On June 30, 2025, the WNBA announced a major league expansion, marking one of its most ambitious moves in recent years. Three new teams – in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia – will join the league, each with an expansion fee of $250 million.
The rollout will see Cleveland debut in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. This expansion not only broadens the league’s footprint but also reconnects with cities that have deep basketball roots, sparking excitement and debate among players and fans alike.
WNBA Expansion Sparks Reactions from Players and Fans
The announcement quickly drew attention across the league. Sabrina Ionescu, a prominent player, shared her enthusiasm about the league’s growth, as noted in a recent article on Pro Football Network.
Meanwhile, not all reactions were positive. Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham stirred controversy by expressing doubts about some of the new markets, leading to a heated online discussion.
Supporters of the expansion pointed to the rich basketball histories in both Cleveland and Detroit. Detroit was once home to the Detroit Shock, a dominant WNBA team in the 2000s that won three championships before relocating to Tulsa.
Cleveland also hosted one of the league’s original franchises, the Cleveland Rockers. Both cities boast strong NBA followings, with the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers playing major roles in their sports cultures.
Cunningham’s initial remarks came shortly after the expansion news broke. While speaking about the league’s growth, she questioned whether Detroit and Cleveland were the right choices, saying, “I just think that it’s kind of a hard decision or situation. But, man, I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or Cleveland.”
These comments quickly ignited debate among fans and analysts.
In a recent video shared on X by Forbes journalist Tony East, Cunningham clarified her original remarks, stressing that she never intended to disrespect the cities. “Yeah, okay, first of all, I know the history behind the WNBA. I know that both of those cities [Cleveland and Detroit] have had teams before,” Cunningham said.
“All I was really getting at is like Broadway, the off-court lifestyle, and so I think that is really intriguing. I think Miami’s intriguing, that’s all I was getting at. I’m thankful for what they’ve done for our history of the sport.”
Cunningham further clarified her stance, explaining that expanding to non-traditional cities would be exciting because it would offer new off-court experiences.
“I think it’d be fun to kinda get some teams outside the NBA markets. I do think there is benefit when you do have a NBA team, but that’s all I was getting at,” Cunningham said.
“I think people totally misread that situation. I would never speak down upon middle-class, blue-collar working people. That’s where I come from. I’m from Missouri, I get I’m in Indiana, and that’s kinda why I’m hinting at Broadway sounds fun. Sophie in Miami sounds fun. That’s all I was getting at.”
Fever wing Sophie Cunningham offers clarifying thoughts about her comments on WNBA expansion from earlier this week: pic.twitter.com/pkXuXywI6E
— Tony East (@TonyREast) July 3, 2025
Despite the debate, the WNBA’s commitment to expanding into these passionate basketball cities highlights its goal to grow the league’s presence and bring the game to new and diverse audiences.
The move is seen as a strategic effort to capitalize on existing fan bases, while also attracting new ones, and to strengthen the league’s position as a leader in professional women’s sports.
