Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo Draft Stars in WNBA Expansion

Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo Draft Stars in WNBA Expansion

The WNBA is officially expanding, and the league just welcomed its newest members: the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. In a highly anticipated expansion draft, both franchises revealed their foundational rosters, ready to make their mark on the league. Portland, returning WNBA action to Rip City after two decades, and Toronto, the first WNBA team outside the United States, made their selections, aiming to build winning teams from the ground up.

How the Draft Works

The expansion draft followed a specific set of rules designed to give the new teams a chance to build competitive rosters while respecting the existing 12 WNBA franchises. Each existing team protected five players, leaving the rest of their rosters open for selection. The two expansion teams, Portland and Toronto, made alternating picks over two rounds. In each round, they could select up to six players. A key rule stated that neither new team could pick more than one player from any single existing team in the same round. This ensures a balanced distribution of talent across the league. The draft pool consisted of players who were set to become unrestricted free agents for the 2026 season, with each new team allowed to select only one such player.

Top Picks Set the Tone

With the first overall pick, the Portland Fire, choosing first after a coin toss awarded Toronto the higher pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, selected Bridget Carlton from the Minnesota Lynx. Carlton, a 28-year-old guard, started every game for the Lynx last season and boasts a career 39% three-point shooting percentage. Her sharpshooting ability is expected to be a major asset for Portland, a city known for its basketball talent.

Following Portland’s selection, the Toronto Tempo used their first pick to select Julie Alman from the Los Angeles Sparks. Alman, a 29-year-old point guard, was one of only 12 players in the league to average five assists per game last season. Her playmaking skills are seen as crucial for establishing Toronto’s offensive identity.

Expert Analysis on Early Selections

“Bridget Carlton is someone who is tested in this league. She’s been a part of that Lynx organization, played in big games, hit big shots, is praised for her versatility as a defender as well. And so I think that’s an exciting first selection in this expansion draft.”

Monica McNut, WNBA Analyst

Analysts praised both selections. Monica McNut highlighted Carlton’s experience, clutch performance, and defensive prowess as key reasons for her value. Coach Carol agreed, emphasizing Carlton’s ability to guard the opponent’s best offensive player and her reliable three-point shot, calling her a “sniper from the three-point line.”

Toronto Tempo’s Full Roster Revealed

After selecting Alman, the Toronto Tempo rounded out their roster with a mix of established and promising players. Their selections included Nara Sabali and Aa Khan from the New York Liberty, Marina Mabberry from the Connecticut Sun, Aaliyah Nye from the Las Vegas Aces, Lexi Held from the Phoenix Mercury, Maria from the Golden State Valkyries, Maria Clinicova and Nicolina Milich from the Minnesota Lynx, and Christy Wallace from the Indiana Fever. They also added Kitia Laka from the Phoenix Mercury.

Coach Carol noted that Toronto’s General Manager, Sandy Brondello, focused on ball security and versatile guards. “She’s gotten not just point guards, but guards that can be combo guards. So you can keep steady ball handlers on the floor and move them off to a shooting guard. So if you can take care of it and you can shoot it, that’s an added value.” This strategy aims to prevent costly turnovers, a common issue in the WNBA.

Monica McNut pointed out the familiarity within the roster, noting that Nara Sabali played under Brondello previously. She expressed particular interest in how Maria Clinicova and Kitia Laka would fit into Brondello’s system, suggesting Laka might have an opportunity for a significant leap in her career.

Portland Fire Builds a Versatile Squad

The Portland Fire, after securing Bridget Carlton, built a roster focused on versatility and shooting. Their picks included Carla Late from the Golden State Valkyries, Louisa Geel Sodo from the Dallas Wings, Emily Angler from the Washington Mystics, Maya Caldwell from the Atlanta Dream, Khloe Bibby from the Indiana Fever, Haley Jones from the Dallas Wings, Nadia Quac from the Atlanta Dream, Sarah Ashley Barker from the Los Angeles Sparks, Suge Sutton from the Washington Mystics, and Nika Mule from the Seattle Storm.

Portland’s General Manager, Alex Sarama, is noted for his analytics-driven approach. The team focused on acquiring “tween” players – those with length who can also stretch the floor. “He has based everything off of digital statistics and analytics,” explained Coach Carol. “The one thing that I think he went after was those tween players, those players that have length that also have the ability to stretch the floor.” This includes shooters like Carlton and Bibby, and versatile players like Haley Jones who can play both inside and out.

Monica McNut highlighted Portland’s emphasis on three-point shooting, mentioning Emily Angler, Khloe Bibby, and Suge Sutton as players known for their long-range ability and knack for hitting crucial shots. The analysts are keen to see how these analytically-selected, versatile players will adapt to a new system in the WNBA.

Looking Ahead

Both the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo have assembled intriguing rosters through the expansion draft. With a blend of proven talent and promising prospects, these two new franchises are poised to bring fresh energy and competition to the WNBA. Fans can expect these teams to develop their identities quickly as the league continues to grow.

Source: THE PICKS ARE IN 🚨 Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo Expansion Draft | NBA Today (YouTube)