One of the benefits of expansion is that WNBA fans get to see a lot of quality basketball players who otherwise wouldn’t have found roster spots. Some of those spots will go to rookies who in previous years wouldn’t have made the team, but a lot of those spots will go to players who were out of the league but made a big impact when given a chance.

Janelle Salaun made the All-Rookie team after signing with the expansion Valkyries as a free agent. Monique Akoa Makani probably should have made the All-Rookie team over Dominique Malonga after helping the Phoenix Mercury to the fourth seed in the playoffs, and she was essential to their run to the WNBA Finals. Akoa Makani, Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa all contributed to Phoenix as rookie free-agent signings after going undrafted or, in Laksa’s case, getting Waived by Seattle and having her rights renounced by Dallas. Chloe Bibby was essential to Indiana’s playoff run as a 27-year-old rookie while Amy Okonkwo was a revelation for the Wings after initially signing a seven-day hardship contract in August.

With the success of all of those players as well as the increased opportunities from adding two more expansion teams, I believe teams are going to be even more aggressive in searching foreign leagues for untapped talent. And while we don’t know where they will end up, the expected salary increases in the new collective bargaining agreement only make it more likely that top players will want to play in the W. In July we discussed nine players who could benefit from expansion, many of whom played in the league this season but could have a larger role going forward (including, interestingly enough, Chloe Bibby).

That list also included some players who were out of the WNBA in 2025, most notably Raquel Carrera and Awak Kuier. Today, with leagues around the world well underway, we have identified 5 more players who could get a chance in the WNBA in 2026. Get to know these players now, because they may be familiar to even casual fans before long.

Mariam Coulibaly, Center, Spar Girona

Coulibaly played very little for the Bradley Braves last season, but through five professional games with Uni Girona CB in Spain, she is the leading scorer on a team featuring WNBA player Laeticia Amihere and the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 draft, Juste Jocyte. Coulibaly moves well for her size and is a willing three-point shooter, both on the pick-and-pop and as a trailer in transition. She doesn’t have a single block through five games, which is disappointing for a player of her size, but I think she could be a scorer off the bench right now.

Helena Pueyo, Small forward, Casademont Zaragoza

It is still early, but it appears Pueyo is having a breakout, which isn’t surprisingly considering she turns 25 in February. She won’t continue to shoot 61.5 percent on threes, but if she can maintain her 50 percent shooting on twos while chipping in a handful of rebounds and assists, savvy WNBA front offices will take notice. The Phoenix Mercury hold her rights after the former Arizona Wildcat signed a training camp contract but decided not to play in the WNBA last season. If she’s not selected in the expansion draft, she could have a similar impact for Phoenix as Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa did last season.

Crystal Dangerfield, Point Guard, Melikgazi Kayseri Basketbol

As the WNBA continues to expand, I think the most difficult players to find will be point guards. Dangerfield hasn’t shot the ball well enough to stick in the league but she is a willing passer who can take care of the ball. You could do far worse for a backup point guard who could start in a pinch so long as she doesn’t have to carry the load offensively.

Lauren Nicholson, Forward, Sydney Flames

Nicholson might be more of a guard in the WNBA, and she is the oldest player by far to make this list, turning 33 in March. I just think she can play. Her shot may be a little flat but she has a quick release. Finishing might be a problem in the W, but she is just a solid all-around player with very few weaknesses in her game. We saw Jule Vanloo make an impact as a 31-year-old rookie in 2014, and I bet Nicholson could do the same.

Klara Holm, Point Guard, Spar Girona

I really wasn’t expecting to have two players from a team I had never heard of on this list, but Klara Holm has been the one to put Spar Girona’s talented bigs in a position to succeed. Holm is averaging 15 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals through two games. I would like to see her up the assists a little bit but I like her all-around game.