Aaliyah Nye Joins Toronto Tempo in 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft

Aaliyah Nye Selected by Toronto Tempo in 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft

The 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft made waves across the basketball world on April 3, 2026, and few picks generated more conversation than the Toronto Tempo's selection of Aaliyah Nye with the 8th overall pick. The sharpshooting guard, who had just helped the Las Vegas Aces claim the 2025 WNBA Championship in her rookie season, is now headed north of the border — closing one chapter and opening another in what is already shaping up to be a compelling professional career.

Nye's departure from the defending champion Aces mirrors a now-familiar pattern in Las Vegas. For the second consecutive year, the franchise has lost a promising young player to an expansion team, raising questions about roster protection strategy while simultaneously signaling just how attractive WNBA newcomers find the talent pool the Aces have cultivated. The Las Vegas Review-Journal detailed the parallel, noting this follows Kate Martin's departure to the Golden State Valkyries in the 2024 expansion draft.

From Alabama to the WNBA: Nye's Road to the Draft

Before her professional career began, Aaliyah Nye built a reputation as one of the most dangerous three-point shooters in college basketball. Playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Nye set the program record for three-pointers made during the 2023-24 season — then immediately broke her own record the very next year. That kind of consistent excellence from distance is rare at any level of basketball.

In her final college season (2024-25), Nye averaged 15.2 points per game and shot an impressive 45.5% from three-point range, numbers that made her one of the most coveted shooting specialists in the 2025 WNBA Draft class. According to Sports Illustrated's Alabama coverage, Nye and former teammate Sarah Ashlee Barker both went on to be selected in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft — Barker landing with the Portland Fire at pick No. 17.

The Las Vegas Aces recognized Nye's potential early, selecting her with the 13th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Her combination of floor-spacing ability and championship experience from her Alabama days made her a natural fit for a team built around winning immediately.

Rookie Season with the Aces: A Championship and a Mentorship

Transitioning from college star to professional role player is never easy, but Nye embraced her first WNBA season with the Aces without complaint. Across 44 games, she averaged 3.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 15.3 minutes per game, with shooting splits of .345/.314/.824. The numbers reflect someone still finding her footing at the professional level, but the context is just as important: she was contributing in real minutes on one of the league's elite rosters.

Her fit in Las Vegas was validated by the people who matter most. Aces head coach Becky Hammon specifically praised Nye's sharp three-point shooting, a skill that remains one of the most coveted in the modern game. Even more memorably, four-time MVP A'ja Wilson took Nye under her wing and gave her two nicknames — "Bama" and "Roll Tide" — affectionate nods to Nye's Alabama roots that speak to the kind of locker room bond that defines championship teams.

At the end of the season, Nye had something most players never get: a championship ring. As Yahoo Sports reported, Nye is now "closing her Aces chapter" with that ring in hand — and the lessons learned from playing alongside Wilson, Hammon, and one of the most talented rosters in the WNBA.

The 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft: What It Means for the League

The April 3, 2026 Expansion Draft was a landmark moment for the WNBA. Two new franchises — the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire — selected a combined 21 players to build their inaugural rosters, officially expanding the league and extending its footprint into Canada for the first time.

Toronto Tempo General Manager Monica Rogers set the tone for the franchise's identity early, stating that the roster was built on "versatility, depth, and competitiveness." Selecting Nye 8th overall was a statement pick: the Tempo want players who can shoot, who know how to win, and who bring both youth and championship pedigree to a brand-new organization.

As MSN Sports noted, the expansion draft sent Nye from the defending champions to the league's newest franchise — a journey that underscores just how quickly WNBA careers can shift, and how critical these expansion events are to reshaping the league's competitive landscape.

Aaliyah Nye's Role with the Toronto Tempo

In Toronto, Nye will play under head coach Sandy Brondell, who faces the unique challenge of building a winning culture from scratch. For a first-year franchise, having a player like Nye — a proven collegiate shooter with professional experience and a championship background — is invaluable. She brings credibility into the locker room on day one.

Expect Nye's role to expand considerably with the Tempo compared to her time in Las Vegas. On the Aces, she was one of several talented players competing for minutes behind established stars. In Toronto, she has the opportunity to become a cornerstone piece, potentially starting or leading a second unit as the Tempo build their identity.

Her three-point shooting will be her calling card. If Nye can translate even a fraction of her Alabama efficiency — that 45.5% from deep — into WNBA games with more consistent minutes, she could become one of the more dangerous perimeter threats on the Tempo's roster. FOX5 Las Vegas reported that while Nye departs, A'ja Wilson has pledged to remain with the Aces — ensuring Las Vegas stays competitive even as it loses another young asset.

The Aces' Expansion Draft Problem — and Pattern

Las Vegas now finds itself in an uncomfortable but undeniable pattern. In 2024, Kate Martin — a fan favorite and first-round pick — was scooped up by the Golden State Valkyries in the inaugural expansion draft. In 2026, Nye follows the same path to the Toronto Tempo. Both were young, talented, and viewed as future building blocks for the franchise.

This trend raises legitimate questions about how the Aces approach roster protection in expansion scenarios. Championship rosters are built on depth, but depth comes at a cost when new teams have the right to select from your unprotected players. Whether Las Vegas adjusts its strategy for future expansion events remains to be seen, but the pattern is now clearly established.

For Nye personally, the move is nothing short of an opportunity. Being selected means a new franchise values her enough to spend a top-10 pick. That's validation — and motivation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aaliyah Nye

What pick was Aaliyah Nye in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft?

Aaliyah Nye was selected with the 8th overall pick by the Toronto Tempo in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft, held on April 3, 2026.

What team did Aaliyah Nye play for before the Toronto Tempo?

Nye played her rookie WNBA season with the Las Vegas Aces, where she won a championship ring in 2025. She was the Aces' 13th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

What college did Aaliyah Nye attend?

Nye played college basketball at the University of Alabama, where she set and then broke the program record for three-pointers made in consecutive seasons (2023-24 and 2024-25).

What were Aaliyah Nye's stats in her rookie WNBA season?

In 44 games with the Las Vegas Aces during the 2025 WNBA season, Nye averaged 3.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 15.3 minutes per game, with shooting splits of .345/.314/.824.

Who is Aaliyah Nye's coach with the Toronto Tempo?

Nye will play under head coach Sandy Brondell with the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA's new Canadian franchise entering the league in 2026.

Conclusion

Aaliyah Nye's journey from Alabama's record books to a Las Vegas championship ring to the Toronto Tempo's inaugural roster is a story about talent finding its moment. At just 22, she carries the pedigree of a proven winner, the skill set of an elite shooter, and the mentorship of some of the WNBA's greatest players. The 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft may have ended her time with the Aces, but it has given her something arguably more valuable: a franchise to call her own and a stage to prove she belongs as a starter, not just a role player.

For WNBA fans in Toronto, the selection of Nye is a signal of intent. For basketball observers everywhere, her development over the next two to three seasons will be one of the more compelling storylines in the league. The three-point records at Alabama, the championship ring in Las Vegas, the nickname from A'ja Wilson — now all of that follows her north, as Aaliyah Nye begins the next chapter of what promises to be a long professional career.