Season Preview

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Expansion Draft

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Below are answers to some of the main questions regarding the WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management and SPY. 

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What is an Expansion Draft?  
An Expansion Draft is a process used by professional sports leagues to allow a new team to build its roster by selecting players from existing teams. In this case, the WNBA’s 14th and 15th  franchises, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, which will debut in the 2026 season, will be able to select a player from a designated pool of unprotected players from each of the current 13 WNBA teams. 
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When will the WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management and SPY occur? 
The Expansion Draft is scheduled for April 3, at 3:30pm ET and will be broadcast on ESPN. 
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Which players will be available in the Expansion Draft?  
Each of the existing 13 WNBA teams has submitted a Roster List that includes every player they have rights to, covering active, suspended, draft list/reserved, core, and retired lists. Each team can protect up to five players on this Roster List who will not be available for selection. All other players on the team’s Roster List who are not protected will be made available for selection in the Expansion Draft. 
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How many players can the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire select? 
The Expansion Draft will consist of two rounds, and each round will consist of up to twelve selections, up to six selections by Portland and up to six selections by Toronto. Once Portland or Toronto have selected an unprotected player from a team’s Roster List in the first round, neither Portland nor Toronto may select an unprotected player from that same team until the second round, at which point either may select from such team. No team may have more than two unprotected players selected in the Expansion Draft: up to one in each round. 
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Can Toronto and Portland select a player from a team’s Roster List who will be an unrestricted free agent entering 2026?  
Toronto and Portland may each select one player in the Expansion Draft who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent entering the 2026 season.  
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What about former players? 
Each team’s submitted Roster List for the Expansion Draft only includes players on the team’s active, suspended, draft list/reserved, core, and retired lists as of the final day of the 2025 regular season.  
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 Do Toronto and Portland have to select players according to on-court position?  
There are no on-court positional requirements. Toronto and Portland can choose players regardless of position, depending on team needs and available players.  
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Do Toronto and Portland have to build their entire team through the Expansion Draft?  
No. The Expansion Draft is just the start of Toronto and Portland’s roster-building process.  
After the Expansion Draft, both teams will participate in the typical team roster-building functions, including the free agency period, and the 2026 WNBA Draft Presented by State Street Investment Management SPY, which will take place on Monday, April 13, 2026. Toronto currently holds the No. 6 overall pick, along with the seventh pick in the second round and sixth in the third round. Portland currently holds the No. 7 overall pick, along with the sixth pick in the second round and seventh in the third round.

2026-expansion-draft-faq

WNBA Expansion Draft 2026: FAQ and Things to Know

Press Release

NEW YORK, Mar. 27, 2026 – As a result of a coin toss conducted today, the Toronto Tempo has chosen to select sixth in the first round of the league’s 30th annual draft when the WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY is conducted on Monday, April 13.
As a result, the Portland Fire will have the first pick in the WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY on Friday, April 3, and the seventh pick in the first round of the annual draft on April 13.
Information regarding the Expansion Draft is available <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-draft-2026-set-for-april-3">here</a> and details of the annual draft are available <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-draft-2026-to-be-held-april-13">here</a>. Coverage and analysis of the Expansion Draft will be provided in the United States by ESPN, which will air the WNBA Expansion Draft Special 2026 Presented by State Street Investment Management SPY on April 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Information on Canadian media distribution will be provided in the coming days.
The exact order of selections in the Expansion Draft is reflected in the table below:
Order of Selections for WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Presented by State Street Management Investment SPY
Up to 24 total selections (up to 12 per team)
Round 1 (Picks 1-12)
<ol>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
</ol>
Round 2 (Picks 13-24)
13. Toronto 
14. Portland 
15. Toronto 
16. Portland 
17. Toronto 
18. Portland 
19. Toronto 
20. Portland 
21. Toronto 
22. Portland 
23. Toronto 
24. Portland
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wnba-announces-results-of-coin-toss-for-wnba-expansion-draft-2026-presented-by-state-street-investment-management-spy

WNBA Announces Results Of Coin Toss For WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Presented By State Street Investment Management Spy

