June 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; A Wilson official WNBA Evo NXT Basketball with the commissioner’s cup logo during the game between La Sparks in Seattle Storm and Crypto.com Arena. Compulsory Credit: Kirbi Lee-Imgon Picture Three WNBA franchises are set to join the league by 2030, confirmed as new teams on Monday with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.
The expansion will deliver WNBA to 18 total teams. Cleveland (2028) will be the first franchise to play in WNBA amid the latest addition. Detroit has to join 2029 and Philadelphia a year later.
Commissioner Kathy Angelbert announced development at a news conference on Monday, saying, “The big demand for the WNBA franchise,” said at a news conference announcing development. “There was a huge demand. What is really proud of what my team has done. Looking forward to future interactions as a league.”
The league currently stands in 13 teams, setting up to WNBA in 2026 with franchisees in Toronto and Portland.
Engelbert had earlier said that the league was targeting 16 teams before 2028. He said that the expansion announced on Monday includes “historic franchise fee”, but would not confirm the cost of reported more than $ 200 million.
He said that through the end of the decade on Monday, the path and strategy became more clear as the discussion on the expansion continued.
“I can not provide available talent, women’s college basketball and internationally,” Engelbert said about the important factors and time was right in the detail.
All three franchises will be owned by the majority of NBA teams in their cities.
Cleveland Caviers and CEO of Rock Entertainment Group Nick Barrage said that Cleveland plans to pay tribute to the past of Rocker franchise, which was present since 1997–2003.
Detroit franchise is also a WNBA reboot. The blow was one of the first expansion teams and was played from 1998–2009.
Arn Telum, vice chairman of Piston Sports and Entertainment, said the city’s pride was brought in the interests of more investment in investment interests as they could adjust.
“When we thought about the idea of bidding for the WNBA franchise, the incredible history we have, we realized that it is going to be a big success. It’s a big victory for our city,” Telum said. “So often Cleveland and Detroit are ignored for these hot, sexy cities in the south. I like this victory for Michigan and Ohio and my hometown of Philadelphia.”
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