors.

The Valkyries have been making history since they joined the league ahead of the 2025 season, becoming the first expansion franchise to make the playoffs in its first season. But instead of taking a slow build approach, Golden State brought in two game-changing pieces over the offseason. The Valkyries signed Williams and Kiah Stokes during free agency, landing the two players that wound up taking Golden State from a solid playoff team to champion. Williams finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and added to her offensive bag, leading Golden State in scoring in the playoffs. Stokes established herself as one of the best bigs in the league and was dominant throughout the postseason, battling against MVP A'ja Wilson in the semifinals and DPOY Angel Reese in the Finals.

As a team, the Valkyries had the best defense in the league for the second year in a row. Three of their players -- Williams, Stokes and Veronica Burton -- were named to WNBA All-Defensive teams. In a pivotal Game 5 win in Ballhalla, Golden State held Atlanta to 29.2% shooting, the fourth-lowest percentage by a team in any WNBA Finals game, and a season-low 55 points.

Natalie Nakase was runner up in Coach of the Year voting, and Janelle Salaun was named the unanimous Sixth Player of the Year.

State of the roster: Golden State will return its top three scorers in Williams, Salaun and Burton, and Stokes is still under contract as well. The Valkyries will also get Iliana Rupert back, who missed the 2026 season because of her pregnancy, but was an important piece for them in 2025. Kaila Charles and 2025 first-round pick Juste Jocyte are also under contract.

Top front office priority: The Valkyries' front office has proven repeatedly that it has a clear vision for what it wants the roster to be -- even if it's a little confusing from the outside. Through the first two years, the Valkyries have doubled down on not needing a star scorer. However, if they have the opportunity to land one (who won't water down Golden State's defense), they should jump at the chance. With big-name players set to be on the market, and with a far more traditional offseason ahead instead of a condensed one amid CBA negotiations, the Valkyries should be able to throw their hat in the ring to land top free agents. And with the success the franchise has had on and off the court, it's a desirable destination for players.

Biggest offseason question: How much do they care about adding offensive weapons? As stated above, whoever the Valkyries add to their roster -- superstar or not -- will have to be able to play defense. Golden State is not changing its identity any time soon. The question is, do the Valkyries need to add someone who could be the big-time shotmaker and go-to scorer? Williams has developed her offensive game a lot in her first season in San Francisco, and players such as Chen and Salaun have come up clutch. But do they feel the need to bring someone in who specializes in that? -- Kendra Andrews

Eliminated in the WNBA Finals

Atlanta Dream

2026 record: 30-14; No. 4 seed

Postseason result: Lost in WNBA Finals

Free agents: Sika Kone (restricted), DeWanna Bonner (unrestricted)

2027 draft capital: Own second-, third-round picks

Season recap: After welcoming Angel Reese in a blockbuster trade, the Dream made it to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013, and pushed Golden State to the decisive game in the best-of-seven series. Atlanta beat Indiana in the first round before sweeping New York in the semifinals.

In the championship series, Atlanta won Games 2 and 3, marking the franchise's first wins in the Finals after getting swept in each of the Dream's three previous appearances. In those two victories, Reese had historically great performances; she averaged 21.7 points on 56% shooting through the opening three games. However, Reese was held to 7.5 PPG and shot 20% in back-to-back losses in Games 4 and 5, but had a double-double in an emphatic Game 6 Atlanta victory.

Allisha Gray, the team's best shooter and leading scorer in the regular season, suffered an injury to her left (shooting hand) in Game 1 of the semifinals. She was clearly impacted going forward, and shot below 30% in the Finals until exploding for 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including hitting 5 of 7 3-pointers in Game 6. Rhyne Howard heated up as the Finals progressed after shooting 5-for-21 in the first two games. She scored 20 points in Game 5 and 21 (4-for-6 on 3-pointers) in Game 6.

While the Dream lost the trophy, they played their best basketball of the season since the schedule resumed after the FIBA World Cup break. After acquiring Bonner at the trade deadline, the Dream won 11 of their final 13 games of the regular season. And in the first two rounds of the playoffs, they looked just as dominant.

Games 2 and 3 of the Finals were the same version of the Dream that steamrolled their opponents on their path to championship series. However, after that dominant Game 6 victory in Atlanta, they fell short in Game 7 on Halloween at Ballhalla.

State of the roster: General manager Dan Padover did the work in free agency to make sure the Dream have their entire core -- Gray, Howard, Reese, Naz Hillmon, Brionna Jones and Jordin Canada -- locked in on multi-year deals. In fact, the entire roster other than Kone and Bonner are under contract for next year. Jones, who missed most of this season with a leg injury, should help make the Dream stronger in the post in 2027.

