WNBA Today: 10 Player Contracts 'Temporarily Suspended' Before 2026 Season

Before the 2026 season kicks off on Friday, WNBA teams finalized their rosters on Thursday by making several cuts to reach the 12-player limit. Among the most notable releases include Kate Martin, Aaliyah Nye and former Indiana Fever forward Chloe Bibby.

However, it's worth noting that a number of teams also utilized the WNBA rules in order to open some roster spots while waiting for their players who are out for personal reasons or have commitment overseas.

A total of 10 players saw their contracts temporarily suspended on Thursday, including the Seattle Storm's No. 3 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft Awa Fam.

Among the players whose contracts were also suspended include the New York Liberty's Leonie Fiebich and Raquel Carrera, the Phoenix Mercury's Valeriane Ayayi and Monique Akoa Makani, the Connecticut Sun's Leila Lacan and Nell Angloma, the Portland Fire's Kamiah Smalls and Teja Oblak and the Golden State Valkyries' Juste Jocyte.

WNBA Contract Suspensions Explained

It's worth noting that a contract suspension is different from a disciplinary suspension. As noted earlier, a contract is usually suspended in the WNBA when a player cannot join the team in a specific period due to commitment overseas, be it with a different team or with the national squad.

For example, the Indiana Fever suspended Damiris Dantas' contract from June to July during the 2025 season when she reported to the Brazilian national team for the AmeriCup.

By suspending a player's contract, her salary stays on the cap but she doesn't count toward the roster spot until she returns.

When the aforementioned suspended players return to their respective squads, though, the teams will have to make a decision on who to cut if they don't have any standard roster spot available.

Related: Former Indiana Fever Draft Pick Out for 2026 WNBA Season

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 11:22 PM.