WNBA expansion to 18 teams

[theshadow]

WNBA ANNOUNCES EXPANSION TO HISTORIC 18 TEAMS WITH NEW TEAMS IN CLEVELAND, DETROIT AND PHILADELPHIA

NEW YORK, June 30, 2025 – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a major expansion to 18 teams, with new teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This expansion – subject to WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors approval – marks a significant milestone in the WNBA’s...

www.wnba.com

13: Golden State
14: Toronto (2026)
15: Portland (2026)
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16: Cleveland (2028) - had a team from 97-03
17: Detroit (2029) - had a team from 98-09
18: Philadelphia (2030)


That makes 15 WNBA franchises in markets with NBA teams, and 3 without (Seattle, Vegas, Connecticut).

 

[Gonzo]

Nice. Hope they keep this momentum going.

 

[HFCS]

WNBA ANNOUNCES EXPANSION TO HISTORIC 18 TEAMS WITH NEW TEAMS IN CLEVELAND, DETROIT AND PHILADELPHIA

NEW YORK, June 30, 2025 – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a major expansion to 18 teams, with new teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This expansion – subject to WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors approval – marks a significant milestone in the WNBA’s...

www.wnba.com

13: Golden State
14: Toronto (2026)
15: Portland (2026)
-----
16: Cleveland (2028) - had a team from 97-03
17: Detroit (2029) - had a team from 98-09
18: Philadelphia (2030)


That makes 15 WNBA franchises in markets with NBA teams, and 3 without (Seattle, Vegas, Connecticut).

Almost certain Seattle or Vegas will have NBA soon if not both. I think they are considered the most likely with Vancouver, Mexico City and Nashville as next most likely in that order.

FWIW with the massive influx of international players going to 32 for NBA seems like a no brainer. It's very likely the concentration of talent is at its highest ever quite easily.

 

[Drew0311]

Almost certain Seattle or Vegas will have NBA soon if not both. I think they are considered the most likely with Vancouver, Mexico City and Nashville as next most likely in that order.

FWIW with the massive influx of international players going to 32 for NBA seems like a no brainer. It's very likely the concentration of talent is at its highest ever quite easily.

I don't follow the NBA much except when Tyrese made his run. Is there an expansion team Vegas will get or you thinking a team will move to Vegas. Just curious

 

[HFCS]

I don't follow the NBA much except when Tyrese made his run. Is there an expansion team Vegas will get or you thinking a team will move to Vegas. Just curious

I think they'll expand to 32 one way or another, if a team moves it means 3 new locations. It seems like Sacramento is past its crisis about moving, there's no team almost guaranteed to move the way Oakland was in MLB for a long while.

 

[dawgpound]

I would be shocked if the NBA doesn't expand to Seattle and Vegas

 

[Cytasticlone]

Almost certain Seattle or Vegas will have NBA soon if not both. I think they are considered the most likely with Vancouver, Mexico City and Nashville as next most likely in that order.

FWIW with the massive influx of international players going to 32 for NBA seems like a no brainer. It's very likely the concentration of talent is at its highest ever quite easily.

I know they keep talking about Mexico for the NFL too. One of those two leagues will have a team there soon.

 

[HFCS]

I know they keep talking about Mexico for the NFL too. One of those two leagues will have a team there soon.

Without caving this, people don't realize what Mexico City is like in terms of livability. There is big $$$ there, it's just a steeper class divide than here. The wild part is Denver is low elevation compared to Mexico City, get ready for 70 yard field goal attempts.

 

[theshadow]

Anyway...

Cleveland and Detroit previously had WNBA teams and the ownership groups for the expansion teams also own their respective NBA franchises. Seems like those were easy choices.

Those are big legs up on a place like Kansas City, which could very well be deserving of a franchise but limited in both experience and funding.

 

[simply1]

I’d say expansion for NBA, especially after lakers valuation. No expansion fees to be made by moving a team.

 

[HFCS]

Anyway...

Cleveland and Detroit previously had WNBA teams and the ownership groups for the expansion teams also own their respective NBA franchises. Seems like those were easy choices.

Those are big legs up on a place like Kansas City, which could very well be deserving of a franchise but limited in both experience and funding.

I wonder if it's strategically better off to name them the same thing or come up with a new brand.

I remembered Detroit Shock but I had to google Cleveland Rockers.

It's too bad connection to NBA team helps because I could see places like Columbus, Austin and Kansas City having an edge that would support womens sports and not have a ton of other local pro teams...basically the kind of places MLS and NWSL have worked.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Gotta water down the league to get Caitlin Clark her championships like the NBA did with Jordan.

 

[Acylum]

Nice. Hope they keep this momentum going.

The momentum of needing to be subsidized to exist?

 

[brianhos]

They there is only one Caitlyn Clark right?

 

[Gonzo]

The momentum of needing to be subsidized to exist?

Hopefully less and less. Signed a big new media deal last year.

 

[Gonzo]

They there is only one Caitlyn Clark right?

Not so sure.

 

[RonBurgundy]

I wonder if it's strategically better off to name them the same thing or come up with a new brand.

I remembered Detroit Shock but I had to google Cleveland Rockers.

It's too bad connection to NBA team helps because I could see places like Columbus, Austin and Kansas City having an edge that would support womens sports and not have a ton of other local pro teams...basically the kind of places MLS and NWSL have worked.

I think a WNBA team could do well in KC, but as noted, we don't have the NBA big brother team. The NWSL KC Current have their own stadium and routinely sell out.

 

[HFCS]

I think a WNBA team could do well in KC, but as noted, we don't have the NBA big brother team. The NWSL KC Current have their own stadium and routinely sell out.

Current seems like it’d be really fun and I immediately thought of with wnba expansion although I get they want nba cities.

Fever/pacers and Tyrese/caitlyn really gave a cross promotion blueprint the last two years. It’s gotta be the dream of every wnba/nba team to have that.

 

[heitclone]

I wonder if it's strategically better off to name them the same thing or come up with a new brand.

I remembered Detroit Shock but I had to google Cleveland Rockers.

It's too bad connection to NBA team helps because I could see places like Columbus, Austin and Kansas City having an edge that would support womens sports and not have a ton of other local pro teams...basically the kind of places MLS and NWSL have worked.

I know numbers are a bit skewed with the CC hype but Vegas and Seattle, who have no NBA team in town were only behind the Fever and Liberty in attendance last year. Being the only bball option is a smart business move. KC is probably the most underrated sports town in the country, they need some kind of basketball team.

 

[HFCS]

I know numbers are a bit skewed with the CC hype but Vegas and Seattle, who have no NBA team in town were only behind the Fever and Liberty in attendance last year. Being the only bball option is a smart business move. KC is probably the most underrated sports town in the country, they need some kind of basketball team.

I watched some of Fever vs expansion GS Valkyries and it was sold out and the home team crowd easily outnumbered CC fans 10-1. It wasn't even close that all those people were there for a brand new expansion team, they were going nuts with every home basket and nobody was cheering when Clark made a play. It was no different than when Iowa played at Hilton CC's last game.

The "there's only one Caitlyn" people have somewhat of a point, but that crowd for an expansion team cheering against CC suggests they're just waiting to make this a bigger thing and she was a spark.