WNBA roster cuts 2025: Tracking the most notable releases by team, from Bree Hall to Harmoni Turner

May 14, 2025

in WNBA

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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.

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.

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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.

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.