The WNBA has seen a surge ever since Caitlin Clark entered the league. With this newfound popularity, the WNBA has decided it is the right time for an expansion.
Related: Watch: Caitlin Clark takes hard hit
The WNBA has announced the expansion of three new teams. One in Detroit, one in Cleveland, and one in Philadelphia. This will bring the league to 18 teams.
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The team in Cleveland will begin their play in 2028, while Detroit will start in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.
Breaking: The WNBA announced it will expand to 18 teams with new teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.
The Cleveland team will begin play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. pic.twitter.com/Ld4pCYL3eo
— ESPN (@espn) June 30, 2025
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert made a statement about the upcoming expansion.
“This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball,” Engelbert said.
Detroit previous had a WNBA team in the Shock from 1998 to 2009. The Shock also saw much success on the court, as they won three WNBA titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008. In 2009, they relocated Tulsa, Oklahoma to become the Tulsa Shock, and later moved again to become the Dallas Wings.
The owner of the Detroit Pistons, Tom Gores, is leading the group for the new Detroit franchise.
“Today marks the long-hoped-for return of the WNBA to a city with deep basketball roots and a championship tradition,” Gores said. “Detroit played a key role in the league’s early growth, and we’re proud to reignite that legacy as the WNBA ascends to new heights. Our plans will bring new energy, investment and infrastructure to our city and the WNBA, and additional resources to our community.”
This is great news for a league that has long been overdue for earning its respect. Hopefully, fans will continue to tune in as the WNBA keeps growing to new heights.
