As the WNBA season approaches, teams are beginning to prepare for the upcoming expansion draft, which is expected to take place early this year. The expansion draft will allow new teams Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire to build their initial squads ahead of their inaugural seasons in the W.
Each existing team in the league will be allowed to protect five players — a decrease from last year’s six in the 2025 expansion draft to establish the Golden State Valkyries.
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The New York Liberty have several players they want to protect; however, they also must deal with changes in the league following ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA).
While the Liberty should protect their core players, who occupy spots 1-4, the question on Liberty fans’ minds is: who will be their fifth pick?
What’s going on with the ABC?
The expansion project has been delayed due to tense CBA negotiations, which could lead to further delays and possible work stoppages if a deal is not reached by January 9. The current agreement expired on October 31 and was extended until January 9, in the hope that the two sides could reach an agreement.
If the WNBA and WNBPA fail to reach an agreement, the league would enter a “status quo” period, during which the current collective bargaining agreement would be maintained and new negotiations would take place. However, without a necessary extension of negotiations, the WNBPA discussed possible strikes. In a historic vote with 93% participation of eligible players, 98% voted to authorize a strike. “when necessary.”
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In a interview with ESPNpresident of the WNBPA Nneka Ogwumike said the strikes represent a “symbol of our unity and the trust we have in each other to be able to give ourselves a certain level of authority in these negotiations.” She also notes that even though the vote authorized a strike, that does not mean a strike is imminent or desired by the players.
Teams, players and the WNBA are eager to see the end of the CBA, in hopes of having a timely 2026 season. Once the CBA is resolved, teams will be able to refocus their attention on the expansion draft and definitively announce their protected players.
Ionescu and Cloud should be protected
Under the current CBA, expansion teams cannot sign unrestricted free agents who have already exhausted their base eligibility, which includes two of Liberty’s Big Three, Breanna Stewart And Jonquel Jones. These players have already played their minimum two seasons under primary contract and therefore remain ineligible for expansion without formal protection from their team. This frees up two spots for the Liberty, putting them in a favorable position to further protect their squad.
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To complete the top three, the Liberty will protect the starting goalkeeper Sabrina Ionescu. Drafted as the first overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, Ionescu has been an integral part of the Liberty’s success, leading them to their first championship in 2024.
With absolutely fierce three-point shooting and offensive skills, Ionescu has greatly improved on the defensive end, winning praise from former head coach Sandy Brondello.
The Liberty should also protect Natasha Clouda recent but extremely impactful addition to the list.
Since arriving in New York last season, Cloud has improved his game and has had what appears to be a smooth transition within the team. In Laney-Hamilton’s absence, Cloud filled the guard/wing role with a fast and efficient style of play. His ability to pressure opponents, anticipate moves and change positions has been critical to the Liberty’s early success this season.
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Laney-Hamilton and Fiebich should also be safe
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton should also be protected by Liberty. She missed the 2025 season due to a knee injury she supported Unrivaled during the 2025 season, which placed her on the suspended contract list.
By suspending it for a contract year, the Liberty retained its exclusive negotiating rights for this upcoming season. Her defensive role was greatly missed and the Liberty should be happy to have her back.
Finally, the Liberty should protect Léonie Fiebichthe team’s attacker. Fiebich played a key role last season in Liberty’s championship victory, and she sports a high basketball IQ that makes her a vital asset. At 25 years old and only playing her second season with the Liberty, she has already made her way and still has a lot of room for improvement in this team.
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What options does Liberty have at pick #5?
The Liberty’s fifth pick has been a point of contention, as their current roster includes many assets they would like to protect. Among this list are Emma Meesseman, Marine JohannesAnd Nyara Sabally.
Meesseman has certainly proven herself to be a necessary member of the Liberty, arriving mid-season to replace a Breanna Stewart injured. In just 17 games, she held a 57.2% field goal percentage and averaged 13.4 points and 3.2 assists per game. His facilitating and offensive skills were key in saving the Liberty from what could have been a disastrous season.
Johannes has played all of her WNBA seasons since 2019 with the Liberty, except for brief interruptions to play overseas in France and Turkey. This season, Johannes averaged 6.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and a 39.7% shooting percentage. His role on the offensive line has been consistent, taking some of the offensive pressure off Ionescu.
Drafted in 2022 as New York’s first-round pick, Sabally had a stellar performance in the 2024 playoffs. This season, however, she was limited to just 17 games, down from 26 in 2024.
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She improved in other areas, averaging 5.4 points and 4.5 rebounds. In the final year of his rookie deal, Liberty may want to continue developing Sabally and facilitate another stellar season. However, with her injury history, she may be riskier than other players, which is a factor to consider.
Who should choose Liberty?
Any of these three players would be a reasonable choice at protection, but I think the Liberty should save Emma Meesseman.
Despite choosing to play overseas for three seasons before joining the Liberty, Meesseman established herself as a scoring and rebounding force at a time when the Liberty couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Its ability to join a team mid-season and facilitating the way she did would make her an asset to both Toronto and Portland, making her a player Liberty should prioritize protecting.
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Currently, his numbers are better than those of Johannes and Sabally, providing stability to the roster that will be needed after the Liberty’s early exit in the playoffs and recent personnel changes.
Fans can look forward to January 9 as a hopeful conclusion to this tense CBA negotiation as teams prepare for the expansion draft and the 2026 season kicking off in May.
The position Who will the New York Liberty protect in the WNBA Expansion Draft? appeared first on The leader.
