Top-25 2022 WNBA Free Agents and Signing Updates

At the same time as the NBA trade deadline has picked up, the WNBA has provided an exciting time as well:  free agency officially starting (players could sign starting February 1^st).  This year was especially exciting because 3 of the last 4 WNBA MVPs were free agents and 11 All-Stars from last season were free agents.  While my top-25 list of free agents is a bit late, I compensated for it by giving an update about where different players are going.

 

1 - Jonquel Jones, CON, F/C

The reigning MVP, Jonquel Jones has now emerged as one of the best players in the WNBA on both ends of the floor.  She had 19.4 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 36.2 3P%, 58.4 2P%, 57.1 eFG%, and 6.6 WS (3.7 OWS, 3.9 DWS).  She plays hard on both ends, rarely turns the ball over, and is an efficient shooter and scorer at a high volume, making her an amazing star to build around.  A bigger sign of her value:  in 2020, when she couldn’t play in the Wubble, the Suns went 10-12 with a net rating of +0.6; in 2021, when she played 27 of the team’s 32 games, they went 26-6 with a net rating of +13.2.

Much to my excitement (as I am a Suns fan), Jones resigned with the team to a multiyear deal.

 

2 - Breanna Stewart, SEA, F

The fact that Stewart is the second-best free agent in a loaded class while coming off her least efficient shooting season shows just how elite the 2018 MVP is.  She is coming off a season with 20.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 33.6 3P%, 49.3 eFG%, and 5.1 WS (3.1 OWS, 2.1 DWS).  She has been known as a talented scorer and rebounder since her UConn days, but she is also a great defender and is one of the best players in the league.  Honestly, I feel like everyone knows who she is and how amazing she is, which is massive in a league that not as many people pay attention to (unfortunately).

Stewart resigned with Seattle on a 1-year deal.

 

3 - A’ja Wilson, LVA, F

While the 2020 WNBA MVP didn’t have quite the season that she had during the Wubble, Wilson is still one of the best and most versatile players in the league.  Wilson put up 18.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 44.5 eFG%, and 5.7 WS (3.5 OWS, 2.3 DWS).  She puts up big numbers in rebounds and is great in the paint at both ends, but she shoots a lot of shots outside of 3 feet from the rim, where she is at her best; that said, she does get to the line.  She is versatile on defense and able to guard several positions.

Wilson signed a multiyear deal with the Aces.

 

4 - Courtney Vandersloot, CHI, G

There is a case to be made that Vandersloot is the best playmaker currently in the NBA, and she became a triple-double machine during the playoffs.  Last season, she had 10.5 PPG, 8.6 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 34.6 3P%, 49.3 eFG%, and 3.0 WS (1.6 OWS, 1.4 DWS); she also put up 13.0 PPG/10.2 APG/5.4 RPG in the playoffs.  While some would comment on the fact that she has committed a lot of turnovers, she also has the ball a lot and has so many assists that the turnovers at this point look miniscule.  She is primed for a big payday after the playoffs but has earned every dollar of it and then some since she has been an exceptional playmaker.

 

5 - Sylvia Fowles, MIN, C

While there were questions about whether the reigning Defensive Player of the Year would retire, Fowles ultimately decided to return for one final season.  She is coming off a year where she put up 16.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 64.0 eFG%, and 6.0 WS (3.1 OWS, 2.9 DWS).  While she is going to be 36 this season, Fowles has still shown that she is an excellent finisher, elite rebounder, and fantastic at all facets on defense.  She is an essential player for the Lynx and should still have a great season for them.

Fowles resigned with Minnesota for one final season.

 

6 - Jewell Loyd, SEA, G

I would argue that Loyd might be the ideal third option for a contending team given how complete her game is.  She put up 17.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 37.6 3P%, 49.1 eFG%, and 3.4 WS (2.1 OWS, 1.3 DWS).  She is a player who can shoot, create, rebound, and defend at a good level, with the ability to play on and off the ball without turning the ball over a lot.  While I think her shot selection can improve (she takes a lot of shots in areas she doesn’t shoot a high percentage from and could likely improve by focusing less on the mid-range), any team with her as the second or third option cannot be ruled out.

