Hoopers, assemble! The WNBA announced plans for an expansion team Thursday, and the news makes me want to relive my glory days as an only-in-my-driveway 3-point specialist.
It seems the WNBA has been listening to everyone begging for expansion because it’s partnering with the Golden State Warriors to add an expansion team to the league. The Warriors are the sixth NBA franchise to have a WNBA team, joining others who have made the jump, such as the Brooklyn Nets (New York Liberty,) Washington Wizards (Washington Mystics) and Minnesota Timberwolves (Minnesota Lynx).
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed her excitement: “We are thrilled about expanding to the Bay Area and bringing the WNBA to a region with passionate basketball fans and a strong history of supporting women’s basketball,” via the league’s official site.
It’s official. We’re expanding.
Tune in at 1pm EST/10am PST on X and the WNBA App to watch live remarks from @CathyEngelbert and @wnbagoldenstate pic.twitter.com/l7UiUT7kA3
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 5, 2023
Here’s everything we know about the expansion team so far.
This story will be updated.
1
The Bay Area was chosen because of it's rich ties to women's basketball
The Bay Area knows something about producing stellar athletes and winning. It’s home to Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer and the winningest coach in women’s college basketball history, Tara VanDerveer.
Via the WNBA league site:
“The Bay Area is the perfect market for a WNBA team, and we are thrilled this opportunity has finally come to fruition,” said Warriors Co-Executive Chairman & CEO Joe Lacob. “We have been interested in a WNBA franchise for several years, due in part to the rich history of women’s basketball in the Bay Area, and believe now is the ideal time to execute that vision and build upon the legacy. The WNBA continues to solidify itself as the preeminent women’s professional basketball league, and we look forward to supporting the best women’s basketball players in the world and our team starting in 2025.”
"There's a great joy and love for women's basketball in the Bay Area."
Basketball fans in The Bay, the @WNBA is here. pic.twitter.com/6Da3bGXbzG
— WNBA Golden State (@wnbagoldenstate) October 5, 2023
2
The new team will play in Chase Arena
The WNBA has been breaking records this year. Whether it’s the Atlanta Dream leading the league in sell-outs or breaking viewership records, more fans are catching on. So, it makes sense that the new expansion team will play in Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, which holds 18,064 seats.
The new team, which does not yet have a name, will play in San Francisco’s Chase Center, the Warriors’ $1.4 billion arena, starting in 2025.
Its practice facility and headquarters will be the Warriors’ Oakland Facility, which served the same role for the NBA team from… https://t.co/xBDSf7WaKk
— Sportico (@Sportico) October 5, 2023
3
The new WNBA team doesn’t have an official name announced yet
The new WNBA team doesn’t have an official name yet, per the WNBA’s official site. However, the league refers to its latest franchise as “Golden State,” a name that could invoke a winning culture by association.
The organization’s partner, the Golden State Warriors, are used to winning. The franchise has seven total championships, including three within the last six years, etching the team’s name within the elite ranks of basketball glory.
So, of course, Lacob, the Warriors’ owner, had no problem confidently telling WNBA fans that the league’s newest team would win a championship within its first five years.
Put this in your bookmarks. @wnbagoldenstate owner Joseph Lacob vows that once play begins, they will win a championship in the first 5 years of their existence 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Xxa5limkMz
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 5, 2023
4
Another WNBA expansion team could be coming soon
Rumors have been swirling for days that the WNBA would announce additional cities that could receive expansion teams. Commissioner Engelbert confirmed Thursday that several towns are in consideration. Engelbert hopes to announce another team within the next year or so, bringing the league total to 14 teams.
#WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert with some city name drops for the 14th team 👀 Portland, Sacramento, Denver, Toronto, Philly, and Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/fZ2RxlAz7N
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) October 5, 2023
The commissioner also expects a new team to be announced within the next year to expand the league to 14 teams. #WNBAExpansion
— The Real Terrika 💙💛 (@SheKnowsSports) October 5, 2023
5
Despite being basketball cities, some future cites could be out of consideration for a WNBA expansion team
The cities of Toronto and Denver are well-versed in basketball and are home to the 2019 NBA champion Raptors and 2023 NBA champion Nuggets. However, both cities might have to clear some hurdles to get women’s basketball.
According to Sarah Spain of ESPN, the league would ask Toronto to have games at Scotiabank Arena, but Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Raptors and Scotiabank, is hesitant to give up the revenue it receives from other events.
Toronto would be an amazing home to a @wnba team & the preseason game there made it clear the league & city want it to happen. The issue, I'm told, lies in the venue. League wants promise games will be @ Scotiabank, MLSE is hesitant to give up all those nights of concerts, etc.
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) October 5, 2023
Also according to a Toronto Star report Thursday, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment isn’t pursing a franchise anymore:
There are several issues at play, the sources said.
The expected $50 million (U.S.) price tag — payable in 10 $5 million increments one source said — was a factor as were differences of opinion at the highest level of MLSE ownership. …
And without MLSE, which owns the arena, a world-class practice facility and has ties to both Canadian sports networks, it will be difficult for any outside group to put together a bid that would satisfy the WNBA.
Additionally, 9News sports reporter Areille Orsuto says that according to her sources, Denver is possibly already out of consideration. The WNBA is reportedly not high on playing at Magness Arena, which is owned by the University of Denver, and has not had any discussion with the the city in months.
The WNBA will expand tomorrow, adding two more teams for the 2025 season.
Denver will not be one of them.
Source close to ownership tells me the WNBA has not been in contact since the site visit in August.
Another tells me league was not happy with idea of playing at DU.
— Arielle Orsuto (@ArielleOrsuto) October 5, 2023
