This WNBA free agency has been everything we hoped for. Big names, big moves, and a whole lot of surprises. And while some teams have absolutely nailed it, others, well… let’s just say things haven’t exactly gone their way. As signings roll in, the basketball world is buzzing with opinions on who came out on top and who didn’t. 

ESPN analyst Elle Duncan had a lot to say about it, especially when it came to the biggest losers of free agency. And, in her eyes, two teams stood out. “When you talk about the biggest losers, I think there are definitely two,” she said. First, she pointed out Connecticut Sun as none of the starters are returning.

They just made some history—and not in a good way. Sun is officially the first WNBA team ever to lose their entire starting lineup from their last playoff game in a single offseason.

DiJonai Carrington and Ty Harris traded to the Dallas Wings. Alyssa Thomas sent to the Phoenix Mercury. DeWanna Bonner signed with the Indiana Fever. And Brionna Jones off to the Atlanta Dream. 

Just last season, the team was legit a contender with a veteran-heavy roster. Now, they’re in full rebuild mode. No idea what exactly are they up to. 

Then, according to Duncan, the next team on the “losers” list has to be the Golden State Valkyries. When the Valkyries went through the expansion draft, there was this belief that they were strategically picking players to maintain a massive amount of cap space. And they did just that.

How much cap space, you ask? Well, after the expansion draft, the Valkyries had just $305,595 in salary locked in, leaving them with a whopping $1.2 million to spend. That’s a ton of flexibility heading into free agency.

And at first, it seemed like they were a real threat to land at least one big-name star. As Duncan put it, “They have the money. They got more money than anybody else. They need somebody, right? That has not happened. Their ability to outbid suitors has not mattered. No one has chosen Golden State, which is just a touch surprising.”

Sure, Kelsey Plum was always a long shot, but there were rumors. However, she’s heading to the Los Angeles Sparks. And while the Valkyries did sign three players directly, two of them are on training camp contracts. Not exactly the star power people were expecting.

So, what’s the game plan now? According to the ESPN analyst, it looks like they might be saving up for next year’s draft to build their roster the long way.

And speaking of the draft, there’s been some unexpected buzz around two projected top picks: Paige Bueckers and Olivia Miles. Duncan noted that the Sparks were willing to trade away the No. 2 overall pick and part of that could be because of “whispers” that Bueckers and Miles might not even enter the draft. Instead, both could use their extra year of eligibility and stay in college.

Bueckers has openly stated this would be her last season at UConn, but we’ve seen last-minute mind changes before. And with Miles also having another year available, this draft class could look a lot different from expected.

For now, though, the hottest topic in the WNBA remains free agency, and while it’s been a tough one for some teams, others have absolutely crushed it, especially the Indiana Fever.

Indiana Fever: The biggest WNBA free agency winner

If there’s one team that’s made the most of free agency, it’s the Indiana Fever. They’ve been on a mission, and they might just have put together a championship-caliber squad.

First, they re-signed Kelsey Mitchell. Then, they made a major trade for Sophie Cunningham and landed DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard in free agency. And just when we thought they were missing a solid backup point guard, the Fever brought Sydney Colson.

To make room for all these moves, Indiana waived Victoria Saxton, putting their roster at 11 players. They also let go of Grace Berger, creating just enough cap space to make their dream team a reality. And with their roster, their championship odds are getting stronger, too. 

Before free agency, Indiana opened at +1300 to win it all. Now their odds have been slashed in half, sitting at +550. That puts them right behind the New York Liberty (+200), Las Vegas Aces (+260), and Minnesota Lynx (+350).

Last season, Indiana made it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, thanks to their core trio. Now, with veteran experience, the Fever aren’t just hoping for a good season; they are ready to win.