The WNBA’s plans for growth are on track and might even be ahead of schedule.
In April 2024, commissioner Cathy Engelbert said she felt confident that the league would have 16 teams by 2028. In October, she doubled down on that notion by revealing that 10 to 12 cities were still in consideration for the league’s 16th team after ownership groups for Golden State, Toronto and Portland all had successful bids. Engelbert’s vision is now a reality.
According to Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal, the WNBA is reportedly set to announce in the coming months that Cleveland will be the league’s 16th team, with play beginning in 2028. It’s a huge inflection point in the WNBA’s growth trajectory, as the bid is allegedly worth a record $250 million.
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If you’re keeping track, that’s significantly more than what the Valkyries ($50 million), the Tempo ($115 million) and the Portland expansion team ($125 million) all paid.
It signals that the price of investing in women is rising—quickly.
The jump in costs also suggests that the WNBA has no shortage of interested investors and might have to rethink its strategy. Instead of 16 teams, the league could consider something closer to 18 teams by 2028 and 20 franchises by 2030. Instead of $250 million being the ceiling, a possible $750 million (and counting) is now the foundation.
“How do you walk away from three-quarters of a billion dollars?” a league source told Friend. They’re right. It’s getting harder and harder.
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