2018 WNBA Offseason Roundup: Recap the Biggest Moves


With WNBA Draft 2018 in the books, the next wave of young talent is in place and rosters are beginning to take shape. All eyes now shift to May 18 — WNBA Tip-Off 2018 presented by Verizon — and May 20 — #WNBAAllDay — with all 12 teams in action beginning at 1 PM ET.

Before the WNBA’s 22nd season begins, catch up on the biggest moves of the offseason, including trades, free agent signings and more.

MORE: Player Movement Central | Free Agent List

WNBA Draft 2018: Aces Select A’ja Wilson No. 1

April 12: Heading into their first season in Las Vegas, the Aces made South Carolina star A’ja Wilson the No. 1 pick in WNBA Draft 2018. Wilson joins an exciting young core that also features 2017 No. 1 pick Kelsey Plum, 2016 No. 2 pick Moriah Jefferson, and veteran guard Kayla McBride. FULL DRAFT RESULTS | DRAFT CENTRAL | FEATURE

Liz Cambage Re-Joins Wings On Multi-Year Contract

February 5: Liz Cambage, one of the game’s top international talents, re-joined the Dallas Wings for her second stint with the organization. The Australian center was selected No. 2 overall by the Tulsa Shock in 2011 and played a pair of seasons in the WNBA before spending the next five years overseas. READ MORE | ANALYSIS

Angel McCoughtry Announces Return to Dream

February 8: One of the best scorers in league history, Angel McCoughtry signed a new contract with the Atlanta Dream after sitting out the 2017 season to rest. McCoughtry averaged 19.5 points per game in her most recent season (2016). READ MORE

Dream Sign Free Agent Renee Montgomery

February 1: After winning two championships in three seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, Renee Montgomery opted to sign with the Atlanta Dream in free agency. Montgomery joins an Atlanta backcourt that features 2017 All-Stars Layshia Clarendon and Tiffany Hayes. READ MORE | ANALYSIS

Former All-Star Guards Briann January, Danielle Robinson Traded

March 6: On the same day, the Phoenix Mercury announced transactions that sent out Danielle Robinson and brought in Briann January to the city where she played her college ball. January will play alongside Diana Taurasi in Phoenix, while Robinson fills the void left by Montgomery in Minnesota. MORE ON JANUARY | MORE ON ROBINSON

DeWanna Bonner Returns to Phoenix

March 6: DeWanna Bonner, the former All-Star who missed 2017 due to pregnancy, signed a new contract to return to the Mercury. A two-time champion with Phoenix (2009, 2014), Bonner averaged 14.5 points per game in 2016 and now enters her ninth season with the franchise. READ MORE

Sparks Sign Free Agent Cappie Pondexter

February 14: The fourth-leading scorer in WNBA history, Cappie Pondexter signed with the L.A. Sparks in free agency after three years with the Chicago Sky. Pondexter, who was born in California and raised in Chicago, looks to help the Sparks reach their third straight WNBA Finals. READ MORE

Aces Sign Swords & Young, Trade For Bone

February 1: The Aces added to their growing talent pool by signing veteran free agents Carolyn Swords and Tamera Young. They also traded for former All-Star center Kelsey Bone, while the Mercury signed Sancho Lyttle to fill in their frontcourt depth. MORE ON SWORDS | MORE ON YOUNG | TRADE INFO

Lynx Trade Natasha Howard to Storm

February 7: Another key reserve for the defending champions, Natasha Howard was traded to the Seattle Storm for a second-round pick in this year’s draft. The Lynx then signed free agent forward Lynetta Kizer to bolster their frontcourt. READ MORE

Katie Smith Among Coaching Hires

A number of teams changed head coaches ahead of the 2018 season. The Aces hired Bill Laimbeer for their first year in Las Vegas, and the New York Liberty promoted assistant Katie Smith to fill the void. In addition, the Seattle Storm hired former San Antonio Stars coach Dan Hughes, and former Sun assistant Nicki Collen was named head coach of the Atlanta Dream. FULL LIST OF COACHES