As the start of the 2026 WNBA season draws near, the Portland Fire made the first trade in franchise history on Tuesday, sending Chloe Bibby to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for the draft rights to Julia Ayrault, as per Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report.
The trade with the Mercury essentially brings the Fire roster to 17, but with 16 of those being standard roster spots as rookie Frieda Bühner, the No. 17 overall pick in the draft, is signed to one of the team’s two development roster spots. The Fire will have to cut down to 12 standard contracts by Thursday’s deadline.
The Fire also hold the draft rights to Ayrault as part of the trade. Ayrault went undrafted in 2025 and has not participated in training camp with the Mercury. She likely does not factor into the Fire’s roster plans this season.
During her final season at Michigan State, she averaged 14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocked shots with splits of 42.3 percent shooting from the field, 34.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 80.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
The Fire had originally selected Chloe Bibby with the No. 11 pick in the expansion draft. She spent last season with the Indiana Fever averaging 3.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in nine games at a little over nine minutes per game.
The Fire will open the 2026 WNBA season on Saturday, May 9 at home against the Chicago Sky. This will be the Fire’s inaugural season in the league as one of two new expansion teams alongside the Toronto Tempo.
As the start of the 2026 WNBA season draws near, the Portland Fire made the first trade in franchise history on Tuesday, sending Chloe Bibby to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for the draft rights to Julia Ayrault, as per Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report.