After the new CBA agreement was put in place between the WNBA and the players’ association, the new season is set to begin with the same schedule, as mentioned by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The timeline for the process is set, as the league is also undergoing expansion before the 2026 season.
The WNBA will add two new teams, Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, to its roster. This will bring the total number of teams to 15, and before any other agenda items are addressed for the next season, the two new teams must be provided with an expansion draft.
Even though no official date has been announced, the teams were initially given the March 1-6 timeline for the expansion draft. A similar process happened when the Golden State Valkyries joined the league in 2024. However, this time, the expansion draft was discussed as part of the new CBA agreement and is expected to be different from earlier versions.
What are the rules of WNBA expansion draft?
In an expansion draft, teams are allowed to protect a certain number of players in their rosters, and others are put in a basket for the new teams to choose. In the 2024 expansion draft that happened after the inclusion of the Valkyries, teams were allowed to protect six players under guaranteed contracts or who are the core of the roster.
The Valkyries were allowed to choose one player from all 12 teams or pass. The team was also allowed to trade players or draft picks as per the expansion draft.
For the 2026 expansion draft, which will probably happen on March 6, changes will be announced, but no official announcement has yet been made. For now, the new agreement will be put to a vote by the Board of Governors and players. The WNBA expansion draft will follow the main draft, in which the Dallas Wings have been awarded the first overall pick.
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