blogTO
Two years after being awarded an WNBA franchise , the Toronto Tempo finally have players. The WNBA's two newest teams, the Tempo and Portland Fire, each selected their first 11 players in the expansion draft on Friday. Toronto was awarded the second overall pick, which it used to select Belgian international and veteran Los Angeles Sparks guard Julie Allemand. The Portland Fire selected Chatham, Ont., native Bridget Carleton with the first overall pick. Toronto followed with Allemand and went on to select eight international players among its 11 picks. Meet your Toronto @TempoBasketball The Tempo grab veteran floor general Julie Allemand from @LASparks with their first pick. Maria Conde is a great pickup from @valkyries . She’ll bring some grit to the starting 5. Eight of Toronto’s 11 selections are international players. pic.twitter.com/ltusxOYkFT — Marley Dickinson (@marleydickinson) April 3, 2026 The Tempo’s biggest steal of the expansion draft may be American point guard Marina Mabrey, who averaged 14.4 points per game with the Connecticut Sun last season. Mabrey is set to become an unrestricted free agent and was left unprotected by the Sun. Toronto will have sole negotiation rights to Mabrey in free agency, which begins Tuesday. Meet the Tempo: 1. Julie Allemand (Los Angeles Sparks)* 2. Nyara Sabally (New York Liberty)* 3. Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun) 4. Aaliyah Nye (Las Vegas Aces) 5. Lexi Held (Phoenix Mercury) 6. María Conde (Golden State Valkyries)* 7. Maria Kliundikova (Minnesota Lynx)* 8. Adja Kane (New York Liberty)* 9. Nikolina Milić (Connecticut Sun)* 10. Kitija Laksa (Phoenix Mercury)* 11. Kristy Wallace (Indiana Fever)* * Denotes international player from outside the U.S. and Canada Competition ready from the first day. Tell 'em, @monnie22 . ️ pic.twitter.com/3n6aCRFDcz — Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) April 3, 2026 With the expansion draft complete, the Tempo will now turn its attention to free agency and the Entry Draft on April 13, where the team holds picks 6, 22, 26, and 36. The Tempo will open its season at Coca-Cola Coliseum against the Washington Mystics on May 8. The team will play most of its games at Exhibition Place, but will play several games at Scotiabank Arena, including an Aug. 18 matchup against the Indiana Fever, when WNBA star Caitlin Clark comes to town.
Go to News Site