WNBA expanding again...

[posty 2,680]

https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia

NEW YORK, June 30, 2025 – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a major expansion to 18 teams, with new teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This expansion – subject to WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors approval – marks a significant milestone in the WNBA’s commitment to growing the game, increasing opportunities for players, and bringing professional women’s basketball to new and passionate fanbases in more cities.

The three new teams join the league’s 15 existing teams, including the Golden State Valkyries, who tipped off play in May 2025, as well as the previously announced expansion markets in Toronto, Canada (2026) and Portland, Oregon (2026). The Cleveland team will begin play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. Each location was selected based on an analysis of market viability, committed long-term ownership groups, potential for significant local fan, corporate, media, and city and state support, arena and practice facilities, and community commitment to advancing the sport, among other factors.

[MDC 7,311]

Philly gets a team!  

[Strike 5,462]

I really thought their next expansion would include Denver.  I was really looking forward to not attending those games.  But good for them in taking a crap product and diluting it more!!!

[Strike 5,462]

3 minutes ago, MDC said:

Philly gets a team!  

Inaugural season ticket holder

[Nomad99 728]

Maybe we can get a Brittney Reese or an Angel Griner.....

[EternalShinyAndChrome 4,050]

Kewl!  3 more teams no one will watch!

[weepaws 3,168]

Posty now has a chance to play. 

[Kopy 565]

1 hour ago, Strike said:

I really thought their next expansion would include Denver.  I was really looking forward to not attending those games.  But good for them in taking a crap product and diluting it more!!!

Kinda what I was thinking. They finally had interest in the league. I believe they actually made money this year.  Instead of going with the flow. Let's dilute the product. Make it worse. And drive away any progress they made from a good season.

[TBayXXXVII 2,528]

2 hours ago, posty said:

https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia

NEW YORK, June 30, 2025 – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a major expansion to 18 teams, with new teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This expansion – subject to WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors approval – marks a significant milestone in the WNBA’s commitment to growing the game, increasing opportunities for players, and bringing professional women’s basketball to new and passionate fanbases in more cities.

The three new teams join the league’s 15 existing teams, including the Golden State Valkyries, who tipped off play in May 2025, as well as the previously announced expansion markets in Toronto, Canada (2026) and Portland, Oregon (2026). The Cleveland team will begin play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. Each location was selected based on an analysis of market viability, committed long-term ownership groups, potential for significant local fan, corporate, media, and city and state support, arena and practice facilities, and community commitment to advancing the sport, among other factors.

I think this is a good idea.  People thought UConn's dynasty was bad for women's basketball, but what it was, was the catalyst.  People starting taking notice in women's basketball because they wanted to see if these girls were really this great.  They were, and it inspired more girls to play and spread the talent more across the country.  It's no longer the UConn Women's basketball league and 200 other schools vying for 2nd place, it's gotten to the point where men's college basketball was in 50's with about 20 good schools and people starting to take notice.

They need to continue this trend.  Yes, the only reason why viewership is up, is because of Clark.  But, it brings viewers.  Viewers mean interest and translates to more girls playing.  The more girls that play, the better the product gets.  The WNBA just needs to make sure they don't destroy the goose that lays the golden eggs.

[TBayXXXVII 2,528]

33 minutes ago, Kopy said:

Kinda what I was thinking. They finally had interest in the league. I believe they actually made money this year.  Instead of going with the flow. Let's dilute the product. Make it worse. And drive away any progress they made from a good season.

They need to hit as many major markets they can to capitalize on Clark's popularity.  It's hard to get people interested in your sport, league, or teams if there's no team in your area.  Get into more major markets to get more eyes on the product.  They need to entice more girls to play.

[Sean Mooney 1,973]

It's a smart business move. Ratings are up overall, their profile is probably the highest it has ever been, and they just re-upped a big TV contract for 200 million a year over 11 years.

If you don't expand now you are never doing it

[supermike80 1,889]

Just now, Sean Mooney said:

It's a smart business move. Ratings are up overall, their profile is probably the highest it has ever been, and they just re-upped a big TV contract for 200 million a year over 11 years.

If you don't expand now you are never doing it

Came here to say exactly this.  Now is the time. 

[posty 2,680]

They just need to be careful with the upcoming CBA discussions so they don't kill any momentum the league is having right now...

[TBayXXXVII 2,528]

33 minutes ago, posty said:

They just need to be careful with the upcoming CBA discussions so they don't kill any momentum the league is having right now...

They need to stop making Clark out to be the white devil and promote the heII out of her and protect her.  The league should tell their players to STFU about race... man hating also.

The WNBA's biggest demographic is white men.  Why?  Because they're buying tickets for their daughters.  Women and minorities aren't going or watching as much.  Trashing the majority and pandering to the minority is only going to hurt their popularity.  Why not just be truthful?

[avoiding injuries 1,569]

NBA owners just lost another couple 100 million in revenue. 

[HellToupee 1,732]

The wnba would probably make more money running a Harlem globetrotters type of thing with Caitlin Clark

[Alias Detective 1,395]

Bwahahahahahahaha

[TBayXXXVII 2,528]

16 minutes ago, avoiding injuries said:

NBA owners just lost another couple 100 million in revenue. 

The WNBA will NEVER be independently profitable.  Ever.

[Hawkeye21 2,397]

3 hours ago, EternalShinyAndChrome said:

Kewl!  3 more teams no one will watch!

I think there's actually more people watching WNBA games than there are NBA games now.

[seafoam1 2,948]

1 minute ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I think there's actually more people watching WNBA games than there are NBA games now.

Isn't the NBA done for the year? 

[Hawkeye21 2,397]

Just now, seafoam1 said:

Isn't the NBA done for the year? 

