WNBA Expansion Draft 2026: Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo Build Inaugural Rosters
The WNBA officially expanded its footprint on Friday, April 3, 2026, as the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo conducted their first expansion draft. As the 14th and 15th franchises in league history, both teams spent the afternoon selecting a pool of talent from the existing 13 WNBA teams to establish their foundational cores.
The draft followed a two-team, two-round snake format, occurring shortly after a new collective bargaining agreement was reached last month. Even as the Golden State Valkyries joined the league in the previous offseason, the addition of Portland and Toronto marks a significant growth phase for the league.
Portland Fire: Prioritizing Character and Versatility
With the No. 1 overall pick in the expansion draft, the Portland Fire selected Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton. Portland General Manager Vanja Černivec stated that Carleton “immediately stood out” as the franchise’s primary target due to her character and her ability to contribute on both ends of the floor.
Carleton brings significant experience to the Fire, having started all 44 games for the Lynx last season. During Minnesota’s run to the 2025 WNBA semifinals, she averaged 6.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Originally the 21st overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft out of Iowa State, Carleton spent seven seasons with the Lynx before being selected by Portland.
The Fire, coached by former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Alex Sarama, also took a gamble on UConn star point guard Nika Mühl in the second round. However, Mühl is expected to miss the upcoming season after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL last month.
Toronto Tempo: Strategic Selection and Coaching Pedigree
The Toronto Tempo, led by former New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello, took a different strategic approach. After winning a coin toss last week, Toronto opted for the higher pick (sixth instead of seventh) in the first and third rounds of the annual collegiate draft, which effectively gave Portland the first pick in the expansion draft.
Toronto used its first selection to pick Sparks guard Julie Allemand, who went second overall in the expansion draft. The Tempo also secured Sun guard Marina Mabrey, a high-scoring addition who averaged 14.4 points per game last season.
2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Results
The following players were selected by the two new franchises to build their initial rosters:
| Portland Fire Selections | Toronto Tempo Selections |
|---|---|
| Round 1: Bridget Carleton, Cala Leite, Luisa Geiselsoder, Emily Engstler, Maya Caldwell, Chloe Bibby | Round 1: Julie Allemand, Nyara Sabally, Marina Mabrey, Aaliyah Nye, Lexi Held |
| Round 2: Haley Jones, Nyadiew Puoch, Sarah Ashlee Barker, Sug Sutton, Nika Mühl | Round 2: Maria Kliundikova, Adja Kane, Nikolina Milic, Kitija Laksa, Kristy Wallace |
Key Takeaways from the Expansion Draft
- Top Pick: Portland Fire selected Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx) No. 1 overall.
- Strategic Trade-off: Toronto Tempo conceded the first expansion pick to secure a higher slot (6th) in the collegiate draft.
- Injury Impact: Portland’s selection of Nika Mühl will not provide immediate on-court value as she recovers from an ACL tear.
- Roster Construction: Both teams selected from a designated pool, while each existing franchise was allowed to protect five players.
What’s Next for the Expansion Teams?
The expansion draft is only the first step in building these rosters. Both the Fire and the Tempo must now navigate the 2026 WNBA Draft, scheduled for April 13, to add collegiate talent. Both franchises face ongoing negotiations with pending free agents—including Bridget Carleton—to finalize their active rosters before the season tips off.
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