Top front office priority: Frankly, there's not much on Padover's to-do list. If Bonner doesn't return, bringing in someone else to give an extra punch off of the bench could help Atlanta. But with nearly all of their roster coming back, there aren't many holes that need filling.

strong>Biggest offseason question: What will Reese look like once she gets another year with Karl Smesko? Reese has played under a different head coach every year since her junior season at LSU. In her first year with the Dream, Reese scored a career-high 16.4 PPG in the regular season, averaging a double-double and won Defensive Player of the Year. Imagine what she will be able to do with another year in this system under her belt and an opportunity to build with the same coach. -- Andrews

Eliminated in the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs

Las Vegas Aces

2026 regular season: 31-13; No. 3 seed

Postseason result: Swept by the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries

Free agents: Jackie Young (unrestricted), NaLyssa Smith (unrestricted), Stephanie Talbot (unrestricted), Kierstan Bell (unrestricted), Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (unrestricted), Brianna Turner (unrestricted), Justine Pissott (reserved)

2027 draft capital: Own second- and third-round pick

Season recap: The Aces have finished in the top four of the regular season eight years in a row -- all but the first season of A'ja Wilson's career. On Thursday, Wilson won her fifth MVP award, leading the regular season in scoring average (26.2) and blocks per game (1.9). Young and Chelsea Gray combined to average 13.5 of the Aces' 22 assists per game, which ranked second in the WNBA. Despite losing starting forward Smith to a season-ending leg injury Aug. 23, the Aces won their last seven games of the regular season and looked to carry that success into the playoffs.

However, their run ended with a surprising sweep by Golden State in the semifinals, a series impacted by Smith's absence plus limited effectiveness from Jewell Loyd, who was dealing with a leg injury. Still, Wilson held her head high after the Aces' exit.

"We've created a culture, a standard, that if we don't do what people want us to do -- what they've seen us do all the time -- they're like, 'What's wrong with you?' " Wilson said. "I feel like every year for us is championship or bust, so it's a bust year for us. But at the same time, I'm never going to lose sight of what we've done to this league and how we continue to uplift it."

State of the roster: Wilson is still just 30 and playing as well as ever. Wilson, Gray and Jewell Loyd are all signed with the Aces through 2028. But Young, who has spent her entire career with Las Vegas, could test free agency this winter. The No. 1 pick in 2019, Young turned 29 in September and would be an enticing free agent target for many teams. She averaged career highs in points (18.9), assists (6.8), 3-pointers (100, 2.3 per game) and free throw percentage (92.8) this season.

Top front office priority: Re-signing Young. Along with her prodigious offensive numbers, she's a good defensive player and has been a perfect fit as part of the Aces' big three, along with Wilson and Gray. Ideally, the Aces would like to have Young signed through 2028, too. If they lose Young, they must find a perimeter scoring threat in free agency.

Wilson, who has played alongside Young since 2019, was asked how much she will talk to her friend and teammate about returning. "I'm never not going to be in her ear," Wilson said. "But I know when she needs that big sister, but also when she needs that space. She needs someone who's going to be constant and consistent."

Biggest offseason question: Does Young stay or go? That's obviously the overriding question. Coach Becky Hammon said, of course, Las Vegas very much wants her back. But the Aces also must figure out which members of their supporting cast will return. Smith was having a strong season until she was injured, and her status for the 2027 season is uncertain. -- Michael Voepel

New York Liberty

2026 regular season: 26-18; No. 8 seed
Postseason results: Swept in the semifinals by the Atlanta Dream
Free agents: Rebecca Allen (unrestricted), Marine Johannes (restricted), Rebekah Gardner (restricted), Han Xu (reserved), Raquel Carrera (reserved), Pauline Astier (reserved)
2027 draft capital: Own first-, second-, third-round picks

Season recap: The season was up-and-down for the Liberty, who under new first-year head coach Chris DeMarco finished the regular season with a record nearly identical to their 2025 mark. New York won the Commissioner's Cup in late June, becoming the first team to win it multiple times. Injuries often hampered the team, as Sabrina Ionescu and Leonie Fiebich both missed significant time and Satou Sabally was limited to just 13 appearances before being ruled out for the season. The team also waived Betnijah Laney-Hamilton four days following the trade deadline after she fell out of the rotation. After a 13-12 start, things stabilized a bit down the stretch and the team went 13-6 to close the regular season. The Liberty looked dominant early in the playoffs when, in the first round, they became the first No. 8 seed to sweep a No. 1 seed with two dominant wins over the Minnesota Lynx.

State of the roster: Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Ionescu and Fiebich are all still under contract, as is Sabally, with Stewart, Jones and Ionescu on standard max contracts. French rookie Marine Fauthoux, who had a breakout series against the Dream, is also set to return on an unprotected deal.

