WNBA Expansion Draft Leaves Fans Disappointed

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 WNBA expansion draft for the new Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo franchises was a massive disappointment, lasting just 5 minutes and failing to generate any real excitement or suspense for fans. The draft results were quickly revealed through graphics, with no live look-ins at team war rooms or analysis from ESPN commentators. This was another missed opportunity for the WNBA to build momentum and engage fans ahead of the new season.

Why it matters

The WNBA expansion draft was a chance to create a compelling live event and build anticipation for the new Fire and Tempo franchises debuting next month. Instead, the rushed, lackluster execution was another example of the WNBA struggling to capitalize on opportunities to grow the league and engage its fanbase.

The details

The 2026 WNBA expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo was supposed to be a made-for-television event, with fans eagerly awaiting to see which players their favorite teams would lose to the new franchises. However, the entire draft was over in just 5 minutes, with ESPN quickly displaying graphics showing the 11 players selected by each team. There was no suspense, no analysis from commentators, and no live look-ins at the team war rooms to see the decision-making process.

• The expansion draft was broadcast on ESPN starting at 3:30 PM ET on April 3, 2026.
• The entire draft was completed in just 5 minutes.

What’s next

The WNBA will need to learn from this disappointing expansion draft and ensure that future expansion events are executed with more fanfare and engagement to build excitement for new franchises.