Golden State Valkyries enlargement draft: How you can watch, protected gamers, mock picks

This column is the second installment of SB Nation’s new “WNBA Defined” collection, a brand new weekly column diving deep into totally different subjects associated to ladies’s basketball. You possibly can learn the earlier installment “Historical past says successful the draft lottery is a extremely, actually huge deal” right here.

The Golden State Valkyries have a state-of-the-art follow facility and a well-regarded head coach in Natalie Nakase. They’ve a emblem, a uniform, and a house area that may sit 18,000 individuals.

However, they don’t at present have any gamers.

That may change very quickly, because the WNBA’s Bay Space-based enlargement workforce will choose its gamers on Friday at 6:30 pm ET, on ESPN.

Right here’s every part it’s good to know in regards to the upcoming draft.

How will the Valkyries enlargement draft work?

The Valkyries will draft their roster from a pool of greater than 80 gamers that WNBA groups left unprotected. Groups had been required to submit their record of six protected gamers by November twenty fifth, and all different gamers are topic to be chosen — together with gamers who groups have future rights to however aren’t energetic members of the roster.

The Valkyries can select one participant from every of the league’s 12 groups. They’ll additionally make trades upfront of the draft itself.

How frequent have enlargement drafts been all through the league’s historical past?

5 enlargement drafts happened within the league’s first 11 years as new groups joined frequently. However, there hasn’t been a draft since 2008, so it’s the primary time in a very long time that groups have needed to undergo the method of defending gamers and danger shedding key items to a brand new workforce.

The WNBA’s first enlargement draft happened in 1998 when the Detroit Shock and Washington Mystics had been added to the league. One other enlargement draft happened shortly after, in 1999 when the Minnesota Lynx and Orlando Miracle joined.

In 2000, the Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fireplace, and Seattle Storm joined the WNBA, and in flip, one other enlargement draft happened. (New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello, then a participant, was chosen with the No. 6 decide by the Sol).

Photograph by Mitchell Layton/Getty Pictures

In 2006, the Chicago Sky joined, and one other enlargement draft was subsequently held.

In 2008, the Atlanta Dream joined — and sure, there was one other enlargement draft.

However because the Dream entered the W, there hasn’t been one other enlargement draft. On condition that the league is at present getting into one other period of enlargement, all these drafts will once more develop into extra fashionable. The Toronto Tempo and Portland’s unnamed workforce are slated to affix the workforce in 2026, and an enlargement draft will presumably happen earlier than groups quantity 14 and 15 be part of.

How did WNBA groups go about deciding who to guard?

For every workforce, selecting who to guard was considerably of a bet. That’s as a result of the Valkyries can decide simply one unrestricted free agent in complete — so if a workforce doesn’t suppose their unrestricted free agent will get picked (and subsequently super-maxed), it may be a waste to guard them. Alternatively, if a workforce leaves an All-Star caliber unprotected, and different groups do choose to guard their free agent stars, their All-Star might be snagged.

There’s one other wrinkle: the core designation. If a participant has performed at the very least two years below the core designation, they will’t be cored once more. (A core designation is a rule that permits groups to designate certainly one of their unrestricted free brokers as a “core participant” stopping them from changing into a totally unrestricted free agent).

There’s no motive for groups to guard these gamers — because the Valkyries wouldn’t be capable of core them anyway, and the chosen participant may instantly develop into an unrestricted free agent, making the choice moot.

Due to that, there’s a gaggle of obtainable free brokers that GSV gained’t choose, no matter whether or not or not they’re protected, a listing that features DeWanna Bonner, Tina Charles, Brittney Griner, Natasha Howard, Brionna Jones, and Nneka Ogwumike, amongst others.

Successfully, groups opted to guard their prime gamers who are below contract, after which any top-tier free brokers who they suppose the Valkyries realistically may decide as their sole unrestricted choice. Whether or not they selected to prioritize their greatest present gamers or one of the best younger prospects is as much as them, and is probably going the results of whether or not groups are at present contenders (defend your greatest gamers!) or rebuilding (defend your greatest younger items!).

The record of protected gamers gained’t be made public — however who the Valkyries choose to pick out will reveal at the very least a few of those that had been left unprotected.

Which gamers did groups (doubtless) defend?

