The Storm's Expansion Draft Problem Is About to Get Real

Here's what's coming for Seattle Storm fans: an expansion draft nightmare that's about to happen way sooner than anyone wants to think about it. The WNBA is growing fast, and that means the Storm are going to have to say goodbye to someone good. Whether they like it or not.

The League Is Expanding Like Crazy

The WNBA went from 12 teams to 13 when Golden State joined the league last year. But hold on, because it's about to get much busier. Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are coming this year. Then Cleveland joins in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. Five new franchises in five years. That's not gradual growth, that's full speed ahead.

And every single expansion means another draft where the Storm have to make a choice: which players do we protect, and which ones do we lose?

Everyone Has to Get Used to It

WNBA players, front office people, and fans all need to accept that expansion drafts are the new normal. This isn't a one time thing. This is what the league looks like now. Teams that want to stay competitive have to figure out their protection lists and hope the math works out in their favor.

The Storm have some serious talent on the roster. Figuring out who stays and who goes is going to be brutal. But it's the cost of playing in a league that's finally getting the investment and attention it deserves.

Next Up

Portland and Toronto are coming this year. For Seattle, that means the countdown is on. The front office has to start thinking right now about how to protect the core while still having enough depth left to compete. There's no easy answer here, and there's no avoiding the hard decisions that come with it.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.