It has been a month since the Liberty celebrated their WNBA championship win in New York City. The fans’ cheers have quieted down, and the confetti has been swept away. But the general manager, Jonathan Kolb, is already gearing up for the upcoming expansion draft as the league prepares to grow from 12 to 15 teams over the next two years.
The Golden State Valkyries will be the first team to join the league in 2025, playing their home games at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The team’s name, inspired by Norse mythology, signifies strength and fearlessness. Led by former Liberty assistant general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and head coach Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries are ready to build a competitive roster.
In the expansion draft, each of the 12 existing teams had to submit a list of six protected players to the Valkyries. Any player not on this list is up for grabs by the new team. The Valkyries will have the opportunity to select one unprotected player from each team, giving them the chance to build a strong roster for their debut season.
Players who are signed for the upcoming season, pending free agents, and unsigned draft picks must be protected by their current team to be ineligible for selection by the Valkyries. The draft rules allow the new team to acquire the rights to one unrestricted free agent and maintain the same rights as the player’s previous team.
While the player lists are not made public, there is speculation about potential trades and deals between teams to navigate the draft process. The Valkyries could leverage their position to secure additional draft picks or assets in exchange for not selecting certain players. Multi-team trades could also be in the works, but they are likely to be finalized in January to avoid salary cap implications for the current season.
Looking ahead, expansion drafts for new teams in Toronto and Portland are expected in the following years. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has hinted at further expansion into a 16th market, with cities like Cleveland, St. Louis, and Philadelphia expressing interest in hosting a team. The league’s growth reflects the increasing popularity and competitiveness of women’s basketball, providing more opportunities for players and fans across the country.
