Three Australian WNBA players selected in WNBA expansion draft for new teams
Consensus Summary
Three Australian basketball players—Nyadiew Puoch, Chloe Bibby, and Kristy Wallace—were selected in the WNBA’s expansion draft for the league’s newest teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Puoch, a rising star from the UC Capitals, was chosen 16th overall by Portland, while Bibby was selected 11th by the same team. Wallace, an Olympic medalist, was picked by Toronto, with sources disagreeing on whether she was the 21st or 23rd overall selection. Puoch’s career highlights include a buzzer-beating half-court shot in January and a standout season averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. The expansion draft follows a new collective bargaining agreement that significantly increased the salary cap and player earnings, signaling growth for the league. Both teams are led by experienced figures, with Sandy Brondello coaching Toronto and Puoch joining a roster that includes fellow Australian Bibby. The WNBA draft to finalize rosters will take place on April 13, with the season set to begin on May 8.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nyadiew Puoch was selected by the Portland Fire in the WNBA expansion draft as the 16th overall pick
- 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 21st overall pick (ABC) or 23rd overall pick (Guardian)
- The WNBA expansion draft occurred ahead of the 2025 season opener on May 8
- The WNBA draft to complete rosters will be held on April 13, 2025
- Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are the 14th and 15th teams in the WNBA expansion
- Sandy Brondello is the head coach of the Toronto Tempo and a two-time WNBA champion
- Puoch averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game for the UC Capitals in 2024
- Puoch scored a half-court buzzer-beater in January 2025 to win against the Perth Lynx
- The WNBA and players' union reached a new collective bargaining agreement on March 24, 2025
- The salary cap increased from $1.5 million to $7 million, with maximum one-year salaries rising to $1.4 million
- Puoch was previously drafted by the Atlanta Dream in 2024 but delayed her rookie season to play in the WNBL
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Kristy Wallace was selected by the Toronto Tempo as the 21st overall pick
- Bridget Carleton was selected by the Portland Fire as the first pick in the expansion draft
- Julie Allemand was selected by the Toronto Tempo with its first pick in the expansion draft
- The existing teams were allowed to protect a maximum of five players to keep them off the table in the expansion draft
- The WNBA draft to complete rosters will be held on April 13, 2025, ahead of the season opener on May 8
- The salary cap increase is described as from $1.5 million to $7 million ($10 million in Australian dollars)
- The maximum one-year salary increase is described as from $1.5 million to $1.4 million ($2.3 million in Australian dollars)
- Kristy Wallace was selected by the Toronto Tempo as the 23rd overall pick
- Bridget Carleton was selected by the Portland Fire with the first pick in the expansion draft
- Julie Allemand was selected by the Toronto Tempo with its first pick in the expansion draft
- The salary cap increase is described as from $1.5 million to $7 million ($10 million in Australian dollars)
- The maximum one-year salary increase is described as from $1.5 million to $1.4 million ($2.3 million in Australian dollars)
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Kristy Wallace was selected as the 21st overall pick, but the Guardian states she was selected as the 23rd overall pick
- No contradiction found regarding the salary cap increase amounts between sources, but ABC and Guardian both report the same figures
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....