Top front office priority: Evaluating the performance of this roster this season could be difficult with players in and out of the lineup -- after all, the Liberty envisioned having Sabally and Laney-Hamilton for the entire year. But one thing stands out: New York will need to figure things out defensively after finishing the regular season with the seventh-best defensive rating in the league. With most of the Liberty's supporting cast hitting free agency -- including Astier, Johannes and Han -- general manager Jonathan Kolb must assess how to shore up New York's bench, and specifically its wing depth. Especially with Ionescu having an off year, it often felt like Stewart needed more help; her 33 minutes per game were third most in her career, and she averaged 40.3 in the playoffs. Sabally's status for 2027 also will certainly factor into all of this decision-making.

Biggest offseason question: How do the Liberty go about getting back to their championship ways, and how much change might that involve? In addition to assessing the roster, it would not be shocking to see the organization take another look at the coaching staff. New York's seasonlong issues with consistency were one thing, but DeMarco's timeout miscue in the final minutes of Game 2 of the semifinals -- and how he struggled to take ownership of the situation in the aftermath -- might not go over well. This is a team committed to setting the standard leaguewide and winning now. If DeMarco remains for a second season, at minimum there are some real areas of growth he'll need to address.

Another question is what to expect next year from Sabally, who had to step away from the team while dealing with the effects of her second concussion in a year. Sabally was announced as part of the upcoming season of Unrivaled, but there has otherwise been no word on when she might return to the court. -- Alexa Philippou

Eliminated in the first round of the WNBA playoffs

Dallas Wings

2026 regular season: 27-17; No. 7 seed
Postseason results: Lost 2-1 to No. 2 seed Golden State in the first round
Free agents: Odyssey Sims (unrestricted), Alysha Clark (unrestricted), Awak Kuier (restricted), Maddy Siegrist (restricted), Li Yueru (restricted), Haley Jones (restricted)
2027 draft capital: Own first-, second-, third-round picks

Season recap: In Jose Fernandez's first season at the helm, the team finished 27-17. Coming off 2025's 10-win campaign, it marked the fourth-largest win percentage increase from one season to the next in WNBA history. In her second year, Paige Bueckers cemented herself as one of the best players in the league, while Jessica Shepard, the newly crowned 2026 Most Improved Player, proved to be one of the most impactful free agent signings across the league. No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd had a strong start to her pro career before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on her right knee that cut her season short, while Alanna Smith never found her footing in her first season in Dallas, dealing with various injuries and last appearing on Aug. 30.

State of the roster: The bulk of Dallas' main contributors -- Bueckers, Shepard, Fudd, Smith, Arike Ogunbowale and Aziaha James -- are set to return, with Bueckers, Fudd and James under team control for multiple years (and Smith through 2028). Ogunbowale, Smith and Shepard will take up a large chunk of the salary cap, with each earning north of $1 million. The biggest free agents will be Kuier, who shined in her first WNBA season since 2023 despite averaging only 18.6 minutes per game, and Siegrist, who saw a reduced role this season.

Top front office priority: Adding wing depth and shoring up defensively. Can that come from a healthy and more confident Smith, or does general manager Curt Miller need to make additional moves to improve the defense? The unit, porous for much of the season, showed its issues during the playoffs when the Valkyries scored a franchise-record 104 points in Game 1.

Losing Fudd for the year hurt the team's ability to stretch the floor, but even with her return, the Wings could seek to add more shooters in the draft or in free agency. They attempted just 23.8 3-pointers per game this year and averaged 8.3 makes, both among the league's worst marks.

The Wings might also look to sign Bueckers to an "EPIC" rookie-scale extension -- she's technically eligible to agree to one after her second year and as a previous all-WNBA pick -- though it might benefit Bueckers to maintain maximum flexibility.

Biggest offseason question: How can Miller position this team to take the next step? Does that entail tinkering or major changes (perhaps via trade)? Year 1 under Fernandez was a success; Dallas returned to relevance and to the postseason following a two-year hiatus. The way the Wings bounced back from a rough Game 1 performance to take Game 2 and make things interesting in Game 3 was a pretty positive outcome for a 7-seed not at full strength.

The Wings are young, but Miller knows that contention windows don't last forever. Dallas was excellent at beating the teams it was supposed to -- going 20-2 against sub-.500 teams -- but despite big wins against the likes of the Liberty and the Aces, the Wings were just 7-15 against playoff teams. That will have to change to compete for a championship. -- Alexa Philippou

Indiana Fever

2026 season: 28-16; No. 6 seed
Postseason result: Lost in three games to No. 3 seed Las Vegas
Free agents: Kelsey Mitchell (unrestricted), Sophie Cunningham (unrestricted), Tyasha Harris (unrestricted), Myisha Hines-Allen (unrestricted), Grace VanSlooten (reserved)
2027 draft capital: Own first-, second-, third-round picks

Season recap: In every season that Caitlin Clark, Mitchell and Aliyah Boston are on the roster, the Fever have championship expectations. Anything short of that is a disappointment. The drama -- primarily coming from the outside -- that seemed to follow the team all summer was, at best, annoying. At worst, it was a distraction, with coaches and players regularly addressing rumors and criticisms. A stuttering end to the regular season that saw the Fever fall to the No. 6 seed for the third consecutive season -- and set them up to face Las Vegas in the first round -- was a tough way to go into the playoffs.

