After a groundbreaking WNBA season in 2024, another historic moment took place early in an offseason that has been flooded with news and changes ever since the WNBA Finals wrapped up in October.
The WNBA held its first expansion draft on Friday, officially welcoming the Golden State Valkyries into the league as its 13th team. The expansion draft was the first in the WNBA since 2008, and is also the first of two straight offseasons we will see an expansion draft take place with another one taking place next offseason.
Ahead of the draft, each of the 12 existing teams in the league could protect up to six players on their roster that they would restrict Golden State from selecting.