The WNBA is embarking on a historic expansion. After the overwhelming success of the Golden State Valkyries last year, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are the two new teams entering the league in 2026. Another expansion draft should be on the cards soon, but the rules for it are collectively bargained. With CBA negotiations still hot, the draft is delayed beyond December. 

Last week, Kevin Pelton of ESPN wrote that WNBA teams are expected to protect only five players, which is consistent with the 2000 draft, the last time multiple teams entered the competition. With 80% of the players becoming free agents, the protection list will be affected as well.

Players who have been cored twice will probably remain ineligible for the draft, making things easier for some, difficult for others. The veterans who are on the verge of moving away from their current teams could be left unprotected. Fire and Tempo could also avoid drafting them as they risk wasting a pick. Let’s look at which players each team might protect in the 2026 expansion draft. 

Atlanta Dream

The Dream could be the biggest winners of the expansion draft. They have three players who are ineligible for the expansion draft: Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, and Jordin Canada. So here are the five players they would look to protect:

1. Rhyne Howard
2. Allisha Gray
3. Naz Hillmon
4. Te Hina Pao-Pao 
5. Maya Caldwell

Protecting Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Naz Hillmon seems to be a non-starter. For the final two places, Pao Pao and Caldwell are in the best position to be retained. Pao Pao has done enough in her rookie season to show her potential, while Caldwell is a restricted free agent, making her easier to retain later on. 

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​Chicago Sky

1. Angel Reese
2. Kamilla Cardoso
3. Ariel Atkins
4. Ajsa Sivka (DP)
5. Hailey Van Lith

Twin towers of Reese and Cardoso, who the LSU alum claimed to be the best young core of the league, will be the first on the list. Sivka is another talent who delayed her debut to 2026, opting to play in Slovenia for another season. Van Lith did not follow through with her hype in 2025, but her talent is something the Sky are betting on. 

​Connecticut Sun

1. Aaliyah Edwards
2. Leïla Lacan
3. Marina Mabrey
4. Aneesah Morrow
5. Saniya Rivers

Connecticut has more pressing matters to consider than the expansion draft. With the Rockets’ ownership reported to take over, the sale remains imminent. Regarding their protection, the decision is straightforward. Four past top picks make the list, while Marina Mabrey, who was their only standout last season, takes up the fifth place. 

​Dallas Wings

Wings could move on from Arike Ogunbowale, who is trending away from the Wings. Her fit with Bueckers wasn’t the best this past season. But here are 5 players the Wings would wish to protect:

1. Paige Bueckers
2. Aziaha James
3. JJ Quinnerly
   
4. Diamond Miller
5. Maddy Siegrist

Youth is the formula for the Dallas Wings. That resonated in their trades in 2025. They brought in Diamond Miller from the Lynx when they were already heading for a bottom-of-the-table finish, signaling future planning. Aziaha James and JJ Quinnerly impressed enough alongside Bueckers, while Maddy Siegrist is another part of their core.

Indiana Fever

1. Caitlin Clark
2. Aliyah Boston
3. Kelsey Mitchell
4. Lexie Hull
5. Makayla Timpson

Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell are the destructive trio that the management expects to bring titles. Lexie Hull is their warrior and a restricted free agent, another very probable returner. Makayla Timpson did not get enough opportunity as a rookie, but her unique archetype makes her another returnee. Sophie Cunningham has repeatedly hinted at being open to offers beyond Fever. 

​Las Vegas Aces

1. A’ja Wilson
2. Jackie Young
3. Chelsea Gray
4. NaLyssa Smith
5. Aaliyah Nye

Four of the five returnees pick themselves. The Aces are likely not parting with Wilson, Young, and Gray until they retire after winning their third title in four years. NaLyssa Smith was a breath of fresh air, arriving from the Wings last year, and put in some important performances. The fifth spot is up between Kiersten Bell and Nye. With Nye still on her rookie contract, she will likely earn the nod.

Los Angeles Sparks

1. Kelsey Plum 
2. Cameron Brink
3. Dearica Hamby
4. Rickea Jackson
5. Julie Allemand

The Sparks are one of the losers of this expansion draft. They have a young team full of potential, but they wouldn’t be able to protect all of them.

All-Stars Hamby and Plum earn themselves on Los Angeles’ list, along with the 2024 lottery picks Brink and Jackson. Allemand was a stable point guard last season, starting 27 games. 

​Minnesota Lynx

1. Napheesa Collier
2. Kayla McBride
3. Alanna Smith
4. Courtney Williams
5. ​DiJonai Carrington

It’s unlikely the Lynx will part with their 2025 MVP candidate Collier or her frontcourt partner Alanna Smith. The outside shooter in Kayla McBride is too valuable not to protect.DiJonai Carrington heavily affected their defense last year, and her absence proved to be fatal in the playoffs. 

New York Liberty

1. Sabrina Ionescu
2. Leonie Fiebich
3. Natasha Cloud
4. ​Emma Meesseman
5. Betnijah Laney Hamilton

With Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart ineligible, it makes Liberty’s decisions a lot easier. Emma Meesseman was an able midseason replacement for Jones and brings size and shooting. While her availability remains a question mark, her pros could outweigh the possible cons if she commits to the Liberty. After missing the entire 2025 season with injury, Laney Hamilton will likely slot back into their core next season. 

Phoenix Mercury

Monique Akoa Makani 

1. Natasha Mack 
2. Satou Sabally 
3. Alyssa Thomas 
4. Kathryn Westbeld 

DeWanna Bonner and Kahleah Copper have already been cored twice and will thus be ineligible for the expansion draft. Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally will likely continue with the Mercury after the 2025 Finals run. As a rookie, Makani started 40 games while averaging 7.7 points and 2.2 assists. They will continue to invest in her youth. For their fourth and fifth positions, they will likely protect one of their best rebounders in Mack and one of their best floor spacers in Westbeld. 

​Seattle Storm

1. Jordan Horston
2. Ezi Magbegor
3. Dominique Malonga
4. Brittney Sykes
5. Gabby Williams

The Seattle Storm brought in Sykes last season to contend for the title. In just 13 games, she averaged 11.8 points and 3.3 assists per game. We know Sykes can be better, and if Sonia Raman wants her to, she could return to the Storm setup. Malonga is the future of the franchise, and Horston also showed intriguing potential before her injury. Williams and Magbegor can help the team win now if they choose to re-sign with the Storm. 

Washington Mystics

1. Georgia Amoore
2. Shakira Austin
3. Sonia Citron
4. Kiki Iriafen
5. Sug Sutton

Amoore sat out the 2025 season with an ACL tear and is primed for a strong return. Citron, Iriafen, and Austin are an automatic lock after trudging them into playoff contention for a brief while in 2025. It’s between Sheldon and Sug Sutton. Sheldon played only two games for the Mystics, and Sutton started all 42, making her more likely to be retained. 

​Golden State Valkyries

1. Kayla Thornton
2. Illiana Rupert
3. Carla Leite
4. Veronica Burton
5. Janelle Salaun

Unfortunately for the Golden State Valkyries, playing with a team-oriented approach will be a bane for this expansion draft. They don’t have many standout stars, but multiple important pieces to the puzzle. Most Improved Player of the year, Veronica Burton, will continue with the Valkyries. Rupert has evolved to be the heart of the Valkyries. Salaun is another under-25 star the team will build around.