WNBA

2022 WNBA Free Agency Grades: Team-by-team breakdown

- by Todd Roman
WNBA Free Agency

The bulk of WNBA free agency is all but over. There’s nobody major left to get signed with just a few select veterans potentially getting minimum deals. A total of four trades took place that involved sending nine players elsewhere. Here’s a team-by-team breakdown and their respective grades for this 2022 WNBA free agency period. Some teams had a very busy free agency (Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago), while others sat idle (Dallas, Las Vegas).

Atlanta Dream – D

Additions: Nia Coffey, Megan Walker, Erica Wheeler (via trade), Kia Vaughn(via trade)
Losses: Chennedy Carter (via trade), Courtney Williams, Odyssey Sims, Crystal Bradford, Blake Dietrick, Tianna Hawkins, Elizabeth Williams, Candice Dupree, Shekinna Stricklen

Their only actual signing was overpaying for Coffey. At least they got something via the Carter trade. But nobody on this team outside of McDonald and Billings are long-term commitments. Coach Tanisha Wright has almost an entirely new roster compared to the 2021 Atlanta Dream.

Chicago Sky – A

Additions: Emma Meesseman, Julie Allemand (via trade), Crystal Bradford, Kysre Gondrezick
Losses: Stefanie Dolson, Diamond DeShields, Lexie Brown, Astou Ndour-Fall(sitting out)

Replaced Dolson with Meesseman got Allemand via a trade to give Vandersloot a solid back-up and potential replacement after 2022. Also adding in Bradford and Gondrezick to deepen their bench. As a result, the Sky look like strong contenders to repeat as champions.

Connecticut Sun – B

Additions: Courtney Williams, Joyner Holmes, Taj Cole.
Losses: Briann January

They didn’t have much salary cap room to do all that much. Bringing back Williams gives them a solid starting line-up. I like adding in Holmes plus Taj from Athletes Unlimited to deepen their bench. It should give the Sun another deep run into the playoffs.

Dallas Wings – F

Additions: None.
Losses: None.
They gave Arike Ogunbowale an extension and nothing else. The Wings still need to squeeze their two draft picks (No. 4 and No. 6) onto this full roster.

Indiana Fever – D

Additions: Bria Hartley(via trade), Jazmine Jones, Alaina Coates
Losses: Julie Allemand(via trade), Jessica Breland, Kysre Gondrezick

Let Phoenix offload Hartley’s bloated contract on them. They picked up Jones off of waivers and re-signed Emma Cannon. It’s still a mediocre team on paper even once they add in their second overall draft pick.

Las Vegas Aces – D-

Additions: Kalani Brown
Losses: Liz Cambage, Angel McCoughtry, Bria Holmes

The Aces lost Cambage to Los Angeles. They brought back Riquna Williams and Kiah Stokes and signed Kalani Brown. A’ja Wilson got a max deal. JiSu Park remains unsigned for 2022. There is nothing special for new coach Becky Hammon who still needs to build up her bench.

Los Angeles Sparks – B+

Additions: Liz Cambage, Chennedy Carter (via trade), Jordin Canada, Katie Lou Samuelson (via trade), Li Yueru (via trade)
Losses: Nia Coffey, Erica Wheeler(via trade), Gabby Williams(via trade)

They got Carter and Samuelson via a trade. Signed Jordin Canada and brought in Cambage. On paper, it could be a championship team, but too many personalities? Derek Fisher has his work cut out for him again to get the Sparks back in the playoffs.

Minnesota – B

Additions: Angel McCoughtry
Losses: None

The Lynx signed McCoughtry and brought back Sylvia Fowles, Layshia Clarendon, Bridget Carleton and Rachel Banham (and Natasha Mack!). The cap crunch in Minnesota to fit ten active players plus Napheesa Collier, who’s on maternity leave. Don’t expect everyone they signed to be on the roster on opening day—head coach Cheryl Reeve is looking to chase one more title with Fowles.

New York – B-

Additions: Stefanie Dolson, Paris Kea
Losses: Jazmine Jones, Leaonna Odom, Reshanda Gray

Dolson is a solid addition. Re-signing Rebecca Allen helps their depth. Marine Johannes is still questionable to get signed. It doesn’t leave any cap room otherwise. The Liberty finally have a post-rotation and a deeper bench and a much-improved roster that’ll add in the fifth overall pick, too.

Phoenix – A-

Additions: Tina Charles, Diamond DeShields (via trade), Leaonna Odom, Jennie Simms
Losses: Kia Vaughn (via trade), Bria Hartley (via trade), Alanna Smith, Megan Walker

Phoenix got Tina Charles to chase a ring with them. They brought in DeShields after a mediocre start with Chicago. Re-signed Cunningham, Shey Peddy and Kia Nurse. A dangerous team that got to the 2021 WNBA Finals has gotten even stronger by adding Charles and DeShields.

Seattle – B

Additions: Briann January, Gabby Williams (via trade)
Losses: Jordin Canada, Katie Lou Samuelson (via trade), Karlie Samuelson, Cierra Burdick

Seattle brought back Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Mercedes Russell and Stephanie Talbot. Signed January and traded for Williams. One last run to get another ring for Bird, who’ll retire at the end of the season.

Washington – B+

Additions: Elizabeth Williams, Tianna Hawkins, Rui Machida, MeMe Jackson
Losses: Leilani Mitchell (pregnancy), Tina Charles, Emma Meesseman, Shavonte Zellous, Theresa Plaisance


Washington brought back Myisha Hines-Allen and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. Added Williams and Hawkins plus camp fodder with MeMe Jackson, Rui Machida and Lee-Seul Kang. It gives Thibault a solid, all-around roster that should get them back into the playoffs. A healthy Elena Delle Donne will also help.

Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for 2022 WNBA content. Todd Roman is on Twitter too. Follow Todd @TBRBWAY.

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