The WNBA is gearing up for expansion in 2025, with the Golden State Valkyries from San Francisco leading the charge as the league’s 13th team. They’ll be the first of three new franchises, with Toronto and Portland slated to join the league in 2026. As the Valkyries prepare for their debut next season, the WNBA has already sent draft guidelines to teams, outlining the process for the upcoming expansion, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press.

The expansion draft, set for five weeks from now, aims to fill the Bay Area roster.

The Game Plan: Draft Expansion Selections

According to the memo published by the WNBA, Teams must submit their protected player lists 10 days before the expansion draft, finalizing their decisions in late November. This timeline comes just weeks after the conclusion of the WNBA playoffs and right before free agency begins in February, leaving many players’ free agency situations uncertain.

Although top players like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and A’ja Wilson may receive protection, some deep teams might have to leave some of their fan-favorite players available for selection. Moreover, players from the new draft class, like Paige Bueckers could be all set to join the Valkyries if they win the draft lottery.

In fact, teams will be able to protect a maximum of six players who will not be available for selection by Golden State. All other players on a team’s roster will be eligible for selection by the Valkyries. Players who are unrestricted free agents must be designated on a team’s list as such and must be either on the protected player’s list or the unprotected list.

Golden State will also have the opportunity to acquire the player contract of, or the negotiating rights to, one available player from each of the current 12 teams. But the team should ensure to stay below the salary cap at the start of the player contract signing period in February. 

 With more teams to spice up the competition, the WNBA is experiencing record-breaking growth, capturing the attention of fans and players alike.

More in store for the league

This is a historic moment for the entire WNBA, as the last expansion draft took place in 2008 with the entry of the Atlanta Dream. Since then, the WNBA has grown immensely in both talent and popularity. In 2024, the WNBA had a total attendance of 2.35 million which is the highest total attendance in the last 22 years. Even WNBA merchandise sales both online and at their flagship location in New York City were up by a total of 601% from 2023. 

While the 2025 expansion seems to be relatively straightforward, the 2026 draft—when Toronto and Portland join the league—could be more complicated. With many player contracts expiring next season and a new collective bargaining agreement expected, teams will face tough decisions on whom to protect as salaries rise, creating challenges for managing rosters.

For now, the league will take the first step of expansion on December 6th with the expansion draft. The new violet, black and white team will find its new roster under Ohemaa Nyanin, the general manager, while the head coach remains to be announced. While other details are yet to be announced, one can catch the event broadcasted on ESPN.