This might go in various totally different instructions, however here’s a projection of protected/unprotected gamers:

Atlanta Dream

Protected: Jordin Canada, Allisha Grey, Naz Hillmon, Rhyne Howard, Nyadiew Puoch, Isabel Borlase

Unprotected: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Aerial Powers, Laeticia Amihere, Maya Caldwell, Maite Cazorla, Lorela Cubaj, Haley Jones, Iliana Rupert, Matilde Villa

Ineligible: Tina Charles

Chicago Sky

Projected protected: Kamilla Cardoso, Chennedy Carter, Dana Evans, Michaela Onyenweree, Angel Reese, Elizabeth Williams

Projected unprotected: Moriah Jefferson, Nikolina Milic, Diamond DeShields, Brianna Turner, Lindsay Allen, Rachel Banham, Maria Conde, Isabelle Harrison,

Connecticut Solar

Protected: Veronica Burton, DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, Marina Mabrey, Alyssa Thomas, Leila Lacan

Unprotected: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Caitlin Bickle, Abbey Hsu, Tiffany Mitchell, Astou Ndour-Fall

Ineligible: DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones

Dallas Wings

Protected: Teaira McCowan, Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally, Jacy Sheldon, Maddy Siegrist, Carla Leite

Unprotected: Bella Alarie, Jaelyn Brown, Kalani Brown, Awak Kuier, Paige Robinson, Lou Lopez Senechal, Stephanie Soares, Sevgi Uzun

Ineligible: Natasha Howard

Indiana Fever

Protected: Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Temi Fagbenle, Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith

Unprotected: Grace Berger, Damiris Dantas, Victaria Saxton, Katie Lou Samuelson, Kristy Wallace, Erica Wheeler

Las Vegas Aces

Protected: A’ja Wilson, Jackie Younger, Chelsea Grey, Kate Martin, Kelsey Plum, Kiah Stokes

Unprotected: Kierstan Bell, Alysha Clark, Sydney Colson, Queen Egbo, Megan Gustafson, Tiffany Hayes, Elizabeth Kitley

Los Angeles Sparks

Protected: Cameron Brink, Rae Burrell, Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, Azura Stevens, Julie Allemand

Unprotected: Lexie Brown, Zia Cooke, Kia Nurse, Li Yueru, Stephanie Talbot, Maria Vadeeva

Minnesota Lynx

Protected: Bridget Carleton, Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Diamond Miller, Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams

Unprotected: Natisha Hiedeman, Myisha Hines-Allen, Maia Hirsch, Dorka Juhasz, Alissa Pili, Jessica Shepard, Cecilia Zandalasini, Olivia Epoupa

New York Liberty

Protected: Leonie Fiebich, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Nyara Sabally, Breanna Stewart

Unprotected: Courtney Vandersloot, Kennedy Burke, Jaylyn Sherrod, Kayla Thornton, Raquel Carrera, Kaitlyn Davis, Marquesha Davis, Ivana Dojkic, Marine Fauthoux, Rebekah Gardner, Han Xu, Marine Johannes

Phoenix Mercury

Protected: Kahleah Copper, Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Mack, Diana Taurasi, Rebecca Allen, Natasha Cloud

Unprotected: Amy Atwell, Monique Billings, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Klara Lundquist, Charisma Osborne, Celeste Taylor

Ineligible: Brittney Griner

Seattle Storm

Protected: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jordan Horston, Jewell Loyd, Ezi Magbegor, Nika Muhl, Gabby Williams

Unprotected: Joyner Holmes, Mackenzie Holmes, Mercedes Russell, Victoria Vivians, Sami Whitcomb

Ineligible: Nneka Ogwumike

Washington Mystics

Protected: Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Edwards, Emily Engstler (RS), Karlie Samuelson, Brittney Sykes

Unprotected: Elena Delle Donne, Stefanie Dolson, Bernadett Hatar, Sika Kone, Li Meng, Jade Melbourne, Sug Sutton, Julie Vanloo, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Txell Alarcon, Nastja Claessens,

Mock picks: Which WNBA gamers may land on the Valkyries’ preliminary roster?

