Fire Make Surprise Moves in 2026 WNBA Draft

Portland acquires Serah Williams in trade with Connecticut Sun

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:41am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a WNBA draft day scene, with players, team logos, and the energy of the event broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in a dynamic, cubist composition.The Portland Fire's bold draft day moves, including a surprise trade, signal an aggressive approach to building a competitive roster for their inaugural WNBA season.Madison Today

The Portland Fire made some unexpected selections in the 2026 WNBA Draft, including Iyana Martin and Frieda Buhner, before trading their third-round pick Taylor Bigby and a 2027 third-rounder to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Serah Williams.

Why it matters

The Fire are a new WNBA franchise debuting this season, so their draft picks will be crucial in building a competitive roster. The trade for Williams, a former Wisconsin standout, shows the team is willing to be aggressive in acquiring talent, even if it means giving up future draft capital.

The details

With the 7th overall pick, the Fire selected Iyana Martin, the EuroLeague Women Young Player of the Year from Spain. In the 2nd round, they took Frieda Buhner of Germany as the 17th pick. The Fire then selected Taylor Bigby of TCU with the 37th overall pick in the 3rd round. However, they quickly traded Bigby and a 2027 3rd-round pick to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for the 33rd overall pick, Serah Williams.

  • The 2026 WNBA Draft took place on Monday, April 14, 2026 in New York City.
  • The Fire-Sun trade was agreed to on draft day.

The players

Iyana Martin

A standout player from Spain who was named the EuroLeague Women Young Player of the Year. The Fire selected her 7th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Frieda Buhner

A German player whom the Fire selected 17th overall in the 2nd round of the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Taylor Bigby

The Fire's 3rd round pick (37th overall) in the 2026 WNBA Draft, who they then traded to the Connecticut Sun.

Serah Williams

The former Wisconsin standout whom the Fire acquired from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Bigby and a future 3rd-round pick.

Connecticut Sun

The WNBA team that traded Serah Williams to the Portland Fire in exchange for Taylor Bigby and a future 3rd-round pick.

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What they’re saying

“Iyana Martin is good, Frieda Buhner is good, and so is Serah Williams.”

— @coolname1255710, Fan

“R.I.P. Serah Williams staying in Connecticut. 2026-2026.”

— @divinewbb, Fan

“What about the 'Geno Effect,' Serah Williams fell to the third round!”

— @gfunkera882, Fan

“I'm so happy for Serah Williams. I hope she sticks with the team.”

— @MYLaced, Fan

“It's actually not (a bad trade). Where was Serah Williams going to get playing time behind Brittney Griner, Olivia Nelson Ododa, Aaliyah Edwards, Aneesah Morrow, and Kennedy Burke?”

— @d22_dee, Fan

What’s next

The Fire will look to integrate their new draft picks, including Serah Williams, into the team's rotation as they prepare for their inaugural WNBA season.

The takeaway

The Fire's bold moves in the 2026 WNBA Draft, including the surprise trade for Serah Williams, demonstrate the team's willingness to be aggressive in building a competitive roster for their debut season. While the selections of lesser-known players like Iyana Martin and Frieda Buhner raised some eyebrows, the Fire appear determined to uncover hidden gems that can help them make an immediate impact in the league.