Which three new cities were awarded WNBA expansion franchises in 2025?

The Women's National Basketball Association announced a significant expansion in June 2025, welcoming Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia as future franchises. This decision marked a pivotal moment for the league, increasing its total number of teams to 18. While the announcement of these three cities as new WNBA markets occurred in 2025, their entry into league play will be staggered, with Cleveland set to debut in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030.

This expansion underscores the tremendous growth and increasing popularity of women's professional basketball. Each of these cities was selected after a thorough evaluation of market viability, strong ownership groups, and potential for robust fan, corporate, and media support. Notably, both Cleveland and Detroit are returning to the WNBA, having hosted teams in the league's earlier years, the Cleveland Rockers and Detroit Shock, respectively. The commitment from these new ownership groups, often tied to existing NBA franchises, includes substantial investments, with each team reportedly paying a record-high $250 million expansion fee.

The addition of these three cities reflects the WNBA's strategic vision to expand its footprint, create more opportunities for talented players, and bring the excitement of professional women's basketball to new and re-engaged fan bases. This historic expansion is a testament to the league's extraordinary momentum and the surging demand for investment in women's sports, propelling the WNBA into a new era of growth and prominence.