New York’s Sabrina Ionescu, Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier, and Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum received franchise tags from their respective WNBA teams as free agency commenced, each potentially worth $1.4 million.
This core designation grants teams exclusive negotiating rights and ensures a guaranteed one-year contract at the new supermax salary, which exceeds five times the highest salary permissible under the previous collective bargaining agreement.
Additional Core Designations
In addition to Ionescu, Collier, and Plum, other players receiving the core designation include Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell, Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale, Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, Chicago’s Ariel Atkins, and Seattle’s Ezi Magbegor.
Expansion Teams’ Franchise Tags
The newly expanded franchises, Portland and Toronto, also issued franchise tag offers to their selected players. Portland chose Bridget Carleton with the first overall pick in the draft and offered her a tag, while Toronto extended a similar offer to Marina Mabrey, selected sixth overall.
Purpose of Franchise Tags
The franchise tag serves as a mechanism for teams to retain players in free agency, ensuring they do not leave without compensation. Teams can negotiate sign-and-trade agreements for these tagged players.
New Regulations for Core Designation
Beginning in 2027, players can only receive the core designation twice, applicable only if they have less than seven years of experience in the league.
Negotiation Timeline
During this designation period, which commenced on Monday, teams were allowed to send reserved and restricted qualifying offers to players. Negotiations are set to take place from Wednesday to Friday, with players eligible to sign contracts starting Saturday.
Upcoming Training Camp and Preseason
Training camps are scheduled to start on April 19, with the first preseason games taking place on April 25.
Delay in Free Agency Start
The initiation of free agency was postponed until this month due to extended negotiations surrounding a new collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified only in late March. The long-form contract is still being finalized by both parties.
High Free Agency Participation
This year, over 80% of the league’s veteran players are free agents, as many had signed contracts that expired at the end of the previous season to take advantage of the increased salaries established by the new CBA.