The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo made their inaugural expansion draft selections, emphasizing veteran leadership and developmental players. Portland selected Minnesota Lynx guard Bridget Carleton with its first pick, a move that brought immediate star power and experience to the new franchise. Carleton, a 37-year-old veteran, offers veteran leadership and scoring ability, having averaged 9.6 points per game in her breakout 2024 season. The Fire also secured Carla Leite, a 21-year-old French guard with a proven ability to develop quickly, reuniting her with general manager Vanja Cernivec who previously coached her in Golden State. Leite's potential to adapt to a startup environment makes her a key piece for Portland's future success.

Toronto's selections focused on building grit and versatility. The Tempo selected Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey, a veteran scorer who averaged 14.4 points per game last season and led the Unrivaled league in scoring. Toronto also chose Julie Allemand, a skilled playmaker with international experience, to provide ball-handling stability. Allemand's 2020 All-Rookie honors highlight her potential to elevate Toronto's offensive system. The team's wildcard selection of New York Liberty forward Nyara Sabally reunites her with coach Sandy Brondello, offering a familiar face and energy to the new franchise.

These picks signal both teams' strategies: Portland prioritizes immediate impact through Carleton while developing Leite, whereas Toronto seeks veteran scoring (Mabrey) and playmaking (Allemand). The selections also reveal the expansion draft's role in shaping identities, with Carleton's arrival potentially mirroring Kayla Thornton's impact in Golden State last year. The process concludes with both teams finalizing their rosters, setting the stage for their first seasons in 2026.