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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Meghan L. Hall

Everything you should know about the WNBA’s expansion team

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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