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Fire, Tempo begin to build teams with WNBA expansion draft

Bridget Carleton, who previously played for the Minnesota Lynx, was selected by the Portland Fire with the first pick of Friday night's WNBA expansion draft, which also included the Toronto Tempo. (AP File Photo/Matt Krohn)
Bridget Carleton, who previously played for the Minnesota Lynx, was selected by the Portland Fire with the first pick of Friday night's WNBA expansion draft, which also included the Toronto Tempo. (AP File Photo/Matt Krohn) Bridget Carleton, who previously played for the Minnesota Lynx, was selected by the Portland Fire with the first pick of Friday night's WNBA expansion draft, which also included the Toronto Tempo. (AP File Photo/Matt Krohn)

By ANNE M. PETERSON / The Associated Press 4 min read

The WNBA held an expansion draft for the second straight year Friday, with the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo laying the foundation for their first rosters.

Their addition pushes the league’s membership to 15 teams ahead of its 30th season. The Golden State Valkyries tipped off as an expansion team last season.

Portland previously had a WNBA team, also called the Fire, that played in the Oregon city from 2000 to 2002.

The new Fire selected veteran forward Bridget Carleton with the first pick in Friday’s draft.

Guard Julie Allemand, who played last season for the Los Angeles Sparks, was selected by the Tempo with its first pick.