What happened: A traded player’s full-season salary shifts to the receiving club’s cap sheet. Teams generally must remain under the salary cap after completing a deal.

Why it matters: Those restrictions leave limited room for midseason roster changes. Matching salaries and preserving cap compliance can complicate negotiations.

By the numbers: The 2026 WNBA trade deadline is Aug. 2 at 3 p.m. ET.

What to watch: Any remaining talks must produce cap-compliant deals before Sunday afternoon.

Sources