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WNBA announces Bay Area expansion for 2025
The WNBA announced the addition of a Bay Area expansion team through a pair of Thursday tweets.
The team will begin play in the 2025 season, according to a Thursday release.
The new team will play its home games at the Chase Center in San Francisco. It will be owned by Golden State Warriors co-executive chairmen Joe Lacob and Peter Guber and be the WNBA's first expansion franchise since the Atlanta Dream entered the league in 2008.
"We are thrilled about expanding to the Bay Area and bringing the WNBA to a region with passionate basketball fans and a strong history of supporting women's basketball," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in Thursday's release. "Joe Lacob, Peter Guber and their leadership team know how to build and operate a world-class organization, as witnessed by the immense success the Warriors' franchise has enjoyed from both a business and basketball perspective over the last decade.
"Their interest in joining the WNBA family is yet another sign of the league's growth potential."
The 2023 WNBA season was its most watched regular season in 21 years, according to a September release from WNBA.com. After a successful season, more expansion and investment in the WNBA can only add more exciting rivalries and opportunities to tap in to high-potential basketball markets. Most importantly, it continues to open the door for talented players to compete with the best the league has to offer.
"I hope that there will be more teams so that everybody has an opportunity, because there are so many great players and they currently only have 144 (roster spots) in the league. I want the WNBA to grow," LSU forward Angel Reese said in August, via USA TODAY Sports NOW reporter Cydney Henderson. "So hopefully, by the time I and Caitlin Clark and all these other players go out, there will be opportunities for others to get on a team."
More must-reads:
- WNBA Finals preview: Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty
- 2023 WNBA Finals: Aces vs. Liberty Schedule on ESPN & ABC
- The 'American League WAR leaders' quiz
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Liberty’s Championship Hangover Gets Worse: Why Tuesday’s Sparks Matchup Could Be Their Breaking Point
Well, well, well. Look who’s having a bit of a rough patch. The New York Liberty, those darlings who started the season like they were playing against high schoolers at 9-0, have now face-planted harder than a rookie trying to guard A’ja Wilson. Since that blazing start, they’re sitting pretty at a mediocre 11-11. Ouch. And honestly? It’s getting painful to watch. The Liberty’s Identity Crisis is Real Let’s be brutally honest here – the Liberty are experiencing more than just your typical championship hangover. They’re dealing with a full-blown identity crisis that would make even the most seasoned therapist reach for their emergency session notes. After getting absolutely demolished 83-71 at home by the Minnesota Lynx (and Minnesota was playing WITHOUT MVP favorite Napheesa Collier, mind you), it’s clear that something is seriously wrong in Liberty land. When you’re getting schooled by a team missing their best player on your own court, that’s not just a bad night – that’s a statement about where your team’s head is at. The defensive intensity that made them champions? Gone faster than courtside seats during a playoff game. The chemistry that had them clicking like a Swiss watch? More broken than my faith in fair officiating. Why the Sparks Matchup Could Spell More Trouble Now the Liberty have to pack their bags and head west to face the Los Angeles Sparks, and honestly, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Sparks aren’t just playing spoiler – they’re fighting for their playoff lives with the desperation of a team that knows one more loss could send them home early. Los Angeles has been on an absolute tear lately, winning nine of their last 11 games. That’s not luck, folks – that’s a team that’s found their groove at exactly the right time. Plus, with Cameron Brink back from injury, their defensive front line has some actual teeth again. The Liberty are currently favored by two points with a total of 175 points, but let’s be real – being a road favorite when you’re playing this inconsistently is like betting on the weather in Chicago. Good luck predicting that mess. Sabrina Ionescu: The Key to Liberty’s Salvation Here’s where things get interesting, and where the Liberty might actually have a pulse. With Breanna Stewart still nursing injuries on the sideline, all eyes turn to Sabrina Ionescu to channel her inner superhero and save this sinking ship. But here’s the kicker – Ionescu has been colder than a Minnesota winter lately. She’s been held under 17 points in three straight games while shooting a combined 11-of-40 from the field. Those aren’t just bad numbers; those are “maybe I should consider a different career” numbers. The crazy part? The Liberty still managed to win two of those three games, which either speaks to their depth or shows just how bad their opposition was. The Perfect Storm for an Ionescu Explosion But here’s where my gambling senses start tingling (and