WNBA Waived means the process by which a team terminates a player contract and puts her on a waiver wire for other teams to claim.
With an evolving roster of talented athletes, team owners and coaches must make tough judgments on who stays and who leaves to build the most competitive team possible. One way of managing a team's ledger is by waiving unwanted players.
Apart from the guaranteed money from the contract, the team is no longer obliged to pay the player once waived. Likewise, the player will no longer be part of the team's roster and can no longer play for that club.
The concept of waiving a player is similar in both the WNBA and NBA. Some differences in the specifics apply to each league and how this approach works.
Former LSU Tigers point guard Alexis Morris was recently waived by the Connecticut Sun on March 10, 2023. Similarly, the Minnesota Lynx removed the team's two first-team stars, Stephanie Watts and Kiana Williams.
WNBA Waivers Explained
WNBA Waivers refers to a player who has been released from her contract with a team.
When a player is waived, she is essentially being removed from the team's registry and becomes a free agent, allowing her to sign with another team if she can secure a contract. It implies that the player is no longer a part of the team and becomes available for other teams to sign.
Women's Basketball Waiver Wire
In WNBA, once a player is waived, they enter a waiver period where other teams can claim them.
She goes through a 48-hour or 2-day waiver period, during which other teams can claim her under her current contract with her parent team. If multiple teams submit a claim, the team with the highest waiver preference will be awarded the player.
A player may be placed on waivers at any time during the WNBA season, except for a limited period before the playoffs. Teams can have up to twelve athletes on their roster during the regular season, but they must cut to 11 players by a specified deadline.
In addition, all contracts in the WNBA are non-guaranteed, meaning a team can waive a player at any time without being liable for that player's remaining salary for the season.
Why Do Teams Waive Players?
Waiving a player can occur for a variety of reasons, such as:
- Inconsistent Performances
- Financial Issues
- Strategic Decisions
- Longterm injury
One of the many reasons why teams waive players is due to performance issues. If she is not performing up to the team's expectations or not fitting in with the team's playing style, the team may use the option and seek a replacement.
Another reason why teams may waive players is for financial considerations [Salary Cap] or strategic reasons, such as to make space for a new player who better fits the team's needs or for future draft picks.
What Does Waivers Cleared Mean In WNBA?
Waivers cleared in WNBA means when the player on the wire goes unclaimed and becomes an unrestricted free agent.
When a player is waived, she goes through a 48-hour waiver period where any other team can claim her.
However, that is not always a possibility. If no clubs show up during the time, the player is said to have "cleared waivers" and becomes an unrestricted free agent, no longer under contract with his former team.
The player now has the option to negotiate and ink a new contract with any team that shows interest. No other team has any say in the matter, and any contractual obligations do not limit the player to his former team.
However, suppose a player goes unclaimed and remains a free agent. In that case, their options may be limited as teams have already filled their rosters and may not need additional players immediately.
On May 10, 2023, the Chicago Sky separated from their center, Angel Baker, by waiving her contract. Hence Baker will now have to wait for 48 hours to see if any other franchises come to claim her off the waiver wire.
At the end of the 2 days, if no teams claim her, Angel will be said to have cleared waivers, and she will be converted into free agency, and she can sign with any team that offers her a contract.
Interestingly, a waived player can rejoin their former team if they are still available and the team has an open roster spot. However, this is not common and most waived players end up signing with a new team.
Big News as Former LSU Stars Waived
Big news as the former LSU Stars Alexis Morris waived by the Connecticut Sun on May 10, 2023.
Furthermore, the two times WNBA championship winner Indiana Fever waves goodbye to another LSU Tiger player LaDazhia Williams, just a couple of weeks after getting picked in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
With this, both former Louisiana State University women's basketball team players are now out of their teams.
What Happened To Alexis Morris?
Alexis Morris, a talented basketball player from LSU who was recently drafted into the WNBA, has been let go by the Connecticut Sun.
It was surprising because Morris was coming off an early-season win over the New York Liberty. Unfortunately, due to the intense competition among rookies looking to make it into a limited number of spots on rosters, Morris was among the players who failed to make the cut.
Despite a small frame, Morris is a baller who has always been in a locker room with a winning mentality. The 5'9" guard will undoubtedly land somewhere as she starts her WNBA journey this year.
The Connecticut Sun Twitter account released a club statement regarding the roster update, where they announced that the club had waived three players, including Morris. The other two are Ashten Prechtel and Diamond Battles.
Despite the setback, Morris remains optimistic and has asked her fans not to be discouraged. She had played briefly in Wednesday's game and had contributed two points and three rebounds before being let go.
Another LSU player, LaDazhia Williams, had also been released earlier in the week by the Indiana Fever. The two former LSU teammates who shined under coach Kim Mulkey have been listed on the waiver wire, and they are currently in a 48-hour waiting period hoping to be claimed by a team.
