Predicting the Valkyries Expansion Draft

The newest WNBA franchise selects its roster on Friday, December 6th.

The 13th WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries, will put together their initial roster on Friday, December 6th. My colleague, Kevin Pelton of ESPN, wrote a good article predicting which six players each WNBA team would protect in the upcoming expansion draft. I thought it would be fun to try and predict which players the Valkyries select from each team using Kevin’s list of protected players.

Per league rules, each team can protect six players on their roster. They also must protect unrestricted free agents who last played for their team if they don’t want to lose that player. For Seattle, that would be players like Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike. However, because Ogwumike has already been given the core franchise tag for two years, she is not at risk of being selected. Teams must only protect unrestricted free agents if they are concerned that Golden State will use the franchise core tag on that player.

The Protected and Unprotected player lists below are from Kevin Pelton’s article.

Atlanta Dream

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

Unprotected Players: Laeticia Amihere, Maya Caldwell, Maite Cazorla, Lorela Cubaj, Haley Jones, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Aerial Powers, Iliana Rupert, Matilde Villa, Tina Charles (ineligible)

With this list of players, there is the choice between two 2022 first-round draft picks Jones and Amihere along with French National team star Iliana Rupert, who was also a first-round pick (2021) and is still just 23 years old. My decision would come down to either Jones or Rupert. Haley Jones is a versatile wing that can play at least the 1, 2, or 3. Rupert’s size at 6’4” would be very tempting, especially because she does have an outside shot that would allow teams to stretch the floor. However, there is some concern due to her French National commitments that have already led to her missing the 2021 and 2024 WNBA seasons. Knowing that, I take the safer bet in Jones.

Valkyries Pick: Haley Jones

Chicago Sky

Protected Players: Kamilla Cardoso, Chennedy Carter, Dana Evans, Michaela Onyenwere, Angel Reese, Elizabeth Williams

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

A few of these players are Unrestricted Free Agents but not worth paying the Super Max to. Using up Golden State’s one and only Unrestricted Free Agent selection wouldn’t be wise here. That limits the General Manager’s choices with this pick. Moriah Jefferson’s career has been plagued with too many injuries and probably isn’t worth the risk with her salary. It would have to come down to a decision between Lindsay Allen and Rachel Banham. Allen is a solid point guard option that may not dominate but can give you a steady hand. Banham has the potential to provide a spark of offense off the bench with her three-point shooting. Point Guard is a more important position to fill out and Allen is the better PG between the two.

Valkyries Pick: Lindsay Allen

Connecticut Sun

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

Unprotected Players: Caitlin Bickle, Abbey Hsu, Tiffany Mitchell, Astou Ndour-Fall, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, DeWanna Bonner (ineligible), Brionna Jones (ineligible)

This decision shouldn’t take much time. Olivia Nelson-Ododa is young (24), has great size (6’5”), and has shown flashes of production at the WNBA level. The Valkyries will need several post players and they get one here by selecting the former UConn Husky Nelson-Ododa.

Valkyries Pick: Olivia Nelson-Ododa

Dallas Wings

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

Unprotected Players: Bella Alarie, Jaelyn Brown, Kalani Brown, Awak Kuier, Paige Robinson, Lou Lopez Senechal, Stephanie Soares, Sevgi Uzun, Natasha Howard (ineligible)

I don’t know if this is an indictment on Greg Bibb’s drafting abilities or not but as the General Manager of the Valkyries, we have our choice among multiple recent first-round draft picks by the Dallas Wings. That includes Awak Kuier, Lou Lopez Sénéchal, and Stephanie Soares. We could also consider point guard Sevgi Uzun. The player with the most actual WNBA production would be Kalani Brown. Brown has great size at 6’7” and has the muscle to bang around with the biggest centers in the WNBA. I think this decision comes down to the athletic potential of Awak Kuier versus the tangible production of Kalani Brown. With Kuier also skipping the WNBA season this past year, we would need to talk with her about her priorities and where the WNBA lands with those. Ultimately, I take the player that is closer to a sure bet.

