What is a WNBA Expansion Draft & Why Does It Matter?
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How Does the WNBA Expansion Draft Work?
When a new team joins the WNBA, it needs a roster before the regular draft. To help expansion teams build a competitive squad, the league holds an Expansion Draft, allowing the new franchise to select players from existing teams.
The process follows these key steps:
🟠 Existing Teams Protect Players – Each WNBA team can protect up to six players, meaning they cannot be selected.
🟠 Unprotected Players Are Available – Any player not protected is eligible for selection by the expansion team.
🟠 Expansion Team Selects Players – The new franchise picks one player from each existing team, forming the foundation of its roster.
🟠 Trades & Free Agency Follow – After the Expansion Draft, the team can sign free agents and make trades to further shape its roster.
Recent Example: Golden State Valkyries (2025 WNBA Expansion Draft)
The Golden State Valkyries became the WNBA’s 13th franchise in 2025. In the Expansion Draft, they selected 11 players, including:
🔸 Kate Martin (Las Vegas Aces) – A promising guard with good size and shooting ability.
🔸 Carla Leite (Dallas Wings) – A young guard with an aggressive downhill attack.
🔸 Kayla Thornton (New York Liberty) – A versatile forward known for her defense.
🔸 Temi Fagbenle (Indiana Fever) – A veteran post player with athleticism.
After the Expansion Draft, Golden State added more players through free agency and the WNBA Draft, completing their roster for their inaugural season.
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Why Is the WNBA Expansion Draft Important?
The Expansion Draft ensures that new teams don’t start from scratch. Instead of relying solely on rookies, they get experienced players who can help them compete immediately.
However, expansion teams often face challenges:
🔹 Limited star power – Existing teams protect their best players.
🔹 Roster chemistry – Expansion teams must build chemistry quickly.
🔹 Salary cap constraints – Balancing contracts while forming a competitive team.
What’s Next for Expansion in the WNBA?
The WNBA is set to grow even further in the coming years, meaning additional Expansion Drafts will take place.
Note on Timing: Currently, the expansion draft for both Toronto and Portland is on hold. Because of ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations, the league has instituted a moratorium on major business, meaning these drafts cannot take place until a new deal is ratified.
🔵 Toronto Tempo (Expected 2026) – The WNBA will expand into Canada with the Tempo, making history as the league’s first international team. Once the current hold is lifted, they’ll select players through an Expansion Draft to build a competitive roster.
🔵 Portland Fire (Expected 2026) – Portland is set to rejoin the league. The franchise will follow the same Expansion Draft process as Toronto, selecting players from existing WNBA teams to kickstart its roster.
Both teams will add valuable depth to the league while expanding WNBA’s global presence.
📖 This is part of our WNBA Draft 101 series.
