The WNBA is again. Coaching camps opened Sunday, and the primary preseason video games are set for this Saturday.
Because the league’s thirtieth season will get underway, earlier this week we previewed five players to watch, the most improved teams and impactful offseason additions. Beneath, we take a better take a look at the WNBA’s two growth franchises — the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fireplace — in addition to take a look at what’s in retailer for the Golden State Valkyries in 12 months 2.
The place are the Toronto Tempo strongest?
Following the cash, it is clear the Tempo emphasised guard play throughout their first offseason. Per Her Hoop Stats WNBA Salary Cap Database, Toronto’s highest-paid gamers are guards Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes, every set to earn over $1M.
Mabrey, a seven-year veteran, averaged 14.4 factors, 4.2 rebounds and 4 assists per sport final 12 months for the Connecticut Solar, whereas Sykes brings a robust defensive pedigree as a four-time All-Defensive workforce member, together with two first-team alternatives. She obtained her first All-Star nod in 9 seasons in 2025, proving she has loads left within the tank coming into her age-32 season.
The veteran backcourt provides two-time WNBA champion coach Sandy Brondello, who beforehand frolicked with the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty, a strong base for the franchise’s inaugural marketing campaign.
What concerning the Portland Fireplace?
Portland has been far more conservative in its team-building, solely signing one participant, ahead Bridget Carleton, to a $1M contract. It is a deal that may doubtless repay with Carleton being a profession 39.1 p.c shooter from past the arc, giving the Fireplace a giant able to stretching the ground.
Portland’s entrance court docket is additional bolstered by former Las Vegas Aces backup heart Megan Gustafson and Dallas Wings ahead Luisa Geiselsoder, giving the inside dimension and flexibility. The Fireplace can hunt for mismatches on the perimeter towards slower bigs in addition to down low towards smaller, shiftier opponents.
Which workforce is almost definitely to repeat the Golden State Valkyries’ success?
If we’re being sincere, chances are high slim both Toronto or Portland can replicate the moment success the Valkyries skilled after going 23-21 and changing into the primary growth workforce to make the playoffs in its first season. However being pressured to decide on, we’re taking Toronto.
Brondello has a wealth of WNBA teaching expertise, and alongside a promising backcourt, the Tempo boast Temi Fagbenle, (7.3 factors and 4.9 rebounds for Golden State final 12 months) and Nyara Sabally and Isabelle Harrison, who each performed beforehand below Brondello, on the heart and ahead positions.
The Fireplace, in the meantime, have the league’s second-lowest payroll ($4.26M) and are experimenting with a Constraints-Led Strategy (CLA) in apply below first-year coach Alex Sarama, a former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant and founding father of Transforming Basketball. It is an enchanting but daring transfer, one that will take years to bear fruit.
Talking of the Valkyries, can they take the subsequent step in 12 months 2?
The Valkyries’ sturdy 12 months 1 units larger expectations for the sequel, and Golden State took a step towards exceeding these by including former Seattle Storm ahead Gabby Williams on a three-year, roughly $3.75M contract, per Her Hoop Stats data. She led the league in steals (99) final season, which ought to make her a right away asset on the Valkyries, who completed tenth in steal price a season in the past regardless of permitting a WNBA-low 76.3 factors per sport.
Ahead Kayla Thornton, the workforce’s main scorer final 12 months, is on track to be available for the beginning of the common season after tearing her ACL final July. The workforce additionally addressed Fagbenle’s departure by signing veteran Kiah Stokes. Add additional growth from younger worldwide gamers together with heart Iliana Rupert, ahead Janelle Salaun and rookie guard Juste Jocyte, and Golden State could possibly keep away from the dreaded sophomore stoop.
Give us an under-the-radar growth participant to breakout.
Final 12 months, Thornton, who averaged 6.4 factors per sport from 2020-24, set a career-high in scoring (14 factors per sport) with Golden State. Portland and Toronto must get buckets from someplace, and one participant who might emerge as a franchise star is Geiselsoder.
The Fireplace heart has already put collectively a formidable worldwide resume, together with being named 2016 FIBA U16 girls’s EuroBasket MVP and most not too long ago 2025 FIBA girls’s EuroBasket All-Star second workforce.
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