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5 WNBA Stars Most Likely to Move Before Aug. 2 Deadline
WNBA Trade Deadline 2026: 5 Players Who Might Switch Teams (Explained Simply)
The WNBA trade deadline is coming up on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Think of it like the last day to swap players between teams before the playoffs. Teams have to decide: Do we go all-in for a championship now? Or do we save our best pieces for the future?
It’s tricky because:
- Lots of players are on one-year contracts (thanks to a new agreement signed in March)
- Teams also have to think about future draft picks (like saving high-value coupons for later)
Here are the five players everyone is watching.
1. Kelsey Plum — LA Sparks
Quick Stats: 32 years old • One-year deal ($999,999) • Elite scorer • Currently injured
Why she might move
- Plum won two championships with the Las Vegas Aces (2022, 2023)
- Traded to the Sparks in February 2025
- Was playing amazing this season: 23.9 points & 6.4 assists per game
- But: She hasn’t played since June 21 (lower left leg injury)
- Sparks are 10-17 and might miss playoffs for the 6th straight year
- They just fired their general manager — might be "rebuilding" (planning for the future)
Where she could land
| Team | Why it makes sense |
|---|---|
| Golden State Valkyries | Best defense in the league, need more scoring. Coach Natalie Nakase knows Plum from the Aces. |
| Washington Mystics | Young team, in playoff spot. Could give up future draft picks. |
Catch: Any team trading for her needs to be sure: (1) she’s healthy, (2) she’ll re-sign long-term after this season.
2. Aneesah Morrow — Connecticut Sun
Quick Stats: 23 years old • Rookie contract (2 years left) • 6’1" forward • Great rebounder
Why she might move
- #7 pick in 2025 draft — was a double-double machine in college (DePaul → LSU)
- This season: 11.1 points & 9.0 rebounds per game (improving!)
- Shooting better: 40.7% FG (up from 37.5%)
- Still young with lots of upside (room to grow)
- Sun are moving to Houston next season — might shake things up
Where she could land
| Team | Why it makes sense |
|---|---|
| Toronto Tempo | New team, bad at rebounding (13th in league). Top rebounder is 32-year-old Isabelle Harrison. Morrow has 2 cheap years left. |
| Phoenix Mercury | Also bad at rebounding (12th). Could use her now or as a future building block. |
Note: Morrow missed 9 games this season. Teams will check her health first. Her teammate Aaliyah Edwards (24, #6 pick in 2024) might also get trade interest.
3. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton — New York Liberty
Quick Stats: 32 years old • $400K veteran contract (expires after this season) • Versatile defender
Why she might move
- Key part of Liberty’s 2023 & 2024 Finals runs
- Missed all last season (knee injury)
- This year: only 17 games played, 4.7 points, 16.8 minutes (down from 30!)
- Hasn’t played since July 12 — not even on injury list
- Liberty are 16-12, won Commissioner’s Cup, but might want younger legs
Where she could land
| Team | Why it makes sense |
|---|---|
| Dallas Wings | Good defense, could use a veteran leader |
| Toronto Tempo | New team, needs experience |
| Connecticut Sun | Might want a proven winner before the Houston move |
Bottom line: She can still help teams — but only if New York actually wants to deal her.
4. Maddy Siegrist — Dallas Wings
Quick Stats: 26 years old • Last year of rookie contract • 6’2" • Great 3-point shooter (44.9%!)
Why she might move
- College superstar at Villanova (24.3 PPG career)
- Last year: 12.7 PPG in 26 games (best pro season)
- This year: Only 14 minutes/game (half of last year), 6.3 PPG
- Scored in double figures in last two games before All-Star break… then didn’t play at all in next game
- Will be a restricted free agent after this season (Dallas can match offers)
Where she could land
| Team | Why it makes sense |
|---|---|
| Toronto Tempo | Needs scoring, has cap space |
| Phoenix Mercury | Needs consistent role players |
Big question: What does Dallas think she’s worth? Hard to tell when they barely play her.
5. Skylar Diggins-Smith — Chicago Sky
Quick Stats: Turning 36 on deadline day • Veteran contract ($940K this year + next) • 13-year vet
Why she might move
- Seems unhappy with her role & team direction
- Sky are 9-18 — likely 3rd straight year missing playoffs
- First season in Chicago after two great years in Seattle (15+ PPG, 6+ APG)
- This year: 14.2 PPG, 4.9 APG — solid, but knee injury since July 3
- Career: 16.3 PPG, 5.3 APG — incredibly consistent
Where she could land
Honestly? It’s complicated.
- She’s expensive for a 36-year-old
- Teams contending now might want her experience
- But is she okay joining a team that isn’t a contender?
- And does a contender want to take on her contract?
Fun fact: Her birthday IS the trade deadline. Talk about a birthday surprise!
Important Things to Remember
KEY FACTORS DRIVING TRADES
- One-year deals everywhere — New CBA means lots of players can walk for free next year
- Draft pick value — Teams hoard picks like gold (especially for deep upcoming drafts)
- Health checks — Injured players (Plum, Diggins, Morrow) need medical clearance
- Team timelines — Contenders want now help; rebuilders want future assets
- Contract control — Rookies (Morrow, Siegrist) are cheap; vets (Plum, Laney, Diggins) cost more
Summary: Who Goes Where?
| Player | Current Team | Most Likely Destination | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelsey Plum | LA Sparks | Golden State Valkyries | Coach connection, contender needs scoring |
| Aneesah Morrow | Connecticut Sun | Toronto Tempo | Cheap contract, team needs rebounding |
| Betnijah Laney-Hamilton | NY Liberty | Dallas Wings | Vet leadership for good defensive team |
| Maddy Siegrist | Dallas Wings | Toronto or Phoenix | Needs consistent role, shoots 3s great |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | Chicago Sky | ??? (Unclear) | Age/contract make it tricky |
FAQ: Your Trade Deadline Questions Answered
1. What exactly is the trade deadline?
It’s the last day teams can swap players. After 3 p.m. ET Sunday, rosters are locked for the rest of the season (except for signing free agents who were already cut).
2. Why are so many players on one-year deals?
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) — the contract between players and the league — changed salary rules. Many players took short deals to hit free agency sooner when the salary cap might go up.
3. What’s a "protected veteran contract"?
It’s a special deal for players with 10+ years experience. It counts less against the salary cap, but the player gets full pay. Laney-Hamilton and Diggins-Smith have these.
4. What’s the difference between restricted and unrestricted free agency?
- Unrestricted: Player can sign anywhere (Plum, Laney-Hamilton after this year)
- Restricted: Current team can match any offer and keep the player (Siegrist next year)
5. Why does the Sun moving to Houston matter?
New ownership, new city, new fanbase — they might want different players. Could mean a "fire sale" (trading everyone) or keeping core pieces for the launch.
Trade deadline: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET. Grab your popcorn — it’s about to get interesting!
