Training camps across the WNBA are underway, and teams are starting to make their first cuts with opening night now less than two weeks away. The biggest move thus far was the Golden State Valkyries waiving Shyanne Sellers, who had a big draft night slide into the second round. Now, unless she links up with another team, she won’t even be on a roster when the season begins.
Over the coming days, CBS Sports will keep you up to date with all of the roster moves around the league. Here’s a quick glossary on the different types of roster contracts:
- Protected veteran: These are veterans with a fully-guaranteed contract. Teams can only have a maximum of six players under such a contract.
- Protected rookie: When a team picks up the fourth-year option on a rookie-scale contract, it becomes fully guaranteed. These contracts do not count toward the limit of protected veteran contracts.
- Unprotected: These are players without a guaranteed contract. If they are waived, they are only owed the pro-rated salary for the time they were on the team. These contracts become guaranteed at the midpoint of the season.
- Draftee: These are players who have just been drafted and signed their rookie scale contract. They do not count against the salary cap until the first day of the season if they remain on the roster.
- Training camp: These are players who were invited to training camp on a non-standard contract that does not count against the salary cap until the first day of the season if they remain on the roster. In the event they make the team, the contract converts to a one-year, unprotected, minimum deal.
No real surprises here. The Dream’s rotation is largely set, but a few end-of-the-bench spots are up for grabs. Former South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao, who slipped into the second round of the draft, looks like a good bet to earn a roster spot, and could end up being a big steal for the Dream.
First-round pick Ajša Sivka is notably absent from the training camp roster. Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca said after the draft that the team was having “ongoing conversations” with Sivka’s camp about whether she would play in the WNBA this season, and it’s clear she will not start the season with the team. It’s possible she could arrive later in the season after Eurobasket Women 2025, but it seems more likely that she will sit out until 2026.
It’s rebuild time in Uncasville, and new coach Rachid Meziane will have his hands full trying to select the team’s final roster. Outside of a few veterans, this is a very young group, highlighted by first-round picks Aneesah Morrow and Saniya Rivers. Leïla Lacan, a highly-rated French guard who was the team’s first-round pick last year, has also arrived in the States, and will be a player to keep an eye on.
|
Yvonne Anderson |
Guard |
1 year |
Protected veteran |
|
Tina Charles |
Forward |
13 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Marina Mabrey |
Guard |
6 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Olivia Nelson-Ododa |
Center |
3 years |
Protected rookie |
|
Lindsay Allen |
Guard |
7 years |
Unprotected |
|
Diamond DeShields |
Guard |
6 years |
Unprotected |
|
Jacy Sheldon |
Guard |
1 year |
Unprotected |
|
Leïla Lacan |
Guard |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Rayah Marshall |
Center |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Aneesah Morrow |
Forward |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Saniya Rivers |
Guard |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Caitlin Bickle |
Forward |
1 year |
Training camp |
| Kamila Borkowska | Center | Rookie | Training camp |
| Kariata Diaby | Center | Rookie | Training camp |
| Madison Hayes | Guard | Rookie | Training camp |
|
Amy Okonkwo |
Forward |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Robyn Parks |
Forward |
1 year |
Training camp |
|
Haley Peters |
Forward |
3 years |
Training camp |
The new-look Wings are one of the most exciting teams to watch as training camps begin. That is in large part due to No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers, who leads an interesting group of rookies that also includes Aziaha James and Madison Scott. All eyes will be on Bueckers and Co. in the coming days and weeks.
No. 5 overall pick Justė Jocytė was not included on the team’s training camp roster. Like Sivka, it’s possible that she could come over to the WNBA after EuroBasket Women, but she may also sit out of the entire season and arrive in 2026.
In one of the biggest surprises thus far, the Valkyries waived former Maryland star Shyanne Sellers, who was projected to be a top-10 pick but fell into the middle of the second round.
“She picked up everything we asked her to, did everything that we asked,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “It’s just that I have to choose the best 12 that are going to fit. Doesn’t mean it’s the most talented, it means it’s the best 12.”
The Fever have a lot of work to do to integrate all of their new pieces, but they appear to be pretty comfortable with where their roster is at. They’ve only brought 15 players to camp, which is tied for the fewest of any team. Second-round picks Makayla Timpson and Bree Hall will both be battling for one of the final roster spots.
The Aces’ roster looks a lot different than it did last season and this should be a fascinating camp in Vegas. How will Jewell Loyd acclimate to her new surroundings? And can the Aces find any reliable depth behind their stars? There will certainly be a chance for some players to earn a roster spot over the next few weeks.
