As the expansion draft looms, every WNBA fan is wondering the same thing: who are the six players each team will protect? The 12 teams have until today to submit a list of the players they intend to make sure can't be drafted to the Valkyries, but those lists will remain private.
Some – including yours truly – have speculated that Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith might be among those interested in decamping to the Bay Area. Smith made it clear this season that she wasn't always happy with the team (and its fans), and though her contract technically means she's protected until 2025, the Fever could always opt to forgo that arrangement.
The Fever appeared to shut down that rumor Saturday morning when the team's Instagram account posted a graphic of what seemed to show Coach Stephanie White speaking to six players: Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, Temi Fagbenle — and Smith. Fans immediately began to speculate that these were the protected six, and many expressed surprise and happiness that Smith was on the list. The caption of the post read, "new era, new energy. already making plans for next season 😈."
But then the Fever made the situation even more confusing and deleted the post altogether, which sparked even more intense speculation that Smith might not be protected after all. One fan also offered an alternate theory: the Fever might protect Smith only to end up trading her instead.
"If that’s their way of announcing who they’re protecting from the expansion draft, they’re apparently not signing Wheeler back and almost certainly trading Nalyssa lol Nalyssa trade would likely be a win-win," @BlizzWix wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Writer James Pizon agreed. He added, "If this was a representation of our Fever's 'Protected 6' for the Expansion Draft, highly likely NaLyssa will be protected in order to be part of a Free Agency trade package. She has more trade value than Dantas or Erica & Wheeler's contract was a Dunn train wreck that Valkyries can afford to pay her for veteran guard experience. Bookmark it." In other words, Smith could be part of a group of players who are traded next year, or her rights could be included in a trade as part of a deal to get a higher draft pick in 2025 or beyond.
Neither Smith nor the Fever have offered an explanation for the post, and requests for comment sent to the team have so far gone unanswered.
In addition to Smith, there's a whole host of players that might be available for the Valkyries at the expansion draft. The list includes the Dream's Haley Jones, the Aces' Kate Martin, and the Spark's Zia Cooke. Of course, it's necessary to remember that drafts can sometimes result in surprising outcomes, and only the Valkryies' front office knows who they're eyeing... and the rest of us will just have to keep waiting.