Why this WNBA draft could provide clearest route for Tempo to acquire franchise player in 2026

In about one year, the Toronto Tempo could have their franchise player.

At least, that's the goal.

The first entry-draft pick in Tempo history may also be the most important, helping set the tone for the expansion team like Damon Stoudamire once did for the Toronto Raptors in 1995.

"From a historical standpoint, it is the first, first-round pick, right? People will always remember that," said Darius Taylor, the chief basketball strategist and director of scouting for the Connecticut Sun

"But I do think that each draft is different so you analyze and evaluate and you try to make the best decision for the organization at the time."

On Monday, the Tempo will watch as 13 teams — the 12 who played last season, plus the expansion Golden State Valkyries — make their selections in the WNBA draft. Golden State will pick fifth, while the Dallas Wings, who hold the top choice, will likely land a franchise-changing superstar in UConn's Paige Bueckers.

The 2026 draft will not represent the first player transaction in Tempo history — that will come at the expansion draft, likely sometime in the late fall or winter. But it could be the most impactful.

Teams remain in the dark on the expansion rules for next off-season when Toronto enters the league alongside Portland, Taylor said.

One certainty: the Tempo will have a first-round pick. If it follows the Valkyries, that choice will likely be dropped into the middle of the round.

Then, Tempo president Teresa Resch and general manager Monica Wright Rogers will face perhaps their biggest roster decision, as they're afforded the rare opportunity to build a team from scratch.

"Rookies are really important from a salary cap standpoint and also just from a building for the future standpoint," Taylor said. "Usually, first-round picks are impactful up to a certain number and then after that, some of them are more opportunities to develop and get them ready for their debut."

Taylor said, if given a blank slate like the Tempo, he may lean toward drafting a point guard or power forward, since those positions have dominated the league of late.

You only need to go back to last year's rookie-of-the-year battle between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese for proof of that.

Potentially available for the Tempo in one year are the likes of LSU forward Flau'jae Johnson, Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles, UConn sharpshooter Azzi Fudd and UCLA centre Lauren Betts — all of whom were eligible to enter this year's draft but chose to spend an extra season at school instead.