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Here’s a look at what Portland's new WNBA team will need to go through next year to fill its roster.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland is one year away from its first season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). With the 2025 WNBA Draft right around the corner, here’s a look at what Portland will need to go through next year to fill its roster.

To note, Portland is not in this year's draft as 2026 will be the inaugural season for the not-yet-named team. But for eager fans and those curious about how an expansion team even gets players, hopefully this explainer helps.

There’s mainly three ways WNBA expansion teams get players: WNBA Expansion draft, where they pick players off existing teams; free agency; and the WNBA Draft. There are also player trades.

Heads up: next year is expected to be a frenzy. Not only is the WNBA expanding to 15 teams (Portland and the Toronto Tempo) in 2026, but the league will also be under a new massive 11-year, $2.2 billion media-rights deal that could reshape player contracts.

Because of this, WNBA players have agreed to contracts that will allow them to be free agents in 2026. And it’s not just a few names that will be available — it will be most of the league, including stars like Sabrina Ionescu.

The 2026 WNBA Expansion draft will likely be the first place Portland gets players. The draft, which will be used by the Portland and Toronto teams, will likely operate similarly to the 2025 expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries, with a few potential tweaks.

Portland and Toronto will pick from a pool of players on existing WNBA teams. Existing teams can protect a certain number of players on their rosters, making them ineligible for the expansion teams to draft. This is likely to be six players, as it was for the Valkyries.

The expansion teams (Portland and Toronto) will then be able to select one unprotected player from each of the existing teams.

Since there’s two teams picking, Portland and Toronto will likely do a coin toss to determine which team gets the higher draft pick in 2026 and which team picks first in the expansion draft.

In addition to selecting players from existing teams, Portland and Toronto will be able to select one player who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The expansion draft takes place prior to when free agency opens in the WNBA, so essentially, the expansion teams can secure one of these players before the frenzy occurs — but only one player to ensure fairness across the league and prevent a situation where one team’s roster is decimated.

With most of the leagues going to be free agents in 2026, it will be curious to see which players are left that are unprotected and not an unrestricted free agent during the expansion draft, which could potentially limit options for Portland.

There’s a lot when it comes to WNBA free agency between what players are unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents, core players and reserved players. But for the most part, unrestricted free agents are what Portland will be dealing with. These are players that can negotiate contracts without hindrance.

The free agency period typically opens at some point in January.

It’ll be curious to see how free agency in 2026 will play out: Will most star players stick to their team, or will they be looking for change? While a newcomer in the league, Portland’s market as a leader in women’s professional sports enthusiasm could set it apart.

The Portland WNBA and Portland Thorns ownership group is also about break ground on a new $150 million practice facility that will serve both franchises.

While new to the league, Portland is unlikely to get the No. 1 draft pick the 2026 WNBA draft. This is the first year for the Golden State Valkyries and their first-round draft pick in the 2025 WNBA draft is fifth.

If the 2026 draft follows a similar format, Portland and Toronto may have the fifth and sixth pick.

There are several notable players who skipped the 2025 WNBA draft that could be top prospects in 2026: Olivia Miles, who was projected to be the WNBA’s No. 2 overall draft pick (behind Paige Buekers) but has been recovering from an ACL injury; UConn’s Azzi Fudd; LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson; UCLA Lauren Betts; and possibly, USC’s Juju Watkins, pending injury recovery.

When the sun peeks out between weeks of rain, Portlanders flock to rooftop patios to get as close to the source as possible. Along with the gardens, plazas, and covered patios throughout the city, rooftops provide a place for dining and imbibing with the added benefit of a stunning view, featuring the city’s many bridges, rivers, and surrounding mountains. While Portland has lost some treasured rooftops and others are still closed for the season, a number have opened with cocktails, snacks, and plenty of comfy lounge seating. Here are rooftops in Portland where you can grab a drink and a meal. Note that some of these rooftops may only have indoor seating — or close entirely — on rainy days, so it’s best to call ahead. For more dining al fresco, check out our bar patio and restaurant patio maps.

