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Deutsch2024 WNBA expansion draft
| 2024 WNBA expansion draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date(s) | December 6, 2024 |
| Location | San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco, California |
| Network(s) | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| League | WNBA |
| Expansion teams | Golden State Valkyries |
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) held their sixth expansion draft on December 6, 2024 for the Golden State Valkyries. This draft allowed the Golden State Valkyries to select players from the existing WNBA teams to fill their debut roster prior to the start of the 2025 WNBA season.[1]
On September 30, 2024 the WNBA announced the expansion draft would be held on December 6, 2024 and televised on ESPN, and also announced the draft rules.[2] Each existing WNBA team provided 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. These 12 teams were allowed to protect a maximum of six players from their 2024 rosters (or for whom they held playing rights).[2] The Valkyries were then permitted to select one unprotected player from each team's 2024 roster, but only one unrestricted free agent and that player could not have played under a "core player" contract for two or more seasons.[3] During the draft, the Valkyries selected Monique Billings, who most recently had played for the Phoenix Mercury, as their sole unrestricted free agent draft pick.[4]
Golden State was permitted 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. However, no such agreements were made public.[5]
Key
[edit]| Pos. | G | F | C |
| Position | Guard | Forward | Center |
| ! | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| # | Denotes player who never played in the WNBA regular season or playoffs |
Expansion draft
[edit]The following players were drafted for the roster of the Valkyries from the league's existing teams on December 6, 2024:
| Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Former team | WNBA years[a] | Career with the franchise[b] | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iliana Rupert | C |  France | Atlanta Dream | 2 | — | [4] |
| 2 | María Conde # | F |  Spain | Chicago Sky | 0 | — | |
| 3 | Veronica Burton | G |  United States | Connecticut Sun | 3 | 2025–present | |
| 4 | Carla Leite | France | Dallas Wings | 0 | 2025–present | ||
| 5 | Temi Fágbénlé | C |  United Kingdom | Indiana Fever | 4 | 2025–present | |
| 6 | Kate Martin | G | United States | Las Vegas Aces | 1 | 2025–present | |
| 7 | Stephanie Talbot | F |  Australia | Los Angeles Sparks | 6 | 2025–present | |
| 8 | Cecilia Zandalasini |  Italy | Minnesota Lynx | 3 | 2025–present | ||
| 9 | Kayla Thornton + | United States | New York Liberty | 9 | 2025–present | ||
| 10 | Monique Billings | Phoenix Mercury | 7 | 2025–present | |||
| 11 | No selection | — | — | Seattle Storm | — | — | |
| 12 | Julie Vanloo | G |  Belgium | Washington Mystics | 1 | 2025 |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Ingemi, Marisa (February 1, 2024). "What's next for Golden State WNBA team? Timeline for name, GM, coach, roster". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "Expansion Draft for 13th WNBA Franchise, Golden State Valkyries Set for December 6 on ESPN" (Press release). WNBA. September 30, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ Bernstein, Dan (December 6, 2024). "WNBA Expansion Draft Results for Golden State Valkyries". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ a b Henderson, Cydney; Horrow, Ellen J. (December 6, 2024). "WNBA expansion draft live updates: Golden State Valkyries pick their players for 2025". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ "Golden State Valkyries begin constructing inaugural roster with 11 selections in 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft". NBA. December 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2025.