WNBA free agency begins February 1, and before then and in the days following, you may hear the phrase “(insert player’s name here) has been cut.” You may be wondering: what does this mean?
Here is the answer. This is similar to the NFL franchise tag but for the WNBA.
A “basic” designation is typically used for unrestricted free agents. If a team uses the tag, it means a player is critical to the success and overall identity of the team. Any player receiving a base tag would no longer be an unrestricted free agent and the team owns exclusive rights to that player. According to the WNBA CBA, the player will be offered a one-year supermax contract, but a longer deal can also be reached with the team.
This is where it gets tricky. Players can agree to play out the season on a one-year contract, but are not obligated to do so. If the team and player reach an impasse, the two signs can work together to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal. This allows the player to move to a new destination and allows the team to recoup some value in return.
For example, Dallas Wings forward and unrestricted free agent Satou Sabally mentioned that she leaves the organization. However, Sabally was a vital part of the team, and the Wings won’t just let her enter free agency without getting some value back. The Wings will core her then work to find a new destination for Sabally.
Expect the Dallas Wings to officially release Satou Sabally today. Sabally has already announced that she has played her last game for Dallas and that she and the Wings are looking to find her a new home.
She joins Vegas’ Kelsey Plum as stars who have been retained by their teams so far
– Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) January 13, 2025
No more WNBA!
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This article was originally published on For The Win: What does it mean to be “eliminated” in the WNBA? The designation of the contract, explained
