WNBA Offseason Outlook for 13 Former Gamecocks: Contracts, Futures and Big Questions
The offseason is underway, and the future looks very different for each South Carolina alum in the WNBA. Some are secure for years, and others face restricted free agency, expired developmental deals or crowded rosters.
Locked in
- A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas): 26.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. She is signed through 2028 at about $1.8 million a year. She isn’t going anywhere unless she asks out, and trading her supermax would be hard. The real question is how the Aces rebuild the roster around her.
- Aliyah Boston (Indiana): 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and a 40.6% three-point rate. She is signed through 2029 on the richest contract in WNBA history, which makes her hard to move. The Fever cleared out their front office this week and need a new president and general manager, but they still appear committed to building around Boston and Caitlin Clark.
- Allisha Gray (Atlanta): 19.0 points and 32.6 minutes a game. She is signed through 2028 at about $1.26 million and plays for her home franchise. Leaving would be a shock.
- Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago): 14.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 55.1% shooting. She is signed through 2027 on the rookie scale and showed she can be a building block for the Sky. But Chicago has been chaotic since its 2021 title and already shipped out the last player it built around, Angel Reese. Her future is hard to predict.
Young players on rookie deals
- Madina Okot (Atlanta): 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds on 58% shooting, signed through 2029. She showed real potential and is safe unless she’s included in a trade. After a WNBA Finals run, Atlanta isn’t expected to overhaul the roster.
- Te-Hina Paopao (Atlanta): 3.7 points and 35.7% from three, signed through 2028. She hit a game-winning jumper early on, but a midseason leg injury limited her late, especially as Jordin Canada got hot. She’s less secure than Okot, but Atlanta paid two first-round picks for Reese, so it likely won’t give up on a young player.
- Raven Johnson (Indiana): 3.1 points in 10.9 minutes, signed through 2029. She was more productive than her numbers suggest, especially after the World Cup break. She should be the backup point guard and defensive specialist next season.
Free agents and uncertain futures
- Laeticia Amihere (Golden State): 3.9 points and 3.0 rebounds, a restricted free agent. She had her best pro season as the Valkyries posted the league’s second-best record, but she was benched for long stretches of the playoffs and still made a big impact when she played. She’s low-maintenance and hard-working, which fits Golden State’s culture, but it’s unclear whether the team will keep her.
- Zia Cooke (Los Angeles): 7.5 points, a restricted free agent. She turned a training camp deal into her best season, but 7.5 points on the league’s worst team won’t turn many heads. She may be headed for another training camp invite, in Seattle or elsewhere.
- Tyasha Harris (Indiana): 4.1 points and 2.0 assists, an unrestricted free agent. Injuries ended her last two seasons, and Indiana already has Raven Johnson as her replacement. She could return as a third point guard or join a young team that wants a veteran presence.
Developmental players and rights holders
- Bree Hall (Indiana): 3.2 points in 5.4 minutes, an expired developmental contract. Whether Indiana keeps her may depend on what it does with Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham. The Fever need more, or cheaper, wing production, and Hall is cheaper. With Madison Booker likely entering the 2027 draft, any team would be smart to add Hall, who tormented Booker defensively in college.
- Ta’Niya Latson (Las Vegas rights): 4.6 points on 54.2% shooting and 50.0% from three across 19 games with Las Vegas and Los Angeles. She was productive in limited minutes, but as a developmental player she couldn’t play in the playoffs, when the Aces could have used a young guard. Las Vegas looked old in the semifinal sweep by Golden State and will likely remake the back half of the roster. Whether Latson fits that plan is unclear.
- Sania Feagin (Portland): Three games for Los Angeles with 3.4 minutes a game. She tore her ACL before she could play for Portland and has been rehabbing with the Fire. Portland appears interested in bringing her back, but nothing is certain without a contract.
Quotes: The pasted article has no direct quotes, so none appear above.
