Toronto Tempo select 11 players in WNBA expansion draft, set foundation for inaugural season
The Toronto Tempo has begun assembling its inaugural roster by selecting 11 players in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft. Led by general manager Monica Wright Rogers, the team aims to establish a competitive but flexible identity. The roster features a mix of established and international talent, including notable players like Marina Mabrey and Nyara Sabally.
The Toronto Tempo officially began building their inaugural roster Friday, selecting 11 players in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft as the league prepares to welcome its first franchise based in Canada.
The selections mark a key milestone for the Tempo ahead of their debut season, set to tip off May 8, and offer an early look at the team’s identity under general manager Monica Wright Rogers.
“Today is an important step in building the foundation of the Toronto Tempo,” Wright Rogers said. “Our goal was to construct a roster that reflects the style of play and culture we want to establish, one that balances competitiveness with long-term flexibility.”
Toronto’s group includes a mix of established contributors, international talent and developmental pieces. Among the most notable selections are Marina Mabrey, Nyara Sabally and Julie Allemand, three players who bring experience across different roles and systems.
Mabrey, selected from the Connecticut Sun, adds perimeter scoring and playmaking, while Sabally arrives from the New York Liberty with championship experience and frontcourt presence. Allemand, acquired from the Los Angeles Sparks, projects as a primary ball-handler with the ability to control tempo and facilitate offence.
The Tempo also targeted depth and versatility across positions. Nikolina Milic, María Conde, Kristy Wallace and Aaliyah Nye round out a group capable of contributing on both ends of the floor, while Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa provide additional guard options with shooting and spacing potential.
In the frontcourt, Maria Kliundikova and Adja Kane add size and interior depth, giving Toronto multiple options in the paint as it shapes its rotation.
The roster reflects a deliberate international approach. The 11 players represent multiple countries, including Belgium, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Australia, France and Latvia, highlighting the global reach of the WNBA and the Tempo’s strategy in building a diverse core.
Toronto also secured championship pedigree within the group. Sabally and Nye are both former WNBA champions, bringing experience in high-pressure environments to an expansion team that will need leadership from the outset.
The draft process itself followed league rules that allowed each of the 13 existing WNBA teams to protect up to five players. Toronto was eligible to select up to two players per team, acquiring either contracts or negotiating rights depending on each player’s status.
In a separate move earlier in the week, the Tempo agreed not to select a player from the Chicago Sky in exchange for the 26th overall pick in the upcoming WNBA Entry Draft. As a result, Toronto passed on several teams during the expansion process, including Chicago, Seattle, Washington, Atlanta and Dallas.
The decision reflects a broader roster-building strategy that extends beyond the expansion draft. With additional assets secured, the Tempo now shift their focus to the next phase, including free agency and the Entry Draft on April 13, where they hold picks 6, 22, 26 and 36.
That next step will be critical in shaping the final roster. Expansion draft selections often provide a structural base, but teams typically rely on the college draft and free agency to add star power and long-term pieces.
For now, the expansion draft delivers the foundation. With 11 players selected and additional resources in place, the Toronto Tempo have taken their first concrete step toward entering the WNBA.
