WNBA assesses offseason moves as season progresses
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 21, 2026, 10:16 AM
Last updated Jul 21, 2026
The 2026 WNBA season is more than halfway through, prompting evaluations of offseason personnel decisions amid significant financial changes. The salary cap rose dramatically from $1.5 million to $7 million, affecting how teams approached player contracts. Notable signings include Jessica Shepard by the Dallas Wings, who leads the league in rebounds, and Natasha Howard by the Minnesota Lynx, who has excelled at center. The offseason scrutiny highlights the long-term implications of these moves as teams adjust to new salary structures.
- •Jessica Shepard leads the league in rebounds and win shares for Dallas.
- •Natasha Howard has become an All-Star starter after joining Minnesota.
- •Minnesota signed both Howard and Nia Coffey for less than a max contract.
- •WNBA teams now must roster 12 players following the latest CBA changes.
- •The season's ongoing evaluations will affect teams' strategies moving forward.
- 10:16 AMYahoo Sports — How are the WNBA’s offseason moves paying off? Assessing best and worst personnel moves
"The 2026 WNBA offseason featured an unprecedented amount of personnel movement, made all the more chaotic by the compressed timeline caused by protracted collective bargaining negotiations. Due to the dramatic increase in salaries — the cap rose from about $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million in 2026 — the decision-making process had higher stakes than at any point in league history. The salary structure was also updated in the new CBA, changing how teams can allot their caps. For instance, the su
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