WNBA: What 5 players should every team protect for the expansion draft?

The WNBA offseason is officially in overdrive.

The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are set to have an expansion draft in one week. Then, a historic wave of free agency action will sweep the league.

The decisions facing WNBA have never been harder. As a first step, here’s a look at the five players every team must protect in the expansion draft.

Atlanta Dream: Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Brionna Jones, Naz Hillmon, Te-Hina Paopao

When it comes to the best four-player lineups in the WNBA last year, there weren’t many better than the Dream’s core. Gray, Howard, Jones and Hillmon lineups were not only dominant on offense because of their 3-point volume and offensive rebounding prowess, but the entire team guarded extremely well.

The difference in effectiveness when Hillmon replaced Brittney Griner in the lineup is stark. Paopao also showed flashes her rookie year with her spot up shooting that the team should continue to invest in her development, given she was one of the most impactful rookies last year.

Chicago Sky: Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Ariel Atkins, Ajša Sivka, Courtney Vandersloot

It’s hard to find too many bright spots with this roster. They finished with the worst record last year. There is a realistic pathway towards building around Reese, but it might also mean moving off Cardoso down the line.

Whether the goal is to continue building around the two bigs or not, Cardoso is still worth keeping until a decision is made. Atkins also is still one of the most valuable sub-All-Star players in the league, and considering she was traded for quite a hefty price, not protecting her at this stage in the Sky rebuild would be malpractice.

Vandersloot could be entering her final season so it’d be nice for the Sky to keep their franchise legend and show her appreciation if this is the end. Lastly, Sivka, who the Sky drafted No. 10 overall last year should be protected just to see if she’s part of the future rebuild. She didn’t play in the W last season, but there’s some intrigue for a 6-foot-4 versatile forward that can serve as a multipurpose offensive piece.

Connecticut Sun: Leïla Lacan, Saniya Rivers, Aneesah Morrow, Marina Mabrey, Aaliyah Edwards

The Sun are a young, rebuilding team, and while they struggled to produce results last season, all their young players showed flashes of potential.

Lacan was one of the most impactful players in the WNBA last year, not just among rookies. Rivers and Morrow found their spark near the end of last season and were amazing. Edwards got into a rhythm after recovering from her back injury, and Mabrey is the veteran presence that is one of the better shooters in the league.

The fit isn’t ideal right now, but that’s not Connecticut’s priority. The Sun should continue to develop the young players with hopes of maximizing their individual ceilings.

Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, Natasha Howard

We didn’t really get to see these five players play together last season, in large part because of injury, but they posted a +18 net rating in 134 minutes last season. The first four have played together for two seasons now, and Howard was a great addition for all she provides on the defensive end.

It’s not a perfect starting five, but they complement each other well and most of all, they have an identity for how they want to play every night: They want to play fast.

New York Liberty: Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, Betnijah Laney- Hamilton

The Liberty have an easy decision to make here.

This was the starting lineup on their 2024 championship team. No need to be fancy here, we know this lineup works and will continue to work—if everyone stays healthy.

Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Shakira Austin, Georgia Amoore, Emily Engstler

The Mystics youth movement was one of the most thrilling storylines of last year.

Citron and Iriafen both outperformed expectations, and Austin has continued to show flashes. Her rookie contract is coming to an end soon, so Washington would be wise to keep her around. Amoore will be making her rookie debut this year, and Engstler is very underrated, as analytical metrics suggest she could develop into an extremely impactful role player down the line.

For a rebuilding team with nothing to lose this season, I’d say protections that prioritize player development is the way to go.

Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers, Ty Harris, Arike Ogunbowale, Maddy Siegrist, Aziaha James

The Wings, like the Sky, finished with the worst record last year, but the objective remains the same: Build a quality team around Bueckers.

Harris is the best point guard compliment for a player like her. Siegrist still has the potential to develop into something special if the jumpshot ever comes around, and James also had moments last season.

Whether Ogunbowale is part of the team’s future or not, she’s too good to let another team snatch up. Plus, she’s still so dynamic with the ball in her hands that another year playing next to Bueckers is worth exploring.

Golden State Valkyries: Veronica Burton, Monique Billings, Tiffany Hayes, Cecilia Zandalasini, Carla Leite

The Valkyries are in a tough position because they have a couple of solid players they won’t be able to protect.

They overachieved last season and they had several players have ridiculous jumps. It’s not an easy decision but this combo of youth, experience and production makes the most sense for a team looking to stay competitive in the early stages of the franchise.

Las Vegas Aces: Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, A’ja Wilson, Jewell Loyd, Aaliyah Nye

The defending champs running it back with the same core just makes sense.

Even if they decide to move on from Loyd this offseason, she’s a decorated veteran that will be worth a lot, making it wise to still protect her. And there’s a case for keeping Loyd because of how well she adjusted her game in the middle of last to compliment the Aces’ core in their quest for title No. 3.

The Aces also have barely any young players, so keeping Nye on the team for her shooting ability is the way to go here.

Los Angeles Sparks: Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Julie Allemand

Barring any major free agency moves, this will likely be the Sparks starting lineup for the 2026 season.

Plum and Hamby are the offensive engines on the team and as Brink and Jackson enter into year three, it’s important that the Sparks start to reap the benefits of drafting them second and fourth, respectively, in the 2024 draft.

Allemand might come as a surprise to many, but she played a crucial role in helping organize the offense for Los Angeles last year and her connective passing ability really helped Jackson find easier looks for herself. She brings the type of value from a role player that is rare in this league.

Minnesota Lynx: Napheesa Collier, Alanna Smith, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Bridget Carleton

The Lynx are another team that will likely lose a good player or two in the expansion draft this year, but protecting the starting five that led you to a Finals appearance in 2024 and best record in the WNBA in the last two years should be a no-brainer.

Phoenix Mercury: Monique Akoa Makani, Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, Natasha Mack

After coming off an impressive finals appearance, Phoenix would be wise to protect the starting lineup that got them that far.

Seattle Storm: Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, Ezi Magbegor, Dominique Malonga

The Storm are in an interesting spot right now because they have a strange intersection of older veterans in win-now mode, a young frontcourt and another lottery pick in this year’s draft.

If the ceiling of this presently constructed team isn’t a championship contender, then I see no reason to keep the veterans Diggins, Ogwumike and Williams, other than to trade them.

But if new head coach Sonia Raman believes this team has untapped potential, then this would be the core five to protect. The fit might be complex, but the talent is too special to ignore.

What do you think? Who do you think your favorite team should protect?

Should teams be more risky, leaving unrestricted free agents unprotected and daring Portland or Toronto to draft players that might not sign a new contract with them? Or, is it smart for teams to play it safe and simply protect their most important players?

Put your fantasy general manager hat on and share your analysis below.