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Nestled in the Pearl District, the bustling brewpub 10 Barrel sports a spacious rooftop patio that can fit dozens of diners. Visitors can knock back beers from the massive taplist, most of which are made onsite, while snacking on steak and Gorgonzola nachos, pizzas, or burgers. Best of all, there’s a rooftop bar, so no one has to retreat back inside for another round.

Likely Portland’s most famous rooftop bar, Departure’s sleek, dual patios overlook downtown Portland and offer a beautiful view of the river and bridges. The western balcony — overlooking Pioneer Square but with an ample view of the downtown skyline and the river — is reserved for those dropping in for a cocktail and bites, while the other accommodates diners visiting for dinner. Make a reservation for the dining experience, which involves dishes like tuna sashimi with kiwi and pear, and grilled octopus with pickled shishito peppers.

Xport and its twin rooftop patios are nestled among the skyscrapers with a luxe outdoor bar. This downtown bar has serious nightclub vibes in the evenings, especially on weekends, but those looking for more chill vibes and an amazing view of the river and the surrounding blocks can head in earlier in the day. The drinks lean more towards cocktail bars than nightclubs, luckily, and there are always some choice selections of wines and beer, as well.

A plant-filled, white-walled tequila and mezcal haven on the upper floors of the Hoxton hotel, Tope is one of the more stylish bars west of the river. Its large, eastern-facing balcony patio, strung with lights and dotted with bistro tables for al fresco dining, often hosts private parties and other events, providing an elevated space for diners to dance the night away. If there isn’t a party going on, grab a table and snack on coconut milk-steamed mussels or chorizo empanadas.

Altabira Tavern was one of the earliest restaurant closures of the pandemic, and for over a year the Hotel Eastland’s upper floor was empty. However, the Metropolitan Tavern quietly opened in its place, moving into the spacious, glass-enclosed rooftop patio. It still offers the same view of the river and its bridges, as well as the convention center and parts of downtown, to accompany the pizza, seared black cod, and wagyu beef burgers served there.

Jackie’s prefers to call itself a “bar with sports” rather than a sports bar, but it’s still not letting its customers miss a moment of a game, not when it can line its sprawling, heated upper patio areas with TVs and greenery. On Friday nights, the vibe gets far clubbier, with lines down the block and DJs spinning on the patio. The patios aren’t as elevated as others in town, but still provide a nice view of the surrounding neighborhood for diners to enjoy while they knock back tequila drinks and house birria nachos.

Its balcony patio isn’t as large as most others in town, but that hasn’t kept the elegant wine bar and restaurant Noble Rot from being a rooftop mainstay in the city for years. Overlooking East Burnside with a view of the neighborhood and a peek of the river and downtown Portland, it’s a lovely spot to enjoy a flight of wine and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones over pan-seared duck breast with Savoy cabbage. Make a reservation online.

Radio Room’s multi-tiered patio on Alberta is a common hangout for neighborhood locals, who cut into eggs Benedict and nurse iced Cowboy Coffees on weekend mornings with a view of the bustling street below. In the evening, it can be a lovely spot to soak in a sunset over a bowl of shrimp and grits or a raspberry vodka lemonade.

Nestled in the Pearl District, the bustling brewpub 10 Barrel sports a spacious rooftop patio that can fit dozens of diners. Visitors can knock back beers from the massive taplist, most of which are made onsite, while snacking on steak and Gorgonzola nachos, pizzas, or burgers. Best of all, there’s a rooftop bar, so no one has to retreat back inside for another round.

Likely Portland’s most famous rooftop bar, Departure’s sleek, dual patios overlook downtown Portland and offer a beautiful view of the river and bridges. The western balcony — overlooking Pioneer Square but with an ample view of the downtown skyline and the river — is reserved for those dropping in for a cocktail and bites, while the other accommodates diners visiting for dinner. Make a reservation for the dining experience, which involves dishes like tuna sashimi with kiwi and pear, and grilled octopus with pickled shishito peppers.

