MEDLEY, Fla. — On the eve of WNBA Since last Tuesday, several decision-makers from the league have met under the same roof.
Inside Unrivaled’s Wayfair Arena, The Aces of Las Vegas Coach Becky Hammon sat next to a basket post with team president Nikki Fargas to her left, watching the end of the 3×3 league’s opening weekend. Dallas Wings Members of the front office watched the action from across the field. Seattle Storm The brass instruments were sitting on the floor in a corner of the exhibition grounds, and the The Sparks of Los Angeles the performance was a few rows higher. THE Dream of Atlanta The contingent looked closer to center field.
WNBA teams were there to support their players as well as the launch of a new league that could change historic offseason routines and keep more star players in the United States during the offseason. But there was something else in Florida: Free agency negotiations officially began Tuesday.
With convenient programming, Unrivaled has become the epicenter of all chatter, gossip and negotiations.
“It’s the best place to be able to recruit free agents,” said Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloudwho plays at Unrivaled’s Phantom Basketball Club.
Unrivaled’s early stages overlap with WNBA free agency was not one of the league’s original goals, co-founder Napheesa Collier said. But this undoubtedly adds to the initial buzz — Satou Saballyfor example, took advantage of her first unrivaled media availability to share with reporters that she had told the Wings she wanted to be traded — and that’s an added convenience for free agents, coaches and general managers.
Courtney Vandersloot is an unrestricted free agent in the WNBA, playing with the Unrivaled Mist Basketball Club. His first real free agency experience occurred after the Chicago Skythe 2021 title. This offseason, she played in Russia, at UMMC Ekaterinburg, taking remote evening meetings after long days of training. “It was late at night. You rely on technology, hoping the internet works,” Vandersloot said. “That doesn’t sound very nice.”
NOW?
WNBA teams showed up at Miami-area hotels, meeting in unmatched post-practice meetings and around players’ schedules.
Eight WNBA free agents, including those who are drafted and restricted, are on all-time lists. Sabally, Vandersloot, Alyssa Thomas, DiJonai Carrington and Brittney Griner highlight the list. Others could also migrate via trade. Jewell Loydmember of Unrivaled’s Mist Basketball Club, is on his way to the Aces, in a agreement that seems likely to have a domino effect throughout the league.
Ahead of Unrivaled’s opening weekend, several players were light-hearted about the implications of being together in one place during free agency. Vandersloot said anyone who gave her a packet of IPA “might have a head start” in recruiting her. Sabally joked that she had already received a few cups of coffee.
Cloud says she wants what’s best for Sabally. But she added: “If it’s Phoenix, I’ll literally tell her I’ll give up my apartment if she wants it too.” »
As the February 1 date approaches when deals can be announced, the reality of the negotiations looms large and the jokes have dissipated.
“It was a total change. People are lingering in the hallways, having in-depth conversations,” said one player who requested anonymity to speak freely about the recruiting process. “We’re not joking anymore.”
The WNBA is preparing to begin its 28th season, but robust free agency recruiting is still a relatively new part of winter. Ace Guard Chelsea Gray said in an uninterrupted mini-documentary about his 2020 free agency: “You hear about what’s going on on the men’s side. Why not do it for women? Why not have people say, “You have to take him on a plane?” »
Two offseasons ago, Istanbul, Turkey, became the crossroads of the cycle as Freedom of New York, Washington MysticsMinnesota Lynx and Storm attempted to appear in the Breanna Stewart sweepstakes. A team traveling abroad demonstrated interest in establishing a relationship.
Now, Unrivaled is this hub of the free agency world, and players can easily form relationships with each other. Peer-to-peer connections are the benefit of everyone coming together in one place.
“You’re able to talk directly to other players, and you can figure out what kind of resources, how important is their team to the owners? If you have a team owner who doesn’t prioritize the women’s team, he’s going to speak out about it, and that’s a place I would be less likely to go,” Sabally said.
Players can share their thoughts on the facilities. Several Unrivaled players, both free agents and signed players, said the topic was discussed in the lunch room, sauna and weight room.
“It was fun to hear players try to convince certain players to join teams. You’re also kind of able to hear other people’s experiences,” the New York Liberty star said. Sabrina Ionescu said.
Not all franchises immediately flocked to Florida. Minnesota Lynx Head coach and president of basketball Cheryl Reeve and assistant coach Eric Thibault were spotted last Wednesday during the EuroLeague match between Fenerbahçe and Umana Reyer Venezia. Big name free agents Emma Meesseman and Tina Charles play for the Turkish club, as does Minnesota forward Nina Milić.
But during Friday night’s Unrivaled action, they had arrived in Florida.
Lynx guard Courtney Williams said it has no plans to sign free agents. But Williams admitted that could change in an instant.
“If (Cheryl) calls me,” Williams said, “I’ll start chatting.”
This article was originally published in Athletics.
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