The bottom line: The Fever were the best offensive team in the league but couldn't match that production on the defensive end. At some point, a team must be able to consistently get stops if it wants to be the last team standing. Instead, their season ends at the hands of the Aces for the second year in a row.

State of the roster: The Fever were the most potent offense in the league throughout the regular season: Mitchell (24.7), Clark (22.3) and Boston (16.1) became one of only two trios to all rank in the top 18 in scoring average. Mitchell scored the most points in a single season in league history and finished No. 2 in points per game, as Clark was No. 3. Boston might be as steadily consistent as anyone in the league, and she added a 3-point shot in 2026 that had to be respected.

But for as much as they turned every game into an offensive highlight reel, there wasn't enough consistent help from the rest of the roster. Cunningham was a knock-down shooter for the first three months of the season, but that plummeted in July and August. Lexie Hull started 41 games but had her lowest-scoring average since 2023. Monique Billings was signed to be a starter alongside Boston but struggled and lost the job to Makayla Timpson, who made significant strides in her second season. First-round rookie Raven Johnson started coming into her own late in the season and looks to have a bright future.

Top front office priority: Retaining Mitchell. The 2018 No. 2 draft pick just set the league single-season record for the most points scored (1,086) and the most 3-point field goals made (135). She and Clark became the most lethal offensive backcourt in the league, and Clark finished No. 2 in assists. The duo and Boston form the type of trio that championships are won with. Las Vegas -- with Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and A'ja Wilson -- are a perfect example. Losing Mitchell would mean beginning a new search for that third superstar, and who knows how the chemistry with that newcomer would play out? This season proved that Clark and Mitchell can thrive alongside each other. Additionally, Mitchell is a low-maintenance star who isn't affected by all of the attention -- both good and bad -- that comes with being in Clark's orbit.

Biggest offseason question: Can the Fever figure out a way to get stops? Indiana could simply outscore most teams and no deficit seemed too great. But the Fever ranked No. 11 in points allowed and No. 8 in defensive rating. Timpson is one of the most athletic forwards in the league and will continue to develop, but she and Boston could use a little more help in the post. A 3-and-D skill set on the perimeter would help take some defensive pressure off Clark and Mitchell and help spread the court to make those two even more dangerous on the offensive end. -- Kareem Copeland

Washington Mystics

2026 regular season: 28-16; No. 5 seed
Postseason results: Swept by No. 4 seed Atlanta in the first round
Free agents: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (unrestricted)
2027 draft capital: Own first-round pick (can swap with Chicago Sky), two second-round picks (one via Sky), third-round pick

Season recap: This was a dream season for the franchise: It reached the playoffs for the first time since 2023 in just Year 2 of a complete rebuild. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were selected for the All-Star Game for the second time in their two-year careers. Shakira Austin made the biggest leap of her career and was in the running for both Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year while setting the franchise record for single-season points scored. The team developed into one of the best defensive units in the league, ranked No. 2 in defensive rating and points allowed. With a foundation built off six first-round picks in the last two drafts, Washington became the youngest team in league history to reach the postseason and had the league's best record after July 20.

State of the roster: The Mystics are in an ideal spot, with everyone but Laney-Hamilton under contract and most of the roster still on rookie deals. Austin is the only player making more than $750,000 per year. There's cap space and plenty of options. The biggest question for team president Michael Winger is whether to continue supplementing the roster with young talent in the draft or spend money on a big-name veteran to earnestly chase a championship.

Top front office priority: Shooting. Coach Sydney Johnson wants to play fast and shoot 3s, but even as the defense flourished this season, the offense was still a work in progress. The Mystics ranked No. 14 in pace and last in 3-point attempts. That makes sense for a roster where the strength is in its size and athleticism; Austin, Iriafen and Lauren Betts form one of the biggest frontcourts in the league. Citron's 3-point percentage dipped in 2026, and 2025 No. 6 draft pick Georgia Amoore has room to grow; these were her first pro games after she tore an ACL during training camp of her rookie year. The hope is that growth from both players will help, but improving the long-range shooting should be a priority.

