WNBA expansion draft history
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1998: Detroit Shock, Washington Mystics
[edit]Initial player allocation
[edit]| Pick | Player | Nationality | WNBA Team | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cindy Brown (F) |  United States
|
Detroit Shock | Long Beach State (from Seattle Reign, ABL) |
| 2 | Razija Mujanović (C) |  Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
Detroit Shock | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| 3 | Nikki McCray (G) | United States
|
Washington Mystics | Tennessee (from Columbus Quest, ABL) |
| 4 | Alessandra Santos de Oliveira (C) |  Brazil
|
Washington Mystics | Pool Comense (Italy) |
Expansion draft
[edit]| Pick | Player | Nationality | New Team | Former Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhonda Blades (G) | United States
|
Detroit Shock | New York Liberty |
| 2 | Heidi Burge (F) | United States
|
Washington Mystics | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 3 | Tajama Abraham (C) | United States
|
Detroit Shock | Sacramento Monarchs |
| 4 | Penny Moore (F) | United States
|
Washington Mystics | Charlotte Sting |
| 5 | Tara Williams (G) | United States
|
Detroit Shock | Phoenix Mercury |
| 6 | Deborah Carter (F) | United States
|
Washington Mystics | Utah Starzz |
| 7 | Lynette Woodard (G) | United States
|
Detroit Shock | Cleveland Rockers |
| 8 | Tammy Jackson (F/C) | United States
|
Washington Mystics | Houston Comets |
1999: Minnesota Lynx, Orlando Miracle
[edit]Initial Expansion Player Allocation
[edit]| Pick | Player | Nationality | New WNBA Team | Former WNBA Team | College/Country/Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kristin Folkl (F) | United States
|
Minnesota Lynx | None | Stanford |
| 2 | Nykesha Sales (G/F) | United States
|
Orlando Miracle | None | Connecticut |
Expansion Draft Selections
[edit]| Pick | Player | Nationality | New WNBA Team | Former WNBA Team | College/Country/Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandy Reed (F) | United States
|
Minnesota Lynx | Phoenix Mercury | Southern Mississippi |
| 2 | Andrea Congreaves (F) |  United Kingdom
|
Orlando Miracle | Charlotte Sting | Mercer |
| 3 | Kim Williams (G) | United States
|
Minnesota Lynx | Utah Starzz | DePaul |
| 4 | Kisha Ford (G) | United States
|
Orlando Miracle | New York Liberty | Georgia Tech |
| 5 | Octavia Blue (G) | United States
|
Minnesota Lynx | Los Angeles Sparks | Miami (FL) |
| 6 | Yolanda Moore (F) | United States
|
Orlando Miracle | Houston Comets | Mississippi |
| 7 | Adia Barnes (F) | United States
|
Minnesota Lynx | Sacramento Monarchs | Arizona |
| 8 | Adrienne Johnson (G) | United States
|
Orlando Miracle | Cleveland Rockers | Ohio State |
Post Expansion Draft Player Allocation
[edit]| Pick | Player | Nationality | New WNBA Team | Former WNBA Team | College/Country/Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katie Smith (F) | United States
|
Minnesota Lynx | None | Ohio State from Columbus Quest, ABL |
| 2 | Shannon Johnson (G/F) | United States
|
Orlando Miracle | None | South Carolina from Columbus Quest, ABL |
2000: Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, Seattle Storm
[edit]
2006: Chicago Sky
[edit]
2008: Atlanta Dream
[edit]
Source:[1]
2024: Golden State Valkyries
[edit]In December 2024 an expansion draft will occur to help fill the roster for the expansion Golden State Valkyries and the team will also participate in the 2025 WNBA draft prior to the team's first season in 2025.[2]
The WNBA announced on September 30, 2024 that the expansion draft would be held on December 6 and televised by ESPN, and also announced the draft rules. Each existing WNBA team must provide the league office with a list of all players to which it held contract rights as of the final day of the 2024 regular season; the submission deadline was not determined, but was expected to be about 10 days before the draft. Each team also must designate no more than six players who will not be eligible for selection. The Valkyries will be allowed to select one available player from each of the 12 previously existing teams. Only one player who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024 season can be chosen, and that player cannot have played under a "core player" contract for two or more seasons. The Valkyries will be allowed to make trades prior to the expansion draft, including agreements to (1) select a given player and trade that player to another team or (2) select or not select an available player from a given team.[3]
2025 or 2026: Toronto WNBA Team, Portland WNBA Team
[edit]Some time following the 2025 season an expansion draft will occur that will help fill the roster for the currently unnamed expansion Toronto WNBA team and Portland WNBA team, both of which are scheduled to begin play in the 2026 season. The details and rules for this draft are currently unknown.
Future Expansion
[edit]During a press conference in October 2024 WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated that the league seeks to have a 16th team installed by the 2028 NBA season.[4] According to Sports Business Journal bids from Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Austin, Kansas City, Orlando, Nashville, Charlotte, Denver, Cleveland as well as multiple bids for Miami are expected for the next expansion team.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ WNBA.com: Atlanta Dream
- ^ Ingemi, Marisa. "What's next for Golden State WNBA team? Timeline for name, GM, coach, roster". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Expansion Draft for 13th WNBA Franchise, Golden State Valkyries Set for December 6 on ESPN" (Press release). WNBA. September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ Salao, Colin (2024-10-15). "WNBA Eyes 16th Team by 2028: Engelbert Evaluates Candidates". Front Office Sports. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ "Growing list of investors target WNBA expansion franchise". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
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