The New York Liberty head into Friday's Expansion Draft as WNBA champions, which likely means they'll be a target for the Golden State Valkyries. The newbie Bay Area team will hope to gain as many strong players as possible, and a team like the Liberty is stacked with options.
Even with the protected six firmly safe, the Liberty still has a lot to lose Friday. In fact, it wouldn't be too surprising if the Liberty seek trade opportunities with the Valkyries to help prevent a heavy loss.
Though each team's list of protected players won't be shared with the public, it's pretty clear that the Liberty will need to protect their starting five... and one more key player. Here's who we expect the team to have on its list of six.
Breanna Stewart
Stewie is the face of the Liberty, and protecting her isn't even a question. She'll enter into free agency this offseason but has made no indication that she ever intends to leave New York, and it would be foolish for the Valkyries to attempt to make her (or for the Liberty to even allow it).
Sabrina Ionescu
Ionescu is the second player most people immediately think of when they think of the Liberty. She led the team in assists and steals per game this season and is an invaluable member of the team. There is no way the Liberty don't have her on their list of six.
Jonquel Jones
Jones was a huge part of the reason the Liberty's success in the playoffs and Finals this year (who can forget those 17 points in Game 5) and has plenty more to give. The Liberty will want to have her on the team when they return to defend their title next season, and there's no chance they'll leave her presence up for debate.
Leonie Fiebich
I spent most of last season as a Fiebich fan, and it's been fun to see her finally make her WNBA debut after being drafted in 2020. The Finals really gave Fiebich a chance to shine – and to show that she's a necessary member of the team's future.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
Laney-Hamilton was also a member of the team's starting 5 throughout the Finals and her 3-point shooting is part of the team's fabric of success. She spent a lot of the 2024 season battling injuries, but there's no chance the team will break up the starting 5 just for that. She's in.
Nyara Sabally
As much as it's difficult to imagine a Liberty without Courtney Vandersloot, the team is likely to opt ot protect the younger Sabally, who they can continue to develop for years, over a player who saw a decrease in playing time throughout this season (and who has hinted at retirement). Sabally represents the future of the team.