WNBA season preview: What's in store for expansion clubs, plus Year 2 stakes for Valkyries

The WNBA is back. Training camps opened Sunday, and the first preseason games are set for this Saturday.

As the league's 30th season gets underway, earlier this week we previewed five players to watch, the most improved teams and impactful offseason additions. Below, we take a closer look at the WNBA's two expansion franchises — the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire — as well as look at what's in store for the Golden State Valkyries in Year 2.

Where are the Toronto Tempo strongest?

Following the money, it's clear the Tempo emphasized guard play during their first offseason. Per Her Hoop Stats WNBA Salary Cap Database, Toronto's highest-paid players are guards Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes, each set to earn over $1M.

Mabrey, a seven-year veteran, averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists per game last year for the Connecticut Sun, while Sykes brings a strong defensive pedigree as a four-time All-Defensive team member, including two first-team selections. She received her first All-Star nod in nine seasons in 2025, proving she has plenty left in the tank entering her age-32 season. 

The veteran backcourt gives two-time WNBA champion coach Sandy Brondello, who previously spent time with the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty, a solid base for the franchise's inaugural campaign.

What about the Portland Fire?

Portland has been much more conservative in its team-building, only signing one player, forward Bridget Carleton, to a $1M contract. It's a deal that will likely pay off with Carleton being a career 39.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc, giving the Fire a big capable of stretching the floor.

Portland's front court is further bolstered by former Las Vegas Aces backup center Megan Gustafson and Dallas Wings forward Luisa Geiselsoder, giving the interior size and versatility. The Fire can hunt for mismatches on the perimeter against slower bigs as well as down low against smaller, shiftier opponents.

Which team is most likely to repeat the Golden State Valkyries' success?

If we're being honest, chances are slim either Toronto or Portland can replicate the instant success the Valkyries experienced after going 23-21 and becoming the first expansion team to make the playoffs in its first season. But being forced to choose, we're taking Toronto. 

Brondello has a wealth of WNBA coaching experience, and alongside a promising backcourt, the Tempo boast Temi Fagbenle, (7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds for Golden State last year) and Nyara Sabally and Isabelle Harrison, who both played previously under Brondello, at the center and forward positions.

The Fire, meanwhile, have the league's second-lowest payroll ($4.26M) and are experimenting with a Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) in practice under first-year coach Alex Sarama, a former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant and founder of Transforming Basketball. It's a fascinating yet bold move, one that may take years to bear fruit.

Speaking of the Valkyries, can they take the next step in Year 2? 

The Valkyries' strong Year 1 sets higher expectations for the sequel, and Golden State took a step toward exceeding those by adding former Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams on a three-year, roughly $3.75M contract, per Her Hoop Stats data. She led the league in steals (99) last season, which should make her an immediate asset on the Valkyries, who finished 10th in steal rate a season ago despite allowing a WNBA-low 76.3 points per game.

Forward Kayla Thornton, the team's leading scorer last year, is on track to be available for the start of the regular season after tearing her ACL last July. The team also addressed Fagbenle's departure by signing veteran Kiah Stokes. Add further development from young international players including center Iliana Rupert, forward Janelle Salaun and rookie guard Juste Jocyte, and Golden State may be able to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump.

Give us an under-the-radar expansion player to breakout.

Last year, Thornton, who averaged 6.4 points per game from 2020-24, set a career-high in scoring (14 points per game) with Golden State. Portland and Toronto will have to get buckets from somewhere, and one player who could emerge as a franchise star is Geiselsoder.

The Fire center has already put together an impressive international resume, including being named 2016 FIBA U16 women's EuroBasket MVP and most recently 2025 FIBA women's EuroBasket All-Star second team.