Friday marks the formal commencement of the exceptionally brief WNBA offseason, highlighted by the expansion draft (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). During this event, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will seize their initial chance to commence assembling their teams.
For several months, both nascent franchises have been getting ready for this selection process, while the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association engaged in arduous and disputed discussions regarding a fresh collective labor accord. Since no draft guidelines were furnished to the clubs amidst the negotiations, insiders informed ESPN that the administrative departments in Portland and Toronto were bracing for a multitude of diverse situations, yet adopted the regulations established for the Golden State Valkyries’ expansion selection event in December 2024 as their foundational standard.
Upon the oral consent to a new CBA on March 18, organizing and conducting the expansion draft emerged as the paramount objective.
Having triumphed in a coin flip conducted the previous week, Toronto opted to select sixth in the initial round of the April 13 WNBA draft. Consequently, Portland holds the inaugural choice in the expansion draft (and will pick seventh overall on April 13). The preceding Sunday, each of the 13 established franchises was mandated to hand in a roster of five athletes they plan to shield from the expansion draft.
The expansion draft shall comprise two stages. The Fire and the Tempo — the WNBA’s 13th and 14th franchises, respectively — will take turns making selections, and are permitted to choose a maximum of one unshielded athlete from every other squad. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, Portland and Toronto finalized transactions with the Chicago Sky. Neither squad will opt for athletes from Chicago’s unshielded roster; the Sky exchanged selection No. 17 in the April 13 draft for Portland’s No. 21 pick, and Chicago dispatched selection No. 26 (via New York) in the April 13 draft to Toronto.
There are several significant modifications to this year’s expansion draft when contrasted with the Valkyries draft:
• Both teams are permitted to choose merely a single unrestricted free agent
• Any unrestricted free agent who has ceased to qualify for designation as a core player (a minimum of five years of participation) is eligible for selection by either team
• Portland and Toronto are the sole squads authorized to extend to those athletes the maximum compensation package
• As unrestricted free agents, those players retain the autonomy to ink contracts elsewhere even if chosen by one of the nascent teams
Each team’s roster of shielded athletes shall remain undisclosed, but insiders informed ESPN that these alterations have influenced how some administrative departments opted to shield athletes, undertaking deliberate gambles regarding the unshielded players.
Considering all these aspects, ESPN analyzes which premier athlete might remain accessible from each team.
Atlanta Dream: Maya Caldwell, 5-foot-11, G
Caldwell has contended strenuously to secure a place on a team’s roster in the WNBA, having been dismissed or let go on five occasions since being drafted in the third round in 2021. Yet, she consistently makes a return and achieved her most successful complete season in the previous year, registering an average of 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds. Originally selected as the 33rd pick by Indiana in 2021, Caldwell was released prior to the commencement of that season. She played nine games for Atlanta in 2022, went back to Indiana for the 2023 campaign, and then passed the last two campaigns with the Dream squad. At 27, she is capable of managing an augmented responsibility. — Voepel
Chicago Sky: Sevgi Uzun, 5-10, G
Hailing from Turkey, she commenced her professional journey in Dallas in 2024, participating in 40 matches during that period. She was involved in a multi-squad transaction in 2025 which transferred her to Phoenix, where she played seven games before her dismissal in June 2025. The Sky recruited her in July, for which she competed in 18 contests and registered an average of 3.7 points and 2.7 assists. At 28, she possesses considerable international exposure. — Voepel
Connecticut Sun: Lindsay Allen, 5-8, G
Embodying the essence of a seasoned guard consistently securing team positions, Allen has competed for half a dozen squads across eight campaigns. She was a selection in the second round in 2017 by New York and passed her inaugural campaign with the Liberty team. Last year, she participated in 31 contests for the Sun, registering averages of 2.4 points and 2.2 assists. At 31, she is unlikely to astonish with her statistical performance, but she is a reliable, seasoned professional. — Andrews
Dallas Wings: Haley Jones, 6-1, F/G
Selected sixth overall in the 2023 draft by Atlanta, Jones did not truly flourish with the Dream squad. She played 83 games with Atlanta but never exceeded an average of 4.0 PPG per campaign. Dismissed by the Dream at the commencement of the previous season, she played four games with Phoenix but faced another dismissal. She then went to Dallas and received increased court time last campaign in 24 contests for the Wings, registering 8.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds on average. Should she perform as such an athlete this campaign, she might represent a valuable acquisition for an expansion team. — Voepel
Golden State Valkyries: Cecilia Zandalasini, 6-2, F
