Biggest Names to Watch

• Satou Sabally: The former first-team all-WNBA talent and Olympian with the German national team is one of the top free agents for 2025 and will undoubtedly be one of the most coveted stars on the market as free agency gets underway this month.
• Kelsey Plum: The Las Vegas Aces point guard didn't sign a contract extension for 2025, and there has been so much turnover in Las Vegas, with the departures of Becky Hammon's assistants in Natalie Nakase (to Golden State) and Tyler Marsh (to Chicago).
• Jewell Loyd: The Seattle Storm guard has requested a trade, and where Loyd lands could depend on other movement. If Plum pushes to leave the Aces, for example, Loyd would be a logical replacement in a role similar to the one she played when Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart were teammates in Seattle.

  Teams to Watch

• Indiana Fever: The Fever have the most upside in free agency. With Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark on rookie contracts, Indiana can afford to use the core designation on Kelsey Mitchell and add a max (or supermax) player.
• Phoenix Mercury: The Mercury have made the playoffs 14 of the past 16 years, but if Taurasi does retire, they will enter a new era. Center Brittney Griner is expected to re-sign with the team, where she has spent her entire 11-season career.
• Atlanta Dream: The Dream made the playoffs last season, but Tanisha Wright still lost her job as head coach (she's now an assistant with the Sky). Is Atlanta seen as an appealing free agent destination?

  Predictions

• The Valkyries trade a package including the No. 5 pick to land Plum as the face of the franchise -- reuniting her with former Aces assistant coach Nakase, now Golden State's head coach.
• We'll see at least three big-name stars get cored and then traded to other franchises.
• The appeal of playing with young stars Clark and Boston, plus the fan excitement around Indiana now, will help the Fever land a big name in free agency or via trade -- something that would have seemed very unlikely a couple of years ago.