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WNBA roster cuts 2025: Tracking the most notable releases by team, from Bree Hall to Harmoni Turner
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- WNBA roster cuts 2025: Tracking the most notable releases by team, from Bree Hall to Harmoni Turner
WNBA roster cuts 2025: Tracking the most notable releases by team, from Bree Hall to Harmoni Turner originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The WNBA regular season begins on May 16. It always seems to sneak up on fans as the women's NCAA tournament ends about two weeks before the WNBA Draft, which is a month before the regular season starts.
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No other sport moves this quickly from the draft to its regular season, and teams are forced to make quick decisions about their roster. The WNBA also added an expansion team this year in the Valkyries. With another team in the mix, we could see a lot of roster shuffling as players are waived and moved throughout the league as the regular season begins.
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Which WNBA players failed to make the cut in 2025? The Sporting News details the rookies on opening day rosters, as well as the players who fell just short before the season tips off on May 14.
SN's WNBA HQ: Live WNBA scores | Updated WNBA standings | Full WNBA schedule
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What does it mean to be waived?
Every WNBA roster needs to be trimmed by the start of the regular season on May 16. Teams are allowed to carry a maximum of 12 players, and a minimum of 11.
To do so, teams must cut players from their rosters, which means putting players through the waiver process.
When a player is waived, the team removes her from the roster and places her on the waiver wire. In the ensuing 48 hours, other teams can claim a player's contract. If multiple teams submit a claim, then the league will award the contract to the team with the highest waiver priority. This is similar to what the NFL does.
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If no team claims the player, then she is considered to have cleared and becomes an unrestricted free agent. She will then be able to negotiate and sign a new contract with any team.
WNBA players waived before 2025 season, by team
Here's a full list of the players waived ahead of the 2025 regular season.
This section will be updated .
Atlanta Dream
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DeYona Gaston
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Emani Jefferson
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Maria Gakdeng
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Ashley Joens
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Shaynna Sellers (had signed with Atlanta after being released by Golden State)
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Haley Jones
Chicago Sky
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Tilly Boler
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Arella Guirantes
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Sammie Puisis
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Morgan Bertsch
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Jessika Carter
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Alex Wilson
Connecticut Sun
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Morgan Maly
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Abbey Hsu
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Mya Hollingshed
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Kamilla Borkowska
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Caitlin Bickle
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Madison Hayes
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Amy Okonkwo
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Diamond DeShields
Dallas Wings
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Aaronette Vonleh
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Mikiah Herbert Harrigan
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McKenzie Forbes
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Madison Scott
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Mai Yamamoto
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Joyner Holmes
Golden State Valkyries
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Shyanne Sellers
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Mamignan Toure
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Elissa Cunane
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Kaitlyn Chen
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Chloe Bibby
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Laeticia Amihere
Indiana Fever
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Bree Hall
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Yvonne Ejim
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Jillian Alleyne
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Jaelyn Brown
Las Vegas Aces
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Harmoni Turner
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Deja Kelly
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Elena Tsineke
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Jordyn Jenkins
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Queen Egbo
Los Angeles Sparks
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Alyssa Ustby
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Anneli Maley
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Liatu King
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Shaneice Swain
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Maria Kliundikova
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Aari McDonald
Minnesota Lynx
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Dalayah Daniels
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Diamond Johnson
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Kiara Leslie
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Christyn Williams
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Camryn Taylor
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Ajae Petty
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Reigan Ricardson
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Grace Berger
New York Liberty
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Kaitlyn Davis
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Esmery Martinez
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Leaonna Odom
Phoenix Mercury
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Shyla Heal
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Anna Makurat
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Temira Poindexter
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Megan McConnell
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Celeste Taylor
Seattle Storm
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Madison Conner
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Jordan Hobbs
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Brianna Fraser
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Mackenzie Holmes
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Serena Sundell
Washington Mystics
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JoJo Lacey
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Morgan Jones
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Khadijiah Cave
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Lauren Jensen
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Zaay Green
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Ashten Pretchel
