NEW YORK. (KPTV) – The WNBA will hold its 2026 expansion draft on April 3 as the league’s two newest teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, begin building their inaugural rosters ahead of their debut season in May.
A coin toss March 27 will determine which team receives the first selection in the expansion draft or the option to take the sixth pick, instead of the seventh, in the first round of the WNBA draft on April 13.
The expansion draft will feature two rounds, with Portland and Toronto alternating selections from a pool of unprotected players made available by the league’s 13 existing teams. The order will “snake,” meaning the team with the first pick in the opening round will select second in the next round.
Each existing team must submit a roster list by March 29 that includes all players under its control at the end of the 2025 regular season. Teams may protect up to five players; all others will be eligible for selection.
Portland and Toronto may select one player from each team’s unprotected list, acquiring either player’s contract or her negotiating rights.
If a selected player is not under contract for the 2026 season, the expansion will assume the same rights previously held by her former team.
Players with at least five years of service who have completed their contracts must be designated as potential unrestricted free agents. Each expansion team may select no more than one such player.
Between the submission of roster lists and the day before the expansion draft, Portland and Toronto may enter agreements with exisiting teams involving the selection or non-selection of specific players as part of the trade agreements.
ESPN will broadcast coverage of the expansion draft at 12:30 p.m. PDT.
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