Loyd has resigned with Seattle on a multi-year deal.

 

7 - Liz Cambage, LVA, C (LAS)

Advanced metrics have highlighted Cambage as a superstar due to her ability to finish, defend, stretch the floor, get to the line, and rebound at a high rate, but her raw numbers don’t necessarily scream superstar.  Last season, she put up 14.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.6 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 55.3 2P%, 35.7 3P%, 55.2 eFG%, and 3.4 WS (1.6 OWS, 1.7 DWS).  Part of the reason her numbers took a dip must be the result of the fact that she got Covid during the season, but I think a bigger part is that there were times where the fit wasn’t right with Vegas, especially with the number of high-volume scorers on that team.  It is sounding like Cambage will not be back with the team next season, and I think she can thrive as the second-best scoring option on a great team.

Cambage has agreed to join the Los Angeles Sparks, the team she hoped she would be traded to prior to being traded to Vegas in 2019.  While L.A. struggled last season, going 12-20 and just missing the playoffs, they have made some upgrades.  Cambage will be able to instantly be their go-to star, pairing with recent All-Star Nneka Ogwumike and newly acquired young potential star Chennedy Carter.  She will also be a huge offensive upgrade over starting center Amanda Zahui B., though both are great defenders, which will be tough to score on.

 

8 - Tina Charles, WAS, F/C

Charles had a career season in scoring, though that was more by necessity due to Washington being seriously short-handed.  She had 23.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 36.5 3P%, 49.6 eFG%, and 3.2 WS (2.4 OWS, 0.8 DWS).  While she showed that she can score at a high level and nearly will a team into the playoffs, her ability to play off the ball, crash the boards, and shoot make her an ideal player to have as a second or third option.

Charles signed a 1-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury.  I think this will be an excellent fit since she will now join fellow 2021 All-Stars Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Skylar Diggins-Smith, all of whom can space the floor and finish at the rim.  This will also allow Charles to not be the focus of the offense and be more efficient, though she can step up if injuries or struggles ensue.

 

9 - Courtney Williams, ATL, G

Williams was coming off an All-Star season, but the market was a bit tepid due to some controversy she found herself in.  She put up 16.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 38.2 3P%, 45.3 eFG%, and 1.2 WS (0.7 OWS, 0.5 DWS).  Atlanta announced that they would not resign her after controversy related to a video being posted related to a fight she was involved in came to light.  That said, she has always been known as an excellent teammate and can shoot, create for others, rebound, and rarely turns the ball over.  While you won’t win much if she’s your best player, her as the second or third best is a good sign.

Williams signed a deal with Connecticut, a team she played with prior to a trade to Atlanta.  I think this is a good fit since she can thrive off the ball and give offensive stars like Jonquel Jones and DeWanna Bonner a break at times.  She will also the Suns’ shooting, which was already 4^th in the league (35.6%).

 

10 - Kahleah Copper, CHI, G

While she isn’t the best bet to have as a star, Copper is still a skilled player at both ends.  She put up 14.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 50.3 2P%, 49.3 eFG%, and 2.3 WS (1.3 OWS, 1.0 DWS).  While I think her stock was boosted a bit after winning the WNBA Finals MVP, she is a skilled defender who is also good at cutting and finishing on offense.  She has been an inconsistent shooter, but one can hope that her 34.4% career is more likely going forward than her 30.6% last season.  That said, she has shown that her as the third option on a team can make for a competitive team.

Copper resigned with the Chicago Sky on a multi-year deal.

 

11 - Sue Bird, SEA, G

She might be 41, but the fact that she is still one of the best point guards in the league cannot go understated.  She is an excellent playmaker and shooter while still able to be a solid defender.  One thing to watch is that she has dealt with several injuries over the past few seasons, so there is the risk that she might miss some games.  That said, she is still a great addition for a veteran competitive team.  She has resigned with Seattle on a 1-year deal.

