IN DEMAND

WNBA Adding Franchises in Three Big Cities by 2030

“The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher,” league commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

The WNBA will add five teams by 2030, including Cleveland in 2028, Detroit the next year, and Philadelphia a year after that, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Monday. Already-announced franchises in Toronto and Portland will start up in 2026. “The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher,” Engelbert said at a press conference. “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.” Cleveland previously had a WNBA team from 1997 to 2003, and Detroit from 1998 until 2009, when the franchise moved to Dallas. Both will play at the NBA arenas for the Cavaliers and Pistons, respectively. Philadelphia is expected to construct a new building by 2031, meaning its new franchise may play at the NBA venue for its first year. Other cities that placed bids for expansion teams include Austin, Denver and St. Louis. The WNBA, formed in 1996, currently has 13 teams; the most recent addition was the Golden State Valkyries earlier this year. The league has seen an increase in ratings and ticket and merchandise sales since the 2024 season, largely due to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.