Sarah Ashlee Barker, Aaliyah Nye Selected in 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft
The WNBA Expansion Draft delivered the first roster-building moves for the league’s newest franchises on Friday afternoon, with the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo selecting players from across the league.
Among the selections were Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball stars, as Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye were chosen to join the league’s two expansion teams ahead of the 2026 season. The draft marked the next step in roster construction as both teams prepare for their inaugural campaigns.
Aaliyah Nye — Toronto Tempo (Round 1)
Aaliyah Nye was selected by the Toronto Tempo in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft.
Nye is coming off her rookie season with the Las Vegas Aces after being selected No. 13 overall in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft. She averaged 3.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game in her first professional season.
She then competed in Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Season 5, where she averaged 7.8 points per game and scored a season-high 19 points in Week 2. Nye finished 20th on the Athletes Unlimited leaderboard with 3,283 total points.
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Sarah Ashlee Barker – Portland Fire (Round 2)
Sarah Ashlee Barker was selected by the Portland Fire in the second round of the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft.
Barker competed in Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Season 5 following her rookie year with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she averaged 3.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game and established herself as a consistent off-the-bench option.
In AU this winter, Barker averaged 13.6 points per game and closed the season with back-to-back performances of 22 and 24 points in the final week. She finished 10th on the Athletes Unlimited leaderboard with 4,203 total points.
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Full Expansion Draft Results
The selections give both expansion teams early building blocks as they continue shaping their rosters ahead of training camp and the 2026 season.
The 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft featured two rounds, allowing Portland and Toronto to select from a pool of unprotected players made available by the league’s existing teams.
Each of the 13 current franchises was permitted to protect up to five players, leaving all remaining players eligible for selection. Each expansion team was permitted to select one player from each existing team’s unprotected list.
Teams were allowed to select players under contract or acquire the negotiating rights to players not currently signed for the 2026 season.
Portland Fire
Round 1
- Bridget Carleton, Minnesota Lynx
- Carla Leite, Golden State Valkyries
- Luisa Geiselsoder, Dallas Wings
- Emily Engstler, Washington Mystics
- Maya Caldwell, Atlanta Dream
- Chloe Bibby, Indiana Fever
Round 2
- Haley Jones, Dallas Wings
- Nyadiew Puoch, Atlanta Dream
- Sarah Ashlee Barker, Los Angeles Sparks
- Sug Sutton, Washington Mystics
- Nika Mühl, Seattle Storm
Toronto Tempo
Round 1
- Julie Allemand, Los Angeles Sparks
- Nyara Sabally, New York Liberty
- Marina Mabrey, Connecticut Sun
- Aaliyah Nye, Las Vegas Aces
- Lexi Held, Phoenix Mercury
- Maria Conde, Golden State Valkyries
Round 2
- Maria Kliundikova, Minnesota Lynx
- Adja Kane, New York Liberty
- Nikolina Milic, Connecticut Sun
- Kitija Laksa, Phoenix Mercury
- Kristy Wallace, Indiana Fever
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
