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PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — The Portland Fire will get the first pick in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft after a coin toss.
The Fire went up against the Toronto Tempo in the coin toss, with the winner getting the choice of drafting first or picking sixth overall in the WNBA Draft. The Tempo won the toss and opted for the sixth pick, which means Portland will have the first pick of the draft.
The league made the announcement Friday morning. The Expansion Draft is scheduled for April 3.
READ ALSO | New coaches and front office hires bolster Portland Fire ahead of WNBA debut season
In the WNBA League Draft, scheduled for April 13, the fire will have the 7th, 21st, and 37th overall picks.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE EXPANSION DRAFT
Portland and the Toronto Tempo, the league’s two newest expansion teams, will begin assembling their rosters during the Expansion Draft. The event will feature two rounds, with both teams selecting players from a pool of unprotected athletes made available by the league’s 13 existing teams.
All 13 current teams must submit full roster lists to the league by March 29. Those lists must include every player under team control at the end of the 2025 regular season, including those on active, suspended, reserved, core or retired lists.
Teams may protect up to five players. All others will be eligible for selection by Portland or Toronto.
The Fire and Tempo will alternate selections in a “snake” format. Because they are picking first in the first round, the Fire will pick second in the following round. Each team may select one player from the unprotected list of each existing franchise, either acquiring that player’s contract or her negotiating rights. Both teams will be able to acquire up to 12 players in the Expansion Draft.
ESPN will broadcast a special covering the Expansion Draft at 3:30 p.m. ET on April 3.
The 2026 WNBA Draft will be held on Monday, April 13, in New York City. The Dallas Wings will select first, followed by the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky. The Toronto Tempo will pick sixth and the Portland Fire will pick seventh.
The Fire announced single-game tickets will go on sale on April 1.
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