Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger will probably not deviate too much from what former Mystics General Manager Mike Thibault would likely have done.
On Sept. 26, I wrote about which Washington Mystics player could be selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the 2025 WNBA Expansion Draft which happens next Friday, Dec. 6. That started by presuming which six players would be protected.
Here are the players I believe would be protected at the time:
- Elena Delle Donne
- Brittney Sykes
- Ariel Atkins
- Shakira Austin
- Aaliyah Edwards
- Stefanie Dolson
Ultimately, I felt like the Valkyries would select Karlie Samuelson, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough or Jade Melbourne.
Something major has happened since Sept. 26. In October, the Mystics announced that General Manager Mike Thibault and Head Coach Eric Thibault would no longer be with the team. So now, Monumental Basketball President (and presumptive Mystics interim General Manager) Michael Winger will be calling the shots. Would Winger do anything drastically different from Mike Thibault?
TL;dr version: Winger would likely select MOST of the same players to be protected that Thibault would. But he could leave Delle Donne open.
Now that Winger has the direct reins to the franchise, his number one interest heading into the expansion draft is to protect his most valuable players from a trade standpoint if nothing else.
So I expect him to protect Sykes, Atkins, Edwards, Austin and Dolson.
I can see him going in any direction with Delle Donne. While she would likely offer the most in a trade package (which is why Winger would protect her), the Mystics were unsuccessful in trying to trade her after coring her in 2024. So if the Valkyries select Delle Donne, it gives her (and Washington) a fresh start.
Who does Washington protect if Delle Donne is not? In that case I am leaning toward Karlie Samuelson or Jade Melbourne. Samuelson has a larger cap hit and could yield more immediate players in a trade by herself. But Melbourne is likely the better long term prospect.
Do you see Winger protecting different players? Or the same ones I’m suggesting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!