Restricted Free Agent Offseason Opportunities: Gabby Williams

Discussing possible offseason scenarios for Gabby Williams

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Photo credit: (Neil Enns/Seattle Storm)

I recently discussed offseason opportunities for Seattle’s Breanna Stewart, but what about opportunities for restricted free agents? In this article, I will be looking at some possibilities for Stewart’s teammate, Gabby Williams. 

Williams just finished her existing deal and fourth season in the W. This means her most recent team, the Seattle Storm, is able to extend a restricted qualifying offer to her. For more info on the restricted qualifying offer and its terms, check out our WNBA CBA FAQ. 

The Storm should look to extend the restricted qualifying offer to Williams, as it allows them to match other offers Williams will receive (and accept) from another team. Also, most of the Storm’s 2022 rotation will be free agents. The franchise is in an advantageous position as they have the cap space to extend the restricted offer and to match any offer sheet she signs elsewhere. The team is currently projected to have $1,025,564 in cap space (starting at $527,284 with cap holds to sign at least nine players). Williams would be eligible for a starting salary ranging from the 2023 minimum of $74,305 (for players with three or more years of experience) to the maximum of $202,154. But, Williams will most likely receive well over the minimum due to her defense and overall versatility. 

Williams’ defensive capabilities were on full display this past season. Fifth in total steals and ninth in defensive win shares, Williams was voted to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team. She was a key part of Seattle’s defense, which had the league’s third-best defensive rating. In 2022, Williams averaged 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals. The only other player to register those figures was Alyssa Thomas. Thus, if Seattle were to lose Williams, the Storm would miss out on someone who can do a little of everything on the floor while playing outstanding defense. By extending the restricted qualifying offer, the Storm ultimately hold all the cards. If Williams receives an offer that Seattle feels is too high, they can choose to not match even after extending the restricted qualifying offer. 

One important thing to note is that Williams has expressed uncertainty about playing in the WNBA next season due to WNBA Prioritization, the CBA clause mandating that players with three or more years of WNBA experience who do not return from overseas commitments in time for the start of the regular season will be suspended without pay. According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, Williams had this to say: "My schedule is not definitive right now…It all, of course, depends on playoffs. I would love to return to the WNBA, but what's best for my career, what the WNBA decided to do with players like me, it's complicated”. Included in the current CBA, WNBA Prioritization kicks in starting 2023. 

In June 2022, Williams signed with French club LDLC Asvel Féminin (Asvel), whose president is legendary point guard Tony Parker. Williams also has French roots from her mother’s side and represents the country in international competition. Being in a familiar country and playing under a basketball great could be enough to entice Williams to prioritize overseas play over the W. If she can make more money with Asvel than with a team this season, that might even take the W out of consideration, as Williams referenced. Pelton also noted that Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB), the league to which Asvel belongs, has its last Finals game on May 20 (at the earliest), which is past the likely start date for the 2023 season. So there is always the factor that if Asvel has a prolonged playoff run, Williams may not even be eligible for action next year. 

But, if Williams is able to play in the W this season, the ball is in Seattle’s court. However, there are teams that should be willing to extend an offer sheet to Williams, and here are the ones I believe should make an offer: 

Atlanta

The Dream were a surprise to many this season. After three consecutive seasons of less than 10 wins and multiple trips to the draft lottery combined with a questionable roster (on paper), many had written the Dream off. Although they missed the playoffs this season, it was by a slim margin. Under new head coach Tanisha Wright, the Dream played a tough brand of defensive basketball and it showed. Finishing fifth in defensive rating and points allowed, Atlanta put the W on notice that 2022 could be a sign of things to come. Also, the Dream’s top draft pick, Rhyne Howard, had a sensational season, winning Rookie of the Year and being selected as an All-Star Game participant.

