WNBA expands to 18 teams with new franchises in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia

In a significant development for women's professional basketball, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced its plans to expand to 18 teams by adding new franchises in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This expansion is slated to occur over the next five years, with the Cleveland team debuting in 2028, followed by the Detroit team in 2029, and the Philadelphia team in 2030. The decision reflects the league's remarkable growth and increasing demand for women's basketball. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed enthusiasm for welcoming these new teams and noted the positive indicators for attendance and media engagement in recent seasons. Cleveland's majority ownership will be held by Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, with plans to play at Rocket Arena. Detroit's franchise will be under the ownership of Tom Gores, who owns the Detroit Pistons, and the team will play at Little Caesars Arena. Notably, several high-profile minority owners have joined Detroit's ownership group, which includes basketball icons Grant Hill and Chris Webber. The city of Detroit is eager for the return of professional women's basketball, hoping for an economic uplift and renewed pride, as stated by Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem. Philadelphia's franchise, set to launch in 2030, has a majority ownership by Josh Harris, who also owns the Philadelphia 76ers. The team will play in a new arena, which is projected to be built in downtown Philadelphia. Harris expressed excitement about the passionate Philadelphia fanbase and emphasized that the recent addition of a women's team was long overdue given the strong history of basketball in the city. The Philadelphia franchise aims to amplify the visibility of women's sports and its role models in the community. This expansion is part of a broader trend in which the WNBA has seen increased attendance rates and engagement in media coverage. The league is benefiting from enhanced corporate partnerships and growing support for women's sports, signaling a transformative era for the WNBA. Overall, adding teams in these major cities not only strengthens the league's presence in the East Coast but also opens avenues for historic rivalries, which have been iconic in the NBA. The expansion process considered various factors, including demographic data and community interest, which have proven favorable for franchise viability.