WNBA free agency winners, losers: Storm, Mercury have stand-out winters; Sky, Mystics take step back

After two weeks of the 2024 WNBA free agency period, most of the major deals have been completed, however a few players remain unsigned. Only Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner are unsigned among CBS Sports’ top-10 free agents, and it would be shocking if either of them left their current teams.

Let’s examine a few of the winners and losers from free agency as the buzz around the offseason draws to an end.

The Storm are the most notable and evident beneficiaries of free agency. So far, just two prominent players have signed with new teams: Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, both of whom signed with the Storm. Seattle’s year-long stint in the lottery is done, and the team now has the talent to compete with the league’s best teams, the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty.

Despite missing the previous season due to maternity leave, Diggins-Smith was named to the All-WNBA First Team in 2021 and 2022 and is still among the best guards in the league. With Jewell Loyd by her side, she can play both on and off the ball, making Seattle’s backcourt one of the best in the league right away. Ogwumike, on the other hand, is coming off of her greatest season in a long time and will be the ideal experienced addition to young forward Ezi Magbegor in the frontcourt.

Questions remain about the rest of the Storm’s roster, but its top-four is about as good as it gets. Seattle’s moves this offseason have only confirmed this is the WNBA’s superteam era.

For the Sky, who are still suffering from the fallout from their disastrous 2023 offseason, this winter was the worst case scenario. This time, Chicago was unable to get both Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike; consequently, Kahleah Copper used a trade request to force her way out.

As Copper departs for Phoenix, the Sky are starting a rebuild that ought to have begun far earlier than a year ago. The Sky will have to do it without their finest player and without several draft picks due to the imprudent decisions made by previous general manager and head coach James Wade.

Most notably, the Dallas Wings have swap rights for their 2025 first-round pick via the Marina Mabrey trade, so there’s no value in tanking and Chicago doesn’t have the talent to compete. Barring an unforeseen turn of events, this will be another wasted season in Chicago.

Aside from Brittney Griner’s emotional return, and a few magical moments from Diana Taurasi, last season was one of the most forgettable the Mercury have ever had. Phoenix finished in last place at 9-31 for the second-worst winning percentage in franchise history and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012, ending the longest active streak in the league.

This summer will be a lot better. The headline move was definitely acquiring Kahleah Copper, who is an All-Star wing in her prime; nevertheless, the Mercury made several other wise decisions as well. In addition, Phoenix signed Natasha Cloud, one of the best point guards in the league, and traded for Rebecca Allen, a dynamic wing who can play on both sides of the ball. Although Griner hasn’t resigned yet, at this point it should just be a formality.