By Anika Shah
Scripps Howard Program Intern
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is adding three new franchises in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia in coming years, bringing the league’s total to a record 18 teams. The expansion is a significant step in the WNBA’s nearly three-decade-long effort to broaden its national footprint and meet rising demand for women’s professional basketball.
The new teams are expected to begin play in phases, with Cleveland launching in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. They follow previously announced teams in Toronto and Portland, both set to debut in 2026. Each expansion team will pay a $250 million franchise fee, a record-setting figure for the league.
This move continues the WNBA’s most ambitious era of growth. The league is riding the momentum of its most successful season to date, setting records in viewership, attendance, and merchandise sales. A new wave of star players, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers has helped drive a surge in national attention and commercial interest.
A Return to Familiar Ground
Cleveland and Detroit are no strangers to the WNBA. Both cities previously hosted franchises during the league’s early years. The Cleveland Rockers were one of the WNBA’s original eight teams, operating from 1997 until folding in 2003. Detroit’s former team, the Shock, had a more decorated history, winning three championships between 2003 and 2008 before relocating to Tulsa in 2009.
The new Cleveland franchise will be owned and operated by Rock Entertainment Group, led by Dan Gilbert, owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilbert’s sports empire also includes the Cleveland Charge (G League) and the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). His acquisition brings a seasoned ownership group with deep local ties and an established track record in professional sports.
In Detroit, the new WNBA team will be spearheaded by Pistons owner Tom Gores and his wife Holly, supported by a diverse ownership group spanning sports, entertainment, media, and finance. The return of women’s pro basketball to Detroit restores a piece of local sports history and rekindles memories of the Shock’s dominant era.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, will be a first-time host city for a WNBA team. The franchise will be operated by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, owners of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils. The move extends HBSE’s growing investment in elite sports properties and community-focused initiatives.
Building the Future of Women’s Sports
The WNBA’s decision to expand into five new cities reflects a broader trend across women’s sports: growing investment, media attention, and fan engagement that is transforming what professional opportunities for women look like.
Toronto will be the WNBA’s first international team, extending its reach into a new market and expanding the league’s visibility beyond the U.S. Portland’s return reconnects with a fan base that previously supported the Portland Fire in the early 2000s.
The WNBA began seriously considering expansion more than two years ago, with cities like Houston, Miami, Denver, Charlotte and Austin also vying for teams. League officials say their final selections were based on long-term ownership commitment, arena infrastructure, market demand, and community demand for women’s sports.
Growth Amid Growing Expectations
This expansion arrives during a time of increasing tension between players and the league over wages, travel conditions, and resource equity. The players’ union opted out of the current collective bargaining agreement in 2024 to push for a new deal that reflects the league’s rising profile and revenue. Adding five new franchises could reshape those negotiations and create more opportunities for growth, but it also heightens scrutiny on how that growth is shared.
Still, the message from this expansion is clear. The WNBA is betting on its future and betting on women. What was once seen as a niche league now stands as one of the most influential forces in global women’s sports.
Anika Shah is a rising senior at The Hockaday School and is excited to intern at Texas Metro News through the UNT Scripps Howard Program this summer. She loves playing golf, drinking iced lattes, and spending time with her friends. When not writing for Texas Metro News, you can find her curating her Spotify, reading, or golfing.
Anika Shah is an intern working at Texas Metro News through the Scripps Howard Foundation’s Emerging Journalists Program at the University of North Texas.
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