The first big event of the WNBA offseason will be held soon.
On Friday, the Golden State Valkyries will begin the process of building their 2025 roster with the league's first expansion draft since 2008.
The Liberty, like 11 other WNBA teams, had to submit a list of six protected players to the Valkyries last week.
While these lists are not meant to be made public, New York general manager Jonathan Kolb has a clear list of at least five players to protect. After all, Brianna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Betoniyah Rainey-Hamilton and Leonie Fievich were the starting lineup that led the Liberty to the franchise's first WNBA title in October.
This is the last line of defense with question marks remaining.
Should Liberty save Nyara Sabally, the unlikely heroine of a winner-take-all championship final? Or should New York save veteran reserve Kayla Thornton or Courtney Vandersloot? Do you think it's worth saving it for the last slot? What about French guard Marine Johannes or 2024 first-round pick Marquesha Davis?
Each case is shown below.
Nyara Sabally
A case to protect your Savary is very simple. The third-year forward, whom the Liberty selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 draft, was a big hit for New York when the team needed her most, recording 13 points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. Without her, the Liberty cannot win the title. Sabally is young and has a lot of room to grow. For Liberty, that possibility seems worth the investment, especially if they want to make the most of the empty championship window before the monsoon of free agency that awaits the 2026 offseason.
The argument against protecting Sabally will primarily be her injury history. Sabally, 24, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in 2022 and has already had two surgeries on his right knee. He also missed the first half of last season with a back problem.
From the Valkyries' perspective, Sabally would be a premier pick for their first roster. She is a young and versatile center who has yet to reach her full potential. Another added bonus is that Sabally is on a team-friendly (rookie-scale) contract through the 2026 season.
Kayla Thornton
The argument in Thornton's defense is that, even at age 31, she was one of only two Liberty players to play in all 40 regular season games. She played the sixth-most minutes on the team last season. Availability is key in any sport. Additionally, Thornton has shined for New York off the bench over the past two seasons, something that cannot be overlooked.
The argument against protecting Thornton is that she is not the player she used to be and is at the tail end of her playing career. Her replacement could be found in free agency or the draft.
From the Valkyries' perspective, Thornton is a nine-year veteran and could be a leader on what will likely be one of the youngest teams in the league.
Courtney Vandersloot
The lawsuit to protect Vandersloot is complex. Yes, she is a reliable playmaker and a solid rebounder for her size. But Vandersloot is about to become an unrestricted free agent, so it seems foolish to protect a player who could leave when the market opens.
We have already mentioned the lawsuit against Vandersloot's protection. She has a reduced role in the playoffs and is about to become an unrestricted free agent, meaning she can explore options elsewhere.
From the Valkyries' perspective, Vandersloot will be acquired in free agency rather than in the expansion draft. She is a two-time WNBA Champion and a proven leader, having led the league in assists multiple times.
Marine Johannes
The rationale for protecting Johannes is rooted in the fact that she was Liberty's sixth player in 2023 and had the second-highest scoring average among the French national team, which won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. There will be.
The argument against keeping Johannes is that Liberty might value another player over her, considering they won the title without her. Johannes has opted out of the 2024 WNBA season to focus on the Olympics. Whether she will play in 2025 remains to be seen.
From the Valkyries' point of view, naming Johannes may be a risk, given that her status this season is not clear and there is no guarantee that she will play.
