Eight months after giving birth, Katie Lou Samuelson made her highly anticipated return to the court this season. Naturally, she wasn’t alone for the season opener. Samuelson brought her adorable daughter, Aliyah, courtside during the pre-game warmups. And how could one of her many Indiana Fever Aunts, Caitlin Clark, not be there to shower her with love? The moment the 22-year-old Iowa native spotted Aliyah, she couldn’t resist holding the little one in her arms. However, the chances of seeing a little less of that seem prominent now.

In their first interaction, Aliyah, being curious and playful, quickly found her way into the hooper’s mouth—a funny moment that prompted Caitlin to call out, “E-Dub, help!” to Erica Wheeler. Wheeler, just as amused, jokingly responded, “How?” The hilarity continued as Caitlin tried to interact with Aliyah, saying, “You’re so fun. You’re crazy!” Meanwhile, Wheeler quipped, “Now we gotta copyright Aliyah.” Cute, right? But the bond between Caitlin and her one-year-old ‘chosen niece’ may soon face an unexpected challenge.

Why? Because there’s a chance that Aliyah’s mom, Katie Lou Samuelson, could end up on the Golden Valkyries’ roster. Sixteen years after Atlanta formed the league’s last expansion team, the WNBA is gearing up for another major addition. In just four days, the Valkyries will officially join the league, selecting one player from each of the 12 existing teams. However, teams aren’t entirely unprotected—they can safeguard up to six players from being picked.

When it comes to the Indiana Fever, five of those protected spots seem like a lock.

Their starting lineup—Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Aliyah Boston, and NaLyssa Smith—would undoubtedly be shielded. Clark and Boston are essential building blocks for the franchise’s future, Mitchell is a seasoned and elite guard who complements Clark well, and Hull and Smith are simply too valuable to lose.

The sixth spot, however, is less certain. The Fever could lean toward protecting someone with untapped potential, but there’s also a strategic case for letting go of an expensive contract. That’s where Katie Lou Samuelson enters the conversation. While Samuelson’s talent could help many teams, the Fever might feel it’s a risk worth taking to free up cap space. However, with Stephanie White now at the helm, it’s unclear if she will share former head coach Christie Sides’ approach to Samuelson’s role.

But Samuelson isn’t the only player projected to join the Golden State Valkyries.

The Las Vegas Aces are also expected to lose a key piece of their roster.

For the Aces, Kate Martin could be the one heading to Golden State. While the Aces’ first four protected names—A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Gray—are no-brainers, the final two spots are less predictable. Plum, for instance, is set to become an unrestricted free agent, but the Aces are likely to prioritize re-signing her along with their other stars.

The decision between Alysha Clark and Tiffany Hayes presents a dilemma. Clark has been a vital contributor as a versatile forward, but her age and expiring contract could make her a strong candidate for Valkyries’ leadership. Hayes, on the other hand, might retire if she’s not interested in continuing her career elsewhere.

As for Kate Martin, her popularity among fans and her incredible 91.7% free-throw shooting accuracy make her a tempting option for the Valkyries. Despite Martin not being a focal point for the Aces, her skills and potential would undoubtedly appeal to Golden State.

Of course, these are all just projections, but the upcoming expansion draft has sparked intense anticipation. So, what’s your take—who do you think the Golden Valkyries will choose?