– League’s 30th Annual Draft to be Exclusively Televised on ESPN from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. ET – 
– State Street Investment Management and SPY Join as League’s Presenting Partner 
for WNBA Draft–   
–Tickets Go on Sale for WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY on Friday, March 27 –
NEW YORK, March 26, 2026 – The WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY will be held on Monday, April 13 at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN with exclusive coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. The draft on ESPN, along with WNBA Orange Carpet Special (ESPN2, 5:30 pm ET) and WNBA Countdown Presented by Google (ESPN, 6:30 pm ET) will also be available live on the ESPN App.
Top collegiate and international prospects will participate in person as the WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY returns to New York City.
This marks the third consecutive year the draft will be a marquee live event with fans in attendance. Individual tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster on Friday, March 27 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
As determined by the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery held on November 23, 2025, the Dallas Wings will select first, followed by the Minnesota Lynx (second), Seattle Storm (third), Washington Mystics (fourth), and Chicago Sky (fifth).
“We are proud to welcome State Street Investment Management and SPY as the presenting partner of the WNBA Draft as we celebrate the league’s historic 30th season,” said WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison. “Every year, the draft is a defining moment for our league and its future stars, and together with State Street Investment Management, we’re excited to create an unforgettable experience as we welcome the next generation of WNBA talent.”
The official tip-off of draft night festivities will begin when invited draft prospects arrive on the WNBA Draft Orange Carpet presented by Coach. Earlier in the day, draft prospects will visit the iconic Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony to celebrate the WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY.
“We are proud to serve as presenting sponsor of the 2026 WNBA Draft,” said John Brockelman, Chief Marketing Officer of State Street Investment Management. &#8220;This event is more than a moment &#8211; it&#8217;s a beginning. And these incredible athletes serve as a powerful reminder of what&#8217;s possible when you believe in, and invest in, your future.&#8221;
On draft night, WNBA social and digital platforms – including the WNBA App and WNBA.com – will provide live updates, an interactive Draft Board, and comprehensive coverage of all draft-related events.
For more information on the WNBA and on the WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY, visit WNBA.com and the WNBA App.
The WNBA’s historic 30th season will tip off on Friday, May 8 with the Connecticut Sun visiting the New York Liberty, the Washington Mystics visiting the Toronto Tempo as the first ever Canadian WNBA team, and the Seattle Storm hosting the Golden State Valkyries.
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WNBA
Tipping off its historic 30th season in 2026, the WNBA continues to be one of the fastest-growing brands in sports, fueled by record-breaking momentum and unprecedented growth. Having reached a tentative agreement on a new transformational Collective Bargaining Agreement in March 2026, the league enters a bold new chapter focused on elevating the player experience, drawing increased investment, and growing women’s basketball globally. The WNBA’s dedication to societal impact is supported by the WNBA Changemakers Collective (Ally, AT&amp;T, CarMax, Deloitte, Google, and Nike), a first-of-its-kind group of purpose-driven companies working to empower players and the league, increase visibility, and drive business transformation.
About State Street Investment Management
At State Street Investment Management, we have been helping create better outcomes for institutions, financial intermediaries, and investors for nearly half a century. Starting with our early innovations in indexing and ETFs, our rigorous approach continues to be driven by market-tested expertise and a relentless commitment to those we serve. With over $5 trillion in assets managed*, clients in over 60 countries, and a global network of strategic partners, we use our scale to deliver a comprehensive and cost-effective suite of investment solutions that help investors get wherever they want to go.
*This figure is presented as of December 31, 2025 and includes ETF AUM of $1,950.80 billion USD of which approximately $173.02 billion USD in gold assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Investment Management are affiliated. Please note all AUM is unaudited.
 
