June 30, 2025
WNBA announces expansion to Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia
The expansion will bring the league to 18 teams in by 2030
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the addition of three expansion franchises Monday: Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. Cleveland will join the league in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030, bringing the total to 18.
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“It’s not every day you get to make history, but today we do it three times over,” Engelbert said. “It is my honor to officially announce that the WNBA is expanding from our currently announced 15 teams to 18 teams over the next few years. So, on behalf of the entire WNBA, I’m thrilled to welcome Cleveland and Detroit back.”
This will be a second run for Cleveland and Detroit, which were previously home to WNBA franchises. The Cleveland Rockers were one of the founding WNBA franchises in 1997 and the Detroit Shock joined a year later.
Philadelphia is in the WNBA for the first time, becoming the sixth expansion in a row to an NBA city since the Golden State Valkyries began play in the 2025 season.
“So, this expansion marks far more than an increase in teams. It’s a transformational investment in the future of women’s sports. With more teams, more roster spots and more scale and visibility, the WNBA is building on a wave of momentum that is only growing stronger.”
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After no expansion from 2008 to 2025, the WNBA now has five teams joining the league in the next five seasons. The three teams announced Monday follow the Toronto Tempo and Portland in 2026, with one year off in 2027 before Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia join in the three years that follow.
The announcement comes on the back of record-breaking viewership, attendance and television ratings in the past five seasons. With five more teams and the current setup of 12 players per roster, it means more eyes on the league and more players, adding 60 more opportunities for collegiate, international, and former players to get back into the WNBA.
In 12 seasons, the Detroit Shock won three WNBA titles and amassed a record of 240-205, including the playoffs. The Shock moved to Tulsa for the 2010 season and became the Dallas Wings in 2016. The Cleveland Rockers had a 114-121 record in seven seasons, and no WNBA titles.
