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WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Takeaways: Carleton, international players lead the way

Everything you need to know about the players the Tempo and Fire took in this year’s WNBA Expansion Draft.

Jackie Powell,

Jackie Powell,

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WNBA Player News

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Chris DeMarco

NYL Head Coach

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According to multiple outlets, the Liberty will name Chris DeMarco the franchise’s next head coach.

The final head coaching vacancy in the WNBA has been filled, with the Liberty reportedly landing on current Golden State Warriors assistant DeMarco. He’s been part of Steve Kerr’s staff since 2012, beginning his time with the franchise as the video coordinator. During his time with the Warriors, DeMarco has helped the franchise win four NBA titles. He’ll have large shoes to fill in Brooklyn, as the Liberty parted ways with Sandy Brondello at the conclusion of the 2025 season. Brondello led the Liberty to the franchise’s first WNBA title in 2024 and three playoff appearances in four seasons at the helm.
Sonia Raman

SEA Head Coach

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Storm will name Sonia Raman the team’s new head coach.

Following a first-round exit at the hands of the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces, the Storm parted ways with Noelle Quinn after five seasons at the helm. She’s been replaced by Raman, who becomes the first Indian-American head coach in WNBA history. A member of Sandy Brondello’s coaching staff with the Liberty this season, Raman spent the prior four seasons on Taylor Jenkins’ coaching staff in Memphis. Like many teams, the Storm have multiple key players who will be unrestricted free agents this offseason, including Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike. However, promising rookie Dominique Malonga is under contract for 2026 after playing well to finish the 2025 campaign.
Alex Sarama

POR Head Coach

The Portland Fire announced Alex Sarama as the franchise’s first head coach.

The Fire are one of two teams that will enter the WNBA next season, and the franchise has gone to the NBA ranks to find its first head coach. Sarama most recently served as an assistant on Kenny Atkinson’s staff in Cleveland, helping lead the Cavaliers to 64 regular-season wins and a second-round playoff appearance in 2024-25. His focus as an assistant coach at multiple stops has been on player development, which can be helpful for a franchise that will build its roster from scratch, starting with the expansion draft (if the WNBPA and the league’s owners agree to a new collective bargaining agreement).
José Fernandez

DAL Head Coach

The Wings will hire José Fernandez as their new head coach.

While there’s been a recent trend for the WNBA to look to the NBA assistant coaching ranks to fill head coaching vacancies, the Wings have chosen the college route for the franchise’s next head coach. Fernandez moves to the professional ranks after a highly successful run at the University of South Florida, leading the Bulls to 11 NCAA tournament appearances in 25 seasons. USF has won at least 19 games in 14 consecutive seasons, and Fernandez led the program to 12 20-win seasons. He’ll now be asked to lead a rebuild in Dallas featuring WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, and the Wings will also have a high lottery pick in the 2026 draft.
Sandy Brondello

FA Head Coach

According to The IX Basketball’s Howard Megdal, the Toronto Tempo will hire Sandy Brondello to be the franchise’s first head coach.

The Tempo have reportedly zeroed in on their first head coach, and Brondello brings an impressive résumé to the table. She has 13 seasons of WNBA head coaching experience, leading franchises in San Antonio (now Las Vegas), Phoenix and New York. Brondello led her teams to three WNBA Finals appearances, winning titles with the Mercury in 2014 and the Liberty in 2024. New York was hit hard by injuries this season but still won 27 regular-season games before being eliminated from the playoffs by Phoenix. Toronto’s bringing in an established coach who also played in the WNBA to lead the franchise in its inaugural season is a significant development for the franchise.
Jonquel Jones

NYL C #35

The IX Basketball’s Jackie Powell reports Jonquel Jones underwent right ankle surgery on Monday.

After appearing in 40 and 39 games the two seasons prior, Jones made 31 regular-season appearances for the Liberty in 2025. She missed time before the All-Star break with a right ankle injury and managed to play through persistent issues during the post-break portion of the schedule. According to Powell, Monday’s procedure was minor and addressed instability in Jones’ ankle. Jones is one of six Liberty players who will be unrestricted free agents this offseason, including Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart.
DeWanna Bonner

PHX G-F #25

DeWanna Bonner tallied 10 points (4-of-10 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), 10 rebounds, one assist, one block and one three-pointer in the loss to the Aces on Friday.

