🏀 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Guide: Rules, Draft Order, Projected Protected Players & Odds

We're less than a week away from the 2026 WNBA expansion draft next Friday, when the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will each draft the rights to 12 players ahead of what promises to be the most chaotic offseason in league history.

The league ratified its new CBA on March 24 - just 10 days before the expansion draft on April 3 - and shared the official expansion draft rules with the franchises and their fans this week. After the Tempo won the coin flip today (and deferred the No. 1 expansion pick to the Fire), we await each team's list of protected players on Sunday.

It's been a lot in a short amount of time, so we're here to help with our WNBA expansion draft guide with a complete breakdown of the expansion draft rules, full draft order, my projected list of protected players for all 13 teams, the latest betting odds, and more. Check back next week as I'll be updating this page with official protection lists.

⬇️ WNBA expansion draft guide (table of contents)

1. Offseason key dates and timeline
2. How WNBA expansion draft works
3. Expansion draft order and full picks
4. Projected protected players for every team
5. WNBA championship odds
6. WNBA expansion draft history
7. How to watch expansion draft
8. Frequently asked questions

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📅 When is the WNBA expansion draft? Offseason key dates & timeline

The WNBA expansion draft is Friday, April 3, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET with live coverage on ESPN. Here's a look at the WNBA offseason key dates and timeline ahead of the season opener on May 8, with some dates awaiting official league confirmation:

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📋 How does the WNBA expansion draft work? Rules & format

This is the second consecutive offseason in which the WNBA has held an expansion draft, but this year's draft has some dramatic differences from last year - namely in how the league handles "core-exhausted free agents," a group that happens to include many of the best players in the league.

Here's a comprehensive look at the WNBA expansion draft rules this year:

Rules at a glance

Draft format and structure

With two teams in this year's expansion draft, the Fire and Tempo will alternate draft picks across two rounds with Portland picking first in Round 1 and Toronto picking first in Round 2. Each team can make up to six selections per round for a maximum of 12 total per round, though they aren't required to use all of them - Golden State made only 11 picks in last year's expansion draft.

Expansion protection rules

Each of the 13 existing teams will submit a list of up to five protected players to the league office by Sunday. Those five players cannot be drafted by either the Fire or Tempo in the WNBA expansion draft, though with so many players set to hit free agency this summer, that doesn't guarantee that they'll return to their incumbent team, either.

Everyone else on the team's end-of-season roster last year - including players on the active, suspended, draft list, reserved, core or retired lists - is eligible to be selected in the expansion draft. That doesn't mean those players will automatically sign with the Fire or Tempo after being drafted, so we could see some teams risk leaving their free agents unprotected with the goal of signing them back in free agency.

The core-exhausted UFA rule

This is the biggest difference between this year's expansion draft and last year's draft for the Golden State Valkyries, and it affects roughly half the teams in the league.

Each expansion team can select only one "potential unrestricted free agent," defined as a player with five or more years of service whose contract has expired (that was true last year, too). Unlike last year, those UFAs who have exhausted their core eligibility can now be drafted by the expansion teams, which wasn't an option last year for the Valkyries.

If an expansion team selects a core-exhausted UFA, they are the only team that can offer that player a supermax contract, which starts at $1.4 million under the new CBA. That's a massive negotiating chip for the Fire and Tempo to entice a soon-to-be free agent to become the face of the franchise with a higher salary than they'd earn elsewhere.

The change forces teams to spend one of their five protection slots on some of their best players who would have been protected last year - or leave them unprotected and risk one of the two expansion teams poaching away a star player with a big contract.

Trades and limits

Both expansion teams can negotiate pre-draft trades with existing teams between Sunday and Thursday (one day before the draft), which can include agreements to select or avoid specific players or to draft-and-trade unprotected players to third parties.

The Fire and Tempo can select a combined maximum of two players from any single existing team (via draft or trade), with a limit of one per round. One expansion team can take both of those selections from the same franchise, which would block the other expansion team from picking anyone on that roster.

