Three Australian WNBA players selected in WNBA expansion draft for new teams
Consensus Summary
Three Australian WNBA players—Nyadiew Puoch, Chloe Bibby, and Kristy Wallace—were selected in the league’s expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, the 14th and 15th teams in WNBA history. Puoch, a rising star from the UC Capitals, was chosen 16th by Portland after a standout 2024 season that included a half-court buzzer-beater against the Perth Lynx, while Bibby was picked 11th by the Fire. Wallace, an Olympic medalist, joined the Tempo as the 21st or 23rd pick depending on the source. Both teams secured veteran forwards early in the draft, with Bridget Carleton and Julie Allemand joining Portland and Toronto, respectively. The expansion follows a new CBA that nearly doubled the salary cap to $7 million and increased maximum salaries to $1.4 million, signaling growth for the league. Puoch, who previously delayed her WNBA debut to develop in Australia, expressed excitement about the opportunity, while Bibby’s experience with expansion teams like Golden State provided reassurance to her teammates.
✓ 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 took place ahead of the 2025 season opener on May 8
- The WNBA draft to complete rosters will occur 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 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 (or $10 million AUD) with max salaries rising to $1.4 million (or $2.3 million AUD)
- 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 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
- 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 Fire and Tempo selected players from current rosters, while the existing teams protected five players each
- Kristy Wallace was selected by the Toronto Tempo as the 23rd overall pick
- The Portland Fire selected Bridget Carleton with the first pick in the expansion draft
- Julie Allemand, who played for the Los Angeles Sparks last season, was selected by the Toronto Tempo with its first pick
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports Kristy Wallace was picked 21st by Toronto Tempo, but The Guardian says she was picked 23rd
- No contradiction found regarding the selection of Bridget Carleton or Julie Allemand between sources
- No contradiction found regarding the number of players protected by existing teams
- No contradiction found regarding the new salary cap figures (both sources agree on $7M/$10M AUD cap and $1.4M/$2.3M AUD max salary)
- No contradiction found regarding the timing of the expansion draft or season opener
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....