Teams are allowed to protect a maximum of six players in the WNBA Expansion Draft

The WNBA will hold its first expansion draft in 16 years on December 6 when the Golden State Valkyries build their roster. Golden State can select one player from each team and is not limited by a salary cap, but they must meet the cap by February.

Teams have the option to protect six players on their rosters. The list includes every player a team has the rights to at the end of the 2024 season.

The Valkyries will have the opportunity to select one unrestricted free agent who has not been signed by their team in more than two seasons. The core rule allows WNBA teams to designate a player as an integral part of the team, essentially revoking their unrestricted free agent status and allowing the team to negotiate a new contract exclusively with that player.

The WNBA will have a two-team expansion draft in 2025 before Portland and Toronto join the league in 2026.

The NBA will likely have an expansion draft in the near future. Sam Presti has lobbied for the league to change the rules allowing teams to protect additional players.