A number of gamers stand out from the potential record of unprotected WNBA gamers — and since trades are additionally at play, it’s exhausting to foretell who the Valkyries may find yourself with. However, from the record of projected unprotected gamers, right here’s a probable candidate from every workforce:

Rachel Banham, Chicago Sky (guard)

Photograph by Mike Lawrie/Getty Pictures

Banham is an outstanding shooter who can get as sizzling as anybody within the league. She’s additionally well-regarded as a optimistic and veteran locker-room presence. A 37% profession three-point shooter with lengthy vary, the Valkyries would convey her in as a flooring spacer and tradition piece.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Connecticut Solar (heart)

Photograph by Mike Lawrie/Getty Pictures

Nelson-Ododa is a rotation-level huge who, at 24 years outdated, remains to be not in her prime. The previous UConn standout has but to see huge minutes — averaging 13.8 per recreation for her profession — however she was impactful on each ends in restricted time final season.

Damiris Dantas, Indiana Fever (ahead)

Photograph by Bri Lewerke/NBAE through Getty Pictures

Dantas can shoot the three-ball effectively (39.4% final season), notably for her dimension. She’s additionally one other veteran presence who has proven she will be able to rating; she averaged 12.9 factors per recreation on the Lynx in 2020.

Megan Gustafson, Las Vegas Aces (ahead)

Photograph by Candice Ward/Getty Pictures

Gustafson confirmed what she’s able to when she led Spain within the Olympics this previous season, averaging 18 factors per recreation on 57.7% taking pictures. However, the Aces heart has performed restricted minutes in Las Vegas relative to her potential as a WNBA participant, averaging 10.9 minutes in 150 profession video games.

Li Yuero, Los Angeles Sparks (heart)

At 6’ 7, Yuero can present the Valkyries some much-needed dimension and frontcourt depth. The Chinese language heart showcased her skillset with a number of standout performances towards the second half of the Sparks season, together with a 19-point, 12-rebound outing in opposition to the Mercury in September.

Alissa Pili, Minnesota Lynx (ahead)

Photograph by Melanie Fidler/NBAE through Getty Pictures

Pili had a quiet rookie season that noticed her principally fall out of Minnesota’s rotation. However, she confirmed flashes of potential when given the chance, and will excel in a brand new setting. The 2024 No. 8 decide exploded for 20 factors on 7-9 taking pictures in a recreation vs the Mercury in Could however in any other case performed restricted minutes.

Kalani Brown, Dallas Wings (heart)

Photograph by Ian Maule/NBAE through Getty Pictures

Brown has performed for 3 groups all through her WNBA tenure and can convey a veteran presence and the flexibility to dominate the submit. The 6’ 7 heart was a serviceable backup huge for Dallas and may gain advantage from a brand new alternative.

Haley Jones, Atlanta Dream (guard)

Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures

Jones noticed elevated minutes in her second yr in Atlanta, averaging 17.8 minutes per recreation as one of many Dream’s prime guards off the bench. The Stanford standout may head again to the West Coast if chosen by the Valkyries within the enlargement draft. Jones is a robust defender and versatile participant who will be capable of match in several lineups and mixtures.

Kayla Thornton, New York Liberty (ahead)

Photograph by David Sherman/NBAE through Getty Pictures

The Liberty would hate to lose Thornton, a do-it-all rotation piece that may shoot the ball (35.7% from three final season) and guard everybody. However, the 31-year-old can be an incredible participant on any roster and has been a starting-level participant for many of her profession.

Celeste Taylor, Phoenix Mercury (guard)

Photograph by Sarah Reed/Getty Pictures

Taylor jumped round from workforce to workforce in her rookie season however discovered a house in Phoenix the place she was in a position to showcase her strengths as a participant. The 2024 second-round decide took on a much bigger function with the Mercury, beginning 4 video games and enjoying vital minutes.

Nika Muhl, Seattle Storm (guard)

Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Pictures

Muhl will miss the upcoming season recovering from an ACL tear. However, the UConn guard is an outstanding defender who may function an impactful piece for the Valkyries sooner or later.

This mock projection would consequence within the following roster:

Rachel Banham (guard)
Olivia Nelson-Ododa (heart)
Damiris Dantas (ahead)
Megan Gustafson (ahead)
Li Yuero (heart)
Alissa Pili (ahead)
Kalani Brown (heart)
Haley Jones (guard)
Celeste Taylor (guard)
Nika Muhl (guard)