Brittney Griner Explores WNBA Free Agency for the First Time in Career
All-Star center meets with teams as the free agency period kicks off in Miami.
MIAMI (AP) — Brittney Griner is set to explore the free agent market for the first time in her career. The All-Star center, who has spent her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury since being drafted No. 1 in 2013, is meeting with multiple teams starting Tuesday as WNBA free agency officially opens.
Griner, who has previously been a free agent but always chose to re-sign with Phoenix, is now taking the opportunity to evaluate her options. "I want to show off my skills for free agency," Griner said, referencing the shifting dynamics of the league, where guards and wings often dominate, while post players like herself are less prominent.
This week, executives from several WNBA teams have gathered in Miami for the opening of Unrivaled, an event designed to bring together free agents and team representatives. The event features some of the top unrestricted free agents in the league, including Griner and fellow star Courtney Vandersloot. It also includes players who are likely to move teams despite receiving franchise tags from their current squads.
Breanna Stewart, a standout for the New York Liberty, called Unrivaled “a one-stop shop to kind of do everything” in terms of free agency conversations. Vandersloot, who is meeting with multiple teams this week, echoed her sentiment, saying the event offers a chance for candid discussions about team dynamics and potential player movement. “Everybody’s like ‘Hey, you want to come play here?’ It’s a great opportunity to get real honest feedback,” Vandersloot said.
In addition to Griner and Vandersloot, other notable players at Unrivaled who could be on the move include Satou Sabally, Jewell Loyd, and Alyssa Thomas. Sabally and Thomas received franchise tags from their teams, meaning the only way they could switch teams would be through trades. Sabally has already expressed that she does not intend to return to the Dallas Wings next season, and Loyd has requested a trade from the Seattle Storm.
Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud highlighted the significance of Unrivaled for recruiting free agents, particularly as players consider what’s best for their futures. "At the end of the day, I’m very much a person that’s whatever is best for Satou moving forward—that’s what I want for Satou," Cloud said.
Free agency officially began Tuesday, and players can sign contracts starting February 1. With the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expected to bring significant salary changes in 2026, many players are expected to sign one-year deals.
Among teams with the most cap space are the Connecticut Sun and the newly established Golden State Valkyries. The Sun face potential roster upheaval, with key players such as DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones, and Thomas all in line to test free agency.
“There’s a lot to think about, a lot to process,” Thomas said of her decision-making process. "But I’m going to weigh all my decisions."
One major figure absent from Unrivaled is Diana Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, who is still deciding whether to retire or return for another season.