All-Star guard Kelsey Plum’s arrival will be the major talking point in Sparks camp, especially considering that it seems like most of the roster spots are accounted for. Sarah Ashlee Barker, the team’s first-round pick, will also be a player to watch. The Sparks desperately need wing depth, and she could earn a rotation spot if she performs well in camp.
|
Dearica Hamby |
Forward |
10 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Kelsey Plum |
Guard |
7 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Azura Stevens |
Forward |
7 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Julie Allemand |
Guard |
2 years |
Unprotected |
|
Rae Burrell |
Guard |
3 years |
Unprotected |
| Cameron Brink | Center | 1 year | Unprotected |
| Rickea Jackson | Forward | 1 year | Unprotected |
|
Mercedes Russell |
Center |
7 years |
Unprotected |
|
Odyssey Sims |
Guard |
11 years |
Unprotected |
|
Sarah Ashlee Barker |
Guard |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Sania Feagin |
Forward |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Liatu King |
Forward |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Shaneice Swain |
Guard |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Emma Cannon |
Forward |
6 years |
Training camp |
|
Maria Kliundikova |
Center |
2 years |
Training camp |
|
Aari McDonald |
Guard |
4 years |
Training camp |
No team invited more players to training camp than the Lynx, which is a bit surprising considering that their rotation appears to be set, but it’s hard to question Cheryl Reeve’s roster-building philosophy. Many expected No. 15 overall pick Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, a 20-year-old Russian forward, to be a draft-and-stash candidate, but she has arrived for camp and it will be interesting to see if she makes the team.
|
Natisha Hiedeman |
Guard |
6 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Kayla McBride |
Guard |
11 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Karlie Samuelson |
Guard |
6 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Alanna Smith |
Forward |
6 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Courtney Williams |
Guard |
9 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Grace Berger |
Guard |
2 years |
Unprotected |
|
Bridget Carleton |
Guard |
6 years |
Unprotected |
|
Napheesa Collier |
Forward |
6 years |
Unprotected |
|
Dorka Juhász |
Center |
2 years |
Unprotected |
|
Diamond Miller |
Forward |
2 years |
Unprotected |
|
Alissa Pili |
Forward |
1 year |
Unprotected |
|
Dalayah Daniels |
Forward |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu |
Forward |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Marième Badiane |
Center |
Rookie |
Training camp |
| Diamond Johnson | Guard | Rookie | Training camp |
| Kiara Leslie | Guard | 2 years | Training camp |
|
Ajae Petty |
Forward |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Reigan Richardson |
Guard |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Jessica Shepard |
Forward |
4 years |
Training camp |
| Camryn Taylor | Forward | Rookie | Training camp |
|
Christyn Williams |
Guard |
Rookie |
Training camp |
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is a notable absence from the Liberty’s training camp roster. She underwent knee surgery in March and will miss the majority, if not all, of the season. The Liberty’s camp will be more about building continuity with some of their new supporting cast members than any serious roster battles.
The Mercury were wheeling and dealing all winter and have built an extremely top-heavy roster that boasts three All-WNBA caliber players and not much else. That 13 of the 19 players beginning practice this week are on training camp contracts tells you all you need to know.
|
Kalani Brown |
Center |
5 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Kahleah Copper |
Guard |
9 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Kitija Laksa |
Guard |
Rookie |
Protected veteran |
|
Satou Sabally |
Forward |
5 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Alyssa Thomas |
Forward |
11 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Sami Whitcomb |
Guard |
8 years |
Unprotected |
|
Monique Akoa Makani |
Guard |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Shyla Heal |
Guard |
1 year |
Training camp |
|
Lexi Held |
Guard |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Natasha Mack |
Center |
2 years |
Training camp |
|
Anna Makurat |
Guard |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Megan McConnell |
Guard |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Murjanatu Musa |
Center |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Alexis Prince |
Forward |
3 years |
Training camp |
|
Temira Poindexter |
Forward |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Helena Pueyo |
Guard |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Celeste Taylor |
Guard |
1 year |
Training camp |
|
Sevgi Uzun |
Guard |
1 year |
Training camp |
|
Kathryn Westbeld |
Forward |
Rookie |
Training camp |
The Storm entered training camp without Jordan Horston or Nika Mühl, who tore their ACLs during the offseason. Just a few days into camp, Katie Lou Samuelson, whom they signed during free agency to help their spacing, went down with a torn ACL as well.
The Mystics have been hard hit by injuries early in camp. Most notably, No. 6 overall pick Georgia Amoore suffered an ACL injury and will be out indefinitely. That’s a major blow for her and the team as their rebuild gets underway. In addition, Aaliyah Edwards has a back contusion that will keep her out for the majority of camp and could put her status in doubt for opening night.
|
Stefanie Dolson |
Center |
11 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Brittney Sykes |
Guard |
8 years |
Protected veteran |
|
Shakira Austin |
Forward |
3 years |
Protected rookie |
|
Aaliyah Edwards |
Forward |
1 year |
Unprotected |
|
Sika Koné |
Forward |
2 years |
Unprotected |
|
Jade Melbourne |
Guard |
2 years |
Unprotected |
|
Georgia Amoore |
Guard |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Sonia Citron |
Guard |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Zaay Green |
Guard |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Kiki Iriafen |
Forward |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Lucy Olsen |
Guard |
Rookie |
Draftee |
|
Khadijiah Cave |
Forward |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Emily Engstler |
Forward |
3 years |
Training camp |
|
Morgan Jones |
Guard |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Jojo Lacey |
Forward |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Ashten Prechtel |
Forward |
Rookie |
Training camp |
|
Sug Sutton |
Guard |
3 years |
Training camp |