The WNBA has finally released the rules for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo expansion draft, and they’re … a bit confusing. The basic setup is in many ways the same as last year, with each existing team protecting a certain number of players, only one player per team able to be picked in each round, and the expansion teams being allowed one selection each of an unrestricted free agent (UFA). Returning franchises can also trade with Portland and Toronto for either the promise to not pick one or more of their players or the promise to draft-and-trade to them another team’s unprotected player.
The key differences are that each existing franchise can only protect five players instead of last year’s six, and that UFAs who are ineligible to be cored can be selected instead of last year’s restriction that the only eligible UFAs for selection were those who could be cored. In the case of the latter, Portland or Toronto will have the exclusive ability to offer a supermax to their UFA selection. Both of these changes open up more and better players for the Fire and Tempo. Established franchises also can’t have more than one player selected each round.
The draft is technically two rounds, a snake draft with teams alternating 12 picks in each round and the order of selection flipping from round one to round two. Because Toronto won the coin toss and chose the No. 6 pick in the first-year player draft, Portland gets the No. 1 pick in the expansion draft.1 Lincoln and Emily mocked up protection lists for returning franchises and each took an expansion team to mock draft with.
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Protection lists
Atlanta
The Dream were straightforward: two rotation players are cost-controlled, and three others could be reasonable picks by Portland or Toronto to receive a supermax. Jordin Canada could also fit the latter description, but with how her shots have fallen the past couple of seasons, her offense remains a liability at times.
Chicago
The Sky have two young established talents under team control, one compelling draft-and-stash first-rounder from last season, and a bunch of free agent role players. Atkins is easily the best of that last group and the only one who could garner a max. We had one last spot to give, so it went to Van Lith.
Houston Connecticut Sun
Another easy one: The Sun have four rotation players on rookie contracts and only one veteran worth a max contract.
Dallas
Bueckers is the one obvious choice for the Wings, who have a host of others who were either free agents or decent role players. Ogunbowale was a clear choice, as, even if she isn’t a long-term fit next to Bueckers, she should return more in a sign-and-trade than Dallas’ next-best protection options.
After that, it got tricky. We both agreed that James, one year removed from being a first round pick who wasn’t terrible, should be protected. Lincoln argued Maddy Siegrist would be a better fit with the other protections, while Emily successfully argued that Quinerly was simply better than James with two more years under team control than Siegrist. The last spot simply came down to whether Kuier or Luisa Geiselsöder is the better player, with Lincoln arguing the former and Emily the latter.
Golden State
The Valkyries were one of the simplest teams to pick: None of their UFAs should be in consideration for a max contract, Burton was borderline All-WNBA last season, Zandalasini is a high-end offensive player with another year of team control, and Jocytė, Leite and Salaün are all promising youngsters with several years under contract.
Indiana
The only disagreement for the Fever was whether to protect Cunningham for her fit with the other starters or Damiris Dantas for the team already having shooting and needing another big. But Dantas seems just as likely to be out of the league entirely than a positive contributor, so Cunnigham it is.
Las Vegas
The Aces have to protect their top three, and with none of the UFAs likely to return value on a max contract, we picked the two players under team control who were highest in the rotation last season.
Los Angeles
Plum, Brink, Jackson and Stevens were all easy picks for the Sparks, good players either under team control or worth at least near the max on an open market. We disagreed on the last spot: Dearica Hamby will probably command a high-end deal in free agency but she’s been one of the worst defenders in the league over the past three years, and of the players under team control, Burrell has oscillated between good and not over the past couple years, Julie Allemand is replaceable, and neither Sarah Ashlee Barker nor Sania Feagin were W-caliber last season. Burrell has the highest upside and at a position of greater scarcity, so we went with her.
Minnesota
Another easy core group, with one trickier position. None of the other free agents ought to be offered a max, leaving Kliundikova and Dorka Juhász as rotation pieces with cost-controlled years remaining. Emily argued for the former and Lincoln the latter, but ultimately Kliundikova has a more unique skill set and was more playable in the postseason.
New York
The Liberty were the easiest team to pick: Their projected starting lineup is entirely either cost-controlled or free agents, with all of the latter guaranteed max offers on the open market.
Phoenix
The Mercury ended up being straightforward, with the protections just being last year’s primary starting lineup. The last spot, which ended up being Mack, was up for grabs between her and Kathryn Westbeld, with Mack being more impactful around the rim but Westbeld’s decent 3-point shot providing better spacing.
Seattle
The Storm might be the trickiest team to project: Beyond the two contributors under team control in Malonga and Horston, they have five high-level UFAs, some of whom may not want to return and others who don’t fit well together. If we were actually in the Seattle front office, we’d have a better idea of who wasn’t open to re-signing and might focus our protections elsewhere. But we aren’t, so we went with the best three who fit with Malonga and Horston.
