Cruse opens the show by asking Adler to explains some of the rules around the expansion draft. “Basically, you can protect six players,” Adler says. “You can protect fewer, and I don’t think that’s the case for any teams, but a couple are going to come close.” Adler then goes onto explain the rules surrounding contracts, restricted players, and more details that help describe the expansion draft process.

Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine

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.

Adler, Cruse, and Shafer go onto discuss some players they expect to be protected. For Atlanta, as Shafer explains, “off the top, they’re protecting Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada, and Rhyne Howard, and they’re almost certainly protecting Naz Hillmon.” The three hosts go onto make predictions about what other players each team will protect, and they debate about which players are worth protecting from each franchise.

Save 28% on The Next during the WNBA playoffs!

The 2024 WNBA playoffs are here, and we have a reporter in every market ready to bring you the latest coverage of your favorite team. Make sure you don’t miss any of the action by subscribing now and saving 28% in honor of the 28th WNBA season.

And what do the three hosts come up with in the end? Per Cruse, a “weird, weird roster.” It’s unclear still what the Valkyries will decide to do, but, as Cruse emphasizes, hopefully they choose a fun strategy.

Make sure to subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to keep learning about the WNBA, women’s college basketball, basketball history and much more!

Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.