Gabby Williams is mulling her options after an impressive showing at the Olympic Games in Paris .
Williams, who currently plays for Fenerbahce in Turkey, showed out for France during the Olympic Games, coming within inches of sending the women's basketball gold medal game to overtime against Team USA after her last-ditch effort was ruled a two-point basket. Despite the heartbreak, Williams showed how special she could be, depending on the situation, which is why the 27-year-old is carefully weighing all her options .
As it stands, Williams is determining whether or not she wants to return stateside and sign with a team in the WNBA or if she would rather recover from a grueling summer, per Winsidr on X . Another important factor in whether or not Williams will return to the league this season is the team's decision to not core her.
READ MORE: Gabby Williams subject of WNBA calls after Olympics agony against USA
READ MORE: Gabby Williams rejects Angel Reese offer to rejoin Chicago Sky after WNBA calls
Simply put , signed players fall under three categories: Cored, Reserved and Suspended - Contract Expired. If a player is "cored," it gives the team that placed the tag on them exclusive contract negotiation rights and if they sign for one year only, they will be given a max contract along with trade veto power.
So far, the Seattle Storm, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury are the three teams in play for Williams' services , if she decides to return to the WNBA this season. If Williams elects to opt out of the rest of the season, she will enter the next free agency as an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team.
For now, the five-year veteran can choose how she approaches the upcoming weeks. However, what has been a point of ire for the French star is the WNBA's "prioritization rule."
In an attempt to keep the league's biggest stars in the WNBA, a rule was established that all players must complete off-season play before opening day. Williams was able to return to the WNBA during the 2023 season after suffering a concussion playing for ASVEL and re-signed with the Storm in June.
"I still think the prioritization thing is ridiculous. I’m sorry, I’ll say it," she said in July 2023. "Like literally, I’m only here because I got concussed. Something has to give. France needs to have shorter seasons, or the WNBA needs to (allow players) to make money and do both. And no, this doesn’t give me any hope that I can do both.”
Williams noted in the past she would be focusing on the 2025 season instead of playing in the WNBA after the Olympics because of the prioritizing rule in place. "2024 looks like it's not possible, more so because of prioritization and of course even if I were to come, it would be in August with the Olympics. But 2025, I plan on coming back," Williams told ESPN in September 2023 .
"I completely understand the part of teams wanting players here, but some coaches might be able to accept it, some organizations might be able to accept a player coming late, so I never understand why it had to be an end-all, be-all just because you're 24 hours late."
Regardless of her decision, the former No. 4 overall pick surely will have plenty of suitors after her impressive showing in Paris. As France's go-to option, Williams answered the call, averaging 15.5 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field and 31.8 percent from 3-point land, 4.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game in six starts.
More impressively , Williams battled A'ja Wilson in the final game, putting up 19 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. After the Olympics, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese reached out to Williams on social media to join her, which led the French star to politely decline .
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