As the WNBA’s popularity has exploded in recent years, North American cities without teams are taking note and embarking on expansion. This means that league commissioner Cathy Engelbert will have a very difficult decision to make at some point in the future.
More than a dozen cities have been named as being interested in bringing in a WNBA expansion team in the next few years. Some cities have owners actively interested in making an offer, and others have been named by Engelbert herself as possible destinations.
Despite the large number of cities interested, there is only one place available at the moment. The WNBA’s original plan was to introduce four new expansion teams into the league by 2028, and they are 75% there. Three expansion teams will begin play over the next two years: the Golden State Vaklyries in 2025 and the Portland and Toronto expansion teams in 2026.
We don’t know when Engelbert will make a decision regarding the fourth expansion team. In the meantime, here’s a look at all the potential landing spots.
Cleveland
Cleveland, home of LeBron James and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is the latest city with WNBA aspirations. Nic Barlage, CEO of the Cavaliers, announced Wednesday that team owners are “actively seeking” to bring a WNBA team to the city. Cleveland had a WNBA team from 1997 to 2003, the Cleveland Rockers (one of the original eight WNBA teams), but it is unclear whether Cavs ownership is interested in reviving the name or branding of the defunct team.
Kansas City
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, three-time Super Bowl winner, recently expressed interest in expanding his KC sports empire. He and his wife, Brittany, co-own KC Current, the city’s NWSL team, and want the same ownership group (which includes others besides him and his wife) to bring a WNBA franchise to an already very sporty. The current game at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium built specifically for a women’s professional sports team.
Philadelphia
There are few sports cities like Philadelphia, and city leaders know it. Mayor Cherelle Parker said in September that the city and 76ers owners wanted to bid for a WNBA expansion team – but only if the current proposal for a new 76ers arena in Philadelphia is adopted by the City Council. There is strong opposition to the proposal, which would threaten the 150-year-old Chinatown district and its businesses, but the mayor, Sixers owners and several city unions are in favor of this proposal.
St. Louis
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics megastar would have been interested by financially supporting a WNBA expansion team. According to Sportico, Tatum has “unofficially” agreed to support a bid to bring a team to his native St. Louis. Led by billionaires Richard Chaifetz and David Hoffman, the bid doesn’t yet have a “formal structure,” but Tatum wants to do more than just write a check. Via Sportico:
Houston
The city of Houston had a WNBA team – the Houston Comets, one of the original WNBA franchises – from 1997 to 2008. This makes it an attractive destination for the WNBA, as it already has history and a nostalgia factor integrated. Even better? Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta reportedly been in “active” talks with the WNBA to revive the Comets and bring a WNBA team back to Texas.
Austin
Austin is the largest city in America without a major sports franchise, but a WNBA team could change that. They are on the list of potential expansion teams, and some big names are already attached to the offer. Former Texas Longhorns star and 1985-86 NCAA national champion Fran Harris is the face of Austin’s WNBA effort, and another former Longhorn, Kevin Durant, would consider an investment in the team.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks owners reportedly submitted a bid for a WNBA expansion team in October, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Ownership of the Bucks has not yet been confirmed.
Other potential destinations
Cities mostly have parties actively interested in applying for a WNBA team. The cities below have been mentioned as potential expansion destinations, but have not yet identified anyone interested in a long-term ownership commitment.
Nashville
Commissioner Engelbert visited Nashville in early 2024, and while it was not a WNBA-related trip, she said after returning that she was impressed by “the young dynamism and musical culture” of the city, and Nashville was “definitely” a candidate. However, she also said Nashville couldn’t be at or near the top of the list without first finding potential owners to lead the bid.
Charlotte
Similar to Houston and Cleveland, Charlotte was also the home of one of the original eight WNBA teams. The Charlotte Sting existed from 1997 to 2007. However, unlike Houston, the local NBA team is not interested in bringing a WNBA franchise to Charlotte at this time.
Denver
Engelbert announced in April 2024 that Denver was one of the options for a future WNBA expansion team. Since then, there has been no news regarding potential investors or the city’s intention to make an offer.
