WNBA expands to 18 teams with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia added
The expansion will push the WNBA to 18 total teams. Cleveland (2028) will be the first franchise to play in the WNBA among the latest additions. Detroit is scheduled to join in 2029 and Philadelphia one year later.
"Great demand for WNBA franchises," commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Monday at a news conference announcing the growth. "There was huge demand. Really proud of what my team has done. Looking forward to future conversations as the league continues to grow."
The league currently stands at 13 teams, with franchises in Toronto and Portland set to enter the WNBA in 2026.
Engelbert previously said the league was targeting 16 teams before 2028. She said the expansion announced Monday included "historic franchise fees," but would not confirm the reported cost of over $200 million.
She said on Monday the path and strategy through the end of the decade only became more clear as the discussions on expansion continued.
"I can't overstate the talent available, women's college basketball and internationally," Engelbert said of the key factors in forging ahead with expansion and why the timing was right.
All three franchises will be under the majority ownership of the NBA teams in their cities.
Nick Barlage, CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rock Entertainment Group, said Cleveland plans to pay homage to the past of the Rockers' franchise, which existed from 1997 to 2003.
The Detroit franchise is also a WNBA reboot. The Shock were one of the first expansion teams and played from 1998-2009.
Arn Tellem, vice chairman of Pistons Sports and Entertainment, said the city's pride brought in more investment interest than they could accommodate.
"When we thought about the idea of bidding for a WNBA franchise, the incredible history we have, we felt this was going to be a huge success. It's a huge win for our city," Tellem said. "So often Cleveland and Detroit get overlooked for these hot, sexy cities in the South. I love this win for Michigan and Ohio and my hometown of Philadelphia."
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