The WNBA speed-dating offseason is here — Maddy Westbeld talks Notre Dame return

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“Satou has meant so much to this organization on and off the floor,” Koclanes told reporters via Zoom Thursday morning. “She’s been such a big piece, and her game speaks for itself, right? She’s so versatile in everything that she can do. So, you know, there’s just always excitement when you think about a tool like that and how you can potentially utilize something like that.”

About an hour later, Sabally told reporters on a different Zoom for Unrivaled that no, in fact, she wouldn’t be playing for Dallas moving forward, and had shared that with the Wings.

Now that was quick!

Of course, Sabally’s departure was an open secret for some time, but the larger movement piece this reflects is that absolutely no one is committing long-term in the WNBA right now. The entire league is engaged in a collective game of speed dating.

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If a team has a great free agency over the next few weeks, it will matter, sure — 2025 is just sitting there for someone to win. But none of what takes place will have any lasting contractual impact beyond the end of this season. For some time now, almost all free agents (Kalani Brown an exception) have only been agreeing to deals through the end of 2025, and that is not going to change over the coming weeks. So even in cases where players are clearly happy in their current circumstances — Breanna Stewart, for instance — the deals will be expiring just in time for what everyone believes will be a new and very different financial paradigm out of an agreement between the WNBA and the players’ association.

The fascinating part of that construct is how it changes motivations on both sides. Teams simply cannot build long-term this year. Can’t do it. They can try mightily to build a team that will want to stay together beyond 2025, but beyond 2025, it’s largely about rookie scale deals and hoping. This extends beyond a simple inability to sign stars to long-term deals.

For example: a team cannot plan for a player who it might view as undervalued breaking out in 2025. Such a performance — think Betnijah Laney, 2020 — will mean that other teams should have significant cap space to spend on her come the 2025 offseason. Plus, in two cases, teams that are entirely new can bid on her as well in Toronto and Portland! You’re almost better off not giving such a player an opportunity to show what she can do in 2025.

Even the teams themselves are largely going to have an offseason dictated by their points in the success arc. New York and Minnesota were the class of the WNBA in 2024, and they can enter 2025 largely intact. Las Vegas and Indiana have one big question apiece, and each question is named Kelsey. Everyone else? Well, there are a lot of moving parts and no real way to bridge the gap to clear contender status for the long term.

For players, too, there is a sense of possibility in the air. Why not try a new franchise on for size, see how the day-to-day lifestyle fits, knowing if it doesn’t work the commitment isn’t for any longer than many of the contracts the players have signed throughout their careers to play overseas?

My fearless prediction is at least one WNBA player will sign with a new team this offseason, only to return to her previous team next offseason.

The WNBA is changing fast, and in many ways 2025 is the final act of the league’s previous way of doing business, only without any of the guardrails or limitations that reinforced stability in prior years. Buckle up for drama, but remember: these summer romances might not stand the test of time.

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This week in women’s basketball

It remains astonishing how well Caitlin Clark managed to navigate her 2024.

Some intriguing Philly-area prospects here, via Josh Verlin.

What the WPBL can learn from the WBL.

Gabby Williams’ future will be fascinating.

Unrivaled is here! FAQ.

Ashley Chea is a killer in the best sense.

A huge congratulations to Jackie Powell, Mitchell Northam and all the USBWA writing contest winners!

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Five at The IX: Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame

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Mondays: Soccer

By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer

Tuesdays: Tennis

By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer

Wednesdays: Basketball

By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The Next

Thursdays: Golf

By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX

Fridays: Hockey

By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden

Saturdays: Gymnastics

By: Lela Moore, @runlelarun, Freelance Writer