• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Get your ticket now!

WNBA Lays Out Plans to Expand to 18 Teams

Each team paid a record-high $250 million expansion fee to join the league.

Jul 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; The WNBA logo on the court at Crypto.com Arena.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The WNBA is expanding. 

But instead of announcing the 16th franchise, the WNBA opted to announce the next three franchises collectively at a news conference Monday morning at league headquarters. Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Detroit will bring the WNBA to 18 teams—the most in league history—by 2030. 

The WNBA will stagger each team’s inclusion beginning with the Cleveland team in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. A league source told Front Office Sports each team paid a record-high $250 million, up sharply from the $50 million fee paid by the Golden State Valkyries and Toronto Tempo. The Portland WNBA franchise paid a reported $125 million, which included the expansion fee and cost of a new practice facility. 

A league source added that the true financial commitment of the latest expansion teams is more than $300 million when factoring in the cost of facilities.

“This is far more than an expansion of our league, it’s an evolution,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “This is a bold step forward as we grow our footprint, create more opportunities for players and inspire the next generation of fans around the globe.” 

All three expansion franchises will be owned and operated by the respective NBA ownership in each city. The Cleveland team’s majority owner will be Dan Gilbert. Detroit’s ownership group is led by Piston’s owner Tom Gores, and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, owners of the 76ers, will own Philadelphia’s WNBA team. 

The WNBA’s ownership structure is broken down into three groups. The 30 NBA owners control 42% of the league, team owners control 42%, and the remaining 16% is owned by an investment group through a $75 million capital raise in 2022. The NBA ownership structure won’t change at all, but the 42% controlled by WNBA owners will be divided among 18 teams by 2030. 

NBA ownership has been the commonality for every expansion team since the Valkyries were announced in 2023. 

Engelbert said Monday that two of the league’s last three expansion teams were not NBA affiliated, referring to the Portland team and the Toronto Tempo, which will begin play in 2026. However, Larry Tanenbaum—the principal owner of the Tempo through his company, Kilmer Sports Ventures—is the governor of the Raptors and chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto NBA team. Tanenbaum has a minority stake in MLSE. 

The Portland WNBA team is owned by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal through their sports investment firm RAJ Sports, which has a stake in the Sacramento Kings. 

“I don’t think we [necessarily] have a bias,” Engelbert said, regarding the WNBA’s prioritization of NBA ownership groups.

However, Engelbert didn’t shy away from the fact that the infrastructure provided by NBA ownership groups—including practice facilities, NBA arenas, and overall player experience—matters in the evaluation process as the league continues to expand. Cleveland was the “most ready,” Engelbert said, suggesting they were the first expansion team selected of the three. 

The WNBA has received expansion bids from a long list of cities, including Miami, Denver, Nashville, and Charlotte. On Monday, Engelbert singled out one directly. 

“There are a variety of cities that bid, and one of those I wanted to shout out—because they have such a strong history in this league and their great ownership group—is Houston,” Engelbert said. 

The WNBA launched in 1997 with eight teams—including the Houston Comets—before quickly expanding to 10 in 1998. By 2000 the league had expanded to 16, which was previously the most it ever had before Monday’s announcement. But from 2003 to 2010 the WNBA saw the collapse of the Miami Sol, Portland Fire, Cleveland Rockers, Sacramento Monarchs, and the Comets. By 2010, the league was down to 12 franchises, which it operated at until last season.

The Comets made league history winning the first four WNBA titles from 1997 to 2000. The Houston bid is led by Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, who Engelbert called out by name on Monday, alluding to it not being a matter of if they get an expansion team, but when. 

“Houston would be up next, for sure,” Engelbert said when answering a question about the timeline for evaluating bids. “There might be opportunities there.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.

Bill Belichick’s Star-Studded UNC Coaching Debut Turns Ugly

Michael Jordan highlighted a long list of celebrities in attendance.

Osaka Ousts Gauff As American Presence at US Open Dwindles

Gauff’s exit shifts spotlight to Pegula, Anisimova, and Fritz at US Open.

Featured Today

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.

Liverpool’s $598M Transfer Spree: End of the Title Race Already?

A deal for Swedish striker Alexander Isak highlights a record outlay.
Dallas Wings
August 29, 2025

WNBA Teams Desperate to Expand Rosters Amid ‘Extreme Hardship’ 

The Wings are scrambling to field eight players Friday night.
September 1, 2025

The Big Money Behind Minor League Baseball’s Renaming Revolution

Teams are rebranding for local pride—and huge revenue.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
August 29, 2025

Who Are the Richest MLB Owners?

MLB owners are among the wealthiest people in the U.S.
August 28, 2025

Selig Backs MLB Salary Cap, but Warns Against Labor Fight

The league’s former commissioner cites salary-cap success in other leagues.
May 24, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban celebrates after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in game two of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.
August 28, 2025

Mark Cuban on Why NBA Expansion Isn’t Imminent

Cuban said the next CBA could help solve some expansion issues.
Aug 24, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench against the Minnesota Lynx in the second half at Target Center.
August 27, 2025

Caitlin Clark Still Out With 2 Weeks Left in WNBA Season

The WNBA regular season ends Sept. 11.