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WNBA free-agency chaos: Why did so many All-Stars move for one-year contracts?

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WNBA free-agency chaos: Why did so many All-Stars move for one-year contracts?

Executives around the WNBA largely expected this offseason’s market to serve as a tune-up for next winter. At the start of the offseason, only two non-rookie contract players had deals that extended past 2025. Seismic change loomed.

But after an avalanche of moves, significant shifts have come an offseason early as a hectic week of free agency is reshaping the upcoming season.

In six days, 10 multi-time All-Stars — Satou Sabally, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Brionna Jones, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Tina Charles and Courtney Vandersloot — changed teams via trade or the open market.

Veterans who had only played for one team, including Griner (11 years in Phoenix), Thomas (11 years in Connecticut) and Loyd (10 years in Seattle), are with different franchises. Plum had spent her career only with the Aces, and Sabally was a five-year mainstay in Dallas.

Yet, they’ll all be wearing new uniforms in 2025. And maybe only for 2025.

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All of the star players so far in free agency have signed one-year deals, which means they’ll be back on the market next year. The short-term contracts allow them to maximize their long-term earning potential.

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Grading and analyzing every WNBA free agency signing: Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum, Alyssa Thomas on the move

An economic windfall is expected to hit the league in 2026. Assuming there isn’t a work stoppage, a new collective bargaining agreement will almost assuredly feature higher player salaries and a league salary-cap spike. A new media rights deal that will pay the WNBA an average of $200 million a season over the next 11 years is expected to be a key economic driver. A season from now, players likely will return to inking multiyear deals at higher rates.

But by changing teams in 2025, they can get a sense for their new franchises and see how front offices tailor rosters to their strengths before committing long-term. No situation is entirely predictable, but the decision to try out new situations now, and not in the first year of a multiyear agreement, should help players make more informed decisions in 12 months.

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In the short term, stars on new teams can gather information on their new teams this season while also maintaining future leverage.

These bold moves indicate a new era for WNBA players, who have more agency than ever in their decisions to play at their preferred destinations. Historically, stars were largely tethered to the teams that drafted them. Trade requests were relatively rare. Stars like Chelsea Gray and Candace Parker changed teams in recent seasons, but no multi-time All-Stars were traded in 2021 and 2022. In the last three seasons, including this offseason, seven multi-time All-Stars have been dealt.

“That’s just the evolution of the league and where we’re seeing basketball and women’s sports going,” Loyd said. “There’s definitely a lot more freedom and things happening.”

Certainly, teams that took big swings — Phoenix, Atlanta and Los Angeles especially — hope they can build on the foundation they laid this past week.

But the short-term contracts mean teams took risks with these transactions.

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The Dream, who haven’t had a winning record since 2018, hope adding Jones and Griner will provide them not only a shot at a top-four playoff seed this season, but also with a significant advantage next winter in talks. The Mercury surely want their big three of Sabally, Thomas and Kahleah Copper — potentially Big Four if Diana Taurasi returns for the 2025 season— to be intact for years to come. Led by Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever already have title aspirations, and the veteran additions of Howard and Bonner could serve as missing pieces to the puzzle.

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The benefits of incumbency could give teams a head-start in negotiations next offseason. But even franchises like the Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings, who aren’t expected to be in title contention, made moves (Chicago added Vandersloot, Kia Nurse and Bec Allen, while the Wings acquired DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith and Ty Harris) that could help them become a more appealing destination for free agents in 2026.

More madness is bound to strike next January. More coupling, and recoupling, of stars will occur. Unrivaled, the new winter 3×3 professional winter league, was an epicenter for WNBA gossip and deal-making. It will be a hub next year, too, with almost every Unrivaled player in the inaugural season hitting the market.

This offseason was a reminder there should be no surprises when a franchise centerpiece looks elsewhere.

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Change, even from players who have historically avoided it, is on the table for everyone.

(Photo of Satou Sabally and Brittney Griner: Megan Briggs / Getty Images)

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NCAA committee recommends adding flag football as emerging sport for women

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NCAA committee recommends adding flag football as emerging sport for women

An NCAA committee recommended on Wednesday adding flag football to its emerging women’s sports program, a significant step toward it becoming an officially sponsored championship sport in all three divisions.

The NCAA said at least 65 schools are already sponsoring flag football at either the club or varsity level, with more moving in that direction. With a push from the NFL, flag football also has been added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The NFL has vigorously promoted flag football for several years, including starting a global ambassador program in 2022. Domestically, the league and its teams have been pushing for flag football to be sanctioned as a varsity sport in high schools around the country.

Once in the NCAA’s emerging women’s sports program, flag football would need a minimum of 40 schools sponsoring it at the varsity level and meet minimums in games played and player participation to be considered for NCAA championship status.

The NCAA’s emerging women’s sports program was created to help facilitate more opportunities for women and give schools more opportunities to sponsor teams.

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The last sport to move through the program was women’s wrestling, which was approved last month to become the NCAA’s 91st championship sport. The first women’s wrestling championship will be held in 2026.

Five other sports are currently in the program: acrobatics and tumbling, equestrian, rugby, stunt and triathlon. Five sports have previously emerged from the program to earn NCAA championship status: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003) and beach volleyball (2015).

(Photo: Isaiah Vazquez / Getty Images)

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Jets to move on from Aaron Rodgers after 2 seasons

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Jets to move on from Aaron Rodgers after 2 seasons

The New York Jets have made it official: They intend to move on from Aaron Rodgers. 

The team released a statement on Thursday that they are moving forward without the four-time MVP. 

“Last week we met with Aaron and shared that our intention was to move in a different direction at quarterback,” head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey said in a statement released by the team. 

FILE – New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) stands with teammates before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

“It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures. We want to thank him for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.”

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Rodgers spent two seasons with the team, but suffered a torn Achilles just four snaps into his first game into his Jets tenure.

Returning from the season-ending injury in 2024, Rodgers’ Jets went 5-12 and fired both head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas during the season. 

Rodgers threw for 3,987 yards and 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 games for the Jets last season. 

“I personally want to thank Aaron for his time at the New York Jets,” said owner Woody Johnson in the statement. 

“His arrival in 2023 was met with unbridled excitement and I will forever be grateful that he chose to join us to continue his Hall of Fame career. From day one, he embodied all that it meant to be a New York Jet, embraced our fans, and immersed himself in our city. That is what I will remember most when I look back at his time here. He will always be welcome, and I wish him only the best in whatever he chooses to do next.”

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Prep talk: Anthony White leads resurgent Reseda basketball team

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Prep talk: Anthony White leads resurgent Reseda basketball team

Marlon Burt spent years coaching football at Reseda High, his alma mater, until head coach Alonso Arreola retired. Then he changed directions — becoming basketball coach.

Now in his third season, Reseda has had a breakthrough year with a 16-4 record and 10-2 mark in the Valley Mission League, putting the Regents in second place.

“They’re the surprise team,” Sylmar coach Bort Escoto said.

The key player has been 6-foot-4 Crespi transfer Anthony White, a junior who is averaging close to 25 points a game.

“Just a bunch of kids getting together to turn the program around,” Burt said.

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Burt, 38, played basketball and football at Reseda, so switching his coaching emphasis was an easy transition. And getting White was a big deal.

“He does everything well,” he said.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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