The gym is quiet, but the phones are already ringing, carrying the weight of WNBA trade predictions that feel more volatile than ever before. Outside the practice facilities in Minneapolis and Uncasville, the December chill has settled in, mirroring the frosty standoff between the league and the players’ union just weeks before the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiration date. In that moment, general managers aren’t just battling opposing teams; they are fighting the calendar, the salary cap, and the encroaching shadow of two new expansion franchises in Toronto and Portland.
The stakes for the 2026 season have transcended simple wins and losses. Front offices must navigate a treacherous landscape where protecting a core roster means exposing valuable assets to the expansion draft or losing them in free agency for nothing. Consequently, the trade market has become the only pressure release valve available. We are no longer discussing simple player swaps; we are witnessing the disassembly of contenders and the desperate arming of new challengers. Because of this tension, the names circulating in quiet whispers include franchise icons and rising stars alike.
The Protection Squeeze
The arrival of the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire has fundamentally altered the math of roster construction. Per reports from ESPN in late 2025, the league’s protection lists have tightened, likely dropping from six protected players to just five. This reduction forces deep teams like the Dallas Wings and Minnesota Lynx into corners they cannot escape without making a move.
Suddenly, holding onto depth is a liability. Teams must consolidate talent into top-heavy stars or trade away good players for draft capital before they are poached for free. The Golden State Valkyries proved in 2025 that an expansion team can compete immediately. Now, Toronto and Portland are looking to replicate that model, and established GMs are terrified of being the suppliers.
The Great Reshuffling
The market is defined by urgency. With the potential for a lockout looming in January 2026, teams are incentivized to lock in rosters early or shed salary to maintain flexibility. History tells us that uncertainty breeds activity. Here are the ten players most likely to find new homes as the league pivots toward its new era.
Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx)
Defining Moment: Carleton’s clutch corner three in the 2024 playoffs cemented her status as a high-level role player, but her restricted free agency in 2026 changes the dynamic.
The Data: She shot a career-best 41% from deep over the last two seasons, making her one of the most efficient spacers in the league.
The Context: The narrative is almost too perfect to ignore. With Toronto entering the league, the pressure to bring a Canadian national team staple home is immense. Minnesota faces a crunch with Napheesa Collier and their other stars; they simply cannot protect everyone. Rather than losing her for nothing in the expansion draft, the Lynx could orchestrate a sign-and-trade, sending Carleton north in exchange for draft assets that allow them to keep their championship window open.
Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream)
Defining Moment: Her 35-point explosion against the Aces in mid-2025 reminded everyone of her ceiling, yet the Dream finished firmly in the middle of the pack again.
The Data: Howard averaged 18.5 points per game but saw her usage rate dip as Atlanta tried to integrate other scorers.
The Context: Atlanta has been “a year away” for four years. The franchise is at a crossroads where they must decide if Howard is the centerpiece of a title team or the asset that brings in the haul to rebuild properly. If the Dream start slow in 2026 or struggle to agree on an extension, Howard becomes the most valuable trade chip on the board. A team like the Valkyries or even the Liberty could view her as the final piece to a dynasty.
Diamond Miller (Dallas Wings)
Defining Moment: A coast-to-coast layup in transition that showcased her elite athleticism, followed immediately by a benching for defensive lapses.
The Data: Despite her talent, Miller played fewer than 25 minutes per game in 2025 due to the Wings’ logjam at the wing position.
The Context: Dallas has an embarrassment of riches and a salary cap nightmare. They cannot pay everyone, and they cannot protect everyone. Miller is young, talented, and cost-controlled, making her prime bait for a team like Portland that needs a young star to market. The Wings need to consolidate their roster around Arike Ogunbowale and Teaira McCowan (or her replacement), and moving Miller might be the only way to balance the books.
Azurá Stevens (Los Angeles Sparks)
Defining Moment: A four-block performance against Seattle that sealed a narrow victory, proving her defensive versatility.
The Data: Stevens ranked in the top 10 for blocks per game in 2025 while shooting 36% from three.
The Context: The Sparks acquired Kelsey Plum in February 2025, signaling a “win-now” shift. However, with Cameron Brink returning to full health and the need to protect their star guards, Stevens becomes the odd woman out on the protection list. Los Angeles can’t afford to let a starting-caliber big walk to Portland for free. A trade to a contender needing size—perhaps the Sun or Liberty—makes logical sense for all parties.
Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun)
Defining Moment: Her heated exchange with an opposing bench during the 2025 semifinals, highlighting the fire she brings—and the volatility.
The Data: Mabrey hit 85 three-pointers in 2025, but her efficiency dropped in high-leverage moments.
