The Golden State Valkyries will begin selecting players to fill out their roster Friday when the WNBA holds its first expansion draft in almost 17 years.
The most recent expansion draft occurred in February 2008 when the Atlanta Dream entered the league. The Valkyries can pick one unprotected player from each of the other 12 franchises.
The league will hold another expansion draft next year for the franchises in Portland and Toronto that will begin play in 2026.
How to watch the expansion draft
ESPN will have a 30-minute show at 5:30 p.m. Central time Friday. Players will not attend the event, which the Valkyries will host at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The team will have a watch party at a separate venue. During the broadcast, the results of the draft and Golden State’s first list of players will be made public.
What are the rules?
Each team is allowed to protect up to six players on their roster who can’t be drafted. That includes players who finished last season on the team as well as others whose rights the franchise owns. The deadline to submit the list of protected players was Nov. 25. The lists were not made public.
The Valkyries can acquire the contract or negotiating rights to one player from each of the other 12 teams. They can select only one player across the league who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.
Do the Valkyries have to select 12 players?
No. They also can make trades before the expansion draft, which would allow them to acquire additional assets in exchange for not taking an unprotected player off a team.
Who are some of the top available players?
Most teams will protect their top players, making it difficult for the Valkyries to get a star in the expansion draft. Some of the players who might be available are the New York Liberty’s Marine Johannes and Han Xu and the Los Angeles Sparks’ Li Yueru. If available, all three play for their country’s national team, which makes their availability in Olympic and World Cup years questionable. That said, all have shown they can have an impact in the WNBA.
Who will make the picks for Golden State?
The Valkyries hired Ohemaa Nyanin as general manager and Natalie Nakase as head coach. They will be the primary decision makers.
The Valkyries also will look for players via free agency
Top unrestricted free agents this year include Nneka Ogwumike, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Tina Charles, Natasha Howard and Brionna Jones.
Where will the Valkyries pick in the WNBA draft?
They will have the fifth pick in the April 14 draft. The Dallas Wings won the lottery and have the top selection. Golden State will choose fifth in each of the three rounds.
What is the Valkyries schedule and where will they play?
Their inaugural game will be May 16 — opening night of the 2025 season — at home against the Sparks. The Valkyries have more than 20,000 season ticket deposits and will play at the Chase Center in San Francisco, also home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.