December 6, 2024
Locked On Women’s Basketball: WNBA expansion draft preview
By The Next
Jackie Powell and Maria Marino discuss the format and make some predictions
The long-anticipated WNBA expansion draft is here! Host Jackie Powell had broadcaster and analyst Maria Marino on the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to break down all you need to know before the league’s first expansion draft in 16 years.
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They start their discussion with the purpose of the draft, the process which allows the Golden State Valkyries to pick one player from each roster, and how teams will utilize protected lists to keep some of their stars safe from selection.
“I think it’s really important that the listeners understand that the Valkyries are not married to any of the players they are going to pick,” Powell said. “It’s a stepping stone. It’s a beginning point. It is a tool that helps this team get assets that they wouldn’t have, other wise, had.”
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They also discussed the strategy for how existing teams will approach the expansion draft understanding that they will not be privy to competitors’ protected lists.
“Teams may use their draft capital to try to convince Golden State to do something that will work in their favor, whether that means, you know, like preventing preventing losing one of the players that they want to keep, or conversely, maybe telling them or nudging them to pick a certain player that maybe it would benefit them to lose because of salary cap restrictions or because the maybe the current team doesn’t see the fit,” Marino said. “Manipulation of the like the deals that are going to go on behind the scenes, is what makes this like such a chess match.”
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Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.
Make sure you listen to the full episode before the draft begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, and subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to keep learning about the WNBA, women’s college basketball, basketball history and much more!
