WNBA Announces Expansion Draft for New Toronto and Portland Franchises
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has officially scheduled an expansion draft for its newly added franchises in Toronto and Portland. The draft is set to take place on April 3, 2026, as confirmed by the league in a recent announcement. This move follows the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement by the WNBA's Board of Governors, which was finalized just last week.
Draft Order and Selection Process
A coin toss will be conducted on Friday to determine the draft order for the two new teams. The winning franchise will have the option to choose either the first pick in the expansion draft or the No. 6 pick in the college draft scheduled for April 13. The team that does not secure the sixth pick in the college draft will automatically select seventh.
The expansion draft will consist of two rounds, with each team allowed up to six picks per round. The selection process will alternate between the teams, meaning the franchise that picks second in the first round will have the first pick in the second round. This structured approach aims to ensure a fair distribution of talent between the new clubs.
Player Eligibility and Protection Rules
New teams will select players from those left unprotected by their current WNBA teams. Existing teams are required to submit a list of five protected players by Sunday. Importantly, no more than one player per existing team can be chosen in the expansion draft, which helps prevent any single team from losing multiple key players.
Teams can protect players they had rights to on the final day of the 2025 regular season. Additionally, any player with five or more years of service after the 2025 season must be listed as an unrestricted free agent or included on the unprotected list. Notably, only two veteran players, Lexie Brown and Kalani Brown, had contracts that did not expire last season.
Special Provisions for Free Agents
Toronto and Portland will each be permitted to select only one player who is a potential unrestricted free agent. If chosen, these franchises, referred to as the Tempo and Fire, will be allowed to negotiate a supermax contract with those players. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, such contracts could be worth up to $1.4 million annually, providing a significant incentive for top talent to join the expansion teams.
Historical Context and League Growth
This marks the second consecutive year that the WNBA has held an expansion draft, reflecting the league's ongoing growth and expansion efforts. Last year, the Golden State franchise entered the league and made history by becoming the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs. This precedent sets high expectations for the new Toronto and Portland teams as they prepare to build competitive rosters through the draft process.
The announcement underscores the WNBA's commitment to expanding its footprint and enhancing the competitive landscape of women's professional basketball. Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching the developments leading up to the April 3 draft, as it will shape the future of the league's newest franchises.
