Perhaps the most highly anticipated season of free agency will kick off in earnest at the beginning of 2026, but rumblings of potentially monumental change are already afoot. While most of the league will be available as free agents ahead of next season, there are a handful of players who are more likely than others to look for a new home. Right now, that list includes Satou Sabally, Arike Ogunbowale, and Skylar Diggins.
As fun (or stressful, depending on who you ask) as it might be to speculate about whether a player like Napheesa Collier or Breanna Stewart could end up anywhere but the teams they're currently on, the reality is that Collier and Stewart (as well as Alyssa Thomas, A'ja Wilson, Allisha Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, and Kelsey Plum) are extremely unlikely to go anywhere. Both have pledged loyalty to their teams (and vice versa).
But these other three? That's where things start to get interesting.
Satou Sabally found a home in Phoenix... for now
Sabally was part of a huge trade that sent players all over the league at the beginning of 2025, and on the whole, the Mercury seemed like a strong fit all season. Sabally has also praised the organization for the support offered by the front office, and hinted that it's far been far superior to what she previously experienced.
Though she was a fan favorite, Sabally still struggled with consistency from game-to-game, which could be a sign that she hasn't fully found the right coach to unlock her game. That could be a compelling reason to look for a new home.
Arike Ogunbowale's home has been in Dallas
Ogunbowale has always demonstrated a strong loyalty to the team that drafted her as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 draft, but that doesn't mean she hasn't outgrown them. The Wings have made it clear that Paige Bueckers is the star of the show, and Ogunbowale ended up playing what has been her worst season of professional basketball to date this year. She could find a home with an expansion team where she can become a veteran anchor, while ideally repeating the benefit of a team that has a front office focused on doings things the right way. Both the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will certainly be looking.
Skylar Diggins may want to look elsewhere
Diggins has hopped from team to team in recent years, and has largely seemed at home in Seattle alongside Nneka Ogwumike, but that doesn't mean she's staying there. Diggins proved this season she stiill has plenty to give, and the abrupt firing of coach Noelle Quinn could spur her to explore other teams where she can be a star.