Weighing sensible landing spots for Dallas Wings' Allisha Gray
Gear up for fireworks, folks.
The fun period of the WNBA offseason is on the horizon. As ofyesterday, teams are now allowed to offer qualifying offers andcore designations to their own restricted and unrestricted freeagents respectively. That period ends on Jan. 20, with (outside)free agents and teams being able to negotiate deals on Jan. 21.
With superstars like Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker and NnekaOgwumike headlining the market — and with rumors already swirlingabout Stewart eyeing the Big Apple — this is one of mostanticipated free-agency periods in recent memory.
Below the star tier, it's worth keeping an eye on what'shappening with the Dallas Wings.
Midway through last season, Khristina Williams ofGirls Talk Sports (follow her!) reported that Allisha Gray— an All-Star caliber wing for Dallas — would stick around throughthe trade deadline, but was expected to be moved during theoffseason.
Well, the offseason is here, and, per Williams, that's lookingmore like an inevitability.
Here's her report from Wednesday night:
SOURCES: Allisha Gray is expected to betraded from Dallas. Possible destinations include Washington,Chicago, Connecticut,and Atlanta. Gray is in the last year of hercontract and plans to exercise free agency when her contract is up.@GrlsTlkSportsTV#WNBA #WNBAFreeAgency https://t.co/KEp5ALIMib
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) January 12, 2023Not only do we have a follow-up on Gray, but we also havepotential destinations!
The Connecticut Sun are fresh off a Finals appearance (and aloss to the Las Vegas Aces), but have their own tightrope to walkwith an actual All-Star. Brionna Jones, a two-time All-Star andreigning Sixth Woman of the Year, is an unrestricted free agentthis offseason. And because of the Sun's salary crunch, they maynot be able to retain her on the max deal she's worthy of withoutmoving a piece (or two) of their core.
Aside from the Seattle Storm, there may not be a team in The Wwith more potential roster turnover than the Chicago Sky.After losing to the Sun in the Eastern Conference Finals, they'renow faced with a daunting offseason. Parker is a free agent, as isAll-Star guard Courtney Vandersloot, sharpshooter Allie Quigley andbudding star big Azura Stevens.
The Washington Mystics are stacked with talent, headlined byElena Delle Donne and a pair of two-way forces in Natasha Cloud andAriel Atkins. Though they have pending free agents like AlyshaClark, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Elizabeth Williams, they don'trun the risk of losing core talent like the Sun and Sky,which sets them up as an interesting landing spot for Gray.
And then, we have the Atlanta Dream, whose organizational overhaul has setthem up for long-term success. Not only do they have talent now —reigning Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard has "star" written allover her, and versatile big Cheyenne Parker is coming off the bestseason of her career — they're flush with cap space.
In summation, the destination list contains three recentcontenders and one team that's on the upswing and has plenty ofmoney to spend. All four could use a shooting boost inparticular.
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