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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Dan Lyons

WNBA Reveals Its Timeline, Locations for Three Expansion Teams

The Detroit Shock won three WNBA championships before leaving the city for Tulsa, ultimately winding up in Dallas as the Wings. | Mandi Wright / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The WNBA is on the rise, with the league set to embark on significant expansion over the next few years. On Monday, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the next three cities to land franchises: Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.

Cleveland will join the league in 2028, followed by Detroit in '29 and Philadelphia in '30. The three franchises will grow the league to 18 teams, with six new franchises joining between 2025 and '30. The Golden State Valkyries are currently playing their inaugural season, while the Toronto Tempo and Portland's currently unnamed WNBA franchise will begin play next summer.

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