Portland Fire Select Bridget Carleton First in WNBA Expansion Draft
The Portland Fire picked Bridget Carleton as the first player in the 2026 WNBA expansion draft on Friday. Carleton, a former Iowa State star, was an unrestricted free agent when Portland selected her with the top pick.
The Portland Fire made Bridget Carleton their franchise cornerstone by selecting her first overall in the 2026 WNBA expansion draft Friday. The former Iowa State standout was available as an unrestricted free agent.
The Fire are bringing WNBA basketball back to Portland for the first time in over two decades. The city last had a team in 2002.
The expansion draft uses a snake format, with Portland getting the first pick in round one and Toronto getting the first pick in round two. Each of the 13 current WNBA teams submitted lists of players they were willing to make available.
Expansion drafts help new teams quickly build competitive rosters by allowing them to select players from existing franchises. Teams must protect their most valuable players but expose others to the draft.
This marks the return of professional women's basketball to Portland for the first time since 2002. The expansion draft helps new teams like Portland build competitive rosters by selecting players from existing teams.
Portland will continue building their roster through the expansion draft and free agency before their first season begins.
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