As basketball fans bite their nails watching the thrilling WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx, there’s a new game going on off the court: the WNBA’s expansion. And, oh boy, is it juicier than any overtime buzzer-beater.
The Golden State Valkyries—set to become the WNBA’s 13th team in 2025—have already managed to steal some headlines. I mean, come on, securing 17,000 season ticket deposits before even announcing a roster? That’s like showing up to a game with 30 points already on the board. They’re clearly making history, and San Francisco’s Chase Center is about to be the loudest spot for women’s hoops. The Expansion Draft in December will be their first chance to grab talent from the current 12 teams, making them a new threat in the league.
But wait, there’s more! While everyone’s gushing over the Valkyries, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has thrown some cold water on the speculation about a 16th team joining the league. Despite an ever-growing hype train, she’s decided to pump the brakes. According to Engelbert, the WNBA has “paused” its search for the magical 16th franchise. Why? To “reassess” where things stand. Translation: someone hit the snooze button and hired an investment banker to figure out the next steps. (Spoiler: Investment bankers don’t work fast.)
Don’t worry, though, WNBA fans! Engelbert assures us that expansion is still very much part of the master plan. Ten to twelve cities are being eyeballed as potential homes for the next team. The problem? Narrowing them down. Nashville? Denver? Philly? Maybe Mars at this rate.
Let’s be real—this pause feels like watching the shot clock wind down while we wait for something actually to happen. Sure, Toronto and Portland are set to join the league by 2026, pushing the WNBA to 15 teams, but it’s the mythical 16th franchise that’s got everyone’s attention. Like that player who always teases a comeback, we’re all left wondering: when is the big reveal? Will it happen before or after a Kardashian is named head coach of a team?
“We’re growing so fast,” Engelbert says, as if the WNBA is a teenager who just realized their sneakers are too small. But with this pause, fans might be asking if there’s a timeout on all that supposed “momentum.”
All jokes aside, the WNBA is expanding, just not as quickly as we might want. So while we impatiently wait for this 16th franchise to be plucked from the ether, we’ve got the Valkyries and some Portland-Toronto action to look forward to. Keep your popcorn ready, because when the expansion does come, it’s going to be a full-court press of excitement—unless they hire another investment banker, then, well, see you in 2028.
