AU Pro Basketball Players on the Move During WNBA Free Agency
WNBA free agency has already delivered a wave of movement across the league, and several Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball standouts are right in the middle of it. Following the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo selections of AU’s Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aliyah Nye, along with Kierstan Bell’s re-signing with the Las Vegas Aces, seven AU players have already locked in new plans for the 2026 WNBA season.
Here’s a look at how AU Pro Basketball players are moving across the league so far.
Ariel Atkins Traded to Los Angeles Sparks
The Chicago Sky dealt Ariel Atkins to the Los Angeles Sparks in a sign-and-trade, and brought back the No. 4 overall pick in 2024, Rickea Jackson.
Atkins, a two-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist, adds proven two-way production to a Sparks roster pushing toward contention. She averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals last season.
In Athletes Unlimited this winter, Atkins was one of the league’s most disruptive defenders. She led the league with 2.7 steals per game, totaling 27 steals across the season. She also averaged 14.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and contributed 28 assists, with a season-high six steals in Week Two while anchoring the defense.
Jacy Sheldon Acquired by Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky added Jacy Sheldon in a deal with the Washington Mystics, sending a 2028 first-round pick in return.
Sheldon, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 draft, has shown steady development across stops in Dallas, Connecticut, and Washington. She holds career averages of 6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting over 42 percent from the field and adds perimeter shooting and defensive versatility to Chicago’s backcourt.
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Isabelle Harrison Signs with Toronto Tempo
Expansion franchise Toronto Tempo added veteran forward Isabelle Harrison as part of its roster construction ahead of its inaugural season.
Harrison will enter her ninth WNBA season with career averages of 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 47.5 percent from the field. The 6-foot-3 forward is set to give Toronto an experienced frontcourt presence as the team establishes its identity.
Zia Cooke Re-Signs with Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm brought back Zia Cooke after she spent time with the team during the 2025 season.
Cooke averaged 10 minutes per game last season and shot a career-high 39.5 percent from three. After multiple roster moves throughout the year, her return provides some continuity for Seattle.
She also made an impact in Athletes Unlimited and gave a preview of what Seattle fans can expect, after ranking among the league’s top steals leaders at 1.5 per game.
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Emma Cannon Returns to Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks re-signed veteran forward Emma Cannon after she appeared in 21 games for the team in 2025.
Cannon averaged 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting over 50 percent from the field and nearly 39 percent from three. Cannon appeared in all 12 matches in AU this winter and averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 assists per game.
Natasha Mack Re-Signs with Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury re-signed Natasha Mack for her third season with the franchise.
Mack is coming off a career year, averaging 4.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and a team-high 1.5 blocks across 34 games. She ranked fourth in the league in blocks per game and led all qualified players in blocks per 40 minutes.
She followed that with a dominant Athletes Unlimited season, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. Mack led the league with 2.9 blocks and 12.7 rebounds per game, set a single-season blocks record with 30 total, and finished third on the final leaderboard.
Kaitlyn Chen Signs Training Camp Deal with Golden State
The Golden State Valkyries signed Kaitlyn Chen to a training camp contract, giving the second-year guard a chance to earn a roster spot.
Chen is coming off a breakout Athletes Unlimited season where she earned Newcomer of the Year honors. She averaged 14.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, finishing second in assists per game and third in three-point percentage.
She posted a season-high 32 points in Week Three and finished sixth overall on the leaderboard with 4,593 points, boosted by four Game MVP performances.
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Grace Berger Returns to Dallas Wings
Grace Berger accepted a qualifying offer to remain with the Dallas Wings.
Berger appeared in 18 games last season, making 13 starts and averaging 3.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. In her 2026 AU campaign, she averaged 9.8 minutes per contest and proved herself to be a reliable off-the-bench contributor.
Kayana Traylor Signs Training Camp Deal with Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever signed Kayana Traylor to a training camp contract as she looks to earn a roster spot heading into the 2026 season.
Traylor, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2023 draft, has spent time with the Minnesota Lynx and multiple international clubs. She also built a strong collegiate résumé at Purdue and Virginia Tech, where she helped lead the Hokies to a Final Four appearance. In Athletes Unlimited this season, Traylor averaged 8.1 points and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the field.
