WNBA Free Agency 2021: Aerial Powers signs with the Lynx

UPDATE on Jan. 29, at 1:20 p.m. ET — Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that Powers will sign with the Lynx. Powers also wrote a message which is below:

I want to first thank the Washington Mystics, from coach [Mike Thibault] to everybody on the staff for welcoming me with open arms, I want to thank the fans for supporting me through my injuries. Their support never wavered. I won a championship with that franchise and I’m extremely grateful. It’s the best experience a player can have. I also want to thank Monumental Sports, Ted and Zach Leonsis for supporting me. But right now, it’s only right that I sign with the Lynx. I’m ready to win another championship. I’m excited to be coached by Cheryl Reeve. I’m excited to bring a championship home to the midwest, where I’m from Detroit.

What’s up Minnesota Lynx fans. I’m ready to do my thing and team up with Sylvia Fowles, Kayla McBride and the Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield. This is just the beginning.

The original article is below.

According to Howard Megdal of The Next, Washington Mystics forwardAerial Powers is in negotiations to sign a contract with the Minnesota Lynx. Furthermore, Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post reported that the Mystics are unlikely to re-sign her.

In the 2020 season, Powers averaged 16.3 points a game though she missed most games due to a midseason injury. She also only made $80,000. The Mystics have five unrestricted free agents, including Powers and have exclusive negotiating rights with Natasha Cloud and LaToya Sanders, whose contracts expired but were suspended because they chose to skip last season.

The Lynx seem to be an interesting destination for Powers if she goes there because this team should be one of the title favorites this season, but they don’t seem to have much cap space. They already have a young nucleus in Napheesa Collier and Crystal Dangerfield along with veteran center Sylvia Fowles and point guard Odyssey Sims. Minnesota is also expected to sign All-Star guard Kayla McBride, according to Rachel Galligan of WInsidr.

Minnesota also has a much better cap situation. Before McBride and possibly Powers’ contracts, the Lynx had two to three open rosters slots available and about $452,145 in cap space for those spots, according to Her Hoop Stats. It’s likely that Powers will earn well over $100,000 this season. Minnesota has the room and the competitive talent to be a prime destination for players like her and McBride.

The Mystics however have $795,260 in cap space to sign six to seven players, which we said was a tight situation for them, to say the least.

Contracts cannot be announced until Monday, Feb. 1. But when news like this is coming out, I don’t think it’s looking too good that we’ll see Powers in a Mystics uniform this summer.