List of WNBA players receiving "core" status:

CT: Taj McWilliams-Franklin
SASS: Margo Dydek
NYL: Vickie Johnson
SAC: Ticha Penichiero and Yolanda Griffith
CHAR: Dawn Staley
IND: Natalie Williams

While I will never understand what Margo Dydek contributes to warrant core status, Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil has always made questionable personnel decisions. Chalk this up as another one.

With Ticha and Yo having been cored and receiving max salaries, expect the bidding wars to heat up for one of the most coveted restricted free agents: DeMya Walker. Teams are now in a position to offer DeMya a higher salary than she merits because Sacramento has to pay $89,000 per year to Ticha, $89,000 to Yolanda, and a max or near-max salary to retain unrestricted free agent, Tangela Smith. In a nutshell, other WNBA teams can hold Sacramento hostage because of the hard cap of $679,000.

DeMya Walker is emerging is the crown jewel of the free agent crop.