Overview
- ESPN’s Kevin Pelton projected that Indiana would leave Cunningham off its protected list, with the final slot possibly going to rookie Mikayla Timpson.
- Existing teams are expected to protect up to five players in the expansion draft, and free agents are not eligible for those protected lists.
- Toronto and Portland will stock their inaugural rosters through this offseason’s expansion draft as they prepare to enter the league in 2026.
- Under prior rules, an expansion team could apply a core tag to select a free agent and negotiate a high one-year deal, though its availability now depends on the finalized CBA.
- The projection drew notable social-media pushback, reflecting Cunningham’s heightened profile after joining Indiana and playing alongside Caitlin Clark in 2025.