Chicago Sky Protect Players From WNBA Expansion Draft

Trades with new teams Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo ensure Sky's roster remains intact.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:00am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into overlapping geometric shapes in navy, red, and gold, conveying the strategic maneuvering of the Chicago Sky to protect its roster from the expansion draft.The Chicago Sky's strategic trades to shield its players from the WNBA expansion draft reflect the team's commitment to maintaining its championship-contending roster.Chicago Today

The WNBA is expanding to 15 teams in 2026 with the addition of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Ahead of the expansion draft, the Chicago Sky made deals with both new franchises to ensure none of their players would be selected, protecting their roster from the draft.

Why it matters

The Sky's proactive moves to shield their players from the expansion draft highlight the team's strategic approach to roster management. By making trades to prevent the Fire and Tempo from picking up Sky players, Chicago has maintained the core of its championship-contending squad.

The details

The Sky made separate deals with both the Fire and Tempo. In the trade with Portland, Chicago sent the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft to the Fire in exchange for the No. 21 pick and an agreement that the Fire would not select any Sky players in the expansion draft. The deal with Toronto was more lopsided, with the Sky sending the No. 26 pick to the Tempo in return for Toronto's promise not to draft a Chicago player.

  • The trades were completed on April 1, 2026, just days before the WNBA expansion draft on April 3.
  • The 2026 WNBA Draft, in which the Fire and Tempo will also participate, is scheduled for April 13.

The players

Chicago Sky

The WNBA franchise based in Chicago, Illinois that won the league championship in 2025.

Portland Fire

One of two new WNBA expansion teams joining the league in 2026, set to compete in the Western Conference.

Toronto Tempo

The other new WNBA expansion franchise in 2026, joining the Eastern Conference.

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What’s next

The WNBA expansion draft will take place on April 3, 2026, with the Fire and Tempo selecting players from the unprotected lists of the league's existing 13 teams. The 2026 WNBA Draft will follow on April 13.

The takeaway

The Sky's strategic moves to protect their roster from the expansion draft demonstrate the team's commitment to maintaining its championship-caliber core. This proactive approach could give Chicago an advantage as the league welcomes two new franchises.