Golden State stands to forfeit a crucial athlete, regardless of Toronto and Portland’s selections. This underscores the effective manner in which the Valkyries assembled their team for their debut campaign. But among the athletes potentially on offer, Zandalasini merits consideration as a prime choice. Her height and perimeter shooting demonstrate established worth, and she would furnish a nascent squad with seasoned expertise and guidance. — Andrews
Indiana Fever: Makayla Timpson, 6-2, F/C
Chosen in the second round as the 19th overall selection last year by Indiana, Timpson served as a freshman backup post player for the Fever. She competed in 31 standard season matches (2.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG) and eight playoff games (2.3, 1.9). She received limited court action but demonstrated capability during her appearances. She stands to develop significantly with an augmented role this campaign. — Voepel
Las Vegas Aces: Kierstan Bell, 6-1, G
Bell was integrated into Las Vegas’ initial roster during the latter part of the season, serving as merely one modification to rectify a disappointing commencement to the year. This action bore fruit. Bell’s altered position demonstrated her capability as a consistent point-producer, with her coach emphasizing her adeptness at cutting as her prime strength. She ought to be appealing to the newly formed teams, as they would be acquiring a dependable athlete with title-winning experience, yet on a more economical agreement. — Andrews
Los Angeles Sparks: Rae Burrell, 6-2, F
The Sparks will possess several sought-after athletes left exposed. A case exists that Rae Burrell might be safeguarded, given she is following a remarkable period of basketball in her second season with Unrivaled. However, with the team highly likely to retain Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, and Rickea Jackson, this permits only a single additional slot, which will most likely be assigned to Azura Stevens. Consequently, should Burrell be obtainable, Portland or Toronto ought to make an attempt for the nimble, youthful forward. — Andrews
Minnesota Lynx: Bridget Carleton, 6-2, F
Carleton participated in merely eight matches in her inaugural season in 2019, subsequent to her selection in the second round by Connecticut: four with the Sun and four with Minnesota. Nevertheless, she established herself with the Lynx and has competed for the last six seasons alongside them. Across the previous two seasons at Minnesota, she commenced 80 games, including postseason contests. Last year, she maintained an average of 6.5 points and 3.2 assists. The Lynx may wish to shield her from the selection process for new teams, but should they choose to, she stands as a trustworthy seasoned athlete prepared to assume any position. Carleton, an Ontarian, could also present an attractive option for Toronto. — Voepel
New York Liberty: Emma Meesseman, 6-4, F
An astute selection by Washington in the second round of the 2013 draft, Meesseman was the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP for the Mystics. She dedicated seven years in Washington, with her allegiance to the Belgian national team sidelining her for the 2018 and 2021 seasons. She competed for Chicago in 2022 but did not participate in the WNBA during 2023 or 2024. Last season, she became part of the Liberty in August, participating in 17 regular season matches and posting averages of 13.4 points and 5.1 rebounds. However, across her three postseason contests, she averaged merely 4.3 points with 5.3 rebounds. If Meesseman, who will be 33 in May, is accessible for the new team selection process, she would represent a valuable acquisition, assuming she intends to compete in the WNBA this season. — Voepel
Phoenix Mercury: Lexi Held, 5-10, G
A 25-year-old first-year player during the previous season, Held demonstrated her ability to deliver crucial scores in pivotal situations, fulfilling a rotating function in the Mercury’s journey to the Finals last year. She was also instrumental in sustaining Phoenix throughout periods when some of the team’s key players were sidelined. She represents the kind of youthful but consistent athlete who might aid in initiating a new team and who possesses the capability to evolve into a leading player. — Andrews
Seattle Storm: Nneka Ogwumike, 6-2, F
Seattle is replete with unencumbered players, so should an individual be chosen from the Storm, that athlete might be the sole unrestricted free agent Portland and Toronto are permitted to acquire. Ogwumike is a 35-year-old seasoned player but still possesses significant playing ability. Her inclusion in a nascent squad could furnish the direction rival clubs merely aspire to possess. Since Ogwumike is unhindered and no longer designated as a core player, she is free to sign with any team she chooses. Portland and Toronto are the sole clubs capable of offering her a maximum-level agreement. Thus, should she be keen on such an offer after her strenuous advocacy for a revised collective bargaining agreement, affiliating with an emergent team could be an appealing prospect. — Andrews
Washington Mystics: Jacy Sheldon, 5-10, G
She was initially selected No. 5 in 2024 by the Dallas Wings, and she possesses a formidable defensive renown. In February 2025, she was dealt to Connecticut and participated in 28 matches for the Sun last season. Subsequently, in August, she was moved to Washington, participating in two contests for the Mystics prior to sustaining a right ankle injury that sidelined her for the remainder of the year. Throughout her professional tenure, she has posted an average of 6.3 PPG, and she might likely gain from a new beginning. — Voepel