WNBA Awards Expansion Teams to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, Growing League to 18 by 2030

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced Monday it has awarded expansion franchises to three new cities—Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia—as part of a strategic plan to grow the league to 18 teams over the next five years. Describing the announcement as a "truly monumental day," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized the significance of the move in expanding the league’s national footprint.

“These are proud cities with powerful sports legacies, each one rich in basketball tradition,” Engelbert said. “This is a bold step forward as we grow our footprint.”

The WNBA currently comprises 13 teams. Two previously announced expansion franchises—Toronto and Portland—are set to join the league in 2026. With Monday’s announcement, the WNBA will add three more teams in a staggered rollout: Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030.

Woman on a basketball court | Source: Pexels

According to a person familiar with the terms, each franchise will pay $250 million in expansion fees, a record high for the WNBA. While the financial terms were not publicly disclosed by the league, the reported fees reflect growing investment and interest in women’s professional basketball.

Expansion Strategy

The decision to expand followed a comprehensive review process that has been underway for more than two years. More than a dozen cities submitted bids, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Austin, Houston, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The league selected Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia based on market viability, infrastructure readiness, and local community support. Engelbert noted that Houston, a former WNBA market, remains under active consideration for future expansion efforts.

Return to Historic Markets

For Cleveland and Detroit, the expansion represents a return to professional women’s basketball after multi-decade absences. Cleveland last fielded a WNBA team, the Cleveland Rockers, from 1997 to 2003. The Rockers, one of the league’s original franchises, folded after seven seasons due to financial challenges and low attendance.

Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group—which owns the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and will oversee the new WNBA team—hailed the move as a milestone for the city. “Today marks a transformative day in Cleveland’s sports history,” Barlage said.

Detroit’s new WNBA team will be owned by Tom and Holly Gores, owners of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. The city previously hosted the Detroit Shock, which played from 1998 to 2009, won three league championships, and set multiple attendance records before relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma. “This is a huge win for our city,” said Arn Tellem, vice chairman of the Pistons. “It’s much bigger than basketball.”

Woman playing basketball | Source: Pexels

Philadelphia Joins the League

Philadelphia will be a first-time WNBA host city. The franchise will be owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), the group behind the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. HBSE is led by Josh Harris, David Blitzer, and David Adelman. Comcast will hold a minority stake in the team.

Josh Harris, co-founder and managing partner of HBSE, framed the expansion as both a business opportunity and a civic responsibility. “Bringing the WNBA to the city wasn’t just a nice-to-have, it was an obligation,” Harris said.

Looking Ahead

The league's leadership views the expansion as a cornerstone in shaping the future of women’s professional basketball. “This is a bold step forward,” Engelbert reiterated Monday. “We are building something with real impact.”