The2026 WNBA expansion draftis nearly here.
On Friday, April 3, the league's newest teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, will pick players to become the first athletes on their respective rosters. After anofficial coin tosson March 27, the Fire will select first in the expansion draft. The Tempo will draft players second.
The expansion draft will have two rounds. Portland and Toronto will select players from a designated pool of available athletes determined by the league's 13 teams. Established teams were required to protect five players each, leaving unprotected players available for the pool. The draft will use a snake format, allowing each of the teams to make up to six picks per round for a total of 12 selections.
The Fire and Tempo will alternate selections and have the right to acquire the player contract of, or negotiating rights to, one player from the available pool of unprotected players. Portland and Toronto can only draft one impending free agent each.
Here is USA TODAY Sports' prediction for who each WNBA team will protect:
WNBA expansion draft protected player prediction
Players listed below are listed by position and may include additional information related to their free agency status in parentheses.
UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent | RFA = Restricted Free Agent | ERFA = Exclusive Rights Free Agent
Atlanta Dream
Predicted protected players:G Rhyne Howard (RFA), G Allisha Gray (UFA), G Te-Hina Paopao, F Naz Hillmon (RFA), F Brionna Jones (UFA)
As hard as it might be to leave the current starting point guard, Jordin Canada, unprotected, Atlanta will potentially place its faith in Te-Hina Paopao. Paopao has high upside and already proved she could run the point as a rookie. Regarding post players, if the selection is Brionna Jones or Brittney Griner, the Dream likely land on Jones. Jones had a career year last season in head coach Karl Smesko's system.
Chicago Sky
Predicted protected players:G Courtney Vandersloot (UFA), G Ariel Atkins (UFA), F Angel Reese, F Ajša Sivka, C Kamilla Cardoso
Despite a season-ending injury last year, Chicago has already made it clear that Courtney Vandersloot is someone they plan to prioritize. After that, it becomes easy to land on Atkins as another priority after the team traded for the former Mystics guard in February 2025. The last remaining question mark is Angel Reese. The Sky and Reese had a rocky end to the season last year, but Reese likely stays put for now.
Connecticut Sun
Predicted protected players:G Leilan Lacan, G Saniya Rivers, G Marina Mabrey (UFA), F Aneesah Morrow, C Olivia Nelson-Ododa (RFA)
The name to watch on this list is Marina Mabrey. Mabrey publicly asked for a trade ahead of the 2025 season, but the Sun denied it. The question that remains is whether Connecticut considers Mabrey part of its future.
Dallas Wings
Predicted protected players:G Paige Bueckers, G Arike Ogunbowale (UFA), G Aziaha James, F Maddy Seigrist, C Luisa Geiselsöder (ERFA)
After a down year in 2025 with career lows in shooting percentage (36.4) and points (15.5), it remains unclear if Dallas will hold on to Arike Ogunbowale. However, she'll likely stay protected for now and will be a name to watch as the offseason progresses. The other player to keep an eye on is Aziaha James. James showed flashes of promise last season, but she has competition from JJ Quinnerly, who also turned heads.
Golden State Valkyries
Predicted protected players:G Veronica Burton (RFA), G Justė Jocytė, G Carla Leite, F Kayla Thornton (UFA), F Janelle Salaün (ERFA)
Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton are no-brainers to protect, along with Carla Leite and 2025 draft pick Justė Jocytė. The Valkyries then have some really tough decisions. Does Golden State prefer Tiffany Hayes, Janelle Salaün, Iliana Rupert, Monique Billings or even Cecilia Zandalasini? Ultimately, Salaün likely has the highest upside after starting 33 games last season.
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Indiana Fever
Predicted protected players:G Caitlin Clark, G Kelsey Mitchell (UFA), G Lexie Hull (RFA), G Sophie Cunningham (UFA), C Aliyah Boston
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Fever will do everything in their power to retain Caitlin Clark's running mate, Kelsey Mitchell. Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham are also players Indiana will likely protect, as they've proved essential to the Fever's push for a championship.
Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.
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Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.
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Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.
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Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).
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Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).
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Game 1: A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.
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Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.
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Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.
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Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.
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Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.
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Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
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Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.
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Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
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Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).