Important Risk Information
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is now State Street Investment Management. Please click <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ssga.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fabout-us%2Fwhat-we-do&amp;esheet=54325144&amp;newsitemid=20250916954913&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=here&amp;index=2&amp;md5=3920fd23d9fba637b39d145b64dc1648">here</a> for more information.
Investing involves risk of including the risk of loss of principal.
ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
Intellectual Property Information: The S&amp;P 500® Index is a product of S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“S&amp;P DJI”) and have been licensed for use by State Street Global Advisors. S&amp;P® , SPDR® , S&amp;P 500® ,US 500 and the 500 are trademarks of Standard &amp; Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&amp;P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and has been licensed for use by S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices; and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&amp;P DJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by State Street Global Advisors. The fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&amp;P DJI, Dow Jones, S&amp;P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of these indices.
Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, is distributor for SPDR® S&amp;P 500®
Before investing, consider the funds&#8217; investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 1-866-787-2257 or visit <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.statestreet.com%2Fim&amp;esheet=54325144&amp;newsitemid=20250916954913&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.statestreet.com%2Fim&amp;index=5&amp;md5=009a7618ec2b33c6900327665ad0a669">www.statestreet.com/im</a>. Read it carefully.
&nbsp;
Adtrax #8839082.1.1.AM.RTL
ALPS Code #SPD004505

wnba-draft-2026-to-be-held-april-13

WNBA Draft 2026 Presented By State Street Investment Management SPY To Be Held on April 13

Uncategorized

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-257778" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was taking a different kind of shot while the Indiana Pacers hosted LeBron James, Luka Doncic the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
Clark, donning a photographer’s vest, was credentialed by the Pacers as a photographer and snapped pictures along the baseline. She was presented with a folding seat with her personal logo before the game.
“Got some good stuff coming,” <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://x.com/CaitlinClark22/status/2036968282377355388" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Clark posted</a> on social media.
Clark is entering her third season with the Fever. After missing most of last season because of injuries, she returned to action earlier this month in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. She led the United States in scoring at 11.6 points per game as the Americans went 5-0.

caitlin-clark-captures-photos-for-the-indiana-pacers

Caitlin Clark Captures Photos for the Indiana Pacers

– Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo to Begin Constructing Inaugural Rosters –
NEW YORK, Mar. 25, 2026 – The WNBA’s 14th and 15th franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, set to begin play in May, will begin assembling their respective rosters when the league conducts the WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY on Friday, April 3. Coverage and analysis will be provided by ESPN, which will air the WNBA Expansion Draft Special 2026 Presented by State Street Investment Management SPY at 3:30 p.m. ET.
A coin toss will be conducted between Portland and Toronto on Friday, March 27, with the winner having the right to choose between either receiving the first selection in the Expansion Draft or the sixth pick – rather than the seventh pick – in the first round of the annual draft set for Monday April 13, 2026.
The Expansion Draft will consist of two rounds with Portland and Toronto having the ability to select from a designated pool of available players as determined by each of the current 13 teams. The Fire and the Tempo will “snake” picks such that the team that holds the first pick in the first round via the coin toss selection will have the second pick in the second round. In each round, Portland and Toronto will alternate selections and shall have the right to acquire the player contract of, or the negotiating rights to, one player listed on the Unprotected List of each of the existing 13 teams.
In the college draft, Portland and Toronto will alternate picks such that whichever team holds the sixth pick in the first round will then have the seventh pick in the second round and the sixth pick in the third round. The other team will have the seventh pick in the first round, the sixth pick in the second round, and the seventh pick in the third round.
In preparation for the Expansion Draft, each of the existing 13 teams will be required to submit to the league office by Sunday, March 29, a Roster List that includes every player to whom the team has rights – players on the team’s active, suspended, draft list/reserved, core, or retired lists – as of the final day of the 2025 regular season.  The 13 teams will be required to designate a maximum of five “Protected Players” who will not be available for selection in the Expansion Draft. All other players on each team’s Roster List will be eligible for selection by the Fire and Tempo (“Unprotected players)”.
If a player who is not signed to a contract for the 2026 season is selected by Portland or Toronto in the Expansion Draft, the selecting team will receive whatever rights to such player that the existing team would have had if that player was not selected in the Expansion Draft.
Any player who has completed the playing services called for by her [previous] player contract and has five or more years of service as of the end of the 2025 season must be designated on the Roster List as a “Potential Unrestricted Free Agent.” All such players must be further designated as either “Protected Players” or included on the Unprotected List.
Only one of the players selected by Portland and only one of the players selected by Toronto in the Expansion Draft may be a “Potential Unrestricted Free Agent.” Such a Potential Unrestricted Free Agent may be selected even if they can no longer be designated as a Core Player, permitting the selecting team to be the only team that can negotiate a supermax contract with such player.
Between the time that the Roster Lists are submitted and a designated time on the day before the Expansion Draft, Portland and Toronto will be permitted to make the following trades with existing teams: (i) an agreement to select a particular player from an Unprotected List and trade that player to a team other than her existing team; and (ii) an agreement to select (or not select) a particular player from such trading team’s Unprotected List.
# # #
Important Risk Information
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is now State Street Investment Management. Please click <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ssga.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fabout-us%2Fwhat-we-do&amp;esheet=54325144&amp;newsitemid=20250916954913&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=here&amp;index=2&amp;md5=3920fd23d9fba637b39d145b64dc1648">here</a> for more information.
Investing involves risk of including the risk of loss of principal.
ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
Intellectual Property Information: The S&amp;P 500® Index is a product of S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“S&amp;P DJI”) and have been licensed for use by State Street Global Advisors. S&amp;P® , SPDR® , S&amp;P 500® ,US 500 and the 500 are trademarks of Standard &amp; Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&amp;P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and has been licensed for use by S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices; and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&amp;P DJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by State Street Global Advisors. The fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&amp;P DJI, Dow Jones, S&amp;P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of these indices.
Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, is distributor for SPDR® S&amp;P 500®
Before investing, consider the funds&#8217; investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 1-866-787-2257 or visit <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.statestreet.com%2Fim&amp;esheet=54325144&amp;newsitemid=20250916954913&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.statestreet.com%2Fim&amp;index=5&amp;md5=009a7618ec2b33c6900327665ad0a669">www.statestreet.com/im</a>. Read it carefully.
Adtrax # 8842085.1.1.AM.RTL
ALPS Code #SPD004507
Exp. date: 3/31/2027