Kiah Stokes Signs Multi-Year Deal with Golden State
The Golden State Valkyries signed Kiah Stokes to a multi-year contract, adding a proven defensive presence to their frontcourt.
The three-time WNBA champion brings championship experience and interior defense after spending the past several seasons with the Las Vegas Aces. She has averaged 5.4 rebounds per game across her career while anchoring the paint on multiple title teams.
During Athletes Unlimited play, Stokes led the league with 3.0 blocks per game and totaled 26 blocks across the season. She also averaged 10.8 rebounds per game, ranking third in the league in the category.
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Jaylyn Sherrod Returns to Minnesota Lynx on Training Camp Deal
The Minnesota Lynx signed Jaylyn Sherrod to a training camp contract, bringing her back after a stint with the team during the 2025 season.
Sherrod has appeared in 28 career games across time with the New York Liberty and Lynx. She recorded a season-high eight points last year while contributing as a depth guard. In AU this winter, she averaged 9.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest in what was her second campaign in the league.
Shey Peddy Signs Training Camp Deal with Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun added veteran guard Shey Peddy on a training camp contract.
Peddy brings extensive professional experience, including multiple WNBA stops and a long international career. She most recently appeared in nine games with Indiana in 2025, averaging 5.2 points and 1.7 assists. In her second AU season, she averaged 10.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Brianna Turner Signs with Las Vegas Aces
The Las Vegas Aces signed Brianna Turner in free agency, adding another defensive anchor to their frontcourt.
A two-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team selection, Turner has built her career on rebounding and rim protection. She has averaged 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 57.5 percent from the field across her career.
Turner competed in Athletes Unlimited this winter, bringing her defensive presence into the format before returning to the WNBA. Her addition could strengthen an Aces roster that continues to built around defense and versatility.
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NaLyssa Smith Re-Signs with Las Vegas Aces
The Las Vegas Aces re-signed NaLyssa Smith after she joined the team midway through the 2025 season.
Smith, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft, has averaged 11.3 points and 7.1 rebounds across her WNBA career. She started all 12 playoff games last season, averaging 7.1 points and 5.0 rebounds while helping the Aces win the 2025 title.
The 2023 AU champion returned to the league for 2026 and turned in another productive season after averaging 16.3 points per contest in Nashville.
Kia Nurse Signs with Toronto Tempo
The Toronto Tempo signed Kia Nurse, adding a veteran guard to its inaugural roster and marking the first Canadian signing for the franchise.
Nurse appeared in 44 games last season, averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists while hitting 61 three-pointers. She brings national team experience and perimeter shooting to what will be her home franchise in Toronto.
She also delivered consistent scoring in Athletes Unlimited, averaging 16.3 points per game. Nurse reached double figures in 11 outings and topped 20 points five times, including a 25-point performance in her final game of the season.
Alysha Clark Signs with Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings signed Alysha Clark to a one-year deal, adding a three-time WNBA champion and veteran presence to their roster.
Clark, a two-time All-Defensive selection and the 2023 Sixth Player of the Year, brings championship experience after winning titles with Seattle and Las Vegas. She holds career averages of 6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 37.3 percent from three.
She now joins No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd in Dallas, as the Wings continue to build around their top selection for the second straight year.
Rebekah Gardner Signs Training Camp Deal with New York Liberty
The New York Liberty signed Rebecca Gardner to a training camp contract following a strong 2025 campaign.
Gardner appeared in 41 games for New York last season, making five starts and averaging 3.7 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field. The season marked her return after missing 2024 due to injury.
She followed that with a standout Athletes Unlimited campaign, finishing third on the final leaderboard with 5,269 points. Gardner averaged 12.8 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 56.6 percent from the field, scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games, and earned three Game MVP awards.
Odyssey Sims Signs Training Camp Deal with Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings signed Odyssey Sims to a training camp contract after a strong 2025 season and dominant Athletes Unlimited run.
Sims split last season between Los Angeles and Indiana, finishing with the Fever where she averaged 10.3 points and 4.0 assists. She elevated her play in the postseason, averaging 14.4 points while leading the team in assists and steals, helping Indiana reach the semifinals.
She followed that with a historic Athletes Unlimited season, winning the 2026 title with 6,764 leaderboard points. Sims averaged 26.2 points per game, scored in double figures in all 12 contests, and became the first player in league history to surpass 30,000 career leaderboard points.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
