WNBA Expansion Draft Brings New Talent to Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire

Existing teams protect players as new franchises build rosters

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:57pm by Ben Kaplan

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The 2026 WNBA expansion draft will bring new players to the incoming Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire franchises. The draft order has been set, and existing WNBA teams have protected certain players from being selected by the expansion teams.

Why it matters

The WNBA expansion is an exciting development that will grow the league and bring professional women's basketball to new markets. The draft process allows the new teams to build competitive rosters while existing franchises maintain their core players.

The details

The expansion draft will take place on Friday, with the Tempo and Fire each making selections. Existing WNBA teams were able to protect a certain number of players from being drafted, so the new franchises will be building their rosters from the remaining unprotected talent pool.

  • The 2026 WNBA expansion draft will take place on Friday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Toronto Tempo

A new WNBA franchise based in Toronto, Ontario, set to begin play in the 2026 season.

Portland Fire

A new WNBA franchise based in Portland, Oregon, set to begin play in the 2026 season.

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What’s next

The Tempo and Fire will make their selections in the expansion draft on Friday, building their inaugural rosters for the 2026 WNBA season.

The takeaway

The 2026 WNBA expansion draft represents an exciting new chapter for the league, as the Tempo and Fire franchises will add fresh talent and grow the sport's footprint in new markets.