Bold headline: The WNBA expansion draft will likely limit teams to protecting five players, signaling a potential league-wide shakeup.
There’s no official date yet for the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft, which will involve newcomers Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire assembling rosters. Last year, clubs were permitted to shield six players from the Golden State Valkyries. But this week, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton suggested that the next expansion draft could feature a five-player protection limit for each team.
With salaries expected to jump in free agency, a large number of players are likely to switch teams. That sets the stage for a substantial realignment across the league, with every franchise essentially in a rebuilding phase.
Earlier this month, we examined which six Mystics players would be protected under last year’s rules in a hypothetical 2026 expansion draft. If the five-player limit holds, Washington would need to choose differently.
Pelton projects that Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, Shakira Austin, and Jacy Sheldon would be protected under a five-player cap. I agree with the first four picks, as Citron, Iriafen, Amoore, and Austin form the young core Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and Mystics General Manager Jamila Wideman are focused on developing. However, I’m unsure about Sheldon being among the five. Pelton also mentions Emily Engstler as a possible protected player. My read remains that Sug Sutton could be the fifth protection in Washington’s case.
What do you think? Which five should the Mystics protect if the rule stays at five, and would you hinge your decision on potential five-player limits or consider protecting players with longer-term upside and versatility? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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