The WNBA has been stringing together wins like a team on a playoff run lately. On June 30th, the league took another big step forward. In front of media, execs, and fans tuned in across the country, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert made it official: the WNBA is adding three new teams — Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia — over the next five years.

For a league already riding the high of record viewership, packed arenas, and a superstar boom like we’ve never seen before, this feels like a natural next step. These aren’t placeholder franchises, either. We’re talking about three basketball-obsessed cities, each backed by big-time NBA ownership groups. Add in the previously announced Toronto and Portland squads debuting in 2026, and the WNBA will welcome five new teams in five years.

The Perfect Storm of Star Power, Screens, and Dollars

You don’t have to squint to see why this expansion wave is happening now. The WNBA has never been hotter. The TV numbers are proof enough. ABC averaged over 2 million viewers for its biggest games this spring. That level of engagement has spilled over into everything else, too. Tickets are selling out, merch is flying, and Caitlin Clark jerseys are turning into collectibles.

The players fueling that fire are already household names. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins all came into the league as stars. Fans have been watching them for years through college and social media. That connection matters.

Naturally, more attention means more money. Every new expansion team is paying $250 million just to join the league — five times what Golden State paid just a couple years back. That’s a sign of how fast things are accelerating. Franchise values have jumped 180% in just a year. And the people writing those checks aren’t taking a gamble on a feel-good story. They’re making a calculated investment in a league they believe is about to level up.

Meet the New Kids on the Block

Cleveland

First Tip‑Off: 2028 

Cleveland isn’t new to the WNBA, but it’s been a while. The original Cleveland Rockers were part of the league’s inaugural season in 1997 and even made a deep playoff run in 1998. But like a few other early franchises, they folded in 2003 when ownership interest dried up and the NBA backing didn’t follow through. Fast-forward twenty years, and the league is giving Cleveland a second shot — with way more support this time around.

Leading the charge is Rock Entertainment Group, run by Dan Gilbert, the man behind the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA title and a long-time advocate for revitalizing downtown Cleveland. This isn’t just a side project for Gilbert; it’s a strategic addition to his basketball portfolio, which already includes the Cavs, the G League’s Cleveland Charge, and even an AHL hockey team.

Northeast Ohio has some of the strongest girls’ basketball participation rates in the country, and the area’s blue-collar sports culture has always shown up for teams that match its grit. If this new W franchise leans into that identity — and all signs suggest they will — Cleveland could turn into one of the league’s most passionate markets overnight.

Detroit

First Tip‑Off: 2029 

Back in the day, the Detroit Shock weren’t just good — they were dominant. Three WNBA titles between 2003 and 2008, coached by Bill Laimbeer with Swin Cash crashing the boards and backing it up with hardware. They played tough, they played physical, and they packed the house. Then came the relocation to Tulsa in 2009.

But now, the WNBA’s coming back — and this time, Detroit looks ready to do it right. Leading the return is Tom Gores, owner of the Pistons and a major player in the city’s sports and business scene. He’s not doing it alone. The ownership group also features Grant Hill and Chris Webber, two legends with real roots in the game, and even Jared Goff, the Lions’ quarterback, who’s throwing his support behind the effort.

The team will call Little Caesars Arena home, right in the middle of the rapidly developing “District Detroit.” A dedicated WNBA practice facility is already in the works, giving the team its own spot to train, grow, and build a winning culture from day one.

Philadelphia

First Tip‑Off: 2030 

Philly has always been a basketball city. But somehow, the WNBA had never planted roots here. That changes in 2030, and it already feels like a long-overdue move.

The new franchise will be operated by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), the same group that owns the 76ers and New Jersey Devils. Comcast will hold a minority stake, and local developer David Adelman is part of the ownership mix as well. 

Dawn Staley, one of Philly’s all-time greats and a women’s hoops icon, lit up social media after the announcement, tweeting “PHILLY PHILLY y’all ready?” She’s made it clear she’s not leaving South Carolina to coach, but there’s been chatter about her playing some kind of ownership or ambassador role.

Philly fans don’t hand out respect easily. But if this team plays with grit and toughness, they’ll have a packed house in no time. This is a market built for rivalries and drama.

League‑Wide Impact

More Spots, More Money, and a Lot More Leverage

Adding new teams doesn’t just change the schedule — it changes the entire ecosystem of the league. For years, one of the WNBA’s most frustrating realities was simple math: 12 teams, 12 roster spots each. That’s 144 total jobs. And with the cap as tight as it is, teams have had to make some brutal decisions. Talented second-round picks barely got a chance to unpack before being waived. Veterans who could still contribute were squeezed out by younger, cheaper talent. By 2030, that number jumps to 216 roster spots.

And with more teams and more games comes more leverage for the players. The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) runs through 2027, and you can bet the players’ union is already sharpening its game plan.

They’ve got a good case, too. The league’s 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal, signed in 2024, already feels like a bargain given how fast interest is growing. That deal has an opt-out clause in 2027, and with expansion pushing the league into new top-10 media markets like Philly and Detroit, a renegotiation is almost guaranteed. 

Rivalries Reloaded

With cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia joining the fold, some of these matchups are going to feel personal from the jump.

Take Cleveland and Detroit. It’s a two-hour bus ride between them, and you can bet fans will be willing to make the trip to see their team play. Then there’s Philly and New York. The Liberty finally have a close rival that fans can travel to without breaking the bank. It’s a short train ride or bus trip, and you know how Philly and New York fans love to go at it. That atmosphere’s going to be electric.

Where It’s All Headed

A league that once fought to stay afloat is now expanding with confidence, planting roots in basketball-rich cities backed by serious ownership. The product is strong, the stars are already household names, and the demand keeps climbing.

There’s still work to be done, no doubt. But what’s happening now feels like a turning point — not just for the WNBA, but for the way women’s sports are viewed and valued. Expansion isn’t the end of the story. It’s just the next chapter. And if the past few years are any indication, it’s going to be one worth watching.