It’s no secret that the 2026 WNBA season is bringing about plenty of change, with a freshly-signed CBA facilitating the most active free agency period in league history and two more expansion franchises joining the league to boot.
One outfit that will returning plenty of familiar faces, however, is the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Nikki Fargas and company wasted little time locking down franchise cornerstones Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, signing Young to a one-year, $1.19 million deal on Thursday and Gray to a three-year, $3 million deal on Friday. In addition, the Aces re-signed Jewell Loyd to a three-year, $2.2 million deal and Kierstan Bell to a one-year, non guaranteed deal at the league minimum.
The Las Vegas Aces are resigning A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie to return the Aces! @LVAces
All three players are expected to sign $1 Million contracts! They’ve also expected to sign Jewell Loyd to a multiyear deal! pic.twitter.com/Dz29DccCNZ
— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) April 11, 2026
Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson is also in line to receive a $1.4 million supermax extension, which would make her the highest paid player in a single-season in league history. There is an outside chance that Wilson signs for less than the supermax if the Aces are able to land free agent forward Gabby Williams or an additional piece in free agency, but the chance of a deal not getting done between the Aces and their franchise face is essentially less than zero.
2026 WNBA Offseason: 2026 WNBA Free Agency Tracker | Collective Bargaining Agreement Deal | Angel Reese Traded to Atlanta Dream | WNBA Expansion Draft | Player Contracts (East) | Player Contracts (West) | Free Agency Core Tags
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Nevada Homecoming?
The former Seattle Storm forward Williams is eyeing Las Vegas as one of her preferred destinations, but the flurry of recent re-signings have raised questions as to how the Aces can make the move work financially, while still giving Wilson a contract that’s a fair valuation of the immense value she provides. The Aces have pathways toward both acquiring Williams and giving Wilson her deserved supermax, but the first domino that has to fall in that equation is Williams’ signing on with whichever team she elects to play for this season.
BREAKING: A source confirms Gabby Williams will sign with one of three teams during WNBA Free Agency: Las Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkries, or the Minnesota Lynx.
Williams first told Noé Delaunay of Taille 6 Media. pic.twitter.com/JwDJRgvCPD
— Andraya Carter (@Andraya_Carter) April 11, 2026
In addition to the Aces, Williams also has interest in signing with the Golden State Valkyries and Minnesota Lynx. Williams began her career with the Chicago Sky in 2018 and played with the organization before being handed a full-season suspension in 2021 over a conflict between her French national team and WNBA obligations. The 29-year-old was one of the stars of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where she was named the tournament’s Best Defensive Player while also earning All-Star Five honors.
Williams is a Sparks, Nevada native and had a storied high school career at Reed High School, earning Las Vegas Review-Journal 4A Player of the Year en route to a state title as a sophomore in 2012. Williams was also a track and field star at Reed and even qualified as an alternate for the 2012 Olympics in London in the high jump after setting the Nevada state record in the event as a 15-year-old.