Washington
As with Golden State, there are no max-caliber UFAs and several players under team control. Austin, Citron and Iriafen were easy picks, and Amoore may be coming off a torn ACL but was a first-rounder with a unique skill set. The last spot was down to Sheldon and Lucy Olsen, with the former having been traded for and having had a better 2025.
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The draft
Beyond taking the best player available, there were two keys to our selections: which eligible UFAs were worth a max, and which teams had the biggest drop-off from our top option to the next-best player. Emily acted as Portland’s general manager, while Lincoln drafted for Toronto.
| Round 1 | Round 2 |
| 1. Ezi Magbegor — Portland | 13. Emily Engstler — Toronto |
| 2. Dearica Hamby — Toronto | 14. Julie Allemand — Portland |
| 3. Luisa Geiselsöder — Portland | 15. Maite Cazorla — Toronto |
| 4. Nyara Sabally — Toronto | 16. Marine Johannès — Portland |
| 5. Olivia Nelson-Ododa — Portland | 17. Chloe Bibby — Toronto |
| 6. Maya Caldwell — Toronto | 18. Maddy Siegrist — Portland |
| 7. Kristy Wallace — Portland | 19. Sevgi Uzun — Toronto |
| 8. María Conde — Toronto | 20. Laeticia Amihere — Portland |
| 9. Lucy Olsen — Portland | 21. Kitija Laksa — Toronto |
| 10. Lexi Held — Toronto | 22. Dorka Juhász — Portland |
| 11. Kierstan Bell — Portland | 23. Nikolina Milić — Toronto |
| 12. Anastasiia Olairi Kosu — Toronto | 24. PASS |
First round
Portland: Ezi Magbegor, center, Seattle
With the top pick, I not only want the best player available, but a long-term building block I would be okay offering a max deal to. Magbegor fulfills these goals, as a 26 year old perennial Defensive Player of the Year contender who slots in as a play-finisher next to offensive creators. — Emily
Toronto: Dearica Hamby, big, Los Angeles
If the Sparks decide that they’re okay letting Hamby leave coming off the best scoring season of her career, we’re going to be glad to welcome her to Toronto. Not only is Hamby the best player available to select and core in this spot, she gives our team a clear identity to build around. We’re going to be looking for guards that defend and wing shooters to play off of Hamby’s ability to initiate actions at the top of the key. — Lincoln
Portland: Luisa Geiselsöder, big, Dallas
Ideally I’d want to not immediately pick another player who’s best at center, but both Geiselsöder and Magbegor have played well with other bigs before. The former is an above-average offensive player at most spots on the court and is cost-controlled for four more years, while the next-best Wings options are UFAs after 2026. — Emily
Toronto: Nyara Sabally, big, New York
Sabally is an enticing young center who has shown flashes of brilliance and caught everyone’s attention during the Liberty’s 2024 championship run (coached by now-Tempo skipper Sandy Brondello). While injuries have kept her from putting it all together for a full WNBA season, Sabally’s athleticism and rim protection make her an enticing prospect with her best basketball still in the future. — Lincoln
Portland: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, center, Connecticut
Remember what I was saying about not wanting too many centers? Nelson-Ododa is solidly the best player available, the only Sun worth taking, and I can easily sign-and-trade her as a restricted free agent. But in hindsight, I should’ve taken Caldwell instead. — Emily
Toronto: Maya Caldwell, off-ball guard, Atlanta
There are very few wings in the WNBA that can play on and off the ball on both ends of the court, and it’s a huge win to get one in an expansion draft. Caldwell has proved that she belongs in the W with a great season in Atlanta in 2025. — Lincoln
Portland: Kristy Wallace, off-ball guard, Indiana
Wallace might be the best player available (given that I can’t yet pick from any teams Lincoln has already drafted from), but she’s definitely the best marginal value given the big drop-off from her to the next-best option from the Fever. Give me that solid two-way off-ball work, thank you. — Emily
Toronto: María Conde, big wing, Golden State
Conde is one of the premier playmakers in the world, averaging nearly six assists per game in the 2025-26 Euroleague with her unique combination of size and passing. Although she has never played in the WNBA, she played two years of college basketball in the U.S. — Lincoln
Portland: Lucy Olsen, off-ball guard, Washington
Again, we’re just targeting guards who are good. And by the standards of picks this late in the round, Olsen is a promising scorer. That being said, I maybe should’ve taken Held — it’s close either way. — Emily
Toronto: Lexi Held, off-ball guard, Phoenix
One of several revelatory Mercury rookies in 2025, Held showed that she can create off the dribble against the best in the world, defend multiple guard spots, and make open 3-pointers. That’s a valuable skill set that can plug into any team and any system, making her a great option in this expansion draft. — Lincoln
Portland: Kierstan Bell, off-ball guard, Las Vegas
After Lincoln took Held, my Mercury pick next round is going to be Kathryn Westbeld, so I have less than zero need for any borderline bigs at this spot. That leaves a couple of Lynx guards, Uzun and Bell in contention. Bell is the most useful of the group as a solid defender who knows how to fill a role, so Bell it is.2 — Emily
