The WNBA on Thursday formally approved expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.

The move confirms the three previously announced markets will join the league on staggered timelines. Cleveland will begin play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030, taking the total number of teams to 18.

The league had 13 teams as recently as 2025.

Less than a week ago, the WNBA’s two newest franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, conducted their expansion draft.

“Great demand for WNBA franchises,” commissioner Cathy Engelbert said last June while announcing the league’s growth plans. “There was huge demand. Really proud of what my team has done. Looking forward to future conversations as the league continues to grow.”

The announcement comes amid a busy period for the league. Free agency opens on Saturday, with the collegiate draft scheduled for Monday.

The WNBA also recently resolved its labour negotiations, announcing on March 20 a seven-year collective bargaining agreement in partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association.

The deal, which runs through the 2032 season, includes a revenue-sharing structure that raises the average salary to $583,000 and the maximum salary to $1.4 million, with more than $1 billion allocated to salaries and benefits over its duration.

“We love this game enough to push for what it can become, not just for ourselves, but for those who built this league and those who will carry it forward,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said.

Published on Apr 10, 2026