Toronto Tempo, Portland Fire Assemble Rosters in 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft

Takeaways from the new franchises' selections as they prepare for their inaugural seasons.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a WNBA basketball game in motion, with players and the court fragmented into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The 2026 WNBA expansion draft sets the stage for new franchises in Toronto and Portland to build their inaugural rosters through a strategic selection process.NYC Today

The 2026 WNBA expansion draft on Friday saw the new Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire franchises select players to build their inaugural rosters. While Toronto landed a potential star in Marina Mabrey, Portland's picks lacked a true game-changing talent. Both teams have promising young cores, but the Tempo appear to be in a better position to compete right away in the 2026 season.

Why it matters

The WNBA's expansion to Toronto and Portland marks an exciting new chapter for the league, bringing professional women's basketball to new markets. How these two new teams fare in their first seasons will be closely watched, as the success or struggles of the expansion franchises could impact the league's future growth plans.

The details

The Toronto Tempo selected guard Marina Mabrey with the first overall pick, landing a proven scorer who can be the face of the new franchise. They also added guard Julie Allemand and center Nyara Sabally, giving head coach Sandy Brondello a solid trio to build around. Portland's top pick was forward Bridget Carleton, a steady two-way player, but the Fire lack a true superstar-caliber talent on their initial roster.

  • The 2026 WNBA expansion draft took place on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will begin play in the 2026 WNBA season, which tips off in May.

The players

Marina Mabrey

A sharpshooting guard selected first overall by the Toronto Tempo, Mabrey is expected to be the new franchise's top scoring threat and face of the team.

Bridget Carleton

The first overall pick of the Portland Fire, Carleton is a versatile two-way player who has been a key contributor for the Minnesota Lynx in recent seasons.

Julie Allemand

The Tempo's selection of the veteran guard Allemand gives them a steady floor general to complement Mabrey's scoring ability.

Nyara Sabally

Sabally, a center, was chosen by the Tempo and will reunite with her former New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello in Toronto.

Aaliyah Nye

The Tempo added the young guard Nye, who has potential to develop into a valuable contributor.

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What they’re saying

“Marina Mabrey is the new face of the Toronto Tempo. Unless Toronto lands a huge free agent later in the month, the team adding Mabrey in the expansion draft makes her the new face of the franchise.”

— Cory Woodroof, Author

“Bridget Carleton is a good player and has been integral to the Minnesota Lynx's recent success. Portland snagging her with the top expansion draft pick is a bit of a surprise, but we get it. She's going to step in and start right away.”

— Cory Woodroof, Author

What’s next

The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will continue to build their rosters through free agency and the 2026 WNBA Draft as they prepare for their inaugural seasons, which will tip off in May.

The takeaway

The expansion draft gave the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire a solid foundation to build their new franchises, but the Tempo appear to be in a better position to compete right away with the addition of a potential star in Marina Mabrey. Both teams will need to continue strengthening their rosters in the coming months to be competitive in the 2026 WNBA season.