Comparing rules to Valkyries expansion draft

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🔢 WNBA expansion draft order: Picks for Fire, Tempo

The Tempo won Friday's coin toss and chose the No. 6 pick in the rookie draft over the No. 1 pick in the expansion draft. That means the Fire own the first selection on April 3 and will pick seventh in the rookie draft. Here's the full pick breakdown for both teams:

WNBA expansion draft order (April 3)

WNBA rookie draft order (April 13)

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🔮 WNBA expansion draft predictions: Protected players for every team

Below are my projected protection lists for all 13 teams, along with every expansion-draft-eligible player on the roster. These are projections for now; the real lists come out Sunday, and I'll update this page after those lists are confirmed.

In general, I've leaned toward protecting franchise cornerstones even when they're technically UFAs, because the new core-exhausted rule introduces downside that didn't exist in last year's draft. Leaving a star unprotected is a calculated risk, and most front offices aren't going to be comfortable taking it - even if there's a chance that star would return in free agency, is it worth potentially upsetting them along the way?

Here are my predictions for every team's protected players, along with a key for understanding each player's roster status:

• ROS - Rostered player (rookie contract or signed through 2026)
• RFA - Restricted free agent
• RSV - Reserved (team holds exclusive negotiating rights)
• RH - Rights held (unsigned draft pick / overseas)
• UFA - Unrestricted free agent

Atlanta Dream

Howard, Gray and Hillmon are Atlanta's foundation, and I don't see any scenario where they're left unprotected. Gray is a prime candidate for the Dream's core designation, and Howard and Hillmon are restricted free agents the team wants to keep. Paopao shot the ball well as a rookie and comes on a cheap deal. Caldwell fills out the five protected players as a solid rotation guard with reserved rights.

The name to watch is Jones. She's core-exhausted and now eligible under the new rules, but she's also coming off a meniscus tear. I think Atlanta leaves her unprotected and bets that neither expansion team uses their one UFA pick on a player recovering from a knee injury. Borlase and Puoch are both developing overseas and could be sneaky targets for a patient expansion front office.

Chicago Sky

Reese, Cardoso and Atkins are the easy calls. Chicago traded a first-round pick for Atkins, so leaving her exposed would undermine one of the few good moves this front office has made. Sivka, the No. 10 pick who stayed overseas, is still part of the long-term plan as a 6-4 versatile forward.

The fifth spot is where it gets interesting. I'd go Van Lith over Westbeld, though it's closer than most people realize: Van Lith shot 16% from three as a rookie, while Westbeld shot nearly 40% from deep and has better pro size. Van Lith's first-round pedigree likely gives her the edge for now. The wild card here is Courtney Vandersloot: she's 36 and core-exhausted, and Sky fans widely expect GM Jeff Pagliocca to protect her out of loyalty. I don't think he should, but I wouldn't be surprised if he does.

Connecticut Sun

This is the easiest protection list in the league. Four former first-round picks on rookie contracts are automatic protections, and Mabrey - one of the better shooters in the WNBA and a strong core designation candidate - takes the fifth spot.

Nelson-Ododa started 21 games last season but saw her role shrink after Edwards arrived, making her the most notable unprotected player. Charles is 36, and I can't imagine either expansion team spending their one UFA pick on her.

Dallas Wings

The Wings' protected list will be the most scrutinized over the next week, and it's all because of Arike Ogunbowale. The four-time All-Star and former top-five pick is a tough fit as a ball-dominant, high-usage guard alongside Bueckers, who is clearly the face of this franchise and could be among the best players in the league in short order. If she's protected, it'll likely be as a trade chip, but I reckon she's left off entirely.

Bueckers and Siegrist are slam dunks. Kuier has been excellent in EuroLeague (11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game) and is absolutely worth a protection slot. James showed real flashes as a rookie, and Li Yueru provides size under cost-controlled rights. They all would fit well with either Awa Fam or Azzi Fudd as the No. 1 pick.

