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 by Portland, while Bibby, a former Indiana Fever player, was picked 11th by the same team. Wallace, a two-time WNBA champion and Olympic bronze medalist, was selected by the Tempo, though sources differ on her pick number (21st or 23rd). The expansion draft marks the arrival of two new teams, with Portland returning to the league after a 24-year absence. Puoch’s selection follows her standout 2024 WNBL season, where she averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, including a clutch half-court buzzer-beater. The draft comes after a new collective bargaining agreement raised the salary cap to $7 million and increased maximum player salaries to $1.4 million, signaling growth for the league. Both teams also selected veteran players in the expansion draft, with Bridget Carleton and Julie Allemand joining Portland and Toronto, respectively. The WNBA’s expansion draft sets the stage for the 2025 season, which begins on May 8, with the full draft to complete rosters scheduled for April 13.
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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)
- 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
- Sandy Brondello is coaching the Toronto Tempo, the 15th WNBA team
- The Portland Fire is the 14th WNBA team, returning to the city after 24 years
- The new collective bargaining agreement was finalized on March 24, 2025, increasing the salary cap to $7 million and max one-year salary to $1.4 million
- Puoch averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals for the UC Capitals in the 2024 WNBL season
- Puoch scored a half-court buzzer-beater in Canberra’s 77-74 win over the Perth Lynx in January 2025
- 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
- The existing teams were allowed to protect a maximum of five players to keep them off the table in the expansion draft
- 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 AUD)
- The max one-year salary increase is described as from $1.5 million to $1.4 million ($2.3 million in AUD)
- Kristy Wallace was selected by the Toronto Tempo as the 23rd overall pick
- The salary cap increase is described as from $1.5 million to $7 million ($10 million in AUD)
- The max one-year salary increase is described as from $1.5 million to $1.4 million ($2.3 million in AUD)
- 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
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports Kristy Wallace was picked 21st by the Toronto Tempo, but the Guardian reports she was picked 23rd
- No contradictions in other factual details between sources
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...