Three Australian WNBA players selected in WNBA expansion draft for new teams Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo
Consensus Summary
Three Australian basketball players—Nyadiew Puoch, Chloe Bibby, and Kristy Wallace—were selected in the WNBA’s expansion draft for the new teams Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Puoch, a rising star from the UC Capitals, was chosen 16th by Portland after a standout WNBL season that included a half-court buzzer-beater against the Perth Lynx. Bibby, a former Indiana Fever player, was picked 11th by Portland, while Wallace, a two-time WNBA champion and Olympic bronze medalist, joined the Toronto Tempo. Both teams are led by Australian coach Sandy Brondello, who also spearheads the Tempo. The expansion draft follows a new collective bargaining agreement that significantly raises salary caps and player earnings. The Portland Fire returns to the league after a 24-year absence, while the Toronto Tempo is the 15th team in the WNBA. The draft for additional players will occur on April 13, with the season beginning May 8. The articles largely agree on key details but differ slightly on Wallace’s pick number and minor roster specifics.
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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)
- Sandy Brondello is coaching the Toronto Tempo expansion team
- The WNBA draft for new teams will occur on April 13, with the season starting on May 8
- The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement was finalized on March 24, increasing the salary cap to $7 million and maximum one-year salary to $1.4 million
- Puoch averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game for the UC Capitals in the 2024 WNBL season
- Puoch scored a half-court buzzer-beater against the Perth Lynx in January 2024
- 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 Toronto Tempo’s first pick in the expansion draft was Julie Allemand (who played for the Los Angeles Sparks last season)
- The WNBA salary cap increase is described as from $1.5 million to $7 million ($2.1 million to $10 million)
- The Toronto Tempo is the 15th WNBA team, while the Portland Fire is the 14th
- Kristy Wallace was selected by the Toronto Tempo as the 23rd overall pick
- Bridget Carleton was selected by the Portland Fire as the first pick in the expansion draft
- The WNBA salary cap increase is described as from $1.5 million to $7 million ($2.1 million to $10 million AUD)
- The Portland Fire is welcoming a WNBA team back to the city after 24 years
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Kristy Wallace was selected as the 21st overall pick, while the Guardian states she was selected as the 23rd overall pick
- ABC mentions the Toronto Tempo is the 15th WNBA team, but the Guardian does not specify the team order
- ABC states the Toronto Tempo’s first pick in the expansion draft was Julie Allemand, but the Guardian does not mention this detail
Source Articles
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....
‘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...