As we inch closer to the expansion draft on Dec. 6, there's a lot of speculation about what the draft will and will not mean for the 12 existing WNBA teams, each of which stands to lose one player if the Valkyries decide to pursue that route. The teams can only protect 6 players, which means there are plenty of vulnerabilities — but some teams are more likely to be impacted than others.
After failing to make it to the Finals, the Aces will likely experience a period of rebuilding as they streamline the team they have and look ahead to the 2025 draft. The Liberty and the Lynx — the two teams who went up against one another this year — are also vulnerable, as the Valkyries will likely want to pull a player from each team to boost their own roster. Unfortunately for both, they have so many good players that they have good players to lose.
While some have likened the expansion draft to little more than allowing the Valkyries to pull from each team's B squad, a shrewd front office will be able to identify and seize upon the opportunities that exist.
The Lynx will lose a young player
If the Lynx want a repeat of 2024 (or to take home the championship this time around), they have no choice but to protect their starters: Courtney Williams, Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Alanna Smith, and Bridget Carleton. This leaves quite a few players, but especially younger players Diamond Miller, Dorka Juhasz, and Alissa Pili, at risk of being drafted by the Valkyries. This could set the Valkyries up with the opportunity to develop a player for years, but it means the Lynx lose out.
The Liberty could sacrifice Leonie Fiebich
After such a successful rookie season, it's hard to imagine the Liberty with Fiebich – but she might find herself on the chopping block, and the blow to the team would be huge. Granted, the Liberty has two heavyweight guards, Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot, but Fiebich quickly became both a fan favorite and a necessary presence on the court, particularly in the playoffs. Landing Fiebich would be a major win for the Valkyries, particularly due to her three-point prowess.
Now having said all that... there's also a chance the Liberty doesn't protect Vandersloot and she gets snapped up by the Valkyries instead. She's a vet with plenty road to travel ahead of her, and would be an ideal leader for the new team.
The Aces might have to begin again
There's been chatter online that the Aces will be in a rebuilding phase heading into the 2025 season after they failed to make it to the Finals this year. The team will likely protect four starters (Kelsey Plum, who the team will likely core, A'ja Wilson, Chelsey Gray, and Jackie Young), but Alysha Clark's status could be up in the air.
At 36, it's possible Clark could opt to retire if she isn't interested in heading to the Bay Area, and the Aces could end up protecting Kate Martin (their only player under 26) instead. There's also the possibility that Clark, a Bay Area native, would be interested in returning to the area — but the Valkyries will need to match her Aces deal ($110,000 for the 2024 season). Doing so would be in their best interest, as Clark could lend a lot of experience to a team that will undoubtedly be young.
The Aces also stand to lose Kelsey Plum, who is an unrestricted free agent and who could shine as the leader of the Bay Area team. There's been no indication that Plum is interested in leaving Las Vegas, but there also hasn't been any indication that she's not.