WNBA Expansion Draft grades 2026: Live results and analysis for every pick by Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo

WNBA Expansion Draft grades 2026: Live results and analysis for every pick by Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The first major event of the WNBA offseason has arrived.

And for fans of the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo, it's an event they longed to take in for months. With a new collective bargaining agreement finally in place, the WNBA Expansion Draft — the league's second in as many seasons — was held Friday afternoon on ESPN. MORE : Breaking down how the WNBA Expansion Draft works for Toronto and Portland The Fire and the Tempo, the WNBA's 14th and 15th member franchises, filled out their rosters today.

The snake draft encompassed 24 picks over two rounds; the Fire owned the first pick of the first round, while the Tempo selected first in the second round. Portland and Toronto were able to take a maximum of two players from the other 13 WNBA teams, with the notable exception of the Chicago Sky . The Fire and Tempo this week reached agreements with the Sky not to take any of Chicago's players in the expansion draft.

Below, The Sporting News grades and analyzes each selection made in this historic expansion draft. WNBA Expansion Draft grades 2026: Live results and analysis for every pick Round 1 1. Portland Fire: Bridget Carleton, forward Grade : A The Fire, bringing WNBA basketball back to Portland for the first time since 2002, tipped off the expansion draft by selecting former Iowa State star Carleton with the top pick.