History will be made for the Golden State Valkyries on Friday afternoon when the WNBA’s newest team can finally begin to build its roster through the league’s expansion draft.
The WNBA’s first expansion draft since 2008 will allow the Valkyries to select one player from each of the other 12 teams, provided that they are not one of the six players each team decided to protect.
So don’t expect New York Liberty superstar and Bay Area native Sabrina Ionescu to be available.
The list of protected players was finalized on Nov. 26, and a league spokesperson told the Bay Area News Group that their names will not be made public.
Of the unprotected players, the Valkyries can draft only one unrestricted free agent total over their 12 picks.
After the draft, the Valkyries will be able to make trades and sign free agents.
Here’s what else you need to know about the team and Friday’s draft:
When and where can I watch the draft?
The expansion draft will air at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Who will be making the picks?
General manager Ohemaa Nyanin, who previously worked for the New York Liberty, will be selecting the players. Nyanin told this news organization in September that being a top-three defense is the team’s goal, a point she reiterated in a recent interview with Andscape.
“The versatility of your roster, to be able to adapt to the other team’s roster is what I’m most focused on,” Nyanin said in September. “And to be able to kind of guard any team the way in which would be the most successful.”
Who will coach the players?
Natalie Nakase was named the team’s head coach in October. She was the lead assistant to Becky Hammon on the Las Vegas Aces, who won back-to-back titles in 2022-23. Before that, Nakase served as an assistant coach for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and their G League affiliate.
“I’m going to pour all my energy and my heart and my soul into this organization,” Nakase said. “I just can’t wait to build a championship team, because that’s what this fan base deserves.”
This isn’t the first time Nakase has made history. She became the first woman to be a head coach in Japan’s top professional league in 2011 when she led the Saitama Broncos.
What players could be available?
Because the list of unprotected players is not public, any list of possible players is complete speculation.
With that said, former Stanford star Haley Jones – who was the three-time Bay Area News Group girls basketball player of the year at Archbishop Mitty in San Jose – could be available. She has struggled to find that form at the professional level after being drafted No. 6 overall by Atlanta in 2023.
Here’s a list of 11 other possible targets.
What are some other offseason dates to know?
Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on Jan. 21, and they can begin signing contracts with teams on Feb. 1.
The annual WNBA amateur draft will take place on April 14, and the Valkyries will have the fifth overall pick. Training camp starts around two weeks later on April 27.
When is the team’s first regular season game?
The Valkyries start their inaugural season at home on May 16. They will welcome former Stanford star Cameron Brink and the Los Angeles Sparks to the Chase Center.
