WNBA expansion draft 2026: What to know and how to watch
admin_news
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. No more than two players can be plucked off each current roster.
A coin toss was held last Friday to determine the order. Toronto won it, then chose a higher pick in the league-wide rookie draft that’s scheduled for April 13. The Tempo now hold the No. 6 selection in that draft, while the Fire follow at No. 7. And in return, Portland gets first crack at Friday’s proceedings.
From there, the teams alternate back and forth through the 12-pick first round. They swap positions to start the second round, with Toronto going first. All 24 picks don’t need to be used, should either side want to save space for rookies or free agents.
Who might be available
The protected player lists are not made public. We can safely assume they include superstars like A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark.
Cornerstones get covered, but there are certainly more than five valuable players on a competitive WNBA roster. Teams must be judicious about the protection process, balancing between controlled contracts and potential free agency rights.
Because a new CBA was on the horizon, most players took deals that expired after 2025, creating a class of more than 100 free agents this offseason.
Sabreena Merchant projected who might be in the unprotected player pool and thus eligible for the expansion draft. Possible highlights include Arike Ogunbowale, a three-time All-WNBA free agent from the Dallas Wings, and Azurá Stevens, the rangy 6-foot-6 center approaching free agency with the Los Angeles Sparks.
We know who won’t be available — anyone from the Chicago Sky. On Wednesday, the Sky announced a pair of interesting pre-draft trades. In exchange for avoiding Chicago’s unprotected players, Portland gets to move up four spots (21st to 17th) in the upcoming rookie draft. The same agreement goes for Toronto, which gets the No. 26 draft pick now.
A look back at recent expansion drafts
The Golden State Valkyries necessitated an expansion draft last season. It was a remarkable success — the first-year franchise stunned the W and made the playoffs. No prior expansion team had crashed the postseason so quickly.
Veronica Burton, once a reserve guard for the Connecticut Sun, won the 2025 Most Improved Player award and drew MVP votes as Golden State’s centerpiece. Kayla Thornton was added from the New York Liberty; the 10-year pro earned her first All-Star nod in Valkyrie violet.
A previous expansion draft was held for the Atlanta Dream in 2008. Atlanta turned seldom-used Connecticut center Erika de Souza into a three-time All-Star.
Another expansion draft took place in 2006 to welcome the Sky. Chicago’s best selection was Jia Perkins, who broke out as an All-Star after she was poached from the now-defunct Charlotte Sting. There were also multi-team expansion drafts in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
More drafts await in the years to come. The WNBA is expanding to Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.
More WNBA coverage
Mike Vorkunov on the return of the Houston Comets for 2027.
Shakeia Taylor on Caitlin Clark’s side quest as a sideline photographer.
Chantel Jennings on the league’s historic labor agreement.
Sabreena Merchant on rookie salary growth in the new collective bargaining agreement.
Streaming or ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Golden State Valkyries, Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo, WNBA, Fubo Partnership, How to Watch
2026 The Athletic Media Company
