Who Are the Three New WNBA Teams?

The WNBA has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, with rising revenue and a surge in viewership.

That has sparked WNBA expansion into multiple new cities across the U.S., as well as one in Canada.

With that said, who are the three new WNBA teams? Let’s find out.

Who Are the Three New WNBA Teams?

The three new WNBA teams will play in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, cities that will eventually find themselves featured in WNBA betting odds.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged the depth of talent across the league and the increased demand for investment in women’s basketball in a press release, expressing belief that these new teams will reshape the landscape of women’s basketball in the future.

Names for each team are TBD.

Cleveland and Detroit were both previously home to WNBA teams.

The Cleveland Rockers played from 1997 to 2003, and the Detroit Shock existed from 1998 to 2009.

The Shock are the present-day Dallas Wings, as they relocated from Detroit to Tulsa, where they became the Tulsa Shock from 2010 to 2015, before settling in Dallas in 2016.

How Many WNBA Teams Will There Be in 2030?

There will be 18 WNBA teams in 2030.

However, that number could grow as the league considers further expansion.

Will the WNBA Expand?

Yes, the WNBA will expand.

In addition to the three incoming teams, the league is getting the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire in 2026.

St. Louis, Kansas City, Austin, Nashville, Houston, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte were among the cities that submitted bids for a WNBA team in a recent round of expansion, although those bids were denied.

However, those cities will likely still be in the mix as the WNBA considers further expansion.

Engelbert singled out Houston as a potential destination, citing that the Comets won the first four WNBA championships while capitalising on their short championship basketball odds.

The Connecticut Sun are also rumoured to be moving to Boston after Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca reached a deal to acquire the franchise for $325 million.

Complete List of Current WNBA Teams By 2030