Biggest offseason question: At this point of the rebuild, what's next? The Mystics will, again, have a lottery pick from a swap with Chicago. Do they stay on the current path, building through the draft and declining to take a big swing in free agency or at the trade deadline? Are they at a point where the front office is willing to spend on an established entity who would make the Mystics true championship contenders? Or do they believe the natural progression of the youngsters in-house is enough to make a legit run at a title? With everyone but Austin on team-friendly deals, the cash is available to add to this roster before the Mystics have to start paying out second contracts. -- Kareem Copeland

Minnesota Lynx

2026 regular season: 33-11; No. 1 seed
Postseason result: Swept by No. 8 seed New York in the first round
Free agents: Napheesa Collier (unrestricted), Maya Caldwell (restricted), Dorka Juhasz (reserved), Emma Cechova (reserved), Antonia Delaere (reserved), Chloe Bibby (reserved)
2027 draft capital: Own first- and third-round picks

Season recap: The Lynx hit the 30-win mark for the third season in a row and were the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year. Olivia Miles was Rookie of the Year, and Cheryl Reeve was Coach of the Year. But the season ended in disappointment with their first-round loss to the Liberty. There were signs, though, that the early exit could happen.

The Lynx over-performed for much of the regular season, led by point guard Miles, who took charge of the offense. A lot was on her shoulders. The Lynx were without star forward Collier (offseason surgery on both ankles) until late July. The Lynx lost forwards Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith to Dallas in free agency. Cechova, a promising rookie center, was lost to an ACL injury in May after just three games. Forward Juhasz was out until early July with a foot injury. Thus, the Lynx had to rely a lot on veteran forwards Natasha Howard and Nia Brodie, and guard play led by Miles, and veterans Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams.

Minnesota lost four of its last six regular-season games and didn't improve its level of play in the latter part of the regular season or postseason. Meanwhile, the up-and-down Liberty, one of the preseason favorites to win the WNBA title, were an unlikely No. 8 seed with a record that didn't reflect how good they could be. The best version of the Liberty showed up at the worst time for Minnesota.

State of the roster: Miles is a great young building block who will be on the second year of her rookie contract in 2027. She is already one of the WNBA's most exciting players. McBride, Williams, Howard and Brodie are all signed for next season, too. But Collier, who has been with the Lynx her entire career, is a free agent. Her decision on whether to stay in Minnesota will make an enormous difference in the direction of the Lynx's future.

Top front office priority: Re-signing Collier, or figuring out how to go forward without her.

Biggest offseason question: If Collier returns to the Lynx, the key question is what else they need to win the franchise's fifth championship. They came close in 2024, falling in overtime in the last game of the WNBA Finals at New York. An injury to Collier cost them in their 2024 semifinal loss to Phoenix. And this year, they were a better team for the first four months of the season than they were the last month.

If Collier does not return, the Lynx must start a different era and likely will need to go into free agency or trade for more post talent. -- Michael Voepel

Eliminated in the regular season

All stats for teams eliminated in the regular season are through Aug. 30, when the FIBA break started.

Portland Fire

2026 season: Eliminated from playoff race
Free agents: Karlie Samuelson (unrestricted), Emily Englster (restricted), Nika Muhl (club option)
2027 draft capital: Own first- and second-round picks

Season recap: The Fire were eliminated from playoff contention with six games left on their schedule but have had a solid inaugural season. Portland put together signature wins against Indiana, New York and Dallas, but growing pains were still evident. The Fire couldn't string together more than three wins in a row (in May), suffered a four-game losing streak in June and a five-game skid in July. Following coach Alex Sarama's Constraints-Led Approach, the Fire have a clear identity built on instinct and offensive fluidity, and they produced the eighth-best offense in the league. But their defense ranks second to last. Bridget Carleton, Sarah Ashlee Barker and Carla Leite -- who were all selected in the expansion draft -- had breakout seasons, giving Portland a solid future to build on.

State of the roster: Portland should return next season with several players who were key contributors to its inaugural year in Carleton, Megan DiLeo and Leite, and the hope is that Barker makes a full recovery from a torn ACL suffered in July. It all gives the Fire great continuity to build upon their success heading into Year 2 -- exactly what an expansion franchise wants.

Top front office priority: An elite shot creator and go-to bucket getter. Portland emphasizes the development of players already on its roster, but that shouldn't hold it back from adding that kind of player. Leite has been the Fire's leading scorer this season, averaging 15.9 points per game, with an incredible ability to drive to the bucket and finish. Carleton and Barker have shot decently from distance, but if they want to take their quick-paced offense to the next level, the Fire should add a veteran scorer. Portland would also benefit in adding a true center to help down low.

