The GIST: The WNBA offseason is buzzing with news, from the announcement of the Toronto Tempo as the league’s 14th team to tonight’s expansion draft and major developments in Seattle.
Golden State Valkyries set to participate in expansion draft at 6:30 p.m. ET: The 13th team in the league will begin building their roster by selecting up to 12 non-protected players from the existing WNBA pool for their 2025 season debut.
Prior to the draft, each of the 12 existing teams had the opportunity to designate up to six players as “protected,” ensuring they cannot be drafted. This means last season’s top players won’t be available for selection.
Additionally, the Valkyries may not fill all roster spots tonight, leaving room for free agent signings and their No. 5 pick in the upcoming draft.
Jewell Loyd requests trade from Seattle Storm: Loyd, a six-time All-Star and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, has requested a trade from the Storm, the only team she has ever played for. This comes after an investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment by the coaching staff.
Despite the investigation finding no violations, Loyd’s trade request follows her signing a supermax extension with the Storm just last year. The situation continues to unfold.
