- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Spring Lake Park Today
By the People, for the People
WNBA Stars Ionescu, Collier, Plum Get $1.4M Franchise Tag Deals
The new WNBA franchise tag gives teams the power to retain top players, shaping the future of the league.
Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:20am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The WNBA's new franchise tag rule adds strategic complexity to team-building, as stars like Ionescu, Collier, and Plum are locked in at supermax salaries.Spring Lake Park TodayThe WNBA's free agency period has kicked off with a major development - the introduction of the franchise tag. This new tool allows teams to retain their star players by offering them a one-year, supermax contract worth $1.4 million. The big names tagged this year are Sabrina Ionescu, Napheesa Collier, and Kelsey Plum, signaling a shift in the league's power dynamics as teams look to build around their core talent.
Why it matters
The franchise tag is a game-changer for the WNBA, giving teams more control over their rosters and the ability to keep their top players. This could lead to more competitive balance in the league, but also raises questions about the long-term development of younger talent as veteran players are locked in. The impact on the salary cap will also be crucial as teams navigate how to build winning rosters within the new financial constraints.
The details
Under the new CBA, teams can designate one player per year as a 'core' or 'franchise' player, offering them a supermax one-year deal worth $1.4 million. This is more than five times the maximum salary a player could earn under the previous CBA. The franchise tag can only be used twice on a player, and only if they have less than seven years of WNBA experience. This year, the New York Liberty tagged Sabrina Ionescu, the Minnesota Lynx tagged Napheesa Collier, and the Las Vegas Aces tagged Kelsey Plum.
- The WNBA's free agency period officially kicked off on April 13, 2026.
- The new CBA, including the franchise tag, went into effect at the start of the 2026 season.
The players
Sabrina Ionescu
The star point guard of the New York Liberty, who was named WNBA MVP in 2025.
Napheesa Collier
An All-Star forward for the Minnesota Lynx, known for her two-way play and leadership.
Kelsey Plum
The dynamic scoring guard of the Las Vegas Aces, who led the league in points per game in 2025.
What they’re saying
“The franchise tag is a game-changer for the WNBA. It gives teams the power to keep their stars and build around a core group of talent.”
— Candace Parker, WNBA Analyst
“This new CBA is going to have a huge impact on the league's salary cap and roster construction. Teams will have to be really strategic in how they allocate their resources.”
— Chiney Ogwumike, WNBA Player
What’s next
The WNBA Draft will take place on April 17, 2026, where teams will look to add young talent to complement their franchise-tagged stars.
The takeaway
The WNBA's new franchise tag is a pivotal moment for the league, giving teams more control over their rosters but also raising questions about the long-term development of younger players. As the league navigates this new landscape, the 2026 season promises to be an exciting and unpredictable one.