Biggest offseason question: Can Portland improve enough in Year 2 to make the postseason? Perhaps Golden State set unfair standards for what should be expected from a current-day expansion franchise -- making the playoffs in both of its first two seasons. The Fire can choose to run it back with the same group, but they could benefit from taking a swing for a big signing. -- Kendra Andrews

Chicago Sky

2026 season: Eliminated from playoff race
Free agents: DiJonai Carrington (unrestricted), Natasha Cloud (unrestricted), Rachel Banham (unrestricted), Sydney Taylor (reserved)
2027 draft capital: Own two first-round picks (including one via Atlanta), but Washington owns swap rights for one; third-round pick

Season recap: There was all the optimism in the world after a 3-1 start with wins over Golden State and Minnesota. Everything changed when 2024 No. 4 draft pick Rickea Jackson -- traded from the Sparks for Ariel Atkins -- was lost to a torn ACL in the fourth game of the season after she averaged career highs in points (18.0), rebounds (4.8), assists (2.0) and blocks (1.8). The Sky were never the same afterward as they lost 11 of the next 12 games. Jackson wasn't the only injury as Chicago leads the league with 127 games missed, according to The IX Sports injury tracker. Azura Stevens, Carrington, Courtney Vandersloot, Skylar Diggins, Gabriela Jaquez, Cloud and Taylor all missed time. Diggins never returned after July 3.

After that 1-12 stretch, the Sky hovered just below .500 the rest of the way as Taylor developed into one of the top rookie scorers in the league despite going undrafted. Cloud is having a career shooting year and Kamilla Cardoso continues her incremental growth. They weren't an easy out as of late June, but struggled with defense and consistency.

State of the roster: Diggins, Stevens, Vandersloot, Cardoso, Jackson, Elizabeth Williams, Jacy Sheldon and Jaquez are all signed through 2027. That's the core that general manager Jeff Pagliocca was excited about heading into 2026. Carrington, Cloud and Banham are unrestricted free agents. The salary cap was $7 million in 2026 and is able to move up or down by no more than 13% in 2027. As of now, and if the cap remains the same, Chicago would have about $1.8 million in cap space with eight players currently under contract.

Top front office priority: Pagliocca does not believe in tearing things down to the studs to rebuild. So, despite missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season, don't expect a youth movement to start over. The biggest acquisition is likely to be the return of Jackson. Shooting was a minus this season as the Sky rank No. 13 in 3-point percentage (29.2%) and No. 10 in field goal percentage (44.1%). They also need more stops after ranking No. 11 in the league in scoring defense (89.7). With Diggins out, Taylor was often the only player able to create her own quality looks late in the shot clock or games.

Biggest offseason question: The health of Jackson and the mindset of Diggins. Jackson was looking like the league's most improved player before the injury. When will she be ready and how long will it take to return to that level of play? The other question is where Diggins stands mentally with the team. She talked about the team's "loser mentality" in early June and also pointed to coach Tyler Marsh when questioned about the struggling half-court offense. Diggins acknowledged "an extremely frustrating experience." On July 6, the seven-time All-Star took to social media to announce that she'd been benched. She never played another game after July 3, officially due to a knee injury. However, Diggins confirmed that she hasn't asked for nor is looking for a trade. She sounded committed to the team despite the previous frustrations, which included the practice facility not being completed in 2026. -- Kareem Copeland

Los Angeles Sparks

2026 season: Eliminated from playoff race
Free agents: Rae Burrell (restricted), Emma Cannon (unrestricted)
2027 draft capital: Own two first-round picks (including via Phoenix), two second-round picks (including via Storm) and third-round pick

Season recap: The Sparks were confident this would be the year they finally broke the five-year playoff drought. But currently sitting in 11th place in the standings, Los Angeles missed the postseason for the sixth year in a row as it struggled to find consistency. The positive early on: Kelsey Plum was playing at an MVP level and led the league in scoring. But an injury sidelined her for over a month, and then the Sparks sent her to Phoenix at the trade deadline. The Sparks also played without Cameron Brink for nine games. L.A. suffered six consecutive losses in mid-July, and another six-game skid in August, leading to the firing of former general manager Raegan Pebley.

State of the roster: The Sparks have five players under contract heading into the 2027 season: Ariel Atkins, Dearica Hamby, Erica Wheeler, Brink and Monique Akoa Makani. Nneka Ogwumike announced her plans to retire after this season, leaving a massive hole.

Top front office priority: Pick a direction. The Sparks split ways with Pebley after yet another underwhelming season. Pebley's tenure with Los Angeles was defined by win-now moves in an effort to bring back the historical dominance that the Sparks are tied to, but each fell short. With Pebley gone, Ogwumike retiring and Plum traded, the Sparks' front office -- Ariana Andonian, a former general manager and vice president of player personnel for the Philadelphia 76ers' G League affiliate, was named Sparks GM on Friday -- has to decide if the organization still wants to make moves it believes will help the team win immediately -- or if it is time for a major shake-up from top to bottom.

