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WNBA announces three new teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia

UNITED STATES, JUN 30 – The WNBA will add three franchises with NBA ownership and $250 million fees each, expanding to 18 teams by 2030 amid rising attendance and media deals, officials said.

  • The WNBA announced on June 30, 2025, that Cleveland will host its 16th franchise, starting play in 2028 at Rocket Arena downtown.
  • This expansion follows a growing demand for women's basketball and continued support from NBA ownership groups, which led to awarding teams to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
  • Cleveland previously hosted one of the WNBA's founding teams, the Rockers, who competed from the league's inaugural season until 2003 before folding due to low attendance; Detroit and Philadelphia also have histories of women's professional basketball teams.
  • Cleveland and Detroit will continue to utilize their current NBA venues, whereas Philadelphia intends to construct a new arena targeting completion by 2030. Each franchise is contributing an expansion fee of $250 million, which is approximately quintuple the amount Golden State paid for its team several years ago.
  • This expansion will raise the league to 18 teams, fostering regional rivalries and economic, cultural, and community benefits for the cities involved, signaling a milestone in women's professional basketball.
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King5 News broke the news in Seattle, United States on Monday, June 30, 2025.
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