dailyloe.com – The Toronto Tempo won a coin toss on Friday to determine their draft position. The WNBA expansion team then opted for the sixth overall pick in the first round. This decision shapes their strategy for the upcoming player selection event. The Tempo will build their inaugural roster through this draft and an expansion process.
This procedural win gives the new franchise a key early advantage. The coin toss resolved the draft order between the two new teams. The other expansion franchise, the unnamed Fire, will now pick seventh. The WNBA has scheduled its expansion draft for both teams on April 3.
The league is actively growing with these two new additions. This expansion marks a significant period of change for the women’s professional basketball league. A new collective bargaining agreement was recently ratified by team owners. The CBA is a seven-year deal that will guide player salaries and league operations.
Player salaries are set to rise significantly under the new agreement. The salary cap is projected to exceed $10 million by the end of the CBA term. This financial growth supports the league’s expansion and increasing popularity. The 2026 WNBA season may extend as late as November 21.
The Tempo’s choice reflects a calculated approach to team building. Selecting sixth allows them to target a specific tier of emerging talent. Their strategy will unfold fully during the draft in April. The entire offseason is packed with consequential moves for the growing league.[]
Source: ESPN
