Portland Fire Announces Expansion Draft Selections
Bridget Carleton, Carla Leite Among The Players Drafted By The Fire
Portland, OR - The Portland Fire has announced the team’s selections in the WNBA Expansion Draft, presented by State StreetInvestment Management SPY, marking the first step in building out its roster ahead of the 2026 WNBA season.
The selections took place on Friday, April 3, during which the Fire had the opportunity to select from a designated pool of available players as determined by each of the current 13 teams. On April 1, the Fire agreed to a second-round pick swap with the Chicago Sky in exchange for not selecting any of its unprotected players.
The list of players selected by the Fire includes:
- Bridget Carleton (via the Minnesota Lynx)
- Carla Leite (via the Golden State Valkyries)
- Luisa Geiselsöder (via the Dallas Wings)
- Emily Engstler (via the Washington Mystics)
- Maya Caldwell (via the Atlanta Dream)
- Chloe Bibby (via the Indiana Fever)
- Haley Jones (via the Dallas Wings)
- Nyadiew Puoch (via the Atlanta Dream)
- Sarah Ashlee Barker (via the Los Angeles Sparks)
- Sug Sutton (via the Washington Mystics)
- Nika Mühl (via the Seattle Storm)
"Today marks a significant milestone for the Portland Fire,” said Portland Fire General Manager Vanja Černivec. “Our goal with the Expansion Draft was to add players who bring versatility, competitiveness, and strong character to this organization. Each selection was made with intention, focusing not only on talent, but on identifying players who align with the culture and style of play we are committed to establishing in Portland.”
With the Expansion Draft now complete, the Fire will continue building its roster through the upcoming free agency period, and additionally, the team owns the 7th, 17th and 37th picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft, which takes place on Monday, April 13.
About the Portland Fire
Portland Fire is one of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s newest franchises, making its official on-court debut in 2026. Owned by RAJ Sports – led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage – the team is more than a franchise; it’s the revival of a movement, honoring the legacy of the original Portland Fire while blazing a bold new path forward. Based in Portland, Oregon, the global epicenter of women’s sports, Portland Fire is rooted in the Rose City’s enduring resilience, spirit, and passion for sport.
Looking ahead, RAJ Sports will open the world’s first dual-sport women’s performance center in 2026. The 100,000-square-foot Kaiser Permanente Performance Center will house both the Fire and the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, and will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance.
2026 WNBA Expansion Draft Full Presser
The Portland Fire Expansion Draft selections are below:
| PLAYER | POSITION | HEIGHT | BORN | PRIOR TO WNBA | WNBA YEARS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridget Carleton | F | 6'2" | 1997 | Iowa State/Canada | 7 |
| Carla Leite | G | 5'9" | 2004 | France | 1 |
| Luisa Geiselsöder | C | 6'4" | 2000 | Germany | 1 |
| Emily Engstler | F | 6'1" | 2000 | Louisville | 4 |
| Maya Caldwell | G | 5'11" | 1998 | Georgia | 4 |
| Chloe Bibby | F | 6'2" | 1998 | Maryland/Australia | 1 |
| Haley Jones | F | 6'1" | 2001 | Stanford | 3 |
| Nyadiew Puoch | F | 6'3" | 2004 | Australia | 0 |
| Sarah Ashlee Barker | G | 6'0" | 2001 | Alabama | 1 |
| Sug Sutton | G | 5'8" | 1998 | Texas | 3 |
| Nika Mühl | G | 6'0" | 2001 | Connecticut/Croatia | 2 |
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