The 2026 WNBA season isn’t exactly guaranteed at this point, but odds are both the league and the players will come to an agreement on new CBA terms before things are set to begin in May. Assuming so, the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire will hold an Expansion Draft \u2014 just like the Golden State Valkyries did last year \u2014 and will begin to put their first rosters together.<\/p>\n
While some teams (such as the Valkyries, who surprised nearly everyone by having an incredibly powerful and successful 2025 season) could well be devastated by the draft, the Connecticut Sun are likely to walk away from it relatively unscathed.<\/p>\n
It’s been assumed that each existing WNBA team will be allowed to protect five players from the draft, a shift from last year when they could protect six. <\/p>\n
When it comes to protecting players, the Sun have four on rookie contracts who are locks: Aaliyah Edwards, Leila Lacan, Aneesah Morrow, and Saniya Rivers. The team drafted all four during the first round of their respective drafts, and are unlikely to leave any of them available for the Tempo or Fire.<\/p>\n
Of course, that fifth spot is where things get a little interesting. Marina Mabrey, who made her dissatisfaction with the team well known at the beginning of 2025<\/a>, is also the Sun’s strongest core candidate. That makes it likely she will be the fifth protected player.<\/p>\n This leaves Mamignan Toure, Rayah Marshall, Bria Hartley, Haley Peters, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Nikolina Milic, and Lindsay Allen unprotected. Tina Charles is ineligible for the draft.<\/p>\n The Sun could end up moving to Texas<\/p>\n The Expansion Draft isn’t the only factor that could potentially change the Sun \u2014 the team could end up moving to Houston, Texas, if a potential new buyer has their way. <\/p>\n