SAN FRANCISCO – From future Hall of Famers to dazzling young talents with untapped potential, the Bay Area’s new WNBA team is expected to have a diverse pool of players at its disposal when it begins to construct its roster next week.
The Valkyries can pick up to 12 players but no more than one per team during the WNBA’s expansion draft on Dec. 6. From there, the league’s first new team since 2008 will be allowed to make trades and sign free agents just like the other franchises.
Each team is allowed to protect six players from entering the draft, even if those players are entering free agency.
So clearly, superstars such as the Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper or Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark won’t be available.
The Valkyries can pick from any in the pool of unprotected players, though they can only choose one unrestricted free agent from that group.
A WNBA spokesperson told the Bay Area News Group that the list of unprotected players, which was finalized Monday, will not be made public.
But that doesn’t mean this news organization can’t speculate. Here are some of the higher-profile candidates that could be available for the Bay Area team:
Atlanta Dream: Haley Jones, forward
A Bay Area legend who was named the Final Four MVP in 2021 after leading Stanford to the national championship. Before her arrival on The Farm, Jones was a three-time Bay Area News Group high school player of the year at Archbishop Mitty in San Jose. In his two seasons with the Dream, she has yet to become a star on the pro level after being picked No. 6 overall by Atlanta in 2023. Jones (3.9 points, 2.1 assists per game last season) has hardly filled the stat sheet. But she is only 23 and could benefit from a homecoming.
Chicago Sky: Diamond DeShields, guard
With a new coach and philosophy in place, Chicago could be looking to reshape its roster. DeShields, a former All-Star, was a spot-starter for the Sky last season after missing all of 2023 with a knee injury. She averaged 4.5 points, 1.3 assists per game.
Connecticut Sun: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, forward
Not every player will be a major contributor. The Valkyries could pick someone like the 24-year-old Nelson-Ododa to compete in training camp for a roster spot.
Dallas Wings: Teaira McCowan, center
With UConn guard Paige Bueckers all but guaranteed to be Dallas’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, don’t be surprised if the Wings reshape the roster to play more of an up-and-down style. That could leave the effective inside presence that 6-foot-7 McCowan (11.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg) brings as an easy choice for the Valkyries if she is available.
Indiana Fever: Grace Berger, forward
Indiana is another team with a new coach, one looking to build the roster around phenoms Aliyah Boston and Clark. Snapping up Berger, who has shot over 40 percent from three-point land on a low volume of attempts, would be a decent gamble.
Las Vegas Aces: Kate Martin, forward
The Aces have four no-doubt-about-it players to protect, but after that is anyone’s guess. Martin (2.6 ppg) is a cost-controlled asset who has shown she can play the 3-and-D role next to ball-dominant scorers.
Los Angeles Sparks: Zia Cooke, guard
The Sparks, who have the No. 2 overall pick in this spring’s draft, are another team that may be looking to reshape the roster. Cooke, a 23-year-old point guard with upside and a quick first step, could be a smart pickup if she is unprotected.
Minnesota Lynx: Cecilia Zandalasini, forward
Zandalasini has shown she can get buckets in both the WNBA and Europe, where she spent five seasons in between stints with the Lynx. In a league where spacing is at a premium, the 28-year-old’s skillset (44.3 percent from three) is a valued one.
New York Liberty: Courtney Vandersloot, guard
Vandersloot might be a risky pick, since the 35-year-old (6.4 ppg, 4.8 apg) fell out of the champion Liberty’s rotation in the postseason and may retire if selected. But the future Hall of Fame guard would bring name recognition and a veteran presence to a new team trying to establish an identity.
Phoenix Mercury: Celeste Taylor, guard
Who Phoenix will protect is up for debate, since Diana Taurasi could retire and free up another unprotected player spot. The Valkyries could pick up another young guard in Taylor who played backup minutes last season.
Seattle Storm: Nika Muhl, guard
The Storm have a roster crunch and a number of players they could leave unprotected. The rationale for picking Muhl, who barely played for Seattle and is recovering from a knee injury? She’s cost-controlled, and brings name recognition from her time at UConn as a teammate of Bueckers.
Washington Mystics: Sika Kone, forward
Elena Delle Donne might not be protected, but the future Hall of Famer didn’t play last season and may just retire if selected. But there’s still intriguing choices on the roster. Forward Sika Koné (8.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg after being traded from Minnesota at midseason) is still just 22 with shooting talent.
