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Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo build WNBA rosters in expansion draft
The new teams selected veteran players to form their inaugural squads.
Apr. 4, 2026 at 10:45am by Ben Kaplan
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The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, the WNBA's two newest expansion franchises, selected their inaugural rosters through the league's expansion draft on Friday. The Fire kicked things off by taking veteran forward Bridget Carleton with the first overall pick, while the Tempo focused on building a balanced roster with their selections.
Why it matters
The WNBA's expansion to Portland and Toronto marks the first time the league has added new teams since 2008. The expansion draft is a critical moment for the new franchises to lay the foundation for their inaugural seasons and build competitive rosters that can attract fans and compete from the start.
The details
In the expansion draft, each existing WNBA team was allowed to protect up to six players from their roster. The Fire and Tempo then had the opportunity to select unprotected players to build out their inaugural 12-player rosters. Portland used the first pick to take Carleton, a versatile forward who has played eight seasons in the league. The Tempo focused on adding depth and experience, selecting a mix of veteran players and young prospects.
- The WNBA expansion draft took place on Friday, April 4, 2026.
The players
Bridget Carleton
An 8-year WNBA veteran forward who was selected first overall by the Portland Fire in the expansion draft.
Portland Fire
One of the WNBA's two new expansion franchises, located in Portland, Oregon.
Toronto Tempo
One of the WNBA's two new expansion franchises, located in Toronto, Canada.
What’s next
The Fire and Tempo will continue building their rosters through free agency and trades ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, which tips off in May.
The takeaway
The WNBA's expansion to Portland and Toronto represents an exciting new chapter for the league, as the Fire and Tempo look to establish themselves as competitive franchises and bring the WNBA experience to new markets.
