The Las Vegas Aces will head into the 2026 season without one of their promising young players from last year’s championship run. Rookie guard Aaliyah Nye was selected by the expansion Toronto Tempo in Friday’s WNBA expansion draft.
Nye, the 13th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft out of Alabama, averaged 3.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game during her debut season. She was known for her 3-point shooting, earning praise from coach Becky Hammon and a nickname from A’ja Wilson, who called her “Bama” and “Roll Tide.”
“The Las Vegas Aces want to thank Aaliyah Nye for everything she did to help the Aces lift the 2025 WNBA Championship trophy,” the team said in a statement. “We are sad to see her go, but we wish her all the best as she continues her career with Toronto. As with anyone who has been a member of this historic franchise, once an Ace, always an Ace.”
Nye’s departure marks the second straight year the Aces have lost a rookie in an expansion draft. In 2024, Kate Martin was selected by the Golden State Valkyries after a similar rookie season. The Valkyries, coached by former Aces assistant Natalie Nakase, also signed free agent Tiffany Hayes after the expansion draft.
Toronto, which will begin play alongside the Portland Fire in 2026, selected Nye with the eighth overall pick. The Tempo will be coached by Sandy Brondello, who previously led the New York Liberty to the 2024 championship over the Aces.
Tempo general manager Monica Rogers said the team aimed to build a roster “built on versatility, depth, and competitiveness.” Other Toronto selections included Julie Allemand, Nyara Sabally, Marina Mabrey, Lexi Held, Maria Conde, Maria Kliundikova, Adja Kane, Nikolina Milić, Kitija Laksa, and Kristy Wallace.
The Portland Fire selected Bridget Carleton from the Minnesota Lynx with the first overall pick. Their other picks included Luisa Geiselsoder, Emily Engstler, Maya Caldwell, Chloe Bibby, Haley Jones, Nyadiew Puoch, Sug Sutton, and Nika Muhl.
The Aces were one of the teams that fared better in the expansion draft, losing only one player when they could have lost up to two.