Yeah.  More people were watching Caitlin Clark than the NBA playoffs.

[Sean Mooney 1,973]

5 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I think there's actually more people watching WNBA games than there are NBA games now.

Pretty sure the NBA is still ahead ratings wise but it is way closer than it's ever been

[seafoam1 2,948]

Just now, Hawkeye21 said:

Yeah.  More people were watching Caitlin Clark than the NBA playoffs.

I see. Even I know her name. But that's about it. I don't know NBA either though. 

Baseball season. Can't wait for NFL training camp to kick off. 

[EternalShinyAndChrome 4,050]

13 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

Pretty sure the NBA is still ahead ratings wise but it is way closer than it's ever been

Your mom and I are way closer than we've ever been too. 

[Sean Mooney 1,973]

1 minute ago, EternalShinyAndChrome said:

Your mom and I are way closer than we've ever been too. 

You trolling the local middle school for writing partners?

[EternalShinyAndChrome 4,050]

1 minute ago, Sean Mooney said:

You trolling the local middle school for writing partners?

Your mom is in Middle School? 

[Sean Mooney 1,973]

9 minutes ago, EternalShinyAndChrome said:

Your mom is in Middle School? 

Da fuq is your problem?

[TBayXXXVII 2,528]

33 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I think there's actually more people watching WNBA games than there are NBA games now.

LOL

The NBA playoffs got a 6.7 rating, the finals got the highest rating in 6 years.  WNBA ratings are 100% driven by Clark.

[Hawkeye21 2,397]

2 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

LOL

The NBA playoffs got a 6.7 rating, the finals got the highest rating in 6 years.  WNBA ratings are 100% driven by Clark.

I must have seen something different then.

[seafoam1 2,948]

3 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

LOL

The NBA playoffs got a 6.7 rating, the finals got the highest rating in 6 years.  WNBA ratings are 100% driven by Clark.

Whatever happened to women's mud wrestling? 

[Sean Mooney 1,973]

6 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

LOL

The NBA playoffs got a 6.7 rating, the finals got the highest rating in 6 years.  WNBA ratings are 100% driven by Clark.

2025- 10.27 million viewers average- 5.6 rating

2024- 11.31 million viewers- 5.8 rating

2023- 11.64 million viewers- 6.1 rating

2022- 12.40 million viewers- 6.6 rating

 

Also, Hawkeye was talking about the overall league ratings- not just cherry picking the finals. 

[EternalShinyAndChrome 4,050]

23 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

Da fuq is your problem?

Nothing.  I just said your mom and I are closer than ever before too. 

Da fuq is YOUR problem?  Why do you hate your mom and her being happy?

[TBayXXXVII 2,528]

22 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

2025- 10.27 million viewers average- 5.6 rating

2024- 11.31 million viewers- 5.8 rating

2023- 11.64 million viewers- 6.1 rating

2022- 12.40 million viewers- 6.6 rating

 

Also, Hawkeye was talking about the overall league ratings- not just cherry picking the finals. 

The NBA, like baseball, is all about the playoffs because of the length of the season.  Same with hockey.  NFL only has 17 games (18 weeks), plus 90% of the games that week are on the same day at roughly the same time, that's why they get great weekly ratings.

Also, I noted the whole playoffs too, not just the finals.

As mentioned as well, people aren't watching WNBA games, they're watching Caitlan Clark games.  Her games got as high as a 1.7 rating, the average is 1.0.  That means the non-Clark games are getting about 1.0 less than Clark.  Take her out of the picture and nobody is watching.

[Sean Mooney 1,973]

21 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

The NBA, like baseball, is all about the playoffs because of the length of the season.  Same with hockey.  NFL only has 17 games (18 weeks), plus 90% of the games that week are on the same day at roughly the same time, that's why they get great weekly ratings.

Also, I noted the whole playoffs too, not just the finals.

As mentioned as well, people aren't watching WNBA games, they're watching Caitlan Clark games.  Her games got as high as a 1.7 rating, the average is 1.0.  That means the non-Clark games are getting about 1.0 less than Clark.  Take her out of the picture and nobody is watching.

Your numbers were still off

[Sean Mooney 1,973]

23 minutes ago, EternalShinyAndChrome said:

Nothing.  I just said your mom and I are closer than ever before too. 

Da fuq is YOUR problem?  Why do you hate your mom and her being happy?

Seriously- go fook yourself

[Strike 5,462]

48 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

The NBA, like baseball, is all about the playoffs because of the length of the season.  Same with hockey.  NFL only has 17 games (18 weeks), plus 90% of the games that week are on the same day at roughly the same time, that's why they get great weekly ratings.

Also, I noted the whole playoffs too, not just the finals.

As mentioned as well, people aren't watching WNBA games, they're watching Caitlan Clark games.  Her games got as high as a 1.7 rating, the average is 1.0.  That means the non-Clark games are getting about 1.0 less than Clark.  Take her out of the picture and nobody is watching.

IIRC when Caitlyn Clark got injured the WNBA ratings cratered until she came back.

[avoiding injuries 1,569]

1 hour ago, seafoam1 said:

Isn't the NBA done for the year? 

That’s the point. Nobody knows because nobody cares. 

[patweisers44 840]

It didnt work the first time in Detroit and that attempt exploited Bill Laimbeer's status in Detroit.

[Maximum Overkill 1,917]

7 hours ago, posty said:

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a major expansion to 18 teams

OMG, that's amazing! 🥳  

[EternalShinyAndChrome 4,050]

2 hours ago, Sean Mooney said:

Seriously- go fook yourself

C'mon, man.   Be happy for your mom and me.  We're closer than ever before.  

I don't know why you're being a hater.