WNBA teams are less than a month away from the start of the 2025 offseason trading period, which means the Liberty are approaching another important offseason for a franchise with a championship window wide open.
The 2025 offseason promises to be less eventful than 2024, when three starters entered the winter as unrestricted free agents.
This time around, they will have two unrestricted free agents who finished the regular season as starters. General manager Jonathan Kolb and the front office can begin negotiations with these free agents starting January 21. The team can sign contracts with these players starting February 1.
Here’s a look at Liberty free agents this offseason.
BREANNE STEWART
Here we are again.
Liberty and Stewart enter the 2025 offseason in the same position as last year: at the end of a one-year contract, both sides are more than likely to reunite for another season.
In 2024, Kolb used a main title on Stewart after his MVP seasonwhich took the star away from the open market and gave the franchise exclusive negotiating rights. A few weeks later, the two sides agreed to a one-year deal. The same thing could happen in 2025. However, if Stewart is eliminated again, she won’t be able to be eliminated for the rest of her career. Per WNBA rules, once a player has played for at least two seasons under one or more contracts he signed while being cut, that player cannot be cut again.
The Liberty could also re-sign the 2024 All-WNBA first-team selection without using the designation while they are free to negotiate with other teams. The chances of Stewart not returning to the Liberty are unlikely, however, given the team’s championship window, his presence as a team in the New York market, and his own desire to stay with the team.
“I’m excited about what we’re doing here in New York and with the Liberty,” Stewart said after the 2023 season before being cut. “It’s been amazing to be a part of and I look forward to doing it for many years to come.”
The biggest question is how long Stewart’s next contract will be. Players could position themselves for unprecedented salaries as unrestricted free agents in 2026, when the league — and its franchises — will be awash in new money under a possible new media rights and licensing deal. CBA.
COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT
Vandersloot was the starter at the end of the 2024 regular season, but lost the playoff role after Sandy Brondello replaced her with Leonie Fiebich in Game 1 of the first round series against the Atlanta Dream.
Vandersloot, who will be 36 when the 2025 WNBA season begins, has not signaled the end of her playing career. And his upcoming debut in the new 3v3 Unrivaled league further shows that retirement may not come soon.
But given his reduced role – and his age – a reunion with the Liberty could result in a short-term deal at a cheaper price.
A pay cut isn’t far-fetched for the future Hall of Famer, as she decided to make such a deal by teaming up with Stewart in New York ahead of the 2024 WNBA season.
KENNEDY BURKE
Burke’s need immediately grew after the Freedom has lost Kayla Thornton to the Golden State Valkyries in the December expansion draft.
Burke, who averaged just 3.4 points in 12.1 minutes per game, could play an increased role with sixth-woman Thornton out of the rotation.
Burke, however, could be coveted on the open market, just like Thornton was in the expansion draft.
RESERVED PLAYERS
Fan favorites Jaylyn Sherrod and Ivana Djokic are both exclusive rights free agents or reserve players. Players with this designation receive a qualifying offer and can only negotiate with their current team.
Both could be back in meerschaum to complete the bench unit in 2025.