Biggest offseason question: Can they sign another coveted free agent? The Sparks have a good track record of landing some of the best players on the market -- most recently signing Plum in 2025 -- but with the recent turbulence the franchise has faced, and the now six-year playoff drought, can they do it again? If the Sparks choose the "win-now" direction mentioned above, they will have to figure out how they can get premier talent to fill out the roster. But it's not certain whether Los Angeles is still seen as a desirable location. -- Andrews

Phoenix Mercury

2026 season: Eliminated from playoff race
Free agents: Kelsey Plum (unrestricted). Valeriane Ayayi (reserved), Kyara Linskens (reserved), Noemie Brochant (reserved), Jovana Nogic (reserved), Lexi Held (reserved), Marta Suarez (reserved), Maddy Westbeld (reserved)
2027 draft capital: Own second- and third-round picks

Season recap: The 2026 season was an absolute disaster coming off a trip to the Finals in 2025. Satou Sabally -- the team's leading scorer with 16.3 points per game in 2025 -- left in free agency and the Mercury didn't add a prolific third running mate for Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper until getting Plum at the trade deadline. Then Plum played only five games due to injury. Sami Whitcomb, who was one of the best reserves in the league in 2025, played less than half the season. DeWanna Bonner moved into the starting lineup, but that wasn't enough. The team ended up buying out Bonner in August to allow her to join a playoff team, which ended up being Atlanta. Nearly every metric measures the Mercury as a below-average offense, and things aren't better defensively, as they are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. The defense is allowing seven more points per game from 2025 to 2026.

State of the roster: With only Copper, Thomas, Whitcomb and Natasha Mack under contract for 2027, Phoenix has the flexibility to retool the roster. Coach Nate Tibbetts will be going into his fourth season and coming off his worst since he was hired as the highest-paid coach in league history. Going from the Finals to the lottery is the wrong direction, though he didn't have as talented of a roster in 2026. With all of the recent investments into the organization, the leash might not be particularly long for anyone if the Mercury aren't back in the playoffs in 2027. Thomas remains one of the elite players in the league, but she'll turn 35 in April, and the end of her career is much closer than the beginning. Time is of the essence for the organization to return to the pinnacle with Thomas still playing at this level.

Top front office priority: Keeping Plum is the first, second and third priority. Everything hinges on getting Plum to sign after giving up a first- and second-round pick and Monique Akoa Makani. That's a lottery pick gone in what's expected to be a quality draft. Losing that for five games of sub-100% Plum would be a horrible trade and set the franchise back for the future. Acquiring Plum probably enhances the opportunity of signing other talent looking to make a run at a championship. The five-time All-Star has two championship rings with the Aces. Her decision will go a long way to determine the Mercury's offseason success. The Mercury took a big swing and are still waiting to find out the results.

Biggest offseason question: Can the Mercury return to championship contention? The biggest factor to answering that question is another: Will Plum return? This is an organization with a win-now mindset, and hovering near the bottom of the standings was unacceptable. The hiring of Tibbetts, the finished practice facility, trading for Thomas and Copper before the 2025 season and trading for Plum were all moves aimed at winning a title. Can general manager Nick U'Ren keep Plum, tweak the roster and quickly return to contention? Plum's decision will likely have the biggest impact on such. -- Copeland

Toronto Tempo

2026 season: Eliminated from playoff race
Free agents: Temi Fagbenle (unrestricted), Isabelle Harrison (unrestricted), Kia Nurse (unrestricted), Nyara Sabally (restricted), Maria Conde (reserved), Laura Juskaite (reserved)
2027 draft capital: Own first-, second- and third-round picks

Season recap: The Tempo were a .500 team and rolling along before Brittney Sykes was lost for most of the season with a plantar fascia injury. Sykes and Marina Mabrey combined to form one of the highest-scoring backcourts in the league as both were in the midst of career years. Including the game when Sykes went down, Toronto went 4-21 from that point, including a 12-game losing streak. A Grade 2 left ankle sprain suffered by rookie Kiki Rice kept the team's third-leading scorer off the floor for nearly two months. Sabally and Harrison also missed stretches due to injury. The Tempo added a young big in 2025 No. 7 draft pick Aneesah Morrow in a trade with the Sun for Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick. As a group, the team seemed ahead of expectations under two-time championship-winning coach Sandy Brondello, but the losses piled up without Sykes and as other injuries depleted the roster.

State of the roster: The combination of Mabrey, Sykes and Rice on the perimeter is a strong foundation on which to build. There's plenty of flexibility between expiring deals and cap room to continue to tweak the roster. Julie Allemand, Morrow and Teonni Key are all under contract for 2027. Rice looks like a budding franchise cornerstone and will certainly be an All-Rookie selection.

Top front office priority: Depth and talent in the frontcourt. Harrison is an unrestricted free agent with injury history. Sabally is restricted, and has been injury-prone throughout her career and, again, missed nearly half the season in 2026. However, the 2022 No. 5 draft pick put together a career year with 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game when she was on the floor. Sabally also has a coach who believes in her in Brondello, who was at the helm of the Liberty when the team drafted her. So, there are some decisions to be made in terms of their own free agents and how to build out the rest of the roster. The Tempo are one of four teams that have had at least 100 games missed due to injury, so that added another challenge to evaluating the organization's inaugural year.