If the Wings go in that direction, that would leave Ogunbowale, Diamond Miller (a former No. 2 overall pick), Haley Jones, and Geiselsöder. If Ogunbowale is indeed unprotected, she'd be the best pure scorer in the entire expansion pool and a likely No. 1 pick.

Golden State Valkyries

A year after building their roster through the expansion draft, the Valkyries find themselves on the other side of the process - and they're likely going to pay a bigger price than just about any other team in the draft.

A year after winning Most Improved Player, Burton feels like a lock to be protected. It feels like Salaün, Rupert, and Jocyte are clear choices to build around, too. The fifth spot is the hard part. Kayla Thornton led this team in scoring last year to become the franchise's first All-Star, but she's 33 and coming off a major injury. Kate Martin is a fan favorite but was a fringe rotation player last year and will be 26 in June.

That's why I think the Valkyries will protect Leite: she's 21 on a cost-controlled rookie deal for the next two-plus years, and she showed real promise as a downhill attacker in her first season. No matter what Golden State does, expect one or two players to be plucked.

Indiana Fever

Indiana has perhaps the most straightforward protection list in the league. Clark and Boston form this team's 1-2 punch for the next decade, and Timpson is a solid value on a rookie contract. Mitchell is core-eligible and the team's longest-tenured player, and while she's an interesting candidate to let walk, I don't think Indiana rolls the dice. Hull plays elite defense as a restricted free agent to earn her spot as the fifth choice.

I can see the case for keeping someone like Bibby, who was an elite shooter as a rookie, or a veteran like Natasha Howard or Sophie Cunningham. But with such a strong core to build around, I think the Fever shoot for the upside of Timpson over the others.

Las Vegas Aces

There's no question that Wilson, Young, and Gray are coming back to Las Vegas - if any of those players aren't protected, there's clearly something going on behind the scenes. Smith feels like another obvious choice as a restricted free agent, which likely leaves the fifth spot between Loyd and Nye.

Loyd is core-exhausted and arguably the Aces' fourth-best player, and she embraced a lower-usage role during last year's title run. But I think Nye is the smarter pick here. She has multiple years left on her rookie deal, and Vegas is about to hand out max contracts to its Big Three, which doesn't leave a ton of room for Loyd in this team's long-term plans.

Bell started all 12 playoff games and is worth watching. Evans carried stretches of the Finals and will draw plenty of interest on the open market. But Nye feels like the pick.

Los Angeles Sparks

Brink, Jackson, Plum, and Hamby are the obvious top four picks for the Sparks: two lottery picks and two All-Stars. I have Allemand as the fifth choice because quality point guard play is one of the scarcest commodities in the WNBA, and Los Angeles went 16-11 in games she started.

That leaves Azura Stevens unprotected, which would make her one of the best available players in the expansion draft pool after she shot 38.1% from three while scoring 12.8 points and grabbing eight rebounds per game last year in 44 starts. For an expansion team that only gets one UFA pick, Stevens could be the best possible use of it.

Minnesota Lynx

This is a veteran team with some clear choices at the top: Collier, Williams, McBride, and Smith are all core-eligible and all essential to a team that has won the most games in the WNBA each of the last two seasons. You don't shake up that core if you can avoid it.

I think Carleton is the fifth pick for a few reasons: she's been a key piece in Minnesota's resurgence after starting the last two years, and the Ontario native is a likely pick for the Tempo as they lean into their identity as Canada's team. But that would leave Juhász, a 6-5 forward averaging 13.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in EuroLeague this season, as an enticing option for either expansion team.

New York Liberty

This is where the core-exhausted rule matters most. Stewart and Jones were automatically safe in last year's draft because they couldn't be selected, but that's no longer the case for the Liberty. I don't think they'll gamble with their championship core.

Instead, I expect the full starting lineup from that 2024 title team - Ionescu, Stewart, Jones, Fiebich, and Laney-Hamilton - to earn the five protected slots. Unfortunately for New York, that could put fan favorites Johannes and Sabally on the chopping block if either expansion team opts for those valuable subs with championship experience.