 

12 - Riquna Williams, LVA, G

Williams feels like the epitome of a 3-and-D guard, as she shoots for a high clip from deep (41.7% last season) and is a strong defender.  She doesn’t handle the ball much at all though rarely turns the ball over and she rebounds more than you’d expect for someone who’s 5’7.  While I wish she didn’t take as many deep 2’s as she does (her points per attempt are higher from 3), she is still a good enough shooter off the ball that I can’t nitpick too much.  If you need someone to play hard on both ends and is elite off the ball, Williams is your player.  Williams has resigned with Las Vegas.

 

13 - Allie Quigley, CHI, G

Quigley’s game has aged like fine wine for one clear reason:  she is one of the best shooters in the game.  She consistently averages above 40% from deep, last year shooting a career high 45.4%.  She also is elite at the line, last year shooting a career high 95.9%.  While she isn’t an elite defender or playmaker, she can hold her own at both, though she is so elite off the ball that you might prefer her off-ball rather than on-ball.  While she hasn’t resigned yet, also keep an eye on what happens with her wife, Courtney Vandersloot (ranked 4 on this list) to see if she follows suit.

 

14 - Myisha Hines-Allen, WAS, F (Resigned)

After having an excellent year for Washington in 2020 (due in large part to necessity), where she was a huge positive on both ends, rebounded a lot, and shot very well, she regressed substantially and was largely below average from the field.  That said, she is still a solid rebounder, defender, and secondary playmaker, so she’s worth a look depending on the price.  She resigned with Washington.

 

15 - Emma Meesseman, WAS, F

Meesseman didn’t come back to the WNBA after playing in the Olympics, but she is a skilled player on both ends, especially offensively.  While she has had some struggles with her shot the last few seasons (34.3% from 3 over her last 3 seasons), she shot 42.2% in 2019 and 37.6% for her career.  She is a good rebounder, solid defender, and a good secondary playmaker, not turning the ball over frequently considering how much she has the ball.  She signed with Chicago, which I think will be beneficial for both sides; Meesseman won’t have as much responsibility, giving her opportunities to be more efficient, and Chicago will benefit from her flexibility and the added depth.

 

16 - Tiffany Hayes, ATL, G

Hayes is in an interesting situation because she just had a career year in a couple categories.  She has always been a strong defender and aggressive scorer who could also handle the ball in small doses.  This year, she had career best assist numbers (3.0) with turnover numbers that were near career lows.  Despite this, these numbers were overshadowed by a career high 40.5 3P% (her career total is 32.6%).  If these two numbers are the new norm for the 32-year-old, her value will skyrocket and be much higher than I have here; otherwise, she might drop a bit.  She resigned with Atlanta.

 

17 - Diamond DeShields, CHI, G

Unpopular opinion about DeShields:  she is not that great of an offensive player despite being an All-Star in 2019 while putting up 16.2 PPG.  Even less popular opinion:  a case can be made that she is one of the best defensive guards in the WNBA.  She is a decent secondary ball handler and a good free throw shooter, but I would honestly trust her guarding WNBA All-Stars, allowing her to easily cement a place on this list.  She was acquired in a sign-and-trade by Phoenix, which I think is a good fit for her as less of an offensive option who can focus more on defense and be the 5^th option after acquiring Tina Charles.  My only fear is that she might be the lead ballhandler/point guard more than I would like to see.

 

18 - Monique Billings, F, ATL

Billings has largely been a backup so far in her WNBA career, but she has consistently improved and had a breakout year last year offensively.  She shot a career high 50% from 2 last year and seemed more confident in her game at that end, something that will be reassuring for her development.  She has always been a great defender, last year with 0.8 DWS and 2.2 stocks.  She is also a strong rebounder and is improving at not turning the ball over.  The best thing about her in some teams’ minds is that she is turning 26 and improving.  She resigned with Atlanta.

 

19 - Mercedes Russell, SEA, C

Russell is by no means a superstar, but she’s a nice option as a starting center.  She is good at finishing around the rim (61.7% from 2), a solid rebounder (6.1 RPG), fine defender who can switch, improving decision maker, and hard worker.  She isn’t someone who demands a ton of touches but knows her role and when she needs to do something else to help her team.  Possibly the most important trait of all for her is that she’s only 26 and I think is improving.  She resigned with Seattle.

