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On the 30th, the WNBA officially announced another expansion: it will expand to 18 teams in the future, and three new teams will be added.
1:17am, 2 July 2025【Basketball】
As the WNBA's influence continues to increase, it will bring more commercial value (American Women's Professional Basketball League) officially announced its historic expansion plan on June 30, 2025, adding three new teams, expanding the league size to 18 teams. Here are the key information for the expansion:
New team and joining time
Cleveland joined in 2028, owned by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert's Rock Entertainment Group. Cleveland once owned the WNBA team "Rockers" (1997-2003).
Detroit joined in 2029 and owned by a consortium led by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores. Detroit once owned the WNBA team "Shock" (1998-2009) and won three championships.
Philadelphia: Joined in 2030, owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment of Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris. This is the first time Philadelphia has owned a WNBA team.
Army expansion background and reasons
Market demand has grown, and the WNBA's ratings, attendance and commercial value have increased significantly in recent years. For example, in 2024, the average audience reached 657,000, a record high. Player opportunities have increased, with each team having 12-person lineup, and adding three new teams means 60 new professional players. NBA affiliate support: All new teams share ownership with NBA teams, leveraging existing basketball infrastructure and resources.
Expansion costs and investments
The franchise fee for each new team is as high as US$250 million, which is five times the franchise fee for the Valkyries in 2023 (US$50 million). The new team will also invest in training facilities and venue upgrades, such as Philadelphia plans to build a new stadium by 2030.
Toronto Tempo and Portland (unnamed) will be the first to join in 2026, bringing the WNBA to 15 teams in 2026, and then adding three new teams to 18 teams from 2028 to 2030. This expansion is the first large-scale expansion of the WNBA since 2008, marking a significant improvement in the commercial value and influence of women's basketball.
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