WNBA Announces Expansion Team Coming to Philadelphia

At long last, Philadelphia will officially have a professional women’s basketball team. The WNBA on Monday morning announced it is expanding to three new cities, including Philadelphia.

a new home team. pic.twitter.com/d7Sque4161

— PhilaWNBA (@philawnba) June 30, 2025

Fans have been clamoring for the WNBA to expand to the City of Brotherly Love for years. They have finally gotten their wish. The Philadelphia team, yet to officially have a name, will begin playing in 2030.

The team will be owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), the same company that owns the Philadelphia 76ers and numerous other sports teams. Josh Harris, managing partner and co-founder of HBSE, released the following statement about the WNBA’s expansion to Philadelphia:

Philadelphia is one of the most storied basketball cities in the world and our region is home to some of the best women’s players and coaches to ever grace the hardwood. It’s only right that this city gets the WNBA team it deserves, and we’re humbled to help usher in a new era of Philadelphia basketball.

HBSE, partnering with Comcast, has plans to build a new arena to replace the currently named Wells Fargo Center. The new arena, according to current plans, is set to open in 2031.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, during the announcement of the league’s expansion, spoke about the importance of creating a new team in Philadelphia.

“Philadelphia is a city with unmatched passion, rich basketball tradition, and an unwavering love for its teams. It’s only fitting that this iconic sports town is finally home to a WNBA franchise. From neighborhood courts to historic college arenas, basketball runs deep in Philly — and we’re proud to bring the W to a city that’s ready to embrace it. We’re grateful for Josh Harris, David Blitzer, David Adelman, Brian Roberts, and the entire ownership group for their leadership and investment in growing the game and elevating women’s sports in this incredible community.”

The WNBA currently has 13 teams. The three teams announced on Monday, along with prior expansion plans in both Toronto and Portland, will bring the total number of teams up to 18.