Bonner recorded a double-double in her first start of the series. Her impact was less significant than her 25-point, 10-rebound Game 3, but the veteran forward still managed to provide some value on both ends of the floor. She finished as one of five Phoenix players to score in double figures and one of two to collect double-digit rebounds.
Kahleah Copper

PHX G-F #2

Kahleah Copper finished Friday’s loss to the Aces with 30 points (12-of-22 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), six rebounds and one assist.

Copper went out swinging in the Mercury’s final game of the season. She repeatedly attacked downhill and put pressure on the Aces’ defense throughout, which was especially notable in her 13-point third quarter that helped get Phoenix back in the game. The former Finals MVP ultimately set a new personal best for points scored in a WNBA Finals game before fouling out of Friday’s contest late in the fourth quarter. She averaged 22.8 points through the four games and was arguably the Mercury’s most consistent scorer throughout the series.
Alyssa Thomas

PHX F #25

Alyssa Thomas finished with 17 points (7-of-11 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the loss to the Aces on Friday.

Thomas had another balanced performance on Friday, impacting the game in several ways on the offensive end. The MVP finalist briefly left the contest late in the second quarter after colliding with the Aces’ Jewell Loyd when attempting to run through a screen. She eventually returned to begin the third quarter and helped the Mercury mount a spirited comeback attempt. Ultimately, Thomas’s production wasn’t enough, and her game-high nine turnovers were costly, accounting for half of Phoenix’s total turnovers. She finished her first postseason run with the Mercury, fittingly, having recorded a triple-double.
Chelsea Gray

LVA G #12

Chelsea Gray totaled 18 points (6-of-15 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks and four three-pointers in the win over the Mercury on Friday.

Gray came alive in the fourth quarter in time to give the Aces a much-needed lift on the offensive end down the stretch. In the frame, she made multiple momentum-changing three-pointers just when the home crowd seemed ready to unleash during the Mercury’s comeback attempt. She drew fouls down the stretch on both ends of the floor, as well, helping the Aces run through the tape and capture their third WNBA championship. Gray, a former Finals MVP, proved her value on both ends of the floor throughout the series and finished as one of five Aces players to score in double figures.

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Breanna Stewart says she is staying in New York

The Liberty star clarified her position on her podcast ahead of WNBA free agency.

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A’ja Wilson returns to USA Basketball camp in Phoenix during Final Four week

This is the first time that A’ja Wilson will take part in a training camp since helping the U.S. win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

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Connecticut Sun reach deal to sell to Rockets owner for $300 million, move team to Houston in 2027

The team will play in Connecticut for the upcoming season before moving to Houston and becoming the Comets again.

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Toronto Tempo Introduce New Head Coach Sandy Brondello

Toronto chooses to pick 6th in WNBA draft instead of 1st in expansion draft after winning coin flip

The Tempo won the right to choose which option it wanted when a silver dollar was flipped on a Zoom call and came up Toronto’s way.

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Q&A: Diana Taurasi weighs in on who can upset UConn, Azzi Fudd’s draft stock, WNBA CBA + GREENIES collab

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WNBA owners ratify landmark 7-year CBA, setting up a sprint to the May 8 regular-season start

The WNBA Board of Governors has unanimously ratified the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.

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Inside the WNBA’s 8-day, 100-hour CBA marathon negotiations that forged a transformational deal

The intense, all-night negotiations over the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement were new to many on both sides.

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WNBA players unanimously approve a new 7-year collective bargaining agreement through 2032

The seven-year CBA, which will begin this season and run through 2032, represents a landmark labor deal for the WNBA and its players.

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Deep dive into the WNBA’s ‘historic’ new CBA

Natalie Esquire and Terrika Foster-Brasby analyze WNBA players approving a new CBA, digging into the key terms of the deal, discussing some important provisions and highlighting the “historic” nature of the new pact.