The Portland Fire are already building something real with an expansion draft that prioritized versatility, shooting, playmaking, and, most crucially, an eye toward the future.
Next Monday, April 13, the franchise will continue building, with its first WNBA Draft. And at this point, there are a few prospects we can assume will be long gone when Portland picks at No. 7.
For starters, Spain’s Awa Fam, a high-floor, high-upside player, is No. 1 on most Mock Drafts. UConn’s Azzi Fudd has also snuck into the No. 1 spot in some projections, although most have her at No. 2 or No. 3.
Another player regularly showing up in that 2-3 range is TCU’s Olivia Miles. And then, UCLA teammates Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice look like legitimate top-5 prospects after the National Championship.
From there, everything feels more Wild West, with less predictability and ample chance for surprise. But if the Top 5 goes as planned, there are a handful of prospects the Fire should target.
Flau’Jae Johnson (LSU, SG/SF)
2025-26 Stats: 14.2 PPG | 4.2 RPG | 2.5 APG | 1.3 SPG | 0.7 BPG | 46.5 FG% | 39.3 3PT%
Height: 5’11”
Age: 22
Some Mock Drafts project Flau’Jae Johnson lower than No. 7, but the LSU swing player feels like someone either the Toronto Tempo (No. 6) or Fire (No. 7) would love to feature in Year 1.
Although Johnson didn’t make the leap many were expecting as a senior, she still projects as a high-ceiling prospect, especially if she lands on a team ready to capitalize on pace and space.
Adding shooting and perimeter scoring can never hurt, and if you’re a brand-new team building both a fanbase and a national brand, neither can adding a familiar face.
Johnson was part of some serious LSU runs, and it’s fair to say she can be a household name for fans, if she isn’t already.
Nell Angloma (France, SF)
2025-26 Stats: 14.9 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 2.5 APG | 1.2 SPG | 0.5 BPG | 47.5 FG% | 29.9 3PT%
Height: 6’0”
Age: 19
If the Mock Draft community is right, Nell Angloma will be available at No. 7. No one has her going to Toronto at No. 6 (or higher), and many have her well past Portland at this spot.
Part of that stems from her lack of a jump shot. Having a forward who can’t hit a three can be a real handicap.
Of course, the Fire have built a roster that shows they’re willing to wait and develop. And as far as “projects” go, Angloma offers a lot right away with her downhill game, finishing at the rim, array of moves, and an ability to score through contact—with both hands.
Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina, SG)
2025-26 Stats: 14.9 PPG | 2.1 RPG | 3.6 APG | 1.7 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 48.6 FG% | 32.5 3PT%
Height: 5’8”
Age: 22
Ta’Niya Latson offers the Fire an interesting opportunity.
At this spot, Latson might be the best talent left on the board. Like Angloma, she struggles with her shot, and, to be frank, her numbers diminished drastically after transferring from FSU, where she averaged 25.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists the year prior.
She also, though, looked like the best transition scoring guard in the nation this season, and she had some big games for a big program facing big-time competition.
If you look at the Fire roster, it’s easy to see why Latson might duplicate what the team just expansion-drafted in Carla Leite. But in Year 1 of the franchise, pitting two young, hungry guards against each other in healthy competition wouldn’t be the worst experiment.
Also, fun fact: The Golden State Valkyries, who lost Leite in the expansion draft, select at No. 8 right behind Portland on Monday. They’d probably love to replace Leite with Latson. But the Fire snatching her up one spot earlier would be an extra jab at a potential future rival.
Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA, SG/SF)
2025-26 Stats: 12.8 PPG | 3.1 RPG | 2.9 APG | 1.1 SPG | 0.2 BPG | 49.3 FG% | 42.9 3PT%
Height: 6’0”
Age: 22
Alright … enough of this non-shooting nonsense. Let’s get back to the long ball.
Gianna Kneepkens is fresh off a 15-point performance in the national championship, in which she shot 42.9 percent from deep—almost the exact rate she shot over her five-year career.
As Sabrina Ionescu once famously said, “Shooters shoot.” And this shooter seriously shoots.
Keep in mind that Kneepkens was both capable and reliable as a primary scorer during his four-year run with the Utah Utes. She proved she could play a different role with the champion UCLA Bruins, but in Portland, a team figuring out who its go-to scorers are, there will be opportunities to shine as more than a role player at points this season.
Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA, SG/SF)
2025-26 Stats: 13.5 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 2.1 APG | 1.1 SPG | 0.1 BPG | 53.9 FG% | 39.0 3PT%
Height: 6’0”
Age: 22
Another newly minted national champion (and sister of Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.) Gabriela Jaquez should be available at No. 7.
Most, if not all, Mock Drafts have Jaquez no higher than No. 8 to Golden State. But this could be a classic example of a big game on the biggest stage, boosting her draft stock.
Of course, that’s not to say Jaquez wouldn’t be worthy of Top-10 consideration without that singular performance. She’s a good shooter who can also be an effective cutter, and as long as the shooting translates, she could really play for any team.
Portland, though, specifically could use both her skill set and her winning experience on a team that will need to push through losses.
This one wouldn’t necessarily be a swing for the future. But it’d be a great move for both production and vibes in the early days of the new franchise.
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