Xport and its twin rooftop patios are nestled among the skyscrapers with a luxe outdoor bar. This downtown bar has serious nightclub vibes in the evenings, especially on weekends, but those looking for more chill vibes and an amazing view of the river and the surrounding blocks can head in earlier in the day. The drinks lean more towards cocktail bars than nightclubs, luckily, and there are always some choice selections of wines and beer, as well.

A plant-filled, white-walled tequila and mezcal haven on the upper floors of the Hoxton hotel, Tope is one of the more stylish bars west of the river. Its large, eastern-facing balcony patio, strung with lights and dotted with bistro tables for al fresco dining, often hosts private parties and other events, providing an elevated space for diners to dance the night away. If there isn’t a party going on, grab a table and snack on coconut milk-steamed mussels or chorizo empanadas.

Altabira Tavern was one of the earliest restaurant closures of the pandemic, and for over a year the Hotel Eastland’s upper floor was empty. However, the Metropolitan Tavern quietly opened in its place, moving into the spacious, glass-enclosed rooftop patio. It still offers the same view of the river and its bridges, as well as the convention center and parts of downtown, to accompany the pizza, seared black cod, and wagyu beef burgers served there.

Jackie’s prefers to call itself a “bar with sports” rather than a sports bar, but it’s still not letting its customers miss a moment of a game, not when it can line its sprawling, heated upper patio areas with TVs and greenery. On Friday nights, the vibe gets far clubbier, with lines down the block and DJs spinning on the patio. The patios aren’t as elevated as others in town, but still provide a nice view of the surrounding neighborhood for diners to enjoy while they knock back tequila drinks and house birria nachos.

Its balcony patio isn’t as large as most others in town, but that hasn’t kept the elegant wine bar and restaurant Noble Rot from being a rooftop mainstay in the city for years. Overlooking East Burnside with a view of the neighborhood and a peek of the river and downtown Portland, it’s a lovely spot to enjoy a flight of wine and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones over pan-seared duck breast with Savoy cabbage. Make a reservation online.

Radio Room’s multi-tiered patio on Alberta is a common hangout for neighborhood locals, who cut into eggs Benedict and nurse iced Cowboy Coffees on weekend mornings with a view of the bustling street below. In the evening, it can be a lovely spot to soak in a sunset over a bowl of shrimp and grits or a raspberry vodka lemonade.

Portland’s The Wine Spa is one of Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2025.

The recognition comes mere months after Kelly Lewis opened the spa on northeast Broadway.

“We are the first dedicated wine spa in the United States and the first in Portland,” Lewis said.

Lewis also runs a travel company that provides group travel for women. She got the idea for opening a wine spa back home in Portland after taking one of her tour groups to a vinotherapy spa in the Republic of Georgia.

Treatments at the spa focus on vinotherapy – using wine or wine grapes in skincare.

The spa exclusively uses Caudalie, a French beauty brand whose products are derived from wine grapes.

“Everything that we do here involves some element of grape or vine or wine itself in our different treatments,” Lewis said.

The signature experience at The Wine Spa is the wine bath. Spa-goers soak in a jetted tub filled with warm water, Epsom salts and a full bottle of red wine.

Watch: Portland’s new wine spa lets you soak in upcycled wine

Lewis said the first question she gets about the wine baths is often ‘isn’t that wasteful?’

But the wine in use at the spa upcycled wine – wines produced by Oregon winemakers that can’t be sold due to bottling errors or other quality issues. Those wines typically are thrown away.

“We don’t care about the taste, we care about the antioxidant properties,” said Lewis. Using wine that would otherwise be discarded gives it a “second life” and helps reduce waste.

The spa also offers a signature facial that uses whole grapes to aid in exfoliation.

The Wine Spa offers a complimentary glass of wine – served in a compostable cup, of course – with every wine bath. NA wines are available as well – both for drinking and for bathing. The beverage list focuses on wines made by local winemakers and women-led companies.

Reservations are required.

The spa is also available for groups or celebrations, like birthdays and bachelorette parties.

The Wine Spa, 1517 N.E. Broadway, Portland, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m Sunday; closed Mondays.

— Julie Evensen covers trending topics and popular culture. She can be reached at [email protected] or @juliecevensen.bsky.social on Bluesky and @julieevensen on Threads.

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