WNBA officially approves expansion to Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia

Atlanta DreamChicago SkyConnecticut SunDallas WingsGolden State ValkyriesIndiana FeverLas Vegas AcesLos Angeles SparksMinnesota LynxNew York LibertyPhoenix MercurySeattle StormWashington MysticsScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsWNBA Offseason An event in Cleveland last September celebrated the approval of an expansion team to the city. Andrew Dolph / Imagn Images Share full articleThe WNBA is officially set to expand into three new cities by 2030. The league and NBA Board of Governors announced Thursday night that they had formally approved expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. The Cleveland franchise is set to begin play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. Last June, the WNBA announced it had granted expansion franchises to the three cities, but Thursday’s announcement makes it official. It also comes after a drawn-out labor dispute that finally resulted in a new collective bargaining agreement last month. With the addition of those three cities, plus expansion teams in Portland and Toronto this year, the WNBA is set to grow to 18 franchises. “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,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement during the initial announcement last June. After the WNBA and its players ratified the new labor agreement, the league has been rushing to prepare for the 2026 season. An expansion draft was held for Portland and Toronto on Friday, free agency opened Monday, and the draft is set for next Monday. The 2026 season is set to begin May 8. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Bob Harkins is a deputy managing editor on the Daily Desk at The Athletic. Before joining The Athletic, Bob held multiple roles at FOX Sports, including editorial manager of live events and senior editor for colleges. He also spent 13 years at NBC Sports, where he was senior editor for MLB.