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Posts tagged as “WNBA Expansion Draft”

Full list of players selected in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft

The 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft took place on April 3, 2026, for the league’s two newest franchises: the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. Each team selected 11 players from the unprotected lists of the existing 13 WNBA teams. Notably, both teams reached agreements with the Chicago Sky to bypass their roster in exchange for draft picks.

Portland Fire Selections
The Fire held the No. 1 overall pick and focused on a mix of versatile forwards and young international talent.

Player Position Former Team
Bridget Carleton Forward Minnesota Lynx
Carla Leite Guard Golden State Valkyries
Emily Engstler Forward Washington Mystics
Haley Jones Forward/Guard Atlanta Dream
Nika Mühl Guard Seattle Storm
Sarah Ashlee Barker Forward Los Angeles Sparks
Nyadiew Puoch Forward Connecticut Sun
Sug Sutton Guard Phoenix Mercury
Maya Caldwell Guard Atlanta Dream
Luisa Geiselsöder Center Dallas Wings
Chloe Bibby Forward Las Vegas Aces

Toronto Tempo Selections
The Tempo focused heavily on veteran leadership, shooting, and international experience for their inaugural roster.

Player Position Former Team
Julie Allemand Guard Los Angeles Sparks
Marina Mabrey Guard Connecticut Sun
Nyara Sabally Center New York Liberty
María Conde Forward Golden State Valkyries
Kristy Wallace Guard Indiana Fever
Nikolina Milić Forward Minnesota Lynx
Aaliyah Nye Guard/Forward Las Vegas Aces
Kitija Laksa Guard Dallas Wings
Maria Kliundikova Center Phoenix Mercury
Adja Kane Forward New York Liberty
Maria Vadeeva Center Los Angeles Sparks

After the expansion draft, both Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will still get draft new player from the WNBA Draft which will be on the 13th of April. In the WNBA Draft, Toronto Tempo will be the No. 6, while the Portland Fire after choosing to pick first in the expansion draft will be No. 7.

Complete result of Golden State Valkyries 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft

The results of the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft presented by State Farm are as follows:

Player Former Team Pos Ht Yrs College/Country
Iliana Rupert Atlanta Dream C 6-4 3 France
Maria Conde Chicago Sky F 6-1 0 Florida State/Spain
Veronica Burton Connecticut Sun G 5-9 3 Northwestern
Carla Leite Dallas Wings G 5-9 0 France
Temi Fagbenle Indiana Fever C 6-4 4 USC/United Kingdom
Kate Martin Las Vegas Aces G 6-0 1 Iowa
Stephanie Talbot Los Angeles Sparks F 6-2 6 Australia
Cecilia Zandalisini Minnesota Lynx F 6-2 3 Italy
Kayla Thornton New York Liberty F 6-1 9 Texas-El Paso
Monique Billings* Phoenix Mercury F 6-4 7 UCLA
Julie Vanloo Washington Mystics G 5-8 1 Belgium

I’m not surprise that Kate Martin was picked up by the Golden State, it will be more beneficial for her to be with the Valkyries than stay with the Aces, since she will have more playing time with her new team. The shocking draft for me is Temi Fagbenle, since she’s been playing well and have good chemistry with Caitlin Clark, one could just assume that she will be protected by Indiana.