Phoenix Mercury

Copper is core-exhausted, but she just helped carry Phoenix to the WNBA Finals. I don't think the Mercury can afford to leave their best perimeter player unprotected and risk an expansion team gaining exclusive supermax leverage, and I don't think they'll let Thomas or Sabally reach the expansion draft pool, either.

Makani has upside on a reserved contract, and Westbeld is coming off a strong rookie campaign. Bonner at 38 is likely safe without a protection slot; I'd be surprised if either expansion team used their one UFA pick there. Held might be the most interesting unprotected name on this roster with elite upside as a defender and shooter, but I think Phoenix can get away with bringing her back without using one of its five slots.

Seattle Storm

Seattle has a new head coach in Sonia Raman, and her staff will need to decide whether this is a roster that can still win now or should focus entirely on the future. I'd opt for the latter: Malonga and Horston are foundational pieces, Williams and Magbegor are core-eligible starters still in their primes, and Muhl has shown enough in Europe post-injury to justify earning the fifth spot for the Storm.

That means Diggins and Ogwumike, both 35 and core-exhausted, off the protected list. Will either expansion team spend their only free-agent selection on either veteran? I doubt it. The biggest loss could be Brittney Sykes, who made the All-Star team last season and would be a legitimate core candidate for the Fire or Tempo.

Washington Mystics

Washington's protection list is a straightforward rebuilding exercise. The 2025 first-round trio of Citron, Iriafen, and Amoore - the first two making the All-Rookie team with Amoore coming off an ACL injury - are automatic protections, and Sheldon takes a slot because the Mystics traded Aaliyah Edwards to acquire her.

Austin is a restricted free agent who was excellent alongside Iriafen in the second half of last season, and I think Washington wants to keep that frontcourt together. If the Mystics go in a different direction, I think Engstler offers the most upside as a versatile defender with a history of elite shooting, but after she regressed last year, I think the other five players have more to offer for the Mystics in the long term.

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💰 2026 WNBA championship odds

WNBA championship odds via BetMGM as of Friday, March 27.

Both expansion teams open at +10000, which comes one year after the Valkyries opened at +12500 odds before last season. That shift is likely reflective of the level of talent expected to be available in this year's expansion draft, though it could also be a response to Golden State's success last year after making the playoffs with a 23-21 record.

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📚 WNBA expansion draft history

This is the seventh expansion draft in WNBA history and the first multi-team expansion draft since 2000. Here's a look at the previous results:

The original Portland Fire were an expansion team in 2000 and played through 2002 before folding, and they'll be the first franchise in WNBA history to participate in an expansion draft twice. Before the Valkyries broke through last year, every single expansion team in league history had a losing record in their first season.

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📺 How to watch the 2026 WNBA expansion draft

• Date: Friday, April 3
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Format: 2 rounds (snake)

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❓ WNBA expansion draft FAQ

When is the 2026 WNBA expansion draft?

The 2026 WNBA expansion draft is on Friday, April 3, at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN.

How many players can each team protect?

Each team can protect five players ahead of the 2026 WNBA expansion draft; everyone else on the end-of-season roster is eligible for selection.

Who picks first in the WNBA expansion draft?

The Portland Fire will pick first in the WNBA expansion draft after the Toronto Tempo won the coin toss and deferred the top pick in favor of the No. 6 pick in the rookie draft.

Can WNBA expansion teams draft free agents?

Yes, teams can select free agents in the WNBA expansion draft. They can only select one free agent per expansion team, and if that player's core eligibility is exhausted, the selecting team gets exclusive supermax negotiating rights.

Can WNBA expansion teams draft rookies?

The WNBA expansion draft will not include any incoming college players, who will be selected in the annual rookie draft on Monday, April 13.

What happened to the original Portland Fire?

The Portland Fire were an expansion team from 2000-02 that folded after three seasons. The new Portland franchise will revive its original nickname for the 2026 WNBA season.

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This article will be updated as protection lists are confirmed Sunday and throughout the week leading up to the April 3 expansion draft.