 

20 - Layshia Clarendon, MIN, G

I don’t think most people have Clarendon listed this high on other lists of top free agents, but ultimately it is tough to argue against a player who is solid at just about everything.  They are a good playmaker (though turns the ball over more than I’d like to necessarily see), score efficiently, shoot decently well, rebound at a good rate for a guard, and hold their own defensively.  One thing to note is that they were released several times during the season (Minnesota had to clear a spot when reactivating a player) and only played 12 minutes in Minnesota’s playoff game, so they might not get as much playing time this year.  Clarendon resigned with Minnesota.

 

21 - Jessica Breland

Upon looking at her stats, you may wonder how Breland has been named an All-Star despite never averaging 10 PPG.  The answer is that she is one of the league’s best defenders and is criminally underrated.  Last season she had 0.6 DWS, and this was her lowest total since her rookie year (for reference, her career high is 2.7 in 30 G in 2018).  She also had 1.5 BPG and 0.6 SPG and has consistently averaged more than 2 stocks (steals+blocks) per game.  While she is a minus defensively at this point, she is a strong rebounder, a better playmaker than many give her credit for, and is even better during the playoffs.  At 34, she is still worth a look for a competitive team.

 

22 - Briann January, CON, G

Am I higher on January than most are?  Maybe, but even at the age of 35 has consistently shown that she is valuable 3-and-D player.  She shot 38.0% from 3 this past year (38.1% for her career) and is one of the best defensive guards in the league, last year with a career high 1.5 DWS while especially thriving as both an on-ball and off-ball defender.  She can also be the lead guard at times, with 3.1 APG and 1.8 TOV last year, though I like her more off the ball due to her ability to get open and torture defenses from deep.  She signed with Seattle, where I think she will thrive as an off-ball option forcing their stars to not be guarded too heavily, pick up difficult assignments defensively, and act as a backup point guard in the event Sue Bird has to miss time.

 

23 - Nia Coffey, LAS, G/F (ATL)

At this point, I am going to start rewarding players who had breakout years with the hope that they can replicate those years; Coffey seems like the most likely to be able to.  In her first year with more than 20 MPG (25.2), she lit it up from deep, shooting 41.7%, a number that is sustainable since she has shot 38.9% for her career.  She is also a great defender, which makes her an ideal 3-and-D player.  Since she has always shown potential as a defender, always shot well, and is going to be 27 this season, she can replicate them.  She signed with Atlanta, who will benefit from her ability on both ends; I personally think she would be able to fit with any team due to her ability off the ball, so it should work in Atlanta.

 

24 - Angel McCoughtry, LVA, F

McCoughtry has been an excellent player throughout her career and is definitively a star when healthy.  The issue is that in the past 3 seasons, she has played in more than 1 game only once and is coming off an ACL tear at the age of 35.  In 2020, she was able to recover from a knee injury and score more efficiently than ever while playing strong defense.  How will it be this time around?  The good news for her is that in 2020 she shot 47.1% on 3 (albeit on 1.5 attempts per game) and 88.2% from the line, so maybe this carries over, which will make it easier as long as she is healthy.  McCoughtry signed with Minnesota, a move that is interesting considering they dealt with several injuries last season, though I think the upside is a player who can do a lot deep in the playoffs.

 

25 - Elizabeth Williams, ATL, C (WAS)

I was torn between Williams and Rebecca Allen (a great shooter who hasn’t played a ton of minutes), but ultimately went with Williams despite her coming off a tough season.  She might have had her lowest point and rebound totals since her rookie year, but she was still a great defender.  She had 1.3 BPG and 1.1 SPG, giving her 6 straight years with 2+ stocks per game.  She signed with Washington, where I think she will fit with considering they are a guard/forward heavy team who could use a big who is an excellent defender.

 

What are some moves you’ve been impressed or surprised by?  Any teams you thought improved substantially?  Let me know in the comments!