Ranking 7 cities the WNBA should expand to for the league's 16th team

WNBA fans pushed for the league's expansion, and their wishes were finally heard. The Golden State Valkyries will tip off their inaugural season in 2025, followed by Toronto and Portland in 2026.

In April, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said she wanted there to be 16 WNBA teams by 2028. Following the latest news that Portland was getting a WNBA team, fans have speculated where the next franchise will be.

Considering that two of the three expansion teams will be based on the West Coast, there's reason to believe that the W will look at the East Coast for its 16th team. Only two of the 12 current teams are in the South, so perhaps a city in that area will be awarded the next franchise.

Out of pure speculation, let's rank the cities the WNBA could expand to for its 16th team.

The WNBA wants to add a 16th team after Portland announcement

Denver

Engelbert mentioned Denver as a possibility for an expansion team and visited the city last year to meet with investors and tour facilities. Denver doesn't have a professional women's sports team, and bringing the WNBA to Colorado would be massive. However, it seems likelier that the W will select another city after the Portland announcement.

No one should object if Denver gets the 16th team, but there are more popular options.

Detroit

Why not bring back the three-time WNBA champions Detroit Shock? In 2009, the Shock moved to Tulsa and eventually rebranded as the Dallas Wings. Detroit was the first WNBA expansion team to win a championship, and should be on the short list for the league's 16th team.

In May, Crain's Report Business reported that the Pistons had "been in conversation" with the WNBA about the Shock's return. Maybe the W will return to Michigan.

Miami

South Florida was one of the areas Engelbert mentioned for an expansion team. Florida has two NBA teams, but no WNBA teams. The Orlando Miracle made their WNBA debut in 1999, but moved to Connecticut in 2003 and rebranded as the Sun. It'd make sense for the league to target Miami for its next team.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is another one of the league's targets, and it'd be logical for the W to be the next professional team in one of the country's most popular sports cities. The biggest hold-up could be finding a venue to play in, as the Sixers struggled to finally come to an agreement with the city.

Maybe a WNBA team could play in Wells Fargo Center, the Sixers' current home. It's a possibility that's worth exploring for a city that loves and breathes basketball.

Nashville

When you think of women's college basketball legends, the late great Pat Summit comes to mind. Nashville isn't Knoxville (the two cities are less than three hours apart), but plenty of people love basketball in Tennessee, which is why the city is on Engelbert's list. Adding a team in Nashville would give the South another WNBA squad to root for.

Charlotte

The Carolinas love women's basketball. Remember the Charlotte Sting? Let's bring it back! Maybe (just maybe) Dawn Staley could be lured back to her WNBA roots.

Charlotte has grown increasingly popular as a tourist destination and a place to live, but there's one thing the city lacks -- a professional women's team. The Hornets haven't given fans anything to cheer for, but the WNBA could change that by awarding North Carolina the next expansion team.

Houston

Houston is the most popular answer when you ask fans where they want the next WNBA team. The Comets were among the original eight teams and won the first four WNBA titles. Houston was the home of the league's first dynasty, which unfortunately fizzled out in 2008 when the organization couldn't find a new owner.

There's already a team in Texas, but a team in Houston would flourish. Things are much different than sixteen years ago when there wasn't an investment in women's sports. It'd be a full-circle moment if the Comets returned to the WNBA.