The WNBA landscape transformed dramatically when Caitlin Clark stepped onto the court in 2024. Her arrival sparked a remarkable surge in fan engagement. Average viewership climbed to an impressive 657,000 viewers per game, a substantial leap from previous seasons, which demonstrated the league’s growing appeal.
While television ratings and ticket sales reached record-breaking levels, another phenomenon quietly emerged behind the scenes that few discussed openly. It was the intense competition among wealthy investors to secure ownership stakes in WNBA franchises.
This growing demand for team ownership has now resulted in a groundbreaking announcement that will reshape the league’s future.
WNBA to Add More Teams to the League Soon
On Monday morning, the WNBA unveiled a historic expansion move as they announced three new franchises set to join the league: Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
As per Sportico, each franchise is backed by NBA ownership ties, and perhaps most strikingly, the expansion fee for each new team is a staggering $250 million.
The Cleveland team is set to begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030.
🚨HISTORIC MOMENT ALERT🚨
The W is leveling UP — three new teams, three new cities, one unstoppable future. ⭐
Say hello to our newest expansion teams:
🟣 @clevelandwnba – coming 2028
🔵 @DetroitWNBA – coming 2029
🔴 @philawnba – coming 2030New energy. New legacies. New era.… pic.twitter.com/6ZXaHPxkEw
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 30, 2025
This latest expansion wave represents just one chapter in the league’s rapid growth story. In 2025, the Golden State Valkyries began their inaugural season after agreeing to a $50 million expansion fee. The Valkyries have made an impressive debut and are currently holding a competitive (9-7) record.
But this isn’t where the expansion stops. The WNBA has made it clear that more teams are coming. Toronto and Portland are next in line with both franchises officially slated to join the league in 2026.
While fans in those cities celebrate, others were left disappointed. According to the Associated Press’s Doug Feinberg, cities like St. Louis, Kansas City, Austin, Nashville, Houston, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte all submitted bids that ultimately didn’t make the final cut.
So, there were some other teams that put in bids, but didn’t get them.
Per @DougFeinberg: St. Louis, Kansas City, Austin, Nashville, Houston, Miami, Denver and Charlotte. https://t.co/C86p8VHxLP
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) June 30, 2025
Among them, Kansas City’s bid stood out. Not just for its potential market but for the high-profile names behind it.
NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany, who is a former soccer player, had partnered with the Long family to bring a WNBA franchise to their city. Despite the strong sports backing, facilities, and financial stability the group could offer, the league chose to go in a different direction.
“I think more than anything, I know how much sports has given to me. Whenever I’m done with football, whenever that is, and I have to venture into life after football, and chase kids around, I want to still be a part of it. Hopefully, we can get this WNBA team here, for life after football, so I can make an impact in sports, and show my daughter that you can chase your dream, whatever dream that is,” said Mahomes last year.
This isn’t Mahomes’ first venture into the sports ownership world. In addition to his stake in the Kansas City Current, which he joined in 2023, Mahomes also holds ownership shares in both the Kansas City Royals (MLB) and Sporting Kansas City (MLS).
