Amid the messy CBA negotiations, this historic expansion has faded into the background. For the first time since 2000, the WNBA is expanding with two teams, Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. It is a testament to the growth of the league over the past few years. Now that the CBA is done and dusted, the expansion draft is the first event on the horizon in this busy but quick offseason. 

In this expansion draft, teams can retain up to 5 players this year and not 6. That includes any player who was on their main roster at the end of the 2025 season or whom they own any rights to. It includes restricted free agents, reserved players, ‘suspended-contract expired’ rights, draft rights, and even retired rights if a player retired while a team still held rights to them and the team has never renounced them. Let’s have a look at who those 5 players for teams in the Eastern conference might be. 

New York Liberty

Leonie Fiebich 

Nyara Sabally 

Breanna Stewart UFA-NC

Sabrina Ionescu UFA

Natasha Cloud UFA

Unlike last year, an unrestricted free agent might be selected even if they can no longer be designated as a Core Player. That is significant because in the Valkyries’ expansion draft, players who had no core eligibility remaining were automatically ineligible for selection, which meant teams did not have to use protected player slots on them. For a team like the Liberty, for example, this means that this time around they will have to decide whether or not to protect Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, who are both unrestricted free agents but do not have core eligibility. 

Stewart is more likely to be protected. In the new financial system, it will be difficult to retain their big 3 regardless. So, if they have to compromise anyone, it would very likely be Jonquel Jones. She is a year older than Stewart and had an injury-prone 2024. Yes, even Stewart struggled with her knee but she practically carried them towards the fag end of the season. 

Washington Mystics

Sonia Citron (Rookie)

Kiki Iriafen (Rookie)

Georgie Amoore (Rookie)

Sug Sutton RFA

Shakira Austin RFA

Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were the building blocks they acquired last season. They were the standout leaders of the squad and the team was on its way to a playoff appearance till they traded Brittney Sykes for Alysha Clark, guard Zia Cooke (later waived), and Seattle’s 2026 first-round pick.  That demonstrated long-term thinking. So, on the same wavelength, youth will be key in these retentions. Sutton, even with limited output, started all 43 games  and averaged 3.9 assists per game. Amoore is their future point guard who unfortunately missed last season with injury.

Indiana Fever

Caitlin Clark (Rookie)

Aliyah Boston (Rookie)

Makayla Timpson (Rookie)

Lexie Hull RFA

Kelsey Mitchell, UFA

Everyone apart from Makayla Timpson chooses themselves. Both the Indiana Fever front office and Caitlin Clark have maintained that their first priority is to re-sign Kelsey Mitchell. Lexie Hull is the ultimate glue player in the WNBA with her defensive contribution, three-point shooting, and just heart. She has improved year on year and can explode this season as a true all-around player. The final choice comes down to Timpson and Sophie Cunningham. 

The third of the tres leches was an elite three-point shooter last season and gave them some much-needed aggression. Ideally, they would retain her. However, the problem is finances. Cunningham wants a long-term contract and with Clark upgrading to a max in 2027, they can’t afford to give her one. In addition, Timpson solves a required problem for Stephanie White. Even though she had limited minutes as a rookie, her size is a valuable tool. 

Chicago Sky

Angel Reese (Rookie)

Kamilla Cardoso (Rookie)

Courtney Vandersloot  (UFA)

Ariel Atkins (UFA)

Ajsa Sivka (Rookie)

There was some doubt on Angel Reese’s willingness to return to the Sky but at Team USA Camp, she reinforced her loyalty to Tyler Marsh’s side. So for now, they will retain the twin towers. Courtney Vandersloot is coming back from an ACL tear but she is confident in her return. Even if she is not at her best, she will still be valuable for Marsh in that locker room. Ajsa Sivka was picked No. 10 overall last season but elected to spend another season in Europe. Ariel Atkins was a very expensive compromise for Jeff Pagliocca as he gave up the No. 3 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft (used on Sonia Citron), a 2027 first-round pick swap, and a 2027 second-round pick. So, they will likely stick with her. 

Connecticut Sun 

Saniya Rivers 

Aneesah Morrow 

Leila Lacan 

Aaliyah Edwards 

Marina Mabrey

The Sun, who are soon to become the Houston Comets, don’t have the expansion draft as their number priority right now. Their management has enough drama with their impending sale. Fortunately, there are not many decisions to make. Aneesah Morrow was one of the bright spots of their otherwise grey 2025 season. Rivers, Edwards and Lacan are on rookie-scale low-risk contracts with room to grow into the league. They are still a team in a rebuild and Marina Mabrey adds experience to this roster. 

Atlanta Dream

Rhyne Howard RFA

Naz Hillmon RFA

Te-Hina Paopao (Rookie)

Brionna Jones UFA-NC

Allisha Gray UFA

Gray, Howard, Jones and Hillmon are foundational pieces of this team. They have an elite defense coupled with consistent three-point shooting. That is something Karl Smesko often relies on. Te Hina Pao Pao showed enough potential as a rookie, averaging 5.8 points and 2.8 assists in 16.7 minutes per game. She could eventually be a worthy successor to Canada.