1. Carla Thomas – Chicago Sky
2. Erika DeSouza – Connecticut Sun
3. Katie Feenstra – Detroit Shock
4. Roneeka Hodges – Houston Comets
5. Ann Strother – Indiana Fever
6. LaToya Thomas – Los Angeles Sparks
7. Kristen Mann – Minnesota Lynx
8. Ann Wauters – New York Liberty
9. Jennifer Lacy – Phoenix Mercury
10. Kristin Haynie – Sacramento Monarchs
11. Chantelle Anderson – San Antonio Silver Stars
12. Betty Lennox – Seattle Storm – an unrestricted free agent whom Atlanta can designate as a “core” player giving them exclusive negotiating rights to her in exchange for an offer of a 1 year, fully garanteed contract at the maximum salary.
13. Yelena Lauchanka – Washington Mystics

But it doesn’t end here

Atlanta also made 3 trades:

1. 4th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft and Roneeka Hodges to Seattle in exchange for the 8th pick and veteran guard Iziane Castro Marques.
2. 18th pick in the WNBA Draft and forward LaToya Thomas to Detroit for Ivory Latta.
3. Atalanta will get the 24th pick in the draft in exchange for not selecting specific unprotected players from the Indiana Fever

All teams now enter the WNBA’s free agency period where teams and players can negotiate contracts. Core players must be designated by Feb. 11. Both parties can begin signing on Feb. 19.

Full Details

Each team from the league can protect up to 6 players and core 2 players. A core player is one who is basically untouchable. They are the key players of the team and when designated as a core player they will also receive the top salary. So teams have to take this into consideration when thinking about coring a player. Can they afford to pay her a top salary and stay within the cap?

Enough of the technical talk! Let’s have some fun!

Do you have any ideas on who Atlanta is going to pick?

Since the the expansion draft is still 3 days out, why not do a little speculation? Feel free to jump in and give your opinions and picks by leaving a comment bellow.

These picks are not in any specific order.

• From the Chicago Sky: Brooke Wyckoff – Forward, 6’1″, from Florida State and has been in the league 5 years. She averaged 2.9 PPG, 3.20 RPG, 1.4 APG and +6.12 EFF.
• From Connecticut Sun: Kristen Rasmusen – Forward, 6’2″ from Michigan State and has been in the league 7 years. She averaged 6.0 PPG, 2.00 RPG, 1.0 APG and +8.00 EFF.
• From Detroit Shock: Shannon Johnson – Guard, 5’7″, from South Carolina and has been in the league 8 years. She averaged 5.2 PPG, 2.30 RPG, 2.5 APG, and +6.09 EFF.
• From Houston Comets: Ashley Shields – Guard, 5’10″, from SW Tennessee and has been in the league 1 year. For her rookie year she averaged 5.3 PPG, 1.30 RPG, 0.8 APG, +1.46 EFF.
• From Indiana Fever: Tammy Sutton-Brown – Center, 6’4″, from Rutgers and has been in the league 6 years. She averaged 7.0 PPG, 4.70 RPG, 0.7 APG, and +7.00 EFF.
• From Los Angeles Sparks: Sherill Baker – Guard, 5’8″, from Georgia and has been in the league 1 year. She averaged 7.7 PPG, 2.60 RPG, 2.9 APG and +6.85 EFF.
• From Minnesota Lynx: Vanessa Hayden – Center, 6’4″, from Florida and has played in the league 3 years. She was out during 2007 having a baby.
• From New York Liberty: Ashley Battle - Forward, 6’0″ from Connecticut and has played in the league for 2 years. She averaged 3.7 PPG, 2.30 RPG, 1.3 APG, +4.0 EFF.
• From Phoenix Mercury: Jennifer Derevjanik – Guard, 5’10″ from George Mason and has played 3 years in the league. She averaged 3.1 PPG, 2.2 APG.
• From Sacramento Monarchs: Scholanda Robinson – Guard, 5’11″, from Louisiana State and has played in the league for 1 year. She averaged 3.3 PPG, 1.70 RPG, 0.7 APG, and +1.67 EFF
• From San Antonio Silver Stars: Chantelle Anderson – Center, 6’6″, from Vanderbilt and has played in the league for 4 years. She averaged 1.0 PPG, 0.50 RPG, 0.0 APG and +1.00 EFF.
• From Seattle Storm: Katie Geralds – Guard/Forward, 6’2″, from Tennessee and has played 2 years in the league. She has averaged 1.5 PPG, 1.50 RPG, 1.5 APG, and +4.00 EFF.
• From Washington Mystics: Laurie Koehn – Guard, 5’8″, from Kansas State and has played 3 years in the league. She averaged 1.4 PPG, 0.30 RPB, 0.2 APG, +0.96 EFF.

Some of these slots were difficult to fill.
So what do you think?

The Dream will pick from a designated pool of players determined by each of the other 13 teams. Those clubs must also designate a maximum of six players who will be “protected”, and thus not available for selection.

Atlanta will select one player from each club. If they should choose an unrestricted free agent, they will have the right to designate that player as a “core player” — meaning the Dream would gain exclusive negotiating rights in exchange for an offer of a one-year, fully guaranteed contract at the maximum salary.

It should be exciting seeing our team take form. Hopefully, we can score a few diamonds like the Chicago Sky did.