The WNBA will launch an expansion team in the Bay Area in 2025, the league announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The team will play at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors.
- Portland is also under strong consideration for an expansion team, league and industry sources said.
- WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at a Bay Area news conference that the league’s goal “is to have a 14th team by 2025 as well.” When asked about potential cities, she said she’s visited Portland, Denver and Toronto.
- The Athletic reported last week that the Golden State Warriors were finalizing an agreement to bring a WNBA team to the Bay Area.
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
What they’re saying
“The Bay Area is the perfect market for a WNBA team, and we are thrilled this opportunity has finally come to fruition,” Warriors co-executive chairman & CEO Joe Lacob said in a statement. “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.”
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Backstory
The WNBA has been talking about expansion for the last couple of years. Engelbert said in May that she would like to add one or two teams to the 12-team league by 2025.
Owning a WNBA franchise is a full-circle moment for Lacob, who has long been a supporter of American women’s basketball. A pioneer even. He was integral in the establishment of the American Basketball League, which started play in the fall of 1996. Lacob owned the San Jose Lasers, led by Stanford star Jennifer Azzi and Sheri Sam.
But the WNBA started playing in June 1997. By December 1998, the ABL folded. That was the last time the Bay Area had a women’s professional team.
The WNBA, whose 2023 championship series begins Sunday between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty, last added an expansion team in 2008 with the Atlanta Dream.
Required reading
- Warriors finalizing agreement to bring WNBA team to Bay Area: Sources
- WNBA Confidential: Which city would be best fit for expansion? GMs share in anonymous poll
- Anonymous WNBA poll reveals more players want roster spots over expansion
- Canada proved itself worthy of WNBA expansion in historic preseason game
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)