While the WNBA hasn’t made an official announcement, it did tease the possibility of adding another expansion team with a social media post on Tuesday.
The WNBA didn’t make an official announcement on Tuesday, but it strongly hinted at the possibility of another expansion team joining the league soon.
In a post on X, the WNBA shared a message that read, “You know what’s better than 14 teams?” Without offering further details, the post led to speculation that the league is preparing to announce the addition of a new franchise.
Currently, the WNBA consists of 12 teams, but the league is set to expand with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries in 2025 and a new team in Toronto for the 2026 season, bringing the total to 14 teams. Adding another franchise would increase the league to 15 teams.
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In August, reports surfaced that Portland was a leading candidate for the next WNBA expansion team. Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report revealed that Portland was “closing in” on securing the league’s next team, with the Bhathal Family, recent purchasers of the Portland Thorns FC (a women’s soccer team), set to lead the ownership group. The Bhathal Family, led by Raj Bhathal, who is also a co-owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, brings experience in sports ownership.
According to Highkin’s report, the WNBA stated it remains “in active discussions with potential ownership groups across various markets,” with any expansion subject to a board vote.
Portland previously hosted the Portland Fire, a WNBA team that operated for just three seasons from 2000 to 2002.