WNBA Announces Expansion to 18 Teams with New Franchises in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia
The WNBA will expand to 18 teams by adding franchises in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia by 2030, pending approval from league governors.
WNBA adds teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia
Chicago Sun-Times
Overview
- The WNBA plans to expand to 18 teams, adding Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia by 2030.
- Cleveland's team will debut in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.
- Each new franchise will pay a $250 million expansion fee, significantly higher than previous fees.
- Detroit and Cleveland teams will play in existing NBA arenas, while Philadelphia aims for a new venue.
- The expansion aims to foster rivalries and leverage the geographical proximity of the new cities.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the WNBA expansion as a significant and strategic move, emphasizing the potential for increased rivalries and market growth. They highlight the historical context of the new teams while maintaining a neutral tone, though some exhibit slight biases in framing the financial aspects and competitive landscape.
The WNBA will expand to 18 teams by 2030, with Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia joining as expansion franchises starting in 2028.
Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia are set to join the NBA and WNBA in consecutive years starting in 2028, pending approval from the Board of Governors.
Toronto and Portland are both set to join the league next year.
All three new teams announced on Monday are owned by NBA ownership groups.
Each paid a $250 million expansion fee, which is five times more than what Golden State paid for a team in the past.
Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia have all been home to women's professional basketball teams in the past.
Detroit and Cleveland will continue playing at their current NBA arenas, while Philadelphia is working on completing a new building by 2030.
Adding three teams will create more natural rivalries in the league, particularly with a team on the East Coast and the proximity of Detroit and Cleveland.
Several cities bid on teams but were not successful, including St. Louis, Kansas City, Austin, Nashville, Houston, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte.
The Cleveland and Detroit ownership groups will consider the previous team names Rockers and Shock, but will conduct thorough research before deciding on the new franchise names.
The addition of new teams is pending approval from the WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors.
Articles (9)
Center (7)
"…This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball."
USA TODAY·1d·"…The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family."
NPR·1d·"…This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball."
Chicago Sun-Times·1d·"…The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family."
NBC News·1d·"…The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family."
CBS News·1d·"…The addition of Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia as WNBA expansion franchises is expected to have a significant positive impact on the cities and the league."
Associated Press·1d·"…The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family."
Associated Press·1d·FAQ
Cleveland's WNBA team is set to debut in 2028, Detroit will follow in 2029, and Philadelphia's team will join in 2030.
Each new franchise will pay a $250 million expansion fee, which is significantly higher than previous expansion fees in the WNBA.
Detroit and Cleveland teams will play in existing NBA arenas, while Philadelphia plans to build a new arena to host its team by 2030.
The expansion aims to capitalize on the high demand for women's basketball, foster rivalries, and leverage geographical proximity among the new teams to enhance league momentum and investment.
Yes, all three new franchises will each have an NBA ownership group backing them.
History
- This story does not have any previous versions.