Three Australian WNBA players selected in league expansion draft
Consensus Summary
Three Australian basketball players—Nyadiew Puoch, Chloe Bibby, and Kristy Wallace—were selected in the WNBA’s expansion draft as the league prepares to welcome two new teams, the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. Puoch, a rising star from the UC Capitals, was chosen 16th overall by Portland, while Bibby joined the same team as the 11th pick. Wallace was selected by the Tempo, coached by Sandy Brondello, though the exact pick number varies between sources. 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 expansion draft comes after the WNBA finalized a new collective bargaining agreement in March, significantly increasing the salary cap and player earnings. Both sources agree on the draft’s timing and the broader impact of the new teams, though discrepancies exist in pick numbers and specific roster selections. The expansion marks a major growth phase for the WNBA, with Australian talent playing a prominent role.
✓ 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
- Sandy Brondello is coaching the Toronto Tempo, the 15th WNBA team
- The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement was finalized on March 24, 2025
- The salary cap increased from $1.5 million to $7 million (or $10 million AUD) under the new CBA
- 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 against 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 Toronto Tempo’s first pick in the expansion draft was Bridget Carleton
- The WNBA salary cap increase is described as $7 million (USD) or $10 million AUD
- The WNBA salary cap was previously $1.5 million (USD) or $2.1 million AUD
- The maximum one-year salary increased to $1.4 million (USD) or $2.3 million AUD
- The Portland Fire is welcoming a WNBA team back to the city after 24 years
- The Toronto Tempo selected Julie Allemand as its first pick in the expansion draft (though this contradicts ABC’s own claim about Bridget Carleton)
- Kristy Wallace was selected by the Toronto Tempo as the 23rd overall pick
- The Toronto Tempo’s first pick in the expansion draft was Julie Allemand
- The WNBA salary cap increase is described as $7 million (USD) or $10 million AUD
- The WNBA salary cap was previously $1.5 million (USD) or $2.1 million AUD
- The maximum one-year salary increased to $1.4 million (USD) or $2.3 million AUD
- The Portland Fire selected Bridget Carleton as the first pick in the expansion draft
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Kristy Wallace was selected as the 21st overall pick by the Toronto Tempo, while the Guardian says she was the 23rd overall pick
- ABC claims the Toronto Tempo’s first pick was Bridget Carleton, but the Guardian states Julie Allemand was the first pick
- ABC mentions the salary cap was previously $1.5 million (USD) or $2.1 million AUD, while the Guardian uses the same figures but does not clarify which currency applies to the original cap
- ABC states the maximum one-year salary increased to $1.4 million (USD) or $2.3 million AUD, while the Guardian uses the same figures but does not specify which currency applies to the new maximum
- ABC’s initial description of the Toronto Tempo’s first pick (Bridget Carleton) is later contradicted by the same source’s mention of Julie Allemand as the first pick
Source Articles
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