Three Australians selected in WNBA expansion draft for Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo
Consensus Summary
Three Australian basketball players—Nyadiew Puoch, Chloe Bibby, and Kristy Wallace—were selected in the WNBA’s 2026 expansion draft, joining the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo as the league’s 14th and 15th teams. Puoch, a standout for the UC Capitals in Australia’s WNBL, was chosen 16th overall by Portland after a breakout season where she averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, including a game-winning half-court shot. Bibby, a veteran with experience in the WNBA and overseas, was picked 11th by Portland, while Wallace, an Olympic bronze medalist, went to Toronto as the 23rd pick. The draft followed a new collective bargaining agreement that raised the salary cap to $7 million and increased maximum player salaries to $1.4 million. The season begins May 8, with teams finalizing rosters after the April 13 draft. Sandy Brondello, the Australian Opals coach, leads Toronto, while Portland’s roster includes Bridget Carleton as the first pick and Julie Allemand as Toronto’s top selection.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nyadiew Puoch was selected by the Portland Fire as the No. 16 overall pick in the WNBA expansion draft
- Nyadiew Puoch averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals for the UC Capitals in the WNBL last season
- Nyadiew Puoch scored a half-court buzzer beater in January to win Canberra’s 77-74 victory over the Perth Lynx
- Chloe Bibby was selected by the Portland Fire as the 11th overall pick in the expansion draft
- Kristy Wallace was selected by the Toronto Tempo as the 23rd overall pick in the expansion draft
- Sandy Brondello is coaching the Toronto Tempo and previously led the Australian Opals to an Olympic bronze medal
- The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement was finalized on March 24, 2026, increasing the salary cap to $7 million (AUD $10 million) and max one-year salary to $1.4 million (AUD $2.3 million)
- The WNBA expansion draft took place to fill rosters for the Portland Fire (14th team) and Toronto Tempo (15th team)
- The WNBA season begins on May 8, 2026, following the expansion draft and regular draft on April 13
- Bridget Carleton was selected by the Portland Fire as the first overall pick in the expansion draft
- Julie Allemand was selected by the Toronto Tempo as its first overall pick in the expansion draft
- Nyadiew Puoch was previously drafted by the Atlanta Dream in 2024 but delayed her WNBA debut to play in Australia’s WNBL
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Portland Fire are welcoming a WNBA team back to the city after a 24-year absence.
- The WNBA’s previous salary cap was $1.5 million (AUD $2.1 million).
- The league’s revenue-sharing system is a new addition under the collective bargaining agreement.
- The WNBA draft (for non-expansion picks) will be held on April 13, 2026, to round out the rosters.
- Existing WNBA teams were allowed to protect a maximum of five players in the expansion draft.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the salary cap increased to $7 million (AUD $10 million), while ABC also confirms this but does not explicitly mention the AUD equivalent in the same sentence structure.
Source Articles
‘Means a lot’: Nyadiew Puoch among three Australians picked in WNBA expansion draft
21-year-old rising star and Chloe Bibby selected to join Portland Fire Opals coach Sandy Brondello’s Toronto Tempo pick Kristy Wallace Australian rising star Nyadiew Puoch has been rewarded for her st...
Rising star among 3 Australians picked in WNBA expansion draft
WNBL rising star Nyadiew Puoch and Chloe Bibby are selected to join the Portland Fire in the WNBA, while fellow Australian Kristy Wallace is picked by Toronto Tempo....