WNBA Approves Expansion Teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia

Yahoo Sports16h ago3 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The WNBA has approved expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, with plans for Cleveland to debut in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. This move reflects the league's growth and the increasing popularity of women's basketball.

WNBA logo with a silhouette of a female basketball player in action, set against a dark blue and orange background.

(Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The WNBA is officially growing.

According to a press release, the league, alongside the NBA Board of Governors, has approved expansion franchises in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, solidifying plans that had been in motion over the past year.

Each team will be introduced in phases, with Cleveland set to debut in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. The additions signal a continued push to capitalize on the surge in popularity surrounding women’s basketball.

The move follows an earlier announcement granting expansion rights to the three cities, but this latest approval makes the franchises official and locks in their timeline.

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By the end of the rollout, the WNBA is expected to grow to 18 teams, especially with Portland and Toronto already joining the league as part of its most recent expansion wave.

The decision comes at a pivotal moment for the league. Fresh off a newly finalized collective bargaining agreement aimed at improving player compensation and working conditions, the WNBA is entering a period of rapid growth both on and off the court.

At the same time, the league is navigating a busy offseason filled with roster movement. A large portion of players are currently eligible for free agency, leading to a flurry of trades, signings, and speculation ahead of the upcoming season.

With the new campaign set to tip off in early May, attention is already shifting toward the draft and how incoming expansion teams, and future ones, will reshape the league’s competitive landscape.