Winners and Losers of 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft
The first stage of an ultra-condensed WNBA offseason is the books, with the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo completing the 2026 expansion draft Friday afternoon.
Each team was permitted to make up to 12 selections in the two-round draft, including one unrestricted free agent (UFA) apiece.
Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton headlined the selection process as Portland's No. 1 overall pick and lone UFA selection. Toronto used its UFA pick on Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey in the third round.
With our 1st pick in the WNBA Expansion Draft, we’ve selected Bridget Carleton from the Minnesota Lynx. pic.twitter.com/ppMVlxCTs8
— Portland Fire (@theportlandfire) April 3, 2026
The next chapter of the WNBA offseason kicks off with free agency, where more than 100 players will be on the market, and then with the actual draft on April 13.
Let's dive into the winners and losers of the 2026 WNBA expansion draft.
Winners
Carla Leite
After a promising rookie season with the Golden State Valkryies, Carla Leite joins the Fire as their No. 2 pick in the expansion draft. The former first-round pick (No. 9 overall 2024) averaged 7.2 points in 2025, largely off the bench for a Golden State team that finished eighth overall and made the WNBA playoffs in its first season.
Now, Leite's primed to take on a focal role in Portland. Atlanta Dream guard Maya Caldwell could vie for time in the backcourt, but Leite has a clear path to a starting role and increased offensive responsibilities.
Leite averaged 17.2 minutes per game last season, good for 10th on a Valkyries squad that significantly overperformed expectations. Portland will have a tough time matching Golden State's historic inaugural campaign, but Leite will have a chance to flourish.
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm came out of the 2026 WNBA expansion draft largely unscathed. Their lone loss was former UConn guard Nika Muhl, whom Portland selected with its final pick.
Muhl is an intriguing long-term addition for the Fire, but the former second-round pick (No. 14 overall 2024) didn't factor into Seattle's plans in 2026 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in March.
Between needle-moving unrestricted free agents -- including Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins -- and a promising 19-year-old rookie forward in Dominique Malonga, Seattle didn't have enough slots to protect all of its top-end talent.
The Storm face an uncertain future after closing 2025 on an ugly regular-season skid and a first-round playoff exit, culminating in the firing of coach Noelle Quinn. But for now, Seattle maintains control of Malonga and keeps exclusive negotiation rights with any potential core players.
They've got their work cut out for them this offseason, but they'll have the option to bring back all the key pieces from a highly talented roster.
Nyara Sabally
A former No. 5 overall pick from 2022, Nyara Sabally never quite had the chance to thrive in three seasons on a stacked New York Liberty team. Playing time will be less of an obstacle in Toronto.
The Tempo selected Sabally with their second pick in the expansion draft, and she figures to be a key piece in a largely unproven frontcourt. Sabally averaged 5.4 points and 4.5 rebounds with New York in 2025, starting 10 games with a career-best 17.4 minutes per game. She's primed to build upon those numbers in a full-time starting role.
Golden State capitalized on turning bench players into impactful starters -- and it wouldn't be the first time that a former Liberty bench piece thrived on an expansion team.
Honorable Mention: Portland Fire
Despite Golden State's success last season, the WNBA expansion process isn't designed to create playoff contenders. Still, the Fire have the framework of an intriguing team -- albeit not one that figures to make an immediate impact.
Carleton was a key part of a Lynx team that reached the WNBA Finals in 2024, and adds size, defense, and shooting to Portland. In an expansion draft that largely lacks established WNBA talent, the 28-year-old is a legitimate WNBA starter and arguably the best player selected in expansion.
A new chapter in Portland 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4FS6Ipmqzm
— Portland Fire (@theportlandfire) April 3, 2026
Leite and Haley Jones are former first-round talents with room to grow, and Caldwell had a strong season with Atlanta in 2025. Muhl isn't a bad late-round flier, either -- she'll miss the entirety of the 2026 season, but could turn into an impact player down the line.
Losers
Minnesota Lynx
The Lynx are still a top WNBA title contender, but the loss of Carleton is certainly a tough blow to the frontcourt. Carleton flourished in her last two seasons with the Lynx, finishing third in Most Improved Player voting in 2024 and starting all 44 games in 2025.
She logged the second-most minutes on Minnesota last season, behind only Courtney Williams, as a fixture in the Lynx lineup.
Minnesota's core of Napheesa Collier, Alanna Smith, and Williams -- should they retain it -- is among the best in the league, so it won't drastically alter their playoff hopes, but Carleton still leaves big shoes to fill.
Bridget Carleton
On the flip side, Carleton goes from a key role player on a championship-level Lynx squad to the main cog on an expansion Portland team that will need a lot to go right in order to qualify for the WNBA Playoffs.
That's a drastic shift in environment, and a big culture shock for Carleton, who made the playoffs in all but one of her six seasons in Minnesota.
Carleton brings experience to Portland and should see an uptick in production, so it's a good fit for a brand-new team. It just might come at the cost of playing for a WNBA title, on her end.
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky traded their No. 17 and No. 26 picks to Portland and Toronto in exchange for full immunity in the 2026 expansion draft.
Chicago still owns the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, and Portland's second-round pick (No. 21 overall), but it's a curious move to forego two chances to bring in young talent -- especially with star center Angel Reese's future uncertain.
Ariel Atkins is likely the only UFA that would have moved the needle for Portland or Toronto over the likes of Carleton and Mabrey. Even with protecting Atkins, Chicago had enough room to protect its four players on rookie-scale contracts (Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld).
The Sky clearly didn't want to take any risks, it's worth wondering if the immunity deals were absolutely necessary -- especially if that No. 17 overall pick can net Portland someone of value.
Lou Orlando is a Fordham University alum, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. At Rose Hill, he covered women's basketball for the university newspaper, the Fordham Ram. In addition to calling games on 90.7 FM. The Brooklyn native enjoys bagels and thinking about random early-2010s athletes, that is when he isn't penning stories for Women's Fastbreak and Indiana Fever On SI.
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