Brace yourselves, WNBA fans! The Golden State Valkyries are set to swoop into the league for the 2025 season like a group of Norse goddesses armed with basketballs instead of spears. That’s right, after years of patiently waiting for an expansion (since 2008, if anyone’s counting), the WNBA finally decided it was time to shake things up by introducing its 13th team – the mighty Valkyries. And how, you ask, will these soon-to-be warriors assemble their squad? Enter the ever-dramatic expansion draft, set to go down on December 6, 2024.
Let’s dig into the juicy details and explore just how the Valkyries are planning to plunder the league’s finest talent—one protected player at a time.
How the Expansion Draft Works: A Quick (and Entertaining) Breakdown
Here’s how the WNBA will play Santa Claus to the Golden State Valkyries, gifting them a team through the expansion draft, minus the reindeer. So, picture this: after the 2024 season wraps up, the 12 current teams will send their roster lists to the league office. But hold your horses (or Valkyries, in this case), because each team gets to lock down six players—kind of like when you call dibs on the best fries in the basket. These players will be marked as “protected,” meaning the Valkyries can’t touch them. Everybody else? Fair game.
Golden State gets the pick of the litter from the remaining “available expansion draft players.” That’s right, they’ll get to handpick one player from each team. The catch? They can’t have it all—only one player from each squad. It’s like a glorified round of WNBA dodgeball, except with contracts and not nearly as much sweating.
What Kind of Players Can the Valkyries Snatch?
If the Valkyries go after a player whose contract isn’t locked in for 2025, they inherit the negotiating rights. That’s like being given the keys to a new car, but having to decide whether you can actually afford to drive it. Oh, and here’s a spicy twist: the Valkyries can only select one unrestricted free agent, and no, they can’t just swoop in and steal a core player—unless that player hasn’t worn that “core” badge for two seasons. Sneaky, right?
But wait, there’s more! The Valkyries also get to play chess with trades leading up to the draft. They can even strike deals with teams about which players to pick or avoid like that shady free buffet at the airport. It’s a game of strategy, where bluffing might just win you a future All-Star.
The Aftermath: Valkyries vs. Free Agency
Once the dust settles and the draft is done, the free agency circus begins in February 2025. Any player who’s still floating around will be free to sign with the team of their choice—including our favorite new girls on the block, the Valkyries. So, they’ll have another shot at snagging talent—because, hey, there’s no such thing as too many options when you’re trying to build a super team, right?
And There’s More to Come…
Think this is the last WNBA expansion? Think again. The Valkyries may be the newest team for 2025, but Toronto and Portland are already waiting in the wings for their turn in 2026. So, this draft will serve as the warm-up act for more expansion drafts down the line. You can bet the Valkyries will be watching how that one plays out, preparing to defend their new turf like seasoned warriors.
So, mark your calendars for December 6—because the WNBA expansion draft is about to go down, and we all know that nothing says “Welcome to the league” like stealing some of the best talent out there. Get ready, Golden State—because the Valkyries are coming, and they’re not playing nice.