WNBA Makes Decision on 16th Expansion Franchise: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Feb 16, 2025 5:58 PM ET

The WNBA's popularity explosion in recent years has spurred the league to expand its national footprint. When the league was founded in 1996, there were eight franchises. By 1999, the league had grown to include 12 teams; by 2000, there were 16 teams.

However, several franchises have ceased operations since then. From 2010 through 2024, the WNBA was reduced to 12 teams.

The Golden State Valkyries, based in San Francisco, California, will debut in 2025. In 2026, the league will add two more teams: a yet-to-be-named team in Portland and the Toronto Tempo.

Per Sports Business Journal, the WNBA will expand to Cleveland for its 16th franchise, resurrecting the Cleveland Rockers. From 1997 to 2003, the Rockers were one of the league's inaugural franchises before disbanding.

Sources tell our @tomfriendwriter that the newest WNBA expansion franchise will go to Cleveland.

The team is expected to join the league as the Cleveland Rockers in 2028, reprising the name of the original WNBA team that folded in 2003.

MORE: https://t.co/HARnHNKDIQ pic.twitter.com/4QBAi1usFn
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) February 16, 2025

The league could be considering a move to 18 teams, per SBJ's reporting.

"As recent as two weeks ago, the WNBA applied to trademark the name Rockers, as well as the names of three other former franchises: the Houston Comets, the Detroit Shock and the Miami Sol — all clues to who could be in the running for the 17th and 18th teams, but not a complete giveaway," read the report from Tom Friend.

Thirteen cities have submitted bids to become the WNBA's next expansion: St. Louis, Kansas City, Austin, Jacksonville, Nashville, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Denver, Charlotte and Milwaukee.

The continued expansion is due to the WNBA's rumored receipt of three bids approaching $250M for each new franchise.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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