Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) scored while being fouled and was celebrated by center Iliana Rupert (12) during a WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at Chase Center on Aug. 30.
Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle
The textbook for WNBA expansion has been written, and it’s a lofty standard. Faced with an empty roster last spring, the Golden State Valkyries used their draft choices, free-agent signings and trades to create a classy, cohesive team that made a stunning and unprecedented run to the playoffs.
Judging from the look of Friday’s expansion draft, it seems unlikely that the Portland Fire or Toronto Tempo can aim that high. Not that they’re terribly concerned. A more reasonable target might be routine sellouts at their home arenas — yet another glorious accomplishment by the Valkyries before their knowledgable and passionate fans at Chase Center.
The Valkyries emerged from Friday’s expansion draft in pretty fine shape. They lost guard Carla Leite as the No. 2 selection by Portland, whose general manager, Vanja Černivec, was Golden State’s vice president of basketball operations in 2024-25. Leite is an exciting player, particularly with her scoring and creativity around the basket, and she could develop into a full-fledged star if she smooths out her 3-point shot.
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It’s just that the Valkyries clearly have their backcourt of the future in Veronica Burton, a heart-and-soul player who has blossomed into inclusion on Team USA rosters, and Justė Jocytė, who has been committed to the Lithuanian national team since last year’s draft (she was the Valkyries’ 2025 first-round choice) but is universally recognized as a lethal, well-rounded lefty shooter with a big WNBA future.
Coach Natalie Nakase never got a decent look at Maria Conde, the Spanish small forward taken by the Valkyries in the 2025 expansion draft but drafted by Toronto on Friday. She had a great reputation in Europe but missed all of last season with a leg injury.
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But beyond that, the names are familiar and comforting: Restricted free agent Cecilia Zandalasini, surely to be retained for her exceptional shooting; fan favorite Kate Martin, with whom the club has exclusive rights, and star-quality talents Janelle Salaün and Iliana Rupert. Those last two, along with Kaitlyn Chen and Laeticia Amihere, will become unrestricted free agents only if the Valkyries fail to extend them qualifying offers this coming week.
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It’s important to remember that even if a player was protected from the expansion draft, she still can choose to join another team as an unrestricted free agent. That’s the case for Kayla Thornton, Tiffany Hayes, Temi Fagbenle, Kaila Charles and Monique Billings, and it’s a matter of conjecture whether any of them fancy a new setting. For certain, they’re all deeply valued by the organization.
As for the rest of the league, much has been written about the overload of potential free agents heading into this season, and although there will be dramatic movement, the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations caused a lengthy and ridiculous delay on the schedule. With training camps due to begin April 19, “I think it’s going to be difficult because you’re kind of forcing players and teams to make decisions really quickly,” Sabrina Ionescu told reporters this week.
“Obviously, GMs and teams have been doing their homework ahead of time and understanding that they had to prepare for decisions being made with free agency in such a short window. People aren’t going to have as much time to sit and think and go talk to teams. There’s obviously a lot of money on the table, as well. That’s something the players haven’t always had.”
Among the growing list of WNBA stars, Ionescu and Breanna Stewart have told the New York Liberty they aren’t going anywhere, and A’ja Wilson has made the same commitment in Las Vegas. According to the insiders’ projections, that will also be the case for unrestricted free agents Napheesa Collier, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Allisha Gray, Alyssa Thomas, Kayla McBride, Rhyne Howard, Nneka Ogwumike and Satou Sabally.
More likely to at least be considering a move elsewhere: Minnesota’s Alanna Smith and Courtney Williams; Seattle’s Gabby Williams, Brittney Sykes, Skylar Diggins and Ezi Magbegor (the backcourt gets crowded if the Storm select TCU’s Olivia Miles with the No. 3 pick in the draft); Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell (the Fever desperately want to keep her in tandem with Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston); Atlanta’s Brittney Griner, Las Vegas’ Jewell Loyd, and Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale, who had a slight regression with Paige Bueckers running the show and the Wings likely to select Bueckers’ old UConn teammate, Azzi Fudd, with the No. 1 overall draft pick.
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You can’t say there was a ton of excitement surrounding the expansion draft. Not a single big-name star was selected by either team, although a lot of lesser-known players will get well-deserved chances to shine, notably Bridget Carleton, Portland’s No. 1 pick after fitting so nicely into Minnesota’s elite package on both ends of the floor. The Fire’s lists also includes ex-Stanford star Haley Jones, who has bounced around the league (Atlanta, Phoenix and Dallas) but still has potential.
Toronto will be coached by the highly respected Sandy Brondello, who guided New York to the league championship two years ago and will hand over her offense to No. 1 pick Julie Allemand, an L.A. Sparks starter and longtime star of the Belgian national team. From what I’ve seen, Brondello picked up a pair of solid young guards from Phoenix, Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa — and don’t forget the ever-intriguing Marina Mabrey, a deadly outside shooter and a very nice person who admittedly has “crashouts” when she takes the court and turns into a roughhouse bully (notably shoving Caitlin Clark rudely to the floor for no good reason last season). She has vowed to play with more composure, so we’ll check on Brondello’s influence.
Players of interest
Natasha Cloud: The Liberty gave up two first-round draft picks to get her, and she was everything they needed, from her two-way talents to her locker-room authority and social-justice devotion. Ionescu has said “we’re getting our core back,” which presumably includes Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. But they lost Nyara Sabally to Toronto on Friday, and they dearly want to keep the unrestricted Cloud.
Marine Johannes: Another player on the fringes of New York’s roster, although the team owns her rights. This is the most elegant, watchable guard in the league when she’s on a roll, hitting insanely picturesque long-range shots and passing with sensational flair. But she also lacks the fiery temperament of a superstar, and that holds her back. She’ll be somewhere, certainly, and it will be beautiful.
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Dominique Malonga: She was the only player to throw down down a dunk during the Unrivaled season, and she did it three times. Still quite raw but with unlimited talent, she’s surely to remain under contract with Seattle.
Also under contract (and signed through this year): Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Saniya Rivers and Georgia Amoore, the thrill-a-minute guard who starred at Virginia Tech and Kentucky before being drafted by Washington as the sixth overall pick — and missing all of last season with a torn ACL.
Rae Burrell: The L.A. Sparks’ 6-2 forward is the best pure athlete on the floor, wherever she goes. She’s a restricted free agent, but if negotiations don’t work out, a lot of teams will be interested in the player whose dramatic improvement (especially during Unrivaled) found her on Team USA for the 2026 Women’s World Cup.
Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull: Indiana fans pray there’s enough room to keep them on that special roster. They’re fun, they do great social media, and they play with stylish ferocity. What’s not to like?
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Bruce Jenkins writes the 3-Dot Lounge for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: jenksurf@gmail.com; Twitter: @Bruce_Jenkins1