Fresh off one of its most successful seasons ever, the WNBA has announced plans to expand to the Bay Area.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Thursday that the expansion franchise will come to the San Francisco Bay Area and begin play in 2025. Engelbert has faced constant questions about when