WNBA free agency is almost here.
The league’s free agency period, which operates similar to the NBA, will begin Saturday, Jan. 11 and run through the rest of the winter. It has specific dates for core or reserved players and unrestricted free agents.
The Indiana Fever will be active, hoping to both retain All-Star Kelsey Mitchell and add star power to complement Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
More: Celebrate Caitlin Clark’s historic rookie season with the Fever with our special book!
Here is the schedule for WNBA free agency in 2025:
The only player on the Fever roster that pertains to this period is Kelsey Mitchell, who is core-eligible after exhausting her three-year extension with the Fever following the 2024 season.
Indiana can extend a core qualifying offer to Mitchell starting Jan. 11, which will give the Fever exclusive negotiating rights in exchange for a one-year maximum contract (expected around $294,000). The Fever can allow Mitchell to talk to other teams, but they do not have to.
More: Kelsey Mitchell says Indy could be home, but she has to be ‘selfish’ about free agency
The Fever will be able to negotiate with any free agents, other than players who have been cored by other teams, during this time.
If Indiana wanted to talk to a player who is cored, like the Dallas Wings’ Satou Sabally (who is likely to get a core designation), the Fever would need to get permission from the Wings to do so.
Indiana can also offer players who are restricted free agents, but those players can have those offers matched by their current teams.
This is when things will start to become official. Players will sign contracts or offer sheets with their respective teams starting Feb. 1, cementing them onto the roster.
Teams will not officially announce any player signings until Feb. 1.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: WNBA free agency 2025 key dates: When can players sign with teams?