wnba-expansion-draft-2026-set-for-april-3

WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Presented By State Street Investment Management SPY Set For Friday, April 3 on ESPN

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257765 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001-1024x90.png" alt="" width="1024" height="90" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001-1024x90.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001-300x26.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001-768x67.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001.png 1427w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
CBS Sports to Present up to 20 Regular Season Games Annually on
The CBS Television Network and Paramount+ 
An Expanded “THE WNBA TIP-OFF SHOW” Returns Led by 
WNBA Legends Lisa Leslie and Renee Montgomery and Host Jenny Dell
 CBS Sports and the WNBA have expanded their seven‑year partnership through a new long‑term, multiplatform rights agreement. Under the enhanced package, CBS Sports will feature up to 20 regular‑season games annually on the CBS Television Network and streaming live on Paramount+. CBS Sports will present 20 regular-season games for the upcoming 2026 season, marking the Network’s most ever WNBA games on broadcast television.
“The WNBA’s growth and cultural impact have never been stronger, and CBS Sports is proud to deepen our longstanding partnership with a league that continues to drive the evolution of women’s sports,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “With our entire schedule of games on broadcast television, we are broadening the league’s reach and amplifying the WNBA’s momentum with best‑in‑class coverage that reflects the excellence of its athletes and resonates with fans.”
Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Isis “Ice” Young (analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline) return as the WNBA on CBS’s lead broadcast team.
THE WNBA TIP OFF SHOW, the Network’s pregame, halftime and postgame studio show, is back and will expand to support 10 matchups including six shows airing on CBS and Paramount+ and four digital-exclusive editions available via CBS Sports HQ. The show will also welcome Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie as analyst and CBS Sports reporter Jenny Dell as host, joining analyst Renee Montgomery.
The full 2026 WNBA on CBS schedule will be announced at a later date.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257766" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image002.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="500" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image002.jpg 640w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image002-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257767" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image003.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="500" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image003.jpg 643w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image003-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />

cbs-sports-wnba-new-rights-agreement

CBS Sports Reaches New Long-Term Multiplatform Rights Agreement with the WNBA

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2025 WNBA Points of Education

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2025 WNBA Points of Education

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