The WNBA will add on three new expansion teams by 2030, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Monday, June 30. The teams will be based in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030).
Adding three expansion teams by 2030 will bring the league up to 18 teams in total, a powerful move that will provide more opportunities to athletes and allow more local fan bases to grow and flourish.
The teams will join the Golden State Valkyries, who are playing their first season this year, as well as the Toronto Tempo and an unnamed team in Portland, Oregon, as part of a movement ushering in a new era in professional women's basketball — one that comes with better facilities, increased salaries, and new marketing opportunities.
Cleveland's team will debut in 2028
The first of the announced teams will make its debut in 2028 and presumably hold an Expansion Draft at the end of 2027. The franchise will be owned by Rock Entertainment Group (REG), which is the umbrella over REG Chairman Dan Gilbert’s sports and entertainment properties under the Rock Family of Companies. Gilbert has owned the Cleveland Cavaliers since 2005.
While a team identity has not been announced, Cleveland has been home to a WNBA team before. The city was one of the 8 original in the league, and the Rockers were based on Cleveland from 1997 to 2003.
Detroit's team will debut in 2029
Detroit is also no stranger to the WNBA. The city was home to the Detroit Shock, which debuted in 1998 as one of the league's first expansion teams. The new team's ownership group is led by Tom and Holly Gores, as well as "some of the most accomplished women and men in global sports, business, entertainment, media, and finance," per the WNBA's release.
It appears likely the WNBA will resurrect the original Shock name for Detroit's new team. A trademark application for the Detroit Shock was filed by the WNBA in June 2023 and officially registered in February of the following year.
Philadelphia's team will debut in 2030
Philadelphia's team will be owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. The company's co-founder Josh Harris is a managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers. The city has never been home to a WNBA team before, so this will be an entirely new experience for Philly (and there's no word yet if Philadelphia native Dawn Staley will be involved).