The WNBA has been steadily growing since its inception in 1997, and 2025 marks an exciting milestone for the league. Twenty-eight years since its debut, the WNBA has 13 teams — the most in its history.
This reflects the rising popularity and global expansion of women’s basketball. Here’s a breakdown of each team across the two conferences and how many championships each franchise has won.
Western Conference
Dallas Wings
- 4 WNBA Championships: 2003, 2006, 2008
- (then Detroit Shock)
Golden State Valkyries
- The Golden State Valkyries are an expansion team playing their inaugural season.
Las Vegas Aces
- 2 WNBA Championships: 2022, 2023
Los Angeles Sparks
- 3 WNBA Championships: 2001, 2002, and 2016
Minnesota Lynx
- 4 WNBA Championships: 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017
Phoenix Mercury
- 3 WNBA Championships: 2007, 2009, 2014
Seattle Storm
- 4 WNBA Championships: 2004, 2010, 2018, 2020
Eastern Conference
Atlanta Dream
- The Atlanta Dream started their WNBA journey in the 2008 season.
Chicago Sky
- 1 WNBA Championship: 2021
Connecticut Sun
- The Connecticut Sun began their inaugural season as the Orlando Miracle in 1999. In 2003, the franchise was bought by the Mohegan Tribe and relocated to Uncasville, Connecticut, and renamed the Connecticut Sun.
Indiana Fever
- 1 WNBA Championship: 2012
New York Liberty
- 1 WNBA Championship: 2024
Washington Mystics
- 1 WNBA Championship: 2019
New Teams Added to the WNBA
The Sacramento Monarchs won the WNBA championship in 2005. Four years later, the Monarchs ceased operations after the 2009 season ended. The team’s original owners decided not to continue operating the team, and the league’s attempt to relocate the team failed due to no owner wanting to buy the franchise. The Monarchs were the last team to discontinue operations.
The Valkyries are the WNBA’s newest expansion team, making their debut this season. The Valkyries are owned by Joe Lacob and the Golden State Warriors’ ownership group. They will play their home games at the Chase Center in San Francisco, sharing the arena with the Warriors as they try to establish their own identity.
The Toronto Tempo is set to make history as the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise, joining the league as its 14th team in the 2026 season. This expansion marks a significant milestone as the WNBA expands into other countries.
Toronto won’t be the only addition in 2026. A new franchise based in Portland, Oregon, whose name has yet to be revealed, is also scheduled to debut that year. These expansion teams are part of a broader effort to boost the league’s presence in key markets and enhance fan experience and engagement.
The WNBA continues to prioritize placing teams in NBA markets to leverage existing infrastructure, collaborative marketing, and loyal fan bases.
In September 2024, the league announced that it delivered its most-watched regular season in 24 years, notching its highest attendance in 22 years and setting records for digital consumption and merchandise sales in 2024.
The 13 teams competing in 2025 mark a new chapter in WNBA history. With the league set to expand to 15 teams in 2026, these exciting developments reflect a steadily growing fan base and signal that the WNBA is poised to reach new heights in the years to come.