The Toronto Tempo begin play in 2026, hoping to eventually build out a roster competitive enough to earn short championship basketball odds at the BetMGM sportsbook.
While the expansion draft may not land the Tempo a superstar with consistently short WNBA MVP odds, it’ll still give the franchise a golden opportunity to pick up players with a solid skill set.
With that said, let’s take a look at the Tempo expansion draft, date, rules, and format.
2026 Toronto Tempo Expansion Draft: Everything You Need To Know
What Are the WNBA Expansion Draft Rules?
The WNBA expansion draft rules allow teams to protect five players, down from six in previous years.
Players eligible for protection include those on active, suspended, reserved, or retired lists.
During each round, only one player can be selected from a single existing team, meaning a team could lose up to two players across both rounds.
Each expansion team is also allowed to select one “potential unrestricted free agent,” a player with five or more years of experience who does not have a contract for the 2026 season.
What’s WNBA Expansion Draft Format? Who Picks First: Tempo or Fire?
The WNBA expansion draft is a two-round format with up to 12 picks per round. Neither team is required to make all selections.
The draft will be snake-style, meaning the teams will alternate draft picks.
The Portland Fire will pick first because they won a coin toss.
How Many Rounds and Picks Will the Tempo Have in the Expansion Draft?
The Tempo will have two rounds, totalling 12 picks in the expansion draft: six in each round.
How Many Teams Are in This Year’s WNBA Expansion Draft?
Two teams are in this year’s WNBA expansion draft.
When Is the WNBA Expansion Draft For the Tempo?
The WNBA expansion draft for the Tempo is on Friday, April 3.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for.
The Tempo Expansion Draft is officially happening on Friday, April 3rd. Tune in for a major milestone in Tempo history. Broadcast details to come.
Sponsored by @Instacart pic.twitter.com/r2ianxmQ3j
— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) March 25, 2026
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