WNBA Announces Expansion Teams in Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia

⁤ ⁤ Updated June 30, 2025

The WNBA ‍is set to grow to 18 teams with the⁤ addition ⁣of new franchises in Cleveland, ‍Detroit, and Philadelphia. The announcement,made Monday,marks a notable moment ⁣for⁢ the league,which ⁢currently has ‍13 teams. Toronto and Portland are⁢ slated to join in 2026.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy ‍Engelbert called ⁢the expansion a “truly monumental day,” emphasizing⁤ the rich basketball traditions and strong sports legacies of the selected ⁤cities. She added that this WNBA ⁤expansion represents a ⁤”bold step forward” for the league.

Cleveland‍ will ⁣launch its team in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and ‍Philadelphia in 2030. Each team will pay ‍$250 million in franchise fees, marking a historic high for the WNBA. The league evaluated ⁢market⁢ viability, infrastructure, and local support in making its selections from ⁣over⁢ a dozen bids, including those from Kansas⁣ City, ⁤St. Louis, and Houston.

Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group, noted the transformative impact ⁣on Cleveland’s sports scene. The city previously hosted the Cleveland Rockers,one of⁢ the WNBA’s original franchises,from 1997 to 2003.

Tom and Holly Gores, owners of the Detroit Pistons, lead the Detroit WNBA ownership ⁣group.Arn Tellem, vice chairman of the Pistons, ‍hailed ‍the move as a “huge win” for Detroit, bringing women’s basketball back after a‍ roughly 20-year absence. The Detroit Shock won three championships before relocating to‍ Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, owners of the Philadelphia 76ers,⁢ will own the Philadelphia team.Josh harris,co-founder and managing partner of HBSE,said bringing the WNBA to Philadelphia “wasn’t just a nice-to-have,it ‍was an obligation.”

What’s next

The WNBA will continue to monitor other potential expansion locations, including Houston, for future opportunities.