The WNBA’s upcoming expansion is bringing excitement across the league — but for teams like the Atlanta Dream, it also brings a tough reality: roster risk. With the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire set to enter the league, expansion drafts are coming once a new CBA is finalized. And while nothing is official yet, early projections are already forcing uncomfortable conversations.
One of those conversations now involves Isobel Borlase.
According to a mock expansion draft by The Athletic, Borlase was listed as a potential selection from the Dream by the Toronto Tempo — and honestly, the logic makes a lot of sense.
Why the Dream’s Core Is Likely Safe
While the exact number of protected players hasn’t been finalized, most expect the Dream to prioritize protecting their proven core. That likely includes:
- Allisha Gray
- Rhyne Howard
- Naz Hillmon
- Brionna Jones
- Te-Hina Paopao
That group represents Atlanta’s present and immediate future. But once those names are locked in, the protection list starts to get tight fast. Veterans like Maya Caldwell, Nia Coffey, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough could be exposed — but expansion teams often prefer something different.
They want youth, upside, and long-term development potential.
That’s where Borlase enters the picture.
Why Isobel Borlase Is So Intriguing for an Expansion Team
The Dream selected Isobel Borlase with the 20th pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but instead of immediately joining the roster, she remained in Australia to continue her development in the WNBL. That decision is paying off in a massive way.
Now with the Bendigo Spirit, Borlase is having a breakout season:
- 22 points per game
- 5.3 rebounds
- 3.6 assists
- 2.2 steals
She leads her team in both scoring and assists by a wide margin and currently ranks second in the entire WNBL in scoring. At just 21 years old, she’s showing the kind of all-around offensive growth that expansion franchises dream about building around.
For a new team like Toronto, Borlase checks every box:
young, explosive, confident, and already battle-tested in a professional league.
The Sandy Brondello Connection Adds Even More Fuel
This scenario becomes even more interesting when you consider who’s coaching the Toronto Tempo — Sandy Brondello, the head coach of the Australian national team.
Borlase already debuted under Brondello at the 2024 Paris Olympics, contributing meaningful minutes and scoring 16 total points across Australia’s semifinal matchup against Team USA and the bronze medal game against Belgium.
That familiarity matters. A lot.
Expansion teams love players they already understand — especially ones who’ve already bought into their coaching system.
What This Means for the Dream’s Rebuild
Borlase was never meant to be an instant contributor for Atlanta. She was drafted as a long-term upside play — a guard that could develop overseas while the Dream reshaped their identity under Karl Smesko.
Now, that patience could come back to bite them.
If Atlanta can’t protect Borlase in the expansion draft, they risk losing one of their most promising young backcourt stashes before she ever plays a single WNBA minute for them.
That would be a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that’s already undergoing massive transition.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t a guarantee. The expansion rules still need to be finalized. The protected player count will be everything. But this situation highlights the delicate balancing act the Dream now face:
- Protect proven veterans
- Or protect long-term upside
- Or try to thread the needle between both
Either way, Isobel Borlase is officially a name to watch as the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire begin shaping their identity.
And for Atlanta, this may be the first tough test of depth management in the new era.
