WNBA Commissioner Reveals Update on Possible 16th Team Amid Expansion

Aside from the ongoing finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx, WNBA fans are also excited about the upcoming expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries.

Many are eager to find out who will comprise the roster of the WNBA's newest squad, which will debut in 2025. The addition of the Valkyries as the 13th squad coincides with the league's continued surge.

More competition for WNBA stars like Breanna Stewart of the Liberty, Napheesa Collier of the Lynx, A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky will only bode well for the league.

The WNBA will also welcome two more expansion teams from Toronto and Portland in 2026, bringing the total to 15 teams. Portland fielded a team, called the Fire, in 2000-02.

The league was already in search of a 16th franchise when it had to be placed on the back burner because of all the money trickling in, according to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, as reported by The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov and Ben Pickman .

"There has been so much positive momentum, Engelbert said, that the league decided to pause the search for its 16th team to reassess where it stands and hire an investment banker to run it," read the report.

"She said 10 to 12 cities are viable options."

According to reports , valuations for expansion teams in the WNBA have skyrocketed between $115 million to $125 million amid the league's seminal stretch.

While their plan to expand the WNBA to 16 teams has taken a breather for now, Engelbert, who assumed her post in 2019, remained bullish on the league's future.

“It’s interesting to talk today about where we are, but I think it’s changing so rapidly, and everything’s changing in the W,” said Engelbert.

“I tell my team, everything’s changed, so don’t base this on last year because everything changed this year and how we should be thinking about what’s next for us.”

Related: Aliyah Boston Fires Sharp Response to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's Remarks

Related: NBA All-Star Fires Strong View on Impending New WNBA Team