2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Results: Portland Flames, Toronto Tempo Live results and analysis for every pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The first major event of the WNBA offseason has arrived.
advertise
For fans of the Portland Flames and Toronto Tempo, this is the event they’ve been dying to attend for months.
With the new collective bargaining agreement finalized, the WNBA expansion draft — the league’s second in as many seasons — takes place Friday afternoon on ESPN.
more: Learn more about the impact of the WNBA expansion draft on Toronto and Portland
The WNBA’s 14th and 15th teams, Fire and Tempo, announced their rosters today. The Serpentine Draft consists of two rounds of 24 picks; Fire holds the first pick of the first round, while Tempo holds the first pick of the second round.
advertise
Portland and Toronto can bring in up to two players from 13 other WNBA teams, with the exception of the Chicago Sky. The Flames and Tempo reached an agreement with the Sky this week not to select any Chicago players in the expansion draft.
Below, The Sporting News grades and analyzes every selection in this historic expansion draft.
2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Grades: Live Results and Analysis for Every Pick
first round
1. Portland Fire: Bridget Carlton, forward
The Flames brought WNBA basketball back to Portland for the first time since 2002 and kicked off the expansion draft by selecting former Iowa State star Carlton with the No. 1 pick.
advertise
Carlton started 44 games last season for the league-best Minnesota Lynx. She shot over 40% from the field and over 37.3% from three-point range while playing excellent defense. Fire coach Alex Sarama can build a solid, dependable player around him.
2. Toronto Pace: Julie Alleman, guard
Canada’s first WNBA team adds Julie Allemand from the Los Angeles Sparks. Allemand is an experienced, reliable floor general who can compete for a starting job right away.
3. Firepower: Kara Reiter, guard
Wright made six starts for the Golden State Valkyrie in his rookie season. Her shot needs some work, but the potential is obvious.
advertise
4. Rhythm: Nyara Sabally, center
It would be a great pick if the Toronto Raptors selected someone like Lauren Bates in the April 13th rookie draft. Sabally won a WNBA championship with the New York Liberty in 2024 and has been a key reserve player for contending teams.
5. Fire: Luisa Gesselsold (middle)
Geisel Soder, a second-round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, averaged 15.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per 100 possessions in Dallas last season. Gesselsold is a stretch big man who will need some fine-tuning on defense but will cause matchup problems for Portland’s opponents.
6. Rhythm: Marina Marbury, guard
Mabrey is an elite shooter with All-Star ability. However, the Notre Dame product has struggled to maintain consistency at times. Marbury will get a fresh start under Sandy Brondello in Toronto, where she’ll have a high usage rate and a platform to play her best ball to date.
advertise
7. Firepower: Emily Engstler, forward
Engstler, a former fourth overall pick out of the Indiana Fever, is headed to her fourth WNBA team in hopes of getting playing time in Salama’s rotation and settling into a regular role that has troubled her with her size and scoring ability.
8. Rhythm: Aaliyah Nai, guard
Nye brings championship experience to Toronto from Las Vegas. shooting
9. Firepower: Maya Caldwell, guard
Caldwell made 16 starts on Atlanta’s playoff team last season, a career high. She averaged 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists per 100 possessions for the Dream team. Caldwell has clear advantages in Portland given her development as a shooter and defensive resume.
advertise
10. Rhythm: Lexi Held, guard
A key member of the Mercury’s rookie reserve corps that helped Phoenix reach the WNBA Finals last season. Held is a strong shooter and underrated defender who should play a larger role in Toronto.
11. Fire: Chloe Bibby, forward
Bibby, a forward who shot over 40 percent from 3-point range as a rookie, added an instant long-range weapon after the heat left her without protection. If she can stick with it, it’s a good choice.
12. Rhythm:
second round
13. Toronto Rhythm:
14. Portland Fire: Haley Jones, forward
A top-10 pick with loads of potential. After stops in Atlanta and Dallas, Jones showed great scoring potential but needs to get better on the defensive end.
advertise
15. Rhythm:
16. Firepower: Nyadiew Puoch, Forward
Puoch is a young Australian forward who was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft but has yet to make her WNBA debut. If the Flames were able to sign the 21-year-old this season, they would have a tall 6-foot-3 big man with shot-blocking talent. Worth the flight to Portland.
17. Rhythm:
18. Firepower: Sarah Ashley Buck, guard
Buck is the ninth overall pick in the 2025 draft. She was considered a sharpshooter at Alabama and has plenty of upside considering her accomplishments in the NCAA, but she was ineffective as a rookie in Los Angeles, shooting below 30 percent from long range with the Sparks.
advertise
19. Rhythm: Nikolina Milic
20. Firepower: Sage Sutton, guard
Sutton started all 43 games last season for the rebuilding Washington Mystics, but he was unprotected, a sign that Washington will be looking for a new starting back in the rookie draft. Sutton is a six-year veteran who will be looked upon for her leadership and tenacious defense.
21. Pace: Kitija Laksa, guard
22. Fire: no choice
23. Rhythm:
24. Firepower: Nika Muhl, guard
Moore, the former UConn standout, will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL. If Portland can get her healthy, the Flames will get a good shooter and good passer to compete for playing time in the backcourt.
advertise
More: WNBA expansion draft live results: Updated draft picks, Toronto, Portland selection lists