New York’s Breanna Stewart was one of the few players given the franchise tag by their WNBA teams, meaning they cannot sign a contract directly with anyone else.
Other players receiving the franchise player award include Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas), Satou Sabally (Dallas) and Gabby Williams (Seattle).
Teams have until next Monday – the day before negotiations between players and teams begin – to come up with basic designations for eligible players. In selecting a player, the team offers him a one-year qualifying offer at the WNBA maximum salary of $249,244. This prevents the player from signing with another team as a free agent.
Stewart helped bring the Liberty their first WNBA championship last fall and the franchise tag was no surprise. She planned to return to the team.
Sabal said last week that she no longer intended to play in Dallas, and that by drafting her, the Wings could potentially trade her instead of simply losing their star and getting nothing in return.
Plum and Williams have not yet said whether they want to return to play for their franchises.
Under the current collective bargaining agreement, which expires after next season, players can receive the franchise tag a maximum of two times. This is the second consecutive season that Stewart has been retained by New York. Teams are allowed to give a player the franchise tag.
Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on January 21, but will not be able to officially sign them until February 1.
Top unrestricted free agents include Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones, DeWanna Bonner and Kelsey Mitchell. Brittney Griner is also an unrestricted free agent, but has indicated in the past that she only wants to play for Phoenix.
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