The Aces felt the first real roster squeeze of the 2026 offseason Friday when the Toronto Tempo selected guard-forward Aaliyah Nye in the WNBA expansion draft.
Toronto took Nye with the No. 8 pick overall as it and the Portland Fire began building inaugural rosters. Nye, a 2025 second-round pick out of Alabama, spent her rookie season in Las Vegas and was part of the Aces’ 2025 championship group.
“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.”
Expansion comes for everybody
This one came down to rules, not a sudden shift in direction. Each existing team could protect only five players, which left the rest of the roster exposed to the two new clubs.
Portland and Toronto alternated picks across two rounds and combined to select 22 players, with each expansion team passing once. The mission was clear: stock Year 1 rosters with WNBA-ready depth.
Vegas math: one less wing, fewer easy answers
For Las Vegas, the impact is about depth and development. The Aces do not hand out minutes easily, especially on a veteran roster with championship expectations.
Still, young wings matter over a long season. They cover injuries, give you options in tough matchup weeks and sometimes grow into a role by late summer. Nye fit that category, and the margin just got thinner.
What the new teams actually grabbed
Toronto’s early haul showed intent. The Tempo added guard Julie Allemand, then brought in proven scoring with Marina Mabrey and size with center Nyara Sabally.
Portland opened the night by taking forward Bridget Carleton, one of the most established two-way pieces available. Both expansion teams leaned toward players who can help now, not just projects.
Next stop: April 13, but not Round 1 for Vegas
Next up is the WNBA Draft on April 13. Las Vegas will watch without a first-round pick after Seattle gained control of that selection in the three-team deal that brought Jewell Loyd to the Aces.
That puts even more weight on camp battles and veteran decisions. In a league that just added two new teams, the back end of the roster matters more than ever, and the Aces just lost one of those pieces.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
