Toronto Tempo Expansion Draft Guide: How It Works, Key Rules, and What It Means for Canada’s First WNBA Team

Canada’s first WNBA team is about to take its first real step.

For Canadian fans, this is the first meaningful look at how Toronto plans to construct its roster. The process is structured, but there is still a fair amount of uncertainty built into it. They will be doing it alongside the Portland Fire, which adds another layer to how this draft unfolds.

Why this expansion draft looks different

Expansion drafts are usually straightforward. One team selects from a pool of unprotected players and builds out a roster from there.

This one is more complicated because there are two expansion teams entering at the same time. Portland will make the first selection, while Toronto slots in at sixth overall. From there, the teams alternate picks in a snake format, with Toronto opening the second round after the first 12 selections are made.

Toronto did benefit from the initial coin flip. That result secured the sixth pick in the upcoming college draft and first priority on the waiver wire. Neither detail guarantees immediate impact, but both add flexibility as the roster takes shape beyond this draft.

The rules that will shape the player pool

Each of the league’s existing teams submitted a protected list ahead of the draft. Only five players per team could be protected, which ensures that useful players will be available.

At the same time, there are limits designed to keep rosters intact across the league. No team can lose more than two players in the expansion process, so the available pool will be spread out rather than concentrated from a few teams.

When Toronto selects a player, they assume the same rights and contract situation that player had with her previous team. That matters when it comes to restricted free agents and long-term roster planning.

The free agency wrinkle

This particular offseason introduces an unusual factor.

There are 77 unrestricted free agents available, which creates more variability than a typical expansion draft. Some established players may be left unprotected simply because teams are prioritizing younger, long-term pieces.

There is a restriction attached to that opportunity. Each expansion team is allowed to select only one unrestricted free agent during the draft. That player becomes eligible for a supermax offer from the team that selects her, although other teams are still able to negotiate.

Portland, with the first overall pick, is expected to address that immediately. Once they do, Toronto will have more time to assess how it wants to use that one selection.

Players such as Arike Ogunbowale or Azura Stevens could theoretically be available depending on how their teams approach protection decisions, although nothing is confirmed until those lists are revealed.

What Toronto may prioritize

There is a recent example that offers some guidance. Last year’s expansion team found success by targeting players outside the obvious tier. That included international players and those who had not yet secured consistent roles in the league.

Toronto is working with a similar landscape. There is a sizeable group of players who are developing overseas or splitting time between leagues. Those players are often left unprotected due to uncertainty around availability, but they can provide real value if they commit to a full season.

Rather than focusing on headline names, this draft may be more about building depth and maintaining flexibility heading into free agency and the college draft.

Toronto is also not required to use all 12 selections. If there are teams without appealing options, they can leave those spots open and address them later through other channels.

Key expansion draft mechanics

This is where the structure matters most for following along on draft day:

• two rounds, with six selections per round for each team
• snake format, meaning Toronto opens the second round
• five protected players per existing team
• no team can lose more than two players
• each expansion team can select one unrestricted free agent

Those constraints are what will shape how quickly certain types of players come off the board.

The role of trades

There is also the possibility that some outcomes are influenced before the draft begins.

Expansion teams are allowed to make agreements with existing teams. That can include selecting a player with the intention of trading her immediately, or agreeing not to select certain players from a team’s unprotected list.

As a result, some picks may reflect those prior discussions rather than purely on-the-board decisions.

What this means for Canadian fans

This is only the first stage of roster construction.

The expansion draft sets an initial framework, but free agency and the college draft will play significant roles in shaping the final roster. Friday’s selections will offer an early indication of how Toronto wants to approach team building, whether that leans toward long-term development or a more immediate push to compete.

It is also the first tangible step in establishing a WNBA presence in Canada, which adds another layer of interest beyond the usual expansion process.

How Does the WNBA season work?

WNBA betting outlook

There are no betting markets tied directly to the expansion draft itself at this stage.

That will change once the roster begins to take shape. Futures markets, including championship odds and win totals, typically follow once teams are established.

How to bet on the WNBA

For now, the draft serves as an early evaluation point. Bettors looking ahead will be watching how Toronto approaches its selections, whether it targets upside, experience, or flexibility, and how that translates into early market expectations once odds are released.