The WNBA will expand to 18 teams by 2030, adding Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030) in a historic growth initiative. Each NBA ownership group paid $250 million expansion fees, five times more than previous franchise costs.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the expansion Monday alongside Toronto and Portland's 2026 entries. All three new franchises feature established NBA ownership groups with existing basketball infrastructure.

"The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family," Engelbert said. "This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball."

Cleveland's majority owner Dan Gilbert will house the team at Rocket Arena alongside his Cavaliers. Detroit owner Tom Gores plans to use Little Caesars Arena, with minority stakes held by Grant Hill, Chris Webber, and Jared Goff.

Philadelphia's Josh Harris will utilize a new downtown arena scheduled for completion by 2031. The 76ers owner expects the team to temporarily play at existing Philadelphia venues.

Both Cleveland and Detroit previously hosted WNBA teams. The ownership groups indicated they will consider reviving the Rockers and Shock names respectively after fan consultation and market research.

"Rockers will be a part of the mix for sure, but we are at this point, we're not going to commit to a brand identity because we want to really get into it with our fans," said Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The expansion creates natural regional rivalries and strengthens the league's media market presence in major basketball cities.