Timeline of the WNBA
Organizational history of the WNBA
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The following is a timeline of organizational changes in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), a women's professional basketball league in the United States that began play in 1997 with 8 teams and now comprises 13 teams (scheduled to expand to 18 by 2030). This article includes expansions, contractions, and relocations.[1][2]
Timeline
Current member Former member Relocated member Future member
Summary
Relocated teams
- Orlando Miracle (1999–2002) – relocated to Connecticut, to become the Connecticut Sun (2003–present)
- Utah Starzz (1997–2002) – relocated to San Antonio to become the San Antonio Silver Stars (2003–2013), rebranded as the San Antonio Stars (2014–2017), and relocated again to Paradise, Nevada, to become the Las Vegas Aces (2018–present)
- Detroit Shock (1998–2009) – relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to become the Tulsa Shock (2010–2015) and then to Arlington, Texas, to become the Dallas Wings (2016–present)
Folded teams
- Charlotte Sting – 1997–2006
- Cleveland Rockers – 1997–2003
- Houston Comets – 1997–2008
- Miami Sol – 2000–2002
- Portland Fire – 2000–2002
- Sacramento Monarchs – 1997–2009
1997–2002: Early years
1997: Inaugural season (8 teams)
The league operated its inaugural season in 1997 with eight teams split into two conferences.[3]
1998: First expansion (10 teams)
- The Detroit Shock and Washington Mystics were added and placed in the Eastern Conference.
- The Houston Comets moved to the Western Conference.
| Team's first season in the WNBA * | Team switched conferences ‡ |
1999: Second expansion (12 teams)
- The Minnesota Lynx and Orlando Miracle were added.
- The Miracle were placed in the Eastern Conference, while the Lynx were placed in the Western Conference.
| Team's first season in the WNBA * |
2000–2001: Third expansion (16 teams)
- The Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, and Seattle Storm were added.
- The Fever and the Sol were placed in the Eastern Conference, while the Fire and the Storm were placed in the Western Conference.
| Team's first season in the WNBA (2000) * |
2002: Miami and Portland fold (16 teams)
- The Miami Sol and Portland Fire folded after the season.
| Team folded after the season † |
2003–2009: Contraction
2003: Orlando and Utah relocate, Cleveland folds (14 teams)
- The Orlando Miracle relocated to Connecticut to become the Connecticut Sun.[4]
- The Utah Starzz relocated to San Antonio to become the San Antonio Silver Stars.[5]
- The Cleveland Rockers folded after the season.
| Team folded after the season † |
2004–2005 (13 teams)
2006: Chicago added and Charlotte folds (14 teams)
- The Chicago Sky was added and placed in the Eastern Conference.
- The Charlotte Sting folded after the season.
| Team's first season in the WNBA * | Team folded after the season † |
2007 (13 teams)
2008: Atlanta added and Houston folds (14 teams)
- The Atlanta Dream was added and placed in the Eastern Conference.
- The Houston Comets folded after the season.
| Team's first season in the WNBA * | Team folded after the season † |
2009: Sacramento folds (13 teams)
- The Sacramento Monarchs folded after the season.
| Team folded after the season † |
2010–2024: Relocations
2010: Detroit relocates (12 teams)
- The Detroit Shock relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma to become the Tulsa Shock and moved to the Western Conference.[6]
| Team switched conferences ‡ |
2014: San Antonio rebrands (12 teams)
- The San Antonio Silver Stars rebranded as the San Antonio Stars.[5]
2016: Tulsa relocates (12 teams)
- The Tulsa Shock relocated to Arlington, Texas to become the Dallas Wings.[7]
2018: San Antonio relocates (12 teams)
- The San Antonio Stars relocated to Paradise, Nevada to become the Las Vegas Aces.[8]
2025–future: Expansion era
2025: Golden State added (13 teams)
- The Golden State Valkyries were added and placed in the Western Conference.[1]
| Team's first season in the WNBA * |
2026: Portland and Toronto added (15 teams)
- Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo were added.
- The Fire were placed in the Western Conference, while the Tempo were placed in the Eastern Conference.[9]
| Team's first season in the WNBA * |
2028–2030: Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to be added (18 teams)
On June 30, 2025, the WNBA announced that it would expand to Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030), bringing the total to 18 teams.[10] Cleveland and Detroit previously were WNBA markets.
Background
The WNBA's exponential growth and popularity in recent years has led to rising expansion fees. The Golden State Valkyries, the league’s 13th franchise that began play in May 2025, paid $50 million to join, while the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire — the 14th and 15th franchises scheduled to begin play in 2026 — paid $115 million and $125 million, respectively.[11]
The deadline for the next expansion bids was January 30, 2025. At the time, the bids were believed to be for a 16th expansion team. League commissioner Cathy Engelbert had said she was aiming to have the league expand to 16 teams by 2028.[12] However, as expansion fees continued to rise, the league rethought its original plan of adding just one more expansion team. Each new team will pay $250 million in franchise fees to join the league.[13]
Cleveland
Cleveland was previously home to the Rockers, one of the WNBA’s original eight members when the league began play in 1997. However, the franchise folded after the 2003 season when former owner Gordon Gund could not sell the team due to tumbling revenue and erratic attendance.[11]
The new team will play at Rocket Arena, home of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Cleveland Cavaliers.[14] The WNBA filed a trademark application for the name “Cleveland Rockers”, a potential sign of the league’s intentions to revive the team name.[11]
Detroit
Detroit was previously home to the Shock, one of the WNBA’s first expansion teams when it began play in 1998. Between 1998 and 2009, the Shock won three WNBA championships. However, the team’s low fan attendance led the franchise to relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2009, where it played until 2015. The franchise moved again in 2015, to Arlington, Texas, and are now called the Dallas Wings.[15]
The new team will play at Little Caesars Arena, home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons.[14] The WNBA coincidentally filed a trademark application for the name “Detroit Shock” the same day Tom Gores, owner of the Pistons, submitted his offer for a WNBA expansion team, a potential sign of the league’s intentions to revive the team name.[11]
Philadelphia
Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), which also owns the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL), submitted a bid for an expansion team. When Harris partnered with Comcast on a new arena in South Philadelphia, the priority was to house a WNBA team along with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.[16]