trust me, after watching enough WNBA to know the difference between a good screen and a moving violation, those senses are pretty sharp). The Sparks might be exactly what Ionescu needs to break out of this slump. Los Angeles loves to push the tempo – hence that sky-high total of 175 points – and their wing defense has more holes than Swiss cheese. Ionescu should have more open looks than a tourist at Times Square. This is where the smart money starts paying attention. When a proven scorer like Ionescu is struggling against the right matchup, that’s when you pounce like a hungry lion on a wounded gazelle. The Sparks’ Desperation Factor Don’t sleep on the Sparks’ motivation here. They’re clawing and scratching for every playoff positioning advantage they can get, and there’s nothing more dangerous than a team with nothing to lose facing a team that’s clearly lost its way. Los Angeles has that hunger that championship teams sometimes lose after reaching the mountaintop. They’re playing every possession like their season depends on it – because it literally does. Liberty’s Road Woes Continue? The Liberty’s recent struggles become even more magnified on the road, where the hostile environment can turn a small problem into a full-blown crisis. When you’re already questioning your identity and missing key players, traveling across the country to face a desperate opponent is about as appealing as a root canal. The Sparks will come out swinging from the opening tip, and if the Liberty aren’t ready for that early punch, this game could get ugly fast. We’ve seen this movie before – favored team struggles with consistency, faces desperate underdog on the road, and suddenly everyone’s wondering how the upset happened. Bottom Line: A Crossroads Game for Both Teams This Tuesday night matchup represents more than just another game in the WNBA schedule. For the Liberty, it’s a chance to prove their championship pedigree isn’t completely gone. For the Sparks, it’s an opportunity to make a statement and potentially knock a giant off its pedestal. The Liberty need to find their defensive identity again, get consistent scoring from their stars, and remember what made them champions in the first place. The Sparks just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing – playing with intensity, desperation, and the kind of chemistry that can make even the most talented teams uncomfortable. One thing’s for certain: if you’re betting on this game, buckle up. When a struggling favorite meets a desperate underdog, anything can happen – and usually does.
Cowboys' DaRon Bland Reveals Camp Secret And New Contract Talk Details
The Dallas Cowboys' secondary has been a big concern all offseason, with injuries and a lack of depth plaguing the unit. And when you have to go against CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, that is nightmare fuel for any defense, let alone one that is the walking wounded as training camp winds down. But there are big benefits to going against an elite tandem, and one who has seen his fair share of No. 88 and No. 3 is corner DaRon Bland. And he's relishing the chance to go against the star duo day in, day out. “It never let you get complacent,” Bland said, revealing his camp secret of success. “It always give you something to work on because it's every day there's something to work on. So going against guys like that, you can never just sit back.” Given that the Cowboys and Bland face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, the NFC East rivals have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, so it is good preparation for Matt Eberflus' defense. Still, Lamb and Pickens, for the most part, have had their way with Dallas' secondary, with CeeDee stating no one has given him any trouble at all throughout camp, which is quite the statement. For Bland, it is iron sharpens iron, and going against Lamb and Pickens will hopefully hold him and the rest of the secondary in good stead for when they face the Eagles to open the season. Meanwhile, Bland continues to express hope that he'll get rewarded for his work with a Cowboys contract extension. On Tuesday, Bland said there have been some contined talks with his agent and added that he’d like to get a new deal done before the season. “Hopefully,'' he said. Along the way? Never getting complacent. That is what Bland is preaching, going against the star-studded duo, and with so much weaponry across from him every day, come Week 1, we think the pick-six king will be more than ready for what Philadelphia has to throw at him.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Makes Direct Statement About Mason Rudolph's Spot On QB Depth Chart
Former crew chief frustrated by the 'ridiculous' racing at Watkins Glen
