
Unrestricted free agent Bridget Carleton was selected No. 1 overall by the Portland Fire in the 2026 WNBA expansion draft, a move that helped define the new franchise's early roster identity. Nike's 2026 Rebel Edition uniforms, co-created with every team to reflect local culture and community input, provide a complementary avenue for expansion teams like the Fire to craft and promote their visual and cultural identity. Together, roster-building and bespoke branding will shape how new and existing teams connect with fans; recent transactions — such as the Connecticut Sun activating Leila Lacan and waiving 2025 first-round pick Hailey Van Lith — show how teams across the league are actively adjusting rosters.
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