Atlanta is projected to have $942,916 in cap space (starting at $631,491 with cap holds to sign at least six players). The Dream do have some key free agents to think about in AD, Tiffany Hayes, and Erica Wheeler. They should have exclusive negotiating rights for AD and Hayes (Wheeler is unrestricted). In August, Hayes was suspended for the rest of the 2022 season in the final year of her deal for early overseas commitments, making her a “Suspended-Contract Expired Player”. Players who fall under this designation can only negotiate a new deal with their most recent team. One thing that Atlanta may consider is if WNBA Prioritization may rear its head, and affect Tiffany Hayes’ possible return to the W. AD finished their third season in the W, which makes them eligible for a reserved qualifying offer. Once a team extends this offer, a player can only negotiate with their recent team.

Williams’ ability to do a little of everything while playing elite defense is something that could help propel Atlanta into the playoffs in 2023. From a positional standpoint, she is someone that the Dream might need. Now, one may think that since Rhyne Howard started at the small forward position this season, there would not be a need for Williams. But, Atlanta could experiment with Howard at the two-guard position and Williams at the small forward spot, especially if Hayes decides to stay overseas. After all, Howard was listed as a guard at Kentucky and is listed as a guard for the Dream. The only other guards under contract for next season are Aari McDonald (Atlanta’s third overall pick in 2021) and Kristy Wallace, who when in the starting lineup played at point and shooting guard, respectively. McDonald put together a solid statline in her starts, averaging 16.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. McDonald has shown that she can produce in a starting role and is worthy of being a starter moving forward. 

The only other players under contract are forward Naz Hillmon and center Cheyenne Parker. Factoring in McDonald’s starts, perhaps Atlanta can elect to have McDonald, Howard, and Williams at the point, two-guard, and small forward position, respectively. This would allow them to bring Wallace and Hillmon off the bench (especially if they are looking to re-sign Nia Coffey, who started at power forward). The acquisition of Williams would bolster the Dream’s rotation. 

Another possible benefit of Atlanta acquiring Williams is that she would be reunited with Parker. Both were both members of the Chicago Sky when Williams was with the franchise. Perhaps having a familiar face would be an added incentive for Williams to take her talents to College Park. Ultimately Atlanta has the cap space and defensive potential that could appeal to Williams. 

Chicago

Chicago was eliminated from the playoffs by Connecticut in a Game 5 heartbreaker. On top of that, most of the Sky’s 2022 core rotation will be free agents this offseason. This includes: Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Emma Meesseman, Azurá Stevens, and Rebekah Gardner. Luckily for Chicago, Gardner is eligible for the reserved qualifying offer, giving the Sky exclusive negotiating rights. But, for the other five, Chicago may have some difficulties. Retirement rumors have followed Parker and Quigley for some time now. Meesseman has already hinted at her concerns about WNBA Prioritization. Vandersloot can’t be cored since the Sky cored Kahleah Copper at the beginning of 2022 free agency. Due to Stevens’ versatility, she will likely receive offers elsewhere. 

Thus, the Sky need to prepare for a possible scenario in which they do not have some or all of their key members from 2022. Chicago is projected to have $931,801 in cap space (starting at $620,376 with cap holds to sign at least six players). Cap space would not be an issue if the Sky wanted to try their luck at presenting Williams an offer that Seattle might refuse. Williams started her WNBA career in Chicago, drafted fourth overall in 2018. She was later traded to Los Angeles on May 9, 2021 in exchange for Stephanie Watts and the rights to Leonie Fiebich. 

Although the situation in which Williams departed Chicago may have been a bit sour, perhaps this could be a second chance to get it right. Also, the Sky desperately need an elite defender if their key players depart. In 2022, the Sky were fourth in defensive rating, and they also had two players who were top-15 in defensive win-shares: Parker and Meesseman. One area of defense in which Chicago shone this season was their ability to block shots, ranking second. Parker, Meesseman, and Stevens were responsible for the bulk of Chicago’s shot blocking. Losing that trio would be a crucial blow to Chicago’s defense. Where Williams comes into play is her ability to force turnovers. Williams was ninth in steals per game and fifth in total steals. Meanwhile, Chicago was eighth in steals per game and total steals. Bringing in Williams would give the Sky a player who can have a defensive impact on the game in another way, namely by forcing turnovers. Creating possessions through forced turnovers will be important as it provides the Sky with more scoring opportunities. The Sky led the league in points per scoring attempt. If most of the 2022 rotation (the majority of their scoring) departs, it is very likely their points per scoring attempt will decrease. One way they could counteract this is by getting players who can create more scoring chances through getting the ball from their opponent. 

