2026 WNBA Expansion Draft LIVE Log: Portland Fire & Toronto Tempo Picks

The day has finally arrived: the 2026 WNBA expansion draft is here, and the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will select their inaugural rosters. Nearly two weeks have passed since the Players’ Union and the WNBA agreed to a historic collective bargaining agreement. With a condensed schedule set in stone, the WNBA will welcome its 14th and 15th teams.

(Photos courtesy of Portland Fire/ Toronto Tempo)

At last, the WNBA will celebrate its 30th season, and what better way to kick things off than with two brand new teams? There was a period where the season’s status was in limbo until a CBA was reached. Now that a deal has been ratified, the WNBA season will get the green light, including a compact offseason.

The league continues to expand by welcoming its first international franchise. By 2030, the league will expand to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Portland, Detroit, Cleveland, and Houston once defined the WNBA’s inception, and now the league is delivering a promise fans waited decades for: those cities are gearing up for a return.

WNBA Expands Internationally

Toronto tabbed Masai Ujiri as its principal owner, a familiar name who was the former President and Vice Chairman of the Toronto Raptors. Having been associated with the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 championship season, Ujiri brings experience and a proven track record to the league’s newest franchise. The team also hired two-time WNBA Champion Monica Wright Rogers as its first General Manager and appointed Sandy Brondello as head coach.

Canada’s first WNBA team name was developed through ideas submitted by more than 10,000 people. Branded with a mix of Bordeaux and Borealis Blue colors, the jerseys will celebrate fans, the community, and basketball. The uniforms will feature a signature “T”, representing six lines that make up a starting five and the sixth player.

The identity behind the Tempo name reflects the “rhythm and pace” of Canada and basketball. This season, the Tempo will play home games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, also home of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and PHWL’s Toronto Scepters. Incorporated in their 44-game schedule are trips to Scotiabank Arena, home to the Toronto Raptors, Bell Centre (Montreal), and Rogers Arena (Vancouver).

Moda Center Welcomes Back the WNBA

A new flame is igniting in Portland, a city where the WNBA legacy was previously born. Set to join forces with Portland as its first-ever General Manager, Vanja Černivec recently served as the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Valkyries. The Fire additionally named former WNBA star and Boston Celtics Scout Ashley Battle as Vice President of Basketball Operations, Strategy, and Innovation. The first-ever head coach is Alex Sarama, who recently held a role as an assistant coach for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.

Home to the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, Moda Center will also welcome the Fire, who will play their home games at the venue. Owned by Alex Bhathal and Michelle Bhathal of RAJ Sports, the Fire aesthetic scheme includes tones of fire red, brown, blue, and pink. Branded by a local Portland agency, the jerseys nearly replicate the Trail Blazers in color: Set to feature Fire, Portland, and PDX on the uniforms, the design carries a deeply rooted meaning. PDX is comprised of and inspired by the Willamette River, the 2026 arrival, and the celebration of the “conviction, pride, and individual expression of Portland.”

The Fire Branding

The Fire returns to Portland after being one of the many defunct WNBA franchises that notably drafted former Rookie of the Year Jackie Stiles. Since folding after running from 2000 to 2002, the franchise will revitalize itself in front of the Rose City faithful. Blending a modern twist with old roots, the franchise is paying homage to Portland by identifying its logo as a “Rose on Fire.” Representing the city’s deep-rooted passion and spirit for sports, the logo features a rose and a flame, along with a color palette that “evokes the power of grit, calm, and creativity that defines the team.”

On Friday, Apr. 3, both the Tempo and Fire will complete their first-ever expansion draft. Under the new CBA deal, each team will have 12 players, with two additional developmental spots. Ballislife breaks down the expansion rules, live selections, and the analysis behind the picks…

Expansion Draft Rules

Through a coin flip, it has been determined that Portland will choose first in the 24-pick draft, which will operate in a two-round snake format (meaning Toronto gets the first pick in round two).
Each of the incumbent 13 teams will be allowed to protect up to five players (submitted by Sunday, March 29). Players on a respective team’s active roster, suspended, draft, reserved, core, or retired lists as of the final day of the last regular season will be eligible for protection or selection. Players on expired contracts with at least five years of service will be labeled “potential unrestricted free agents.” Portland and Toronto can select such a player each.
Next week, Portland and Toronto will be permitted to negotiate deals that could feature either an agreement to take an unprotected player and trade her to another team or an agreement to select or not select a woman on the unprotected list.
Each WNBA team was able to protect up to six players last year in the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft. That number has since dropped to five, which means teams can protect fewer players. Each roster will be assembled through the expansion draft, WNBA Draft, and free agency period.

How and Where to Watch

The 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Special, presented by State Street Management SPY, will take place on Apr. 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Trade! Trade!

The WNBA season’s first trade is among us, involving several teams. No, this wasn’t an April Fool’s joke—the Fire, Tempo, and Chicago Sky struck a deal. Such deals include:

The Chicago Sky will receive the No. 21 pick from the Fire in exchange for the No. 17 pick. Subsequently, Portland will not select a member of the Sky in the expansion draft.
The Sky sent the No. 26 pick to the Tempo, and in return, Toronto will not select a Sky player in expansion.

My take: Chicago finished with a 10-34 record, and once again missed the playoffs under the Angel Reese/Kamilla Cardoso era. They were willing to give up picks to protect players, but what does this mean? Chicago currently has four players under contract: Reese, Cardoso, Hailey Van Lith, and Maddy Westbeld. Will they attempt to re-sign Ariel Atkins in free agency, who was acquired last February? Will Rachel Banham and Rebecca Allen return to the Windy City? Or is the Sky attempting to cook up something big?

Having finished with the worst record next to the Dallas Wings, it doesn’t make sense to give up picks. In fact, they dropped four spots in the draft; perhaps they are banking on future players such as Van Lith and Westbeld.

2026 WNBA Draft

With the recent trades, here is what each of the three teams holds for WNBA draft picks:

The Toronto Tempo: Picks Nos. 6, 22, 26, and 36
The Portland Fire: Picks Nos. 7, 17, and 37
The Chicago Sky: Picks Nos. 5, 21, and 32

2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Order & Picks

2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Order

Round 1 (1-12)
Round 2 (13-24)

1. Portland
13. Toronto

2. Toronto
14. Portland

3. Portland
15. Toronto

4. Toronto
16. Portland

5. Portland
17. Toronto

6. Toronto
18. Portland

7. Portland
19. Toronto

8. Toronto
20. Portland

9. Portland
21. Toronto

10. Toronto
22. Portland

11. Portland
23. Toronto

12. Toronto
24. Portland

Portland Fire’s Selections

No. 1:
No. 3:
No. 5:
No. 7:
No. 9:
No. 11:
No. 14:
No. 16:
No. 18:
No. 20:
No. 22:
No. 24:

Toronto Tempo’s Selections

No. 2:
No. 4:
No. 6:
No. 8:
No. 10:
No. 12:
No. 13:
No. 15:
No. 17:
No. 19:
No. 21:
No. 23:

Portland Fire Analysis

Draft Grade:

Toronto Tempo Analysis

Draft Grade:

Next up is free agency, which runs from Apr. 3-12. Soon after, the 2026 WNBA Draft will be held on Apr. 13. On its heels is the preseason, which is set to tip off on Apr. 25. The 30th WNBA season will begin on Friday, May 8, with a clash between Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings. For more offseason dates and information, click HERE. Follow the movement and keep up with Ballislife all WNBA season long!

Sara Jane Gamelli is the Managing Editor and Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com, as well as Director of Ballislife Bets. Follow her on X at @SaraJGamelli.