basketball

WNBA expansion draft 2026: What to know and how to watch

Yahoo Sports

The franchises are installed. Uniforms and mascots have been designed. And the league itself is back open for business.

Now, it’s time for two new WNBA teams to put players on the floor. Friday’s expansion draft brings the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire into focus as both newcomers get a chance to add talent from around the W. Fans in the expanded markets tune in to witness history.

Fans elsewhere bid farewell to important contributors. It all goes down five weeks out from the season opener. How to watch the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Time: 3:30 p.

m. ET, Friday TV: ESPN Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now) ESPN programs are also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription. How the format works Toronto and Portland are picking within a private player pool that’s been sourced from the 13 current teams.

Each active franchise protects up to five players — including potential unrestricted free agents with at least five years of league service. Both expansion squads are limited to just one potential unrestricted free agent. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, they can offer their selection a core designation for supermax contract rights.

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