WNBA Expansion: Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo Prepare for Inaugural Drafts
The WNBA is rapidly expanding, and the league announced Wednesday that the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will participate in an expansion draft on April 3. This marks a significant step in building rosters for the two newest franchises, following the ratification of the new collective bargaining agreement.
Expansion Draft Details: A Two-Round Affair
The expansion draft will consist of two rounds, with each team – Portland and Toronto – receiving up to six picks per round. A coin toss will determine the draft order, with the winning team having the option to select first overall or sixth in the regular WNBA draft scheduled for April 13. The teams will “snake” their picks, meaning the team with the first pick in round one will have the second pick in round two, and vice versa.
Existing WNBA teams must submit their protected player lists by Sunday, with a maximum of five players eligible for protection. This allows the new teams to select from a pool of unprotected players across the league.
Navigating the Unprotected Player Pool
The expansion teams have the right to acquire the player contract or rights to one player from each of the current 13 teams. Any player with five or more years of service after the 2025 season must be placed on the roster list as an unrestricted free agent or be made available on the unprotected list. Only Lexie Brown and Kalani Brown had contracts that didn’t expire last season.
Supermax Potential for Free Agents
Toronto and Portland can each select one potential unrestricted free agent during the expansion draft. They will then be permitted to negotiate a supermax contract with those players, potentially worth up to $1.4 million annually under the new collective bargaining agreement.
Following Golden State’s Footsteps
This is the second consecutive year the WNBA has held an expansion draft. Last year, the Golden State Valkyries joined the league and notably became the first expansion team to reach the playoffs, setting a high bar for Portland and Toronto.
The Impact of the New CBA on Expansion
The recently approved collective bargaining agreement plays a crucial role in facilitating this expansion. The supermax contract option, for example, provides a significant incentive for attracting veteran talent to the new franchises.
Draft Strategy: Balancing Immediate Impact and Future Potential
The coin toss outcome will heavily influence each team’s draft strategy. Choosing the first overall pick allows a team to secure a potentially impactful player immediately. Opting for the sixth pick in the regular draft could provide a strategic advantage in securing a high-potential rookie.
FAQ
Q: When is the WNBA expansion draft?
A: April 3.
Q: How many picks does each expansion team get?
A: Up to six picks in each of the two rounds.
Q: What is a “snake” draft?
A: The draft order alternates each round. The team that picks first in round one picks second in round two, and so on.
Q: What is a supermax contract?
A: A contract worth up to $1.4 million annually, available to players selected as potential unrestricted free agents during the expansion draft.
Q: Can teams trade picks before the expansion draft?
A: Yes, Toronto and Portland are permitted to make certain trades ahead of the draft.
Did you know? Golden State became the first expansion team in WNBA history to make the playoffs in their inaugural season.
Pro Tip: Preserve an eye on the unprotected player lists released by existing teams. These lists will provide valuable insights into potential targets for Portland and Toronto.
Stay tuned for further updates on the WNBA expansion draft and the building of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Explore more WNBA news and analysis on our site. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates delivered directly to your inbox.
