Overview

• At exit interviews, GM Ohemaa Nyanin said the team is not pursuing a single “face of the franchise” and will target players who align with the locker-room culture.
• Coach of the Year Natalie Nakase reaffirmed a defense-first, let-it-fly 3-point philosophy after a playoff debut built on depth and adaptability.
• Five veterans are unrestricted free agents—Kayla Thornton, Tiffany Hayes, Kaila Charles, Temi Fagbenle and Monique Billings—while Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini enter restricted free agency.
• The next CBA and a two-team expansion draft leave protection rules and timelines unresolved, with even the requirement for a protected list still unknown.
• Business momentum remains strong with a league attendance record and roughly 90% season-ticket renewals, as ownership keeps a five-year title goal and the club holds the league’s fourth-most cap space for next season.