WNBA announces three new teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia

The WNBA took a major step forward with its expansion plans on Monday, revealing that Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia have been awarded new franchises.

Cleveland is set to tip off in 2028, Detroit will follow a year later in 2029, and Philadelphia is on track to join the league in 2030.

"The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball.”

The trio of expansion franchises revealed on Monday will each be backed by NBA ownership groups. Each ownership group shelled out a $250 million expansion fee—roughly five times more than what the Golden State Warriors paid when launching the Valkyries not long ago. Beyond the hefty entry fee, all three clubs are committing additional resources to establish training complexes and other key facilities.

"It's such a natural fit that when you already have this basketball-related infrastructure, these strategies, cultures that you find to be successful, combinations of personnel that you find to be successful," said Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group and the Cleveland Cavaliers. "Extending that into the WNBA is just a natural next progression, especially if you have a desire to grow like we do."

Cleveland is set to rejoin the WNBA in 2028, reviving one of the league's founding teams. The city was previously home to the Cleveland Rockers, one of the original eight franchises that competed from 1997 to 2003. The new Cleveland squad will be owned by Rock Entertainment Group—headed by Dan Gilbert, which also owns the NBA’s Cavaliers, G League side Cleveland Charge, and the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, an affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

Detroit will follow in 2029, bringing back a powerhouse from the league’s early years. The former Detroit Shock were a dominant force, claiming three WNBA titles between 1998 and 2009 before relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma. After a stint there, the franchise moved again and is now known as the Dallas Wings. The reborn Detroit team will be led by a group helmed by Pistons owner Tom Gores.

Both Cleveland and Detroit’s new teams will share existing NBA arenas, while Philadelphia—which enters the fold in 2030—is planning to build a brand-new venue to house its WNBA team. These additions also spice up the schedule with more built-in rivalries, especially between Detroit and Cleveland due to their proximity, while Philadelphia adds another presence to the East Coast hoops scene.

Cities that missed out on this round of expansion include St. Louis, Kansas City (MO), Austin, Nashville, Houston, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte.

All key indicators—be it crowd turnout, broadcast viewership, or corporate backing—have been steadily trending upward over the last few seasons. If the rise and interest in women's basketball continues to ramp up, one of the aforementioned cities could come into frame in the next expansion cycle.