WNBA free agency and the entry draft: An exercise in roster building

The GIST: WNBA free agency has lived up to the hype, with a myriad of moves coming after the official signing period opened on Saturday. All that action has set the stage for tonight’s 7 p.m. ET three-round entry draft in NYC. Keep those notifications on — women’s basketball never sleeps.

✈️ Here are the biggest names on the move so far:

• 🗽 Three-time All-Star Satou Sabally is Big Apple–bound, signing a multi-year deal with the NY Liberty, who also managed to keep their superteam core intact.

• ✨ 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike will return to the LA Sparks, where she spent 12 seasons and earned eight All-Star nods and a WNBA title.

• 🌃 Perennial All-Star Skylar Diggins headlines the Chicago Sky’s wheeling and dealing, which includes adding defensive juggernaut DiJonai Carrington and walking bucket Rickea Jackson.

• 💜 Two-way star Gabby Williams is a Golden State Valkyrie, creating a dynamic defensive tandem with the recently re-signed Veronica Burton.

‼️ How free agency will impact the draft: Talent abounds in both the draft and free agency. Between the increased salary cap under the landmark CBA and the unprecedented number of free agents, teams have had more flexibility than ever in building their rosters ahead of today’s draft. That means front offices can prioritize — and even manufacture — the perfect fit.

• For example, the Dallas Wings, who own today’s No. 1 pick, filled a huge roster hole by inking a pair of post players (including reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith), moves that align with selecting a certain sharpshooting guard first overall. *winks*