The Context: The Sun are perpetually knocking on the door but never entering. With their core aging and the salary cap tightening, Mabrey’s contract is a massive variable. Connecticut needs to get younger or cheaper to sustain their window. Moving Mabrey to a team desperate for perimeter scoring, like the Sky or Mystics, could bring back the depth they sorely lack.
Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics)
Defining Moment: A dominant 20-10 game in the season opener that was overshadowed by the team’s subsequent ten-game losing streak.
The Data: When healthy, Austin posts top-five defensive rating numbers among centers, but she has missed 30% of games over the last two seasons.
The Context: Washington is stuck in a painful rebuild. Austin is a franchise cornerstone talent, yet her timeline may not align with the Mystics’ slow crawl back to relevance. If a contender offers a package of high draft picks—perhaps one of the expansion teams looking for an anchor—Washington might decide to hit the hard reset button rather than wasting Austin’s prime years on a lottery team.
Natasha Howard (Indiana Fever)
Defining Moment: An emphatic putback dunk attempt that rattled the rim, showing she still has elite athleticism in her mid-30s.
The Data: Howard averaged a solid 14 points and 7 rebounds in 2025, but her fit alongside Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark has been clunky at times.
The Context: The Fever are rising, but they need shooting and spacing more than another post presence who operates in the paint. Howard is a veteran winner who deserves to be on a title contender, not a developing squad. A mid-season trade to a team like Las Vegas (seeking depth behind A’ja Wilson) or New York could act as the perfect final chapter for her storied career.
Teaira McCowan (Dallas Wings)
Defining Moment: A game-winning hook shot over Brittney Griner, a reminder of her unstoppable interior force.
The Data: McCowan led the league in offensive rebound percentage in 2025, creating second-chance points at an elite rate.
The Context: Similar to the Miller situation, Dallas has too many bigs and not enough ball handlers. The experiment of playing McCowan alongside other non-shooters has hit its ceiling. A trade sends her to a team that needs a pure center—perhaps the Valkyries or Sparks—and allows Dallas to embrace a faster, more spacing-oriented identity.
Dana Evans (Chicago Sky)
Defining Moment: A buzzer-beating floater that ended a losing streak, proving she has the clutch gene.
The Data: Evans assists-to-turnover ratio improved to 2.5 in 2025, but she remains undersized for the Sky’s defensive scheme.
The Context: Chicago is crowded in the backcourt. Evans has been patient, but she needs a starting role to flourish. With the expansion draft looming, she is a prime candidate to be left unprotected. Chicago would be wise to trade her beforehand to a team like Portland, who will need a point guard to lead their inaugural squad, ensuring they get value for her talent.
Isabelle Harrison (Golden State Valkyries)
Defining Moment: A gritty 12-point performance off the bench in the Valkyries’ first playoff win.
The Data: Harrison shot 52% from the field in limited minutes, showcasing extreme efficiency.
The Context: The Valkyries are no longer just happy to be here; they are trying to win. As they look to upgrade for a title run in 2026, Harrison’s expiring contract makes her a perfect trade filler. She is a veteran who can help a young team set a culture, making her an ideal target for the Toronto Tempo as they build their locker room from scratch.
The Post-CBA Landscape
Ultimately, these moves are about survival. The WNBA trade predictions for 2026 are not merely speculation; they are a roadmap of a league in rapid transition. By the time the ball tips for the 2026 season, the rosters we know today may be unrecognizable.
Front offices are playing a high-stakes game of musical chairs, and when the music stops—likely with the ratification of a new CBA—the teams that moved early will be the ones left standing. Will the Lynx sacrifice a fan favorite to save their future? Can Dallas finally unclog their roster to unleash their potential? The answers lie in the chaotic months ahead.
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FAQs
Q: When could expansion force teams to trade before 2026?
A: Protection lists get tight, and teams fear losing good players for nothing. Trading early can turn depth into picks or cap flexibility.
Q: How many players might teams protect in the 2026 expansion draft?
A: Reports point to five protected players instead of six. That squeeze makes mid-rotation talent feel expendable.
Q: Could a lockout or labor stoppage affect the 2026 season?
A: Yes. If talks stall, a stoppage could delay the calendar, so teams try to finalize plans early.
Q: Which teams feel the biggest roster crunch in this story?
A: The Wings and Lynx stand out because they have real depth. They may have to consolidate talent or lose it in the expansion draft.
Q: Why would Toronto chase a Canadian like Bridget Carleton?
A: New teams need instant identity. Bringing home a Canadian national team staple can sell the story and the jerseys fast.