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Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.
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Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.
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Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.
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Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
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Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.
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Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.
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Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.
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Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.
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Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.
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Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.
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The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals
Las Vegas Aces
Predicted protected players:G Chelsey Gray (UFA), G Jackie Young (UFA), G Dana Evans, F NaLyssa Smith (RFA), C A'ja Wilson (UFA)
A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray are the core of the Las Vegas Aces. That won't change. Las Vegas also potentially keeps NaLyssa Smith, who bloomed after being traded to there last season. The next question is which player gets the remaining protection: Jewell Loyd or Dana Evans? Both Loyd and Evans were critical to the Aces' championship run, but Loyd was inconsistent for much of the 2025 season and that may be the deciding factor.
Los Angeles Sparks
Predicted protected players:G Kelsey Plum (UFA), F Rickea Jackson, F Dearica Hamby (UFA), F Azurá Stevens (UFA), C Cameron Brink
Unfortunately, there are way too many options for the Sparks and not enough spots. Rae Burrell likely becomes the odd player out with Azurá Stevens having a career year in 2025 and Los Angeles investing in its young players, Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink.
Minnesota Lynx
Predicted protected players:G Kayla McBride (UFA), G Courtney Williams (UFA), F Napheesa Collier (UFA), F Alanna Smith (UFA), F Bridget Carleton (UFA)
The Lynx will likely protect its entire starting five, but it won't come without consequences. Protecting Courtney Williams means Minnesota could lose Natisha Hiedeman, breaking up the "StudBudz." Choosing Bridget Carleton over Dorka Juhász and Anastasiia Olairi Kosu is also a tough decision. Finally, leaving DiJonai Carrington unprotected, after trading for her last season, is tough for such a dynamic two-way player.
New York Liberty
Predicted protected players:G Sabrina Ionescu (UFA), G Leonie Fiebich, G Natasha Cloud (UFA), F Breanna Stewart (UFA), F Kennedy Burke (UFA)
The Liberty might have one of the hardest decisions of any team: Does Breanna Stewart or Jonquel Jones get protected? Would New York potentially risk losing a core players? When faced with the decision, the Liberty are likely to land on Stewart, who is at the core of their identity. Stewart stays in New York, and Jones potentially becomes a supermax candidate for Portland or Toronto. Natasha Cloud and Kennedy Burke are likely to be rewarded for their contributions last season. Cloud brings the defense and additional facilitator depth, and Burke continues to lead the Liberty's bench production.
Phoenix Mercury
Predicted protected players:G Kahleah Copper (UFA), G Monique Akoa Makani (ERFA), F Alyssa Thomas (UFA), F Satou Sabally (UFA), F Natasha Mack (ERFA)
Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and Monique Akoa Makani all feel like safe bets to be prioritized by Phoenix. The Mercury then have to decide if Kathryn Westbeld, who started 24 games and played significant minutes off the bench, gets the nod over Natasha Mack, who started 23 games and was essential to the team's defensive muscle. Ultimately, Phoenix will likely protect the starting five that took the team to the WNBA Finals.
Seattle Storm
Predicted protected players:G Skylar Diggins (UFA), G Gabby Williams (UFA), F Nneka Ogwumike (UFA), C Ezi Magbegor, C Dominique Malonga
It might come as a surprise Brittney Sykes, who was traded to Seattle last season, is not on the list of protected players. However, Sykes, who started 13 games for Seattle, never found her stride within the offense. She shot 38.6% from the field, the third-lowest percentage of her career, while averaging close to 12 points per game. Seattle could be OK with leaving Sykes unprotected to prioritize established players like Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike.
Washington Mystics
Predicted protected players:G Sonia Citron, G Georgia Amoore, G Sug Sutton (RFA), F Kiki Iriafen, C Shakira Austin (RFA)
The Mystics have made it clear they plan to keep their core group of players young and prioritize the draft. With this in mind, it's easier to predict who Washington would potentially protect. If the decision is down to Shakira Austin over Stefanie Dolson, the Mystics are likely to lean towards Austin, who is nine years younger at 25 and started 30 games last season. Dolson's is 34 and had 14 starts.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:WNBA expansion draft: Predicting every team's protected players