It is no secret that NASCAR's current road-course package has not been very good. Aside from the mile-and-a-half tracks that were once the least competitive and exciting in the series, those races are the rare bright spot for the Next Gen Car since its inception in 2022. Shane van Gisbergen drove away to an 11.1-second win over Christopher Bell in Sunday's race at Watkins Glen and set multiple records in the process. While the racing was not particularly exciting, that was not what left former crew chief and current analyst Steve Letarte frustrated the most following the weekend. A recurring issue in each race over the weekend was drivers utilizing the runoff areas around the track and not staying on the traditional racing surface, which ultimately led to some crashes in Saturday's Xfinity race. "So, I hate track limits that have to be officiated," Letarte said on "Inside the Race." "Because I like tracks that you should just stay on the track. I didn't think it mattered. Now, I am team get-them-back-on-the-race-track-at-Watkins-Glen. I don't love the Watkins Glen that I see. ... I think Turn 1 is not as great of a corner with no exit respect or responsibility. You just blow the exit. I think the carousel is a much easier corner, being able to just go driver's left. "I also think Turn 6 is going — let me add, that I think the (Connor) Zilisch, SVG wreck between the last two corners (in the Xfinity Series race) happened because they left the track, and the Austin Hill wreck with Michael McDowell happened off the race track. Now, both could have been avoided, we can talk about who's at fault. What I'm saying is, I've never driven a lap at Watkins Glen. I can analyze what happens between the white lines." This comes one year after rumble strips were placed in Turn 1 to keep drivers from using the runoff area, and that clearly has not worked. As the field has got closer together, using up all the track has become a common way for drivers to establish momentum, especially as they prepare for the right-hander going into The Esses at Watkins Glen. The bottom line is NASCAR's road-racing product needs to get better and Letarte wants to see race cars "stay on the race track because I think it will be a better race." Van Gisbergen's historic dominance certainly does not help, but the overall road course product is not great. Whether NASCAR makes some changes to the runoff areas and enforces track limits remains to be seen, but that still may not be the biggest issue if the racing does not improve.
Browns may not be prepared for one thing with Shedeur Sanders
During a recent edition of the "Orange and Brown Talk Podcast," Cleveland Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggested that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski may not be prepared for the "potential fan backlash" that could arise regarding the team's handling of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Stefanski seemed to say plenty about the subject when it was learned on Monday that Sanders remains fourth on the club's unofficial depth chart even though he enjoyed a solid NFL debut in the club's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Also on Monday, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer made it known that Stefanski won't be in a rush to play Sanders or fellow first-year pro Dillon Gabriel ahead of schedule. "Stefanski and the other offensive coaches have a plan for the rookie QBs, and they’re not about to be swayed by public opinion and the Sanders-mania that’s sweeping the nation," Cabot wrote. "Yes, it was a great debut against the Panthers with two beautiful touchdown passes to first-year receiver Kaden Davis. But Stefanski always keeps things simple for his rookie quarterbacks in preseason games, and most have looked excellent in their outings under him. Therefore, he wasn’t ready Monday to start handing over those precious starting reps to Sanders when he’s unlikely to start Week 1 and doesn’t necessarily need that valuable time with the ones — yet." Neither Gabriel nor presumed backup Kenny Pickett played against the Panthers after they were slowed by hamstring injuries during training camp. Meanwhile, Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 30-10 victory over Carolina. Gabriel returned to the practice field on Monday, but Pickett reportedly could be sidelined "for a couple more weeks." It's unclear if either signal-caller will play in Cleveland's preseason matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles this coming Saturday. "They have had a process with Shedeur all the way through," Cabot added during the latest episode of the podcast. "And even when they were taking heat nationally from all kinds of pundits and experts saying that they were setting Shedeur up to fail, they stuck to their guns. And even after his really, really nice debut, they really haven’t changed the process." As recently as Tuesday morning, Zac Jackson of The Athletic mentioned that veteran Joe Flacco is still "the clear leader" to be Cleveland's Week 1 starter over Sanders, Gabriel and Pickett. As of Tuesday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook had Flacco as a -310 betting favorite to get the nod for the Browns' regular-season opener versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Previous whispers indicated Stefanski will want to name his Week 1 QB1 before Cleveland wraps the preseason up with a home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23. It certainly sounds like Stefanski won't lose any sleep over disappointing members of a passionate fan base who want to see what Sanders can do against live defenses in meaningful contests.
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