The WNBA continues to grow at a rapid rate, with several new markets interested in securing a franchise that they can call their own. As the WNBA’s expansion plans progress, several new cities will be welcomed into the league over the next five years.
This year, the Bay Area’s Golden State Valkyries were introduced as the WNBA’s 13th team. In 2024, it was officially announced that Toronto would become the first non-USA-based team to compete in the league. A few months after that, it was announced that Portland was selected as team No. 15. Both Toronto and Portland will participate in the 2026 campaign.
On June 30, the WNBA announced a further expansion with a proposal to jump to 18 teams. Cleveland, Philadelphia and Detroit were the latest basketball-crazy cities to be awarded a women’s team by 2030. While the league has done a great job of incorporating some of North America’s biggest cities, there remains one massive market that, for now, has been left out.
Cathy Engelbert Says WNBA Has Their ‘Eye On’ Houston
By 2030, the league will have 18 teams competing. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, however, isn’t done just yet.
During a press conference in New York to confirm the expansion plans, Engelbert named Houston as the city the league has “our eye on.” Now in her sixth year as the commissioner, Engelbert confirmed that Houston could be next on the list as the WNBA continues to grow.
“One of those I wanted to shout out because they have such a strong history in this league, and they’re a great ownership group is Houston … That’s the one we have our eye on. (Owner) Tilman (Feritta) has been a great supporter of the WNBA, and we’ll stay tuned on that,” said Engelbert.
According to a recent piece from Yahoo Sports, Engelbert confirmed that there was a lot of demand, and Houston could be next in line.
“Houston would be up next for sure,” said Engelbert. “There might be opportunities there.”
Austin, Nashville, Kansas City, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte were the other cities that expressed interest in WNBA teams.
The encouraging words from Engelbert should give Houston basketball fans some optimism. It now seems like only a matter of time before professional women’s basketball returns to Houston.
Engelbert also spoke about Houston’s rich women’s basketball history and contribution to the league during the early years. The Houston Comets were one of the original eight teams when the WNBA was founded back in 1996. Led by coach Van Chancellor and a talented group that included players like Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, they went on to win the first four WNBA championships from 1997 to 2000.