Toronto: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, combo forward, Minnesota
At its core, the expansion draft is about building for the future. So why not take a swing on one of the youngest players and best athletes in the league? Kosu is an athletic marvel, with some of the greatest leaping ability in the league. If she can polish up her offensive game, Kosu could bring a ton of value in the next few years as a dynamic force all over the court. — Lincoln
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Second round
Toronto: Emily Engstler, big wing, Washington
Another former lottery pick who’s never quite figured the W out, Engstler has all the talent in the world and shows flashes of incredible defense and rebounding talent. If she can find a way to make a positive impact offensively, Engstler could be a key piece of the Tempo moving forward. — Lincoln
Portland: Julie Allemand, point guard, Los Angeles
Every team needs point guards. Mine has none. Allemand is a capable W player. Simple as. — Emily
Toronto: Maite Cazorla, point guard, Atlanta
Although Cazorla showed promise as a rookie backup point guard in 2019 for the Dream, she has yet to play a second season in the WNBA. Still, her solid play for USK Praha and the Spanish national team merits giving her a call to see if she’s interested in coming back to the States. — Lincoln
Portland: Marine Johannès, off-ball guard, New York
Johannès can be a lightning-in-a-bottle shooter and playmaker, a very useful rotation piece in the regular season. With the depth of my frontcourt, she makes a nice complement to my roster so far. — Emily
Toronto: Chloe Bibby, combo forward, Indiana
Shooting is at a premium in modern basketball, and few players at her size shoot like Bibby does, making above 38% of her 5.0 threes per game across all European competitions this winter. — Lincoln
Portland: Maddy Siegrist, combo forward, Dallas
I’ve got enough pieces for the future right now, and a lot of volatility between them. The Fire need a sure thing, and Siegrist is a proven bucket-getter in a variety of contracts. She may be only under contract for 2026, but for now, that’s all I need her for. — Emily
Toronto: Sevgi Uzun, point guard, Chicago
Uzun is a steady, if unspectacular, option at the point guard spot. She is probably the best option of any of the available players to draft from the Sky’s unprotected players, and she should be a capable innings-eater for the Tempo. — Lincoln
Portland: Laeticia Amihere, big, Golden State
Amihere flashed legitimate skill as a driver and finisher as a Valkyrie last season. Paired with her defensive reputation, that’s a solid swing for an end-of-the-bench piece. — Emily
Toronto: Kitija Laksa, off-ball guard, Phoenix
More shooting! Every WNBA team is a fan of shooters with plus positional size, and Laksa, at 6’1, brings both shooting and size. What sets her apart from other options is her threat as a shooter off movement, which creates opportunities and opens up the offense for other players without giving up too much on the defensive end. — Lincoln
Portland: Dorka Juhász, big, Minnesota
A capable regular season rotation big is never a bad thing, and Juhász gives me that for two cost-controlled seasons. She is under contract already, but since the vast majority of my other picks are not, I’m not worried about maxing out my roster limits before free agency opens and better options become available. — Emily
Toronto: Nikolina Milić, center, Connecticut
Milić was a perfectly capable backup center option in her two seasons with Minnesota, and has shown signs of being able to shoot threes. If she’s a good enough option for contending Lynx teams, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with seeing what she can do for the expansion Tempo. -Lincoln
Portland: PASS
Because the Aces have so few players under team control, literally the only options available here are Storm reserves. Three of them are unlikely to be W-caliber players next year, and the other is Lexie Brown on a protected contract. She’s a solid player to have at a near-minimum salary, but I’d rather have the roster flexibility than guarantee a spot there. -Emily
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Final rosters
Portland
Julie Allemand // Lucy Olsen
Kristy Wallace // Marine Johannès
Maddy Siegrist // Kierstan Bell
Luisa Geiselsöder // Laeticia Amihere/Dorka Juhász
Ezi Magbegor // Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Toronto
Maite Cazorla // Sevgi Uzun
Maya Caldwell // Lexi Held
María Conde // Kitija Laksa // Anastasiia Olairi Kosu
Dearica Hamby // Emily Engstler // Chloe Bibby
Nyara Sabally // Nikolina Milić
- In theory, this means that the league sees the difference in value between the No. 6 and 7 picks in the first-year player draft as roughly equal to the difference in value between Portland and Toronto’s slots in the expansion draft. ↩︎
- I originally forgot that I would be taking Westbeld in the next round, so I took Juhász here, and as Lincoln said he’d take Bell I immediately realized that taking Juhász made my roster incredibly and unrealistically imbalanced and re-did my pick. Lincoln was not happy with this. ↩︎