If Chicago were able to acquire Williams, they would be bringing in someone who could help bolster their defense and do multiple things on the floor: defend, rebound, pass, and score when needed. Also, Williams does have links to some of the members of Chicago under contract for 2023:

• Copper: Played together for the duration of Williams’ time as a member of the Sky

• Allemand: Slated to be teammates for Asvel this upcoming season

Washington Mystics

The Washington Mystics are an interesting team heading into this free agency period. They are projected to have $572,466 in cap space (starting at $261,041 with cap holds to sign at least six players). They also have the opportunity to swap their 2023 first-round pick with the lottery pick originally owned by Los Angeles. Washington will have four unrestricted free agents: Alysha Clark, Tianna Hawkins, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, and Elizabeth Williams. The team also has three players eligible for a reserved qualifying offer: Jazmine Jones, Rui Machida, and Evina Westbrook. 

Washington had the best defensive rating in the league this past season, and had two of its players make the WNBA All-Defensive First Team: Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins. Aside from defensive rating, the Mystics were second in opponent field-goal percentage and had the third fewest fouls per game. Statistically, the Mystics weren’t particularly poor in any area except for their own three-point percentage (they were 10th). Although they were a formidable team, Washington was swept by Seattle in the opening round of the playoffs. 

The Mystics’ small forward for the 2022 campaign was Clark. Some could argue that she was a decent “glue” player for the team, acting as support for Cloud, Atkins, Elena Delle Donne, and Shakira Austin. But, in 2023, Clark will be 36 years old. Although she garnered starting minutes, age has to be a concern for the Mystics. Another issue is where Clark’s age and contract would fit with that of other Mystics. Delle Donne, Cloud, and Atkins are projected to be free agents in 2024. If the Mystics were to sign Clark for one year, she would also be a free agent in 2024. In the event they re-signed her in 2023 for two-years, Clark would be 37 by the end of that deal. Clark’s 2022 salary was $183,000, $13,267 less than the regular maximum. With that salary off the books this offseason, perhaps the Mystics can negotiate a situation where the money intended for Clark is earmarked towards a Williams offer sheet, and Clark takes a pay-cut to be in a new role with the team. Another age-related concern for Washington is that at the end of their current deals, Delle Donne and Cloud will be 34 and 31, respectively. 

The major areas where acquiring Williams makes sense for Washington is her defense and relative youth. If Washington were to acquire her, they would have a starting point guard, shooting guard, and small forward who were all members of the 2022 All-Defensive Team. Throw in Shakira Austin (third in defensive rating and fifth in defensive win shares), and Williams could be part of one of the W’s best defensive teams in some time. Additionally, if the Mystics get lucky, the pick that Washington can swap could translate into Aliyah Boston, who is expected to be the first overall pick next year. Boston is considered an elite defender in her own right and would be a big coup for Mike Thibault. Williams will be 26 for most of next season, Atkins and Myisha Hines-Allen will be 27. Washington must be prepared for a post-Delle Donne and Clark team, and what better way than with relatively young, elite defenders. 

Conclusion:

Even though teams have cap space to acquire Williams, ultimately Seattle will most likely look to match their offers. However, that’s not a certainty. One of the teams mentioned could purposefully offer a loaded deal to Williams in order to put Seattle in a hard situation: lose their best defender outside of Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor or retain Williams for more money than they were expecting to pay (and missing out on other opportunities in free agency as a result). Also for Atlanta and Chicago specifically, they might be in situations where they have excess money to spend. One of the best things about free agency is that anything is possible, and although Williams could look to focus on her French basketball prospects (and miss the upcoming season), there may be interesting things waiting for her back in the States if her overseas commitments do not end up interfering.

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