The WNBA will undergo major expansion to 18 teams by the end of the decade, announcing new teams in Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. They join new franchises in Portland and Toronto in 2026. FOS women’s sports reporter Annie Costabile was at the news announcement and breaks down how NBA owners helped bring the new teams to the W.
Plus, LeBron James opted in to the final year of his $52.6 million deal with the Lakers in what could be the final NBA contract for the league’s all-time leading scorer. The Athletic senior NBA writer Fred Katz tells Baker Machado and Renee Washington why King James decided to stay one more season with the Lakers and if the team will go all in for one last title run before building their future around Luka Dončić.
And the 138th Wimbledon tournament gets underway with both record-high temperatures and a $73 million pool prize. FOS newsletter writer Eric Fisher discusses Wimbledon’s major redevelopment plans and whether the tournament can continue to capitalize on Grand Slam excitement from the French Open that saw wins for Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff.
