WNBA expanding to Clev - Detr - Phil !

[CL82]

Anyone else afraid that is TOO much expansion? Seems like we'll be seeing some really watered down rosters soon, and already some teams have a hard time coming up w/ a group of bench players that can help them much. The Valkyries have been a smashing success so far, but I'll be stunned if either of the new teams next year can do the same. Not to mention several previously existing franchises are pretty much at expansion team level currently.

I feel like there's enough talent out there to support expansion, but three does seem like a lot all at once. To your point, definitionally, expanding the number of teams, dilutes the talent level of each team.

 

[Bigboote]

I feel like there's enough talent out there to support expansion, but three does seem like a lot all at once. To your point, definitionally, expanding the number of teams, dilutes the talent level of each team.

I also think it’s a bit ambitious to add six teams in six years. BUT.

How many times have we heard folks on the Boneyard (me included) rue rhat one player or another was cut or gets little playing time. And you have someone like Kat Westbeld making a team for the first time at the age of 29. I wonder if as many people will start paying attention to the W because their favorite college players stick as are turned off by the slightly reduced quality of talent.

 

[azfan]

Cunningham does not like the choice of cities.

Cleveland, Detroit clap back at Cunningham barb

The cities of Cleveland and Detroit have pushed back at Sophie Cunningham after the Fever guard questioned the WNBA's plan to expand into those cities.

www.espn.com

Her point about Miami is interesting

 

[cancontent]

Cleveland, Detroit clap back at Cunningham barb

The cities of Cleveland and Detroit have pushed back at Sophie Cunningham after the Fever guard questioned the WNBA's plan to expand into those cities.

www.espn.com

Her point about Miami is interesting

I get her point about Miami as it is an attractive place to play. However, the cities in question may not be as unattractive as she thinks they are. It's not like the teams will be playing in the winter which could be a detraction. I love spending time in Philadelphia when I visit friends in Cherry Hill NJ. Detroit has changed a lot as well too. Can't speak to Cleveland as I've never been there.

 

[azfan]

I get her point about Miami as it is an attractive place to play. However, the cities in question may not be as unattractive as she thinks they are. It's not like the teams will be playing in the winter which could be a detraction. I love spending time in Philadelphia when I visit friends in Cherry Hill NJ. Detroit has changed a lot as well too. Can't speak to Cleveland as I've never been there.

I think this confirms there are multiple cities around the US which would be both supportive of and appreciative for a WNBA franchise.

I've also been wondering about international locations beyond Canada

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The last time we were home to a WNBA team (Detroit Shock) we ranked top five in attendance for five straight seasons, No. 1 in attendance for three straight seasons and set a single-game attendance record of 22,076 fans at Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals.<br><br>Additionally more than… <a href="https://post original url/ePZhzQE1f3">https://post original url/ePZhzQE1f3</a></p>&mdash; City of Detroit (@CityofDetroit) <a href="">July 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

"https://post original url/dVTCud6w7x">pic.twitter.com/dVTCud6w7x</a></p>&mdash; City of Cleveland (@CityofCleveland) <a href="

 

[cancontent]

I think this confirms there are multiple cities around the US which would be both supportive of and appreciative for a WNBA franchise.

I've also been wondering about international locations beyond Canada

Outside of Canada, I'm not sure what would be feasible especially when travel has to be factored. It's not like the NFL that manages a weekly schedule.

 

[Bigboote]

I get her point about Miami as it is an attractive place to play. However, the cities in question may not be as unattractive as she thinks they are. It's not like the teams will be playing in the winter which could be a detraction. I love spending time in Philadelphia when I visit friends in Cherry Hill NJ. Detroit has changed a lot as well too. Can't speak to Cleveland as I've never been there.

Miami may have a nice night life, but I wouldn't be crazy about traveling there in the middle of the summer.

Also Miami is kind of spotty with respect to team support. The Heat draw well, but they in fact out draw the Marlins by quite a substantial margin. Whether a WNBA team does well would depend on whether the difference is winter-vs-summer or basketball-vs-baseball.

Does anyone know which cities submitted bids for teams?

 

[JellyBean]

If support were better for the most succesful franchise in league history, they never would've left.

The support from the fans was there. The Comets just didn't have new owners that were committed to women's basketball.

 

[JellyBean]

Cunningham does not like the choice of cities.

 

[baggerbob]

A reminder that the WNBA has been at 12 teams since the 2010 season. To grow by six teams over 20 years doesn't seem crazy--but to do that all in a 7 year period is certainly aggressive. That being said, they are coming in gradually, and i think with the addition of more international players, plus what I expect will be an influx of talent at the college levels (driven by the increased attention on WBB), I think the league will get through it.