Biggest offseason question: There are few expectations on an expansion franchise in the early years. The biggest question: Was the fast start to 2026 a fluke or a sign of what could be when healthy? As Kendra wrote above, the Valkyries put pressure on all the following expansion teams after reaching the playoffs in their first year and becoming a contender in Year No. 2. The 2026 season didn't quite show the entire vision for how the Tempo want to look on the floor. -- Copeland

Connecticut Sun

The franchise will relocate to the Houston Comets in the offseason.

2026 season: Eliminated from playoff race
Free agents: Brittney Griner (unrestricted), Kennedy Burke (unrestricted), Diamond Miller (restricted), Raegan Beers (reserved), Ashlon Jackson (reserved)
2027 draft capital: Own first-, second- and third-round picks, plus additional third-round pick (via Portland)

Season recap: It was a weird season in Connecticut, the final for the Sun franchise. The team struggled early with a 2-15 start, not helped by uneven player availability. Standout point guard Leila Lacan missed time due to overseas commitments, while Griner dealt with injuries much of the season. Aneesah Morrow then fell out of the rotation and was traded at the deadline to Toronto for the rights to Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick. The Sun were better later in the summer, but the reality of the franchise's impending relocation put a damper on the atmosphere around Uncasville.

State of the roster: The Houston front office has plenty of young talent it can choose to build around between Lacan and Saniya Rivers, as well as Gianna Kneepkens, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Nell Angloma, who are all either rookies or second-year players. Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aaliyah Edwards are also under contract, and both took some positive steps forward in 2026. In all, that offers plenty of flexibility for the resurgent Houston franchise to construct its first roster.

Top front office priority: From the front office down to basketball operations, there's little known so far about the Houston team's identity and philosophy moving forward, including how many Sun personnel will move with the team. But presumably the biggest goal will be to build around the team's upcoming lottery pick. The team will no doubt want to also put its best foot forward in talking to free agents this winter, whether that results in signing players for 2027 or laying the groundwork for the future.

Biggest offseason question: Will JuJu Watkins declare for the WNBA draft? Houston currently has the best odds of winning the No. 1 pick, so if the ping-pong balls fall in its favor, and the transcendent Watkins -- who has additional eligibility beyond this upcoming college season -- goes pro, that would be best-case scenario on and off the court as Houston returns to the WNBA. -- Alexa Philippou

Seattle Storm

2026 season: Eliminated from playoff race
Free agents: Stefanie Dolson (unrestricted), Zia Cooke (restricted), Jade Melbourne (restricted), Mackenzie Holmes (reserved), Jordan Horston (reserved), Taylor Thierry (reserved)
2027 draft capital: Own first- and third-round picks, plus additional third-round pick (via Dallas); also swap rights for Indiana's third-round pick

Season recap: After Seattle came within one missed shot of upsetting eventual champion Las Vegas in the first round of the playoffs last season, a ton changed for the Storm. They parted ways with coach Noelle Quinn after five seasons and hired Sonia Raman. Their top five scorers, led by forward Nneka Ogwumike and guard Skylar Diggins, left in free agency. Seattle's leading returning scorer, forward Ezi Magbegor, didn't play until July 2 due to a foot injury. And the 2025 No. 2 draft pick, center Dominique Malonga, missed eight games early on due to concussion protocol.

Seattle ownership and fans knew that this would be a rebuilding season in which the Storm would get court time for a lot of young players, including center Awa Fam, the No. 3 draft pick, and guard Flau'jae Johnson, the No. 8 pick. The Storm's lack of experience showed up most on offense, as they are near the bottom of the league in offensive rating (an estimate of points scored per 100 possessions). The Storm did a little better defensively, especially with inside enforcers such as Magbegor, Malonga and Fam, all of whom are 6-foot-4 or taller. Overall, though, there will be no surprise about Seattle's final record. This season was about improving for the future.

State of the roster: If it's healthy, a good core will return for Seattle. Guard Natisha Hiedeman, Magbegor, Malonga, Fam and Johnson are all signed for 2027. Hiedeman is the oldest of that group; she turns 30 in February 2027.

Top front office priority: The franchise that was defined by point guard Sue Bird for two decades now needs a point guard. The Storm are near the top of the league in turnovers this season, while being near the bottom in assists. That's a bad formula for seeking success. Seattle has the potential for a dominant front line, especially with Malonga and Fam being just 20 years old with vast potential. So either through free agency, a trade or the draft, Seattle could use an elite point guard who can maximize what the post players can do.

Biggest offseason question: Can the Storm get back to the playoffs in 2027? This is just the fourth time they have missed the postseason since 2004, when they won their first of four WNBA titles. If Seattle can get the right floor general and keep its best players healthy in 2027, the Storm have a chance to be back in the postseason mix where they are used to being. -- Michael Voepel