Valkyries Pick: Kalani Brown

Indiana Fever

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

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

As the new GM of the Valkyries, we have a few options here. Damiris Dantas is probably the most productive player on this list but she’s also 32. As an expansion franchise, it’s doubtful they’re going to compete for a WNBA Championship right away so it would be better to get a younger player. Grace Berger is another option as she was solid as a Point Guard her rookie season before barely playing at all once Caitlin Clark came to town. Then we have Katie Lou Samuelson, who is the most talented player in the group, even if she hasn’t always reached her full potential. Katie Lou is five years younger than Dantas at 27, has good size at 6’3”, and can stretch the floor beyond the three-point line. I hate to do this to Katie Lou who has already had to play for five different WNBA teams in her five years of playing but it’s the best move for the new Golden State franchise.

Valkyries Pick: Katie Lou Samuelson

Las Vegas Aces

Protected Players: Chelsea Gray, Kate Martin, Kelsey Plum (U), Kiah Stokes, A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young

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

The list of players available from the Las Vegas Aces might be a good time to select the Golden State Valkyries’ one-and-only Unrestricted Free Agent. The prime option would be to use that core tag on a player like Tiffany Hayes. Hayes had a strong season ultimately winning the 6th Player of the Year Award with Las Vegas after initially declaring her retirement from the WNBA. It’s hard to say what she’ll want to do in 2025. Will Hayes consider or even threaten retirement if the Valkyries select her as their Unrestricted Free Agent? That is something that Golden State will have to check with her agent and talk with her about before the official expansion draft. If she is willing to be selected, then that is likely the pick. If not, Golden State could consider using the core tag on Alysha Clark. While it would be a significant overpay for Clark, it would be just for one season, and there aren’t many players who are legit glue players like Clark.

If Golden State didn’t want to use its core tag, the options are a bit more limited. Megan Gustafson, Queen Egbo, and Elizabeth Kitley would all give the Valkyries some size inside. Gustafson has been the most productive player of the three.

Valkyries Pick: Tiffany Hayes (Core Franchise Tag) or Megan Gustafson (No Tag)

Los Angeles Sparks

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

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

Lexie Brown is a talented player but has battled health problems the past two seasons and would be a riskier selection. Maria Vadeeva showed promise early on but hasn’t played in the WNBA since 2019. Li Yueru played well when given extended minutes this season. Her 6’7” frame is definitely a huge asset to teams. However, Yueru has missed multiple seasons, as she opted to stay overseas. That is always a factor to consider. Stephanie Talbot is a solid veteran who can be their 3 and D player. She’s a relatively strong defender and does a bit of everything on the court, scoring, rebounding, defense, etc. And she can stretch the floor with her three-point shot. Because I have already taken some post players in this mock expansion draft like Kalani Brown and Olivia Nelson-Ododa, let’s opt for Talbot to add another forward to our group.

Valkyries Pick: Stephanie Talbot

Minnesota Lynx

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

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

Natisha Hiedeman and Myisha Hines-Allen are two players who potentially could have the core franchise tag used on them. They aren’t necessarily Supermax players but they have both been quality starters in this league. And for one season, the Supermax contract would likely be manageable within the salary cap. With that said, I think Minnesota has enough options to choose from where the Valkyries wouldn’t need to use up their core franchise tag on a Lynx player.

I am also super curious to see if Minnesota protects Diamond Miller. The former #2 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft barely saw the court in her second season. She suffered an injury that may not have fully healed. It is also possible that Miller ended up in the dog house with Minnesota Coach Cheryl Reeve. Whatever the reason, Miller played in just 21 of 40 games this past season, averaging just 10 MPG when she did play. In Kevin’s article, he protects Diamond Miller exposing other young players like Dorka Juhász and Alissa Pili. Juhász was one of the best rookies in 2023 and while her minutes did decrease with the addition of Alanna Smith to the team. She still stepped up at times, including in the WNBA Finals against New York. If Dorka Juhász is available, that is the pick for the Valkyries. And if she is protected, leaving Diamond Miller exposed, then Golden State should pick up Diamond Miller in hopes she can reach her potential with a larger role on an expansion team.

Valkyries Pick: Dorka Juhász

New York Liberty

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

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

That is quite the list of Unprotected Players in New York. Save some for the rest of the league, am I right?

It’s unsurprising to me to see Courtney Vandersloot’s name in the Unprotected Players’ list. Vandersloot went through a difficult time last season with her mother’s passing and had to leave the team for a bit. In her absence, other players stepped up. Most notably Leonie Fiebich. Vandersloot played just three minutes in the Liberty’s overtime victory in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. All three of those minutes came in the first half. Previously, I wrote about how I could see Vandersloot retiring after this season, especially if the Liberty win a Championship (which they did).

Vandersloot may choose to keep playing in the WNBA but if she does, I think it’ll probably be somewhere else besides New York. She may try to break Sue Bird’s All-Time Assists record but I believe that would likely require 2-3 more seasons depending on her production level. If she does want to keep playing, using the core franchise tag on Courtney Vandersloot could be a solid option for the Valkyries. In my scenario, I’m using the core tag on the Aces’s Tiffany Hayes.

Veterans like Kayla Thornton or Rebekah Gardner could be good options. Alternatively, another young player like Marquesha Davis with multiple years of club control on a rookie contract would be nice to have. However, I think an expansion team wants to make a splash any chance they can get. It doesn’t get a whole lot splashier than the fancy-passing Marine Johannès. There will be concerns about her overseas commitments and the WNBA’s prioritization clauses, but this one is too tempting to pass up.

Valkyries Pick: Marine Johannès

Phoenix Mercury

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

Unprotected Players: Amy Atwell, Monique Billings, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Klara Lundquist, Charisma Osborne, Celeste Taylor, Brittney Griner (ineligible)

The big question with Phoenix is, will they use one of their six protective slots to protect Diana Taurasi? DT technically didn’t officially retire at the conclusion of this past WNBA season. Although there was a ton of speculation she did (essentially) have a big retirement ceremony with family and friends… just in case. While Taurasi probably did play her last WNBA game already, I wouldn’t put it past DT to fake everyone out and return for another season.

I’m sure behind the scenes, she has informed the Phoenix Mercury front office whether or not they need to use one of their protective slots on her. It would be a funny move by Golden State if they took Diana Taurasi in the instance that the Mercury didn’t protect her.

Realistically, Phoenix will protect Taurasi as their roster doesn’t have a huge list of must-keep players on it. Looking over the unprotected pool, the best options seem to be Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Celeste Taylor, or Amy Atwell. Kiki Herbert Harrigan showed some promise during her rookie season in the Wubble with Minnesota but hasn’t been able to find solid footing since then. Celeste Taylor has shown some production when given playing time as a rookie. She was drafted by the Indiana Fever but was ultimately waived and later picked up by both the Connecticut Sun and the Phoenix Mercury. Taylor did have a couple of strong games including scoring nine points off the bench in 12 minutes in a Mercury win over the Atlanta Dream. Taylor was known in college as a good defensive player as well. She’s worth taking a chance on.

Valkyries Pick: Celeste Taylor

Seattle Storm

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

Unprotected Players: Joyner Holmes, Mackenzie Holmes, Mercedes Russell, Victoria Vivians, Sami Whitcomb, Nneka Ogwumike (ineligible)

The Seattle Storm seem to have the easiest list of protected players to predict. Because Nneka Ogwumike has already been given the core franchise tag for two years, the Valkyries are not allowed to select her as their one Unrestricted Free Agent. That means Seattle doesn’t need to use a protected slot on Nneka. They will use one on their other top Unrestricted Free Agent, Gabby Williams. Gabby Williams would likely be Golden State’s #1 choice to use their Core tag on if she was available (when considering other unprotected UFA). That’s why Seattle will protect Gabby. Gabby has repeatedly talked about how much she enjoys playing with Seattle, the Storm organization, and under Coach Quinn. I don’t expect that to change next year.

Seattle’s other Unrestricted Free Agents - Holmes, Russell, Whitcomb, and Vivians aren’t really at risk of being selected as a Supermax player for Golden State. Seattle likely won’t need to protect any of them and could still bring back some of those players if the fit is right.

While not 100% certainty, it’s likely Nika Mühl will be protected. If she isn’t then expect Golden State to select her. But as long as she’s protected, that doesn’t leave the Valkyries with many options. Their only choice would be the Storm’s 2023 third-round draft pick, Mackenzie Holmes.

That is unless the Valkyries worked out a trade with Seattle. The latest reports state that Jewell Loyd has requested a trade out of Seattle. A trade package from Golden State that offered the 5th overall pick and an additional player picked up in the expansion draft like Diamond Miller, Dorka Juhász, or Marine Johannès could be enough to persuade Seattle into a trade of their star shooting guard. Alternatively, maybe Seattle is offered the Valkyries 2026 first-round pick and a player if the Storm don’t feel the 5th pick in 2025 is good enough.

This mock draft doesn’t include trades. There will be time to speculate further on potential Jewell Loyd trade scenarios in a future article. For now, the selections are just going off of the unprotected players available.

Valkyries Pick: Mackenzie Holmes

Washington Mystics

Protected Players: Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Edwards, Emily Engstler, Karlie Samuelson, Brittney Sykes

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

The Washington Mystics surprisingly have too many good options to choose from. The obvious temptation would be to select Elena Delle Donne, who Kevin Pelton left unprotected in his speculative write-up. However, we have to remember the Valkyries would be getting 2025 Elena Delle Donne. EDD missed all of the 2020 season, all but three games of the 2021 season, and all of the 2024 WNBA season. She hasn’t played more than 25 games since 2019 when the Mystics won their first and only championship. At this point in her career, I don’t think it would be worth the risk. Plus, she may threaten to sit out the season again if taken by Golden State.

Even without EDD, there are still several options to consider. Stefanie Dolson is the most accomplished of the available players. Dolson is a former WNBA All-Star and Champion. While Big Mama Stef would be a fine addition. to the team, in this mock, we already have selected Kalani Brown, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, and Dorka Juhász. Plus, I think it’s more advantageous for an expansion team to get younger players to develop.

At an initial glance, I thought I’d be taking Jade Melbourne. Jade-O has shown some promise with her ability to slash and get to the rim or hit the outside shot. She’s one of the youngest players in the WNBA but already has professional and Olympic experience. I had penciled Jade’s name in but after reviewing my projected depth chart with all the selections I’ve made. I need to change my answer.

Instead, Golden State will select Sika Koné. The Valkyries need another potential power forward and despite her thinner frame, Koné has good height at 6’3”. She started to find something at the very end of the 2024 season with the Mystics. When given the opportunity, Koné scored in double-figures three times over her final five games, averaging 11.8 PPG during that span. She capped off her season with an impressive performance of 20 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Like Melbourne, Koné is still just 22 years old and would be a strong piece to build around.

Valkyries Pick: Sika Koné

Projected Golden State Valkyries Depth Chart

Now that all of the selections were made, here is my projected depth chart for the initial roster of the Golden State Valkyries.

PG: Marine Johannès, Lindsay Allen
SG: Tiffany Hayes, Celeste Taylor
SF: Stephanie Talbot, Katie Lou Samuelson, Haley Jones
PF: Dorka Juhász, Sika Koné, Mackenzie Holmes
C: Kalani Brown, Olivia Nelson-Ododa

In Conclusion

I hope you had fun reading this WNBA Mock Expansion Draft. We won’t have to wait a very long time as the real thing takes place on Friday, December 6th at 3:30 PM PST and will air on ESPN.

Do you agree with the picks that I made? Would you select different players and if so, which ones? I definitely expect that we will see some trades take place. We may even see teams that are willing to give up draft picks to have Golden State take a player with a larger salary cap hit off of the original team’s books. It’s too difficult to predict which teams end up trading with the Valkyries, so I did my Mock Expansion Draft just with the players I had available to me.

Looking over the roster I’ve created, it’s probably not a playoff-caliber team. But hopefully, there are enough young pieces to develop, and they could be competitive enough to make for a fun first season.

Notes:
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