If the salaries go up enough a lot of the International players will end up in the league. Right now you don't get many from China, Japan, Australia, France or Belgium.

 

[Dillon77]

Does not appear that Boston submitted a bid.
Expansion is awarded based on the city but perhaps more importantly the quality of the bid/investors/business plan.

Agree. Which is why Detroit and Cleveland were probably awarded the franchises, given the owners also have significant interests in other sports (Dan Gilbert in Cleveland, Tom Gores in Detroit). Englebert, with her financial consulting background, was probably scouring those plans and numbers big time.

Personally, I thought having one of the franchises come from the south (Nashville or Houston) or in the plains/mountains (KC?) would've been interesting geographically. But if the numbers appear to give solid support, let's see what happens...

 

[Vowelguy]

Agree. Which is why Detroit and Cleveland were probably awarded the franchises, given the owners also have significant interests in other sports (Dan Gilbert in Cleveland, Tom Gores in Detroit). Englebert, with her financial consulting background, was probably scouring those plans and numbers big time.

Personally, I thought having one of the franchises come from the south (Nashville or Houston) or in the plains/mountains (KC?) would've been interesting geographically. But if the numbers appear to give solid support, let's see what happens...

Cleveland is a big question mark.
Not a huge market (they will be 2nd smallest only ahead of CT)
Failed last time.
Competition from MLB.

 

[Dillon77]

Cleveland is a big question mark.
Not a huge market (they will be 2nd smallest only ahead of CT)
Failed last time.
Competition from MLB.

Points taken. I'm not defending this choice (I'm from northern NJ and have no vested interest here), but some rejoinders:

• Cleveland itself is not a large city. However, if you take in the metro-area, it's 30th or so, which is probably still smaller than most. Throw in Akron and it goes up a bit more.
• As for the failure, that was very then and women's sports are in a different time. Portland and Detroit also failed.
• Not to concerned about competition about MLB being the factor: you can say the same about most of the league, save Indiana, Conn. and Portland. Heck, I'd think women's soccer would be more of an issue.

When money clip comes to getting attention, I think the key factor here was Dan Gilbert.

If I had a vote at that table, I would've decided between Detroit and Cleveland and looked at one of the southern entries to join one Midwest team and Philly.

 

[Vowelguy]

Points taken. I'm not defending this choice (I'm from northern NJ and have no vested interest here), but some rejoinders:

• Cleveland itself is not a large city. However, if you take in the metro-area, it's 30th or so, which is probably still smaller than most. Throw in Akron and it goes up a bit more.
• As for the failure, that was very then and women's sports are in a different time. Portland and Detroit also failed.
• Not to concerned about competition about MLB being the factor: you can say the same about most of the league, save Indiana, Conn. and Portland. Heck, I'd think women's soccer would be more of an issue.

When money clip comes to getting attention, I think the key factor here was Dan Gilbert.

If I had a vote at that table, I would've decided between Detroit and Cleveland and looked at one of the southern entries to join one Midwest team and Philly.

I was using metro area -- not exactly the same as the media market, but similar. (Definitely would never use city -- that's an arbitrary political boundary!) Cleveland is indeed the smallest metro.

13 of the 18 W franchises are in top 20 markets -- NY, LA, Chic, Dall, DC, Atl, Phil, Phoe, SF, Seat, Detr, Minn, Tor.
Then there's Port/LV/Indi/Clev around ~30, and CT.

My comment about competition is this: besides the fact that smaller markets means fewer total entertainment dollars to be spread around, I was thinking more of media coverage. In a non-MLB market, the WNBA could/should be the lead sports story through the summer. That's gotta help a new franchise.

Yes Dan Gilbert was likely key.

 

[cancontent]

Way to go Dallas social media team. The 51st state debate/debacle aside, something's missing here.

 

[Dillon77]

I was using metro area -- not exactly the same as the media market, but similar. (Definitely would never use city -- that's an arbitrary political boundary!) Cleveland is indeed the smallest metro.

13 of the 18 W franchises are in top 20 markets -- NY, LA, Chic, Dall, DC, Atl, Phil, Phoe, SF, Seat, Detr, Minn, Tor.
Then there's Port/LV/Indi/Clev around ~30, and CT.

My comment about competition is this: besides the fact that smaller markets means fewer total entertainment dollars to be spread around, I was thinking more of media coverage. In a non-MLB market, the WNBA could/should be the lead sports story through the summer. That's gotta help a new franchise.

Yes Dan Gilbert was likely key.

Thanks for adding details to the headline/bullet points.