The WNBA is set to grow significantly over the next five years, announcing Monday that it will add three new teams—located in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia—by the year 2030. These additions will bring the league to 18 total franchises, reflecting a new era of growth and investment in women’s professional basketball.
Each of the new teams will be introduced in stages, with Cleveland expected to join in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. All three franchises are being launched in partnership with existing NBA ownership groups and have agreed to pay the league’s $250 million expansion fee, a sharp increase from previous entry costs—signaling the rising value of the league.
Cleveland and Detroit will mark the return of professional women’s basketball to cities that once hosted WNBA teams. The Cleveland Rockers were one of the league’s original franchises before folding in 2003, while the Detroit Shock relocated to Tulsa in 2009. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is a fresh addition to the WNBA but carries a strong basketball tradition and had previously hosted teams in earlier women’s pro leagues.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized that this wave of expansion is designed to tap into basketball-rich markets with strong fan bases, established facilities, and financial backing. She also noted that adding new teams in cities with NBA infrastructure allows for immediate support in operations, marketing, and player development.
Beyond these three cities, Toronto and Portland are also expected to join the league in earlier phases, pushing the WNBA toward its targeted goal of 18 teams by the end of the decade. While other cities—such as Miami, Denver, Kansas City, and St. Louis—expressed interest, they were not selected in this round.
This latest expansion reflects a broader trend of rising visibility and investment in women’s sports, as the WNBA looks to deepen its national presence and meet the growing demand for high-level women’s basketball.
