WNBA free agency is almost complete, and the league looks dramatically different. More than a dozen former All-Stars have switched, including 8 2024 All-Stars (Kelsey Plum, Jewel Lloyd, Satou Sabury, Alyssa Thomas, De Wanna Bonner, Britney Griner and Briona Jones).
As a result, some teams (wings, sun, mercury) look completely different. Some (heat and sparks) simply upgraded the existing core. Others lost some important bench pieces (Ace and Liberty).
There's plenty of time for free agency performance and preseason power rankings, but for now, let's take a look at what new and fun duos have emerged as a result of offseason moves.
Narissa Smith, Dihony Carrington, Dallas Wings
Nalyssa Smith and Dijonai Carrington were Baylor's teammates. As a result of a recent deal, the couple reunites Wings.
Carrington landed in Dallas through a trade that sent Jacee Sheldon to Connecticut, and Smith was traded from the heat in a four-team trade that brought Sophie Cunningham to Indiana.
Photography by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA via Getty Images
It's not the first time I've shared a floor (although I don't live in Texas), but this is the first time I've done so as an expert. Last spring, Carrington and Smith faced the playoffs as members of the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever, respectively. Now they run it back as teammates.
Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
Sabally and Thomas are two of the key prospects in WNBA free agency, both of which are all players whose versatility stand out. Both stars spent their whole thing WNBA His career on teams that didn't have their own training facilities (wings and sun respectively), both now have the opportunity to play in one of Mercury's most resourced franchises.
Both can be easily explained as versatile, but the stars also have their own skill sets. Savally is fresh from the best 3-point shooting season, but Thomas hasn't taken them. However, both players are themselves offensive hubs and offer interesting on-court pairings.
Courtney Vandersloot and Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky
Vandersloot will return to the organization where she began her career, this time playing alongside two upcoming post players in the league, Camila Cardoso and Angel Reese.
Vandersloot's presence should boost both sophomore plays, but her playmaking should be useful for Cardoso, who was a college elite finisher, but didn't have an elite distribution tribe guard in her rookie season.
Cardoso, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds in his rookie season. With Vandersloot at the helm and another year of experience under her belt, those scoring numbers are poised to increase.
Kate Linklerk and Natasha Howard, Indiana Fever
Kate Linklark will be part of several fascinating duoes on Indiana Fever next season, with the front office bringing in De Wanna Bonner, Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Howard, Sidney Colson and more.
However, her and Howard's new on-court pairing is particularly intriguing. Howard, who signed with the Dallas Wings with the fever two seasons after, is an elite trim runner that should raise the game with Clark's presence.
“She can spread the floor with shooting and direct the floor as a point guard,” Howard said of Clark at her introductory press conference. “She's a great passerby so I can't wait to run down the floor and get those passes.”
With Kelsey Plum Daika Humby The teammate of the 2022 Championship-winning Las Vegas ACES team and the former Six Player of the Year winner will be reunited in Los Angeles, a new city.
Humvee has significantly increased her production since landing in LA two years ago. Last season, she averaged 17.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. However, she had no other staff around her to send out a playoff team, and the arrival by the three-team deal helps with that.
Plum, meanwhile, could play a bigger role offensively than she has ever had in her career. Her best offensive season was 2022, averaging 20.2 points per game with 46% shooting. Humvee was her teammate at the time.
Plums will likely need to replicate that type of attack to bring Spark back into playoff competition.
