Toronto Tempo select Julie Allemand with first pick in WNBA expansion draft

The Toronto Tempo took a significant first step in building their inaugural roster Friday, selecting Belgian guard Julie Allemand with their first pick, second overall, in the WNBA expansion draft.

The selection marks the first player in franchise history for Toronto, which will debut this season as the league’s newest expansion team. The Portland Fire, also entering the league, used the top overall pick to select Canadian forward Bridget Carleton.

Toronto Tempo select Julie Allemand with first pick in WNBA expansion draft

Toronto’s draft position stemmed from a strategic decision earlier in the week. After winning a coin toss with Portland, the Tempo opted to secure the sixth overall pick in the upcoming WNBA college draft, scheduled for April 13, which shifted Portland into the seventh slot and gave the Fire the first selection in the expansion draft.

With their opening pick, Toronto prioritized experience and playmaking in Allemand, a proven international guard who most recently played with the Los Angeles Sparks. Her ability to control tempo, facilitate offence and contribute defensively aligns with the type of foundational piece expansion teams typically target.

The Tempo used 11 of their 12 available selections, assembling a roster built on versatility and international experience. In the first round, Toronto added Nyara Sabally from the New York Liberty, Marina Mabrey from the Connecticut Sun, Aaliyah Nye from the Las Vegas Aces, Lexi Held from the Phoenix Mercury and Maria Conde from the Golden State Valkyries.

The second round continued that approach. Toronto selected Maria Kliundikova from the Minnesota Lynx, Adja Kane from the Liberty, Nikolina Milic from the Sun, Kitija Laksa from the Mercury and Kristy Wallace from the Indiana Fever.

The group reflects a broad international footprint, with players representing multiple countries, including the United States, Belgium, Spain, Australia and others. It also includes championship pedigree, with Sabally and Nye among the players bringing title-winning experience to the roster.

General manager Monica Wright Rogers emphasized the importance of balancing immediate competitiveness with long-term planning as the franchise takes shape.

“Today is an important step in building the foundation of the Toronto Tempo,” Wright Rogers said in a statement. “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.”

That balance is a key consideration for expansion teams, which must build depth while maintaining flexibility for future drafts, trades and free agency. Toronto’s selections suggest a focus on players who can contribute early while also fitting into a broader development timeline.

The Tempo also leveraged pre-draft maneuvering to add assets. Earlier in the week, the organization agreed not to select any players from the Chicago Sky in exchange for the 26th pick in the college draft. That additional selection provides further opportunity to shape the roster with incoming talent.

The expansion draft serves as the first phase of roster construction, with the college draft and potential roster moves still to come. For Toronto, the next key date is April 13, when the team will look to add young talent to complement its newly formed core.

Toronto will open its inaugural WNBA season on May 8 at home against the Washington Mystics, marking the league’s first regular-season game in Canada.

Friday’s selections offer an initial blueprint. With Allemand as the first piece, the Tempo have begun assembling a roster built on experience, international depth and positional flexibility. How quickly that group comes together will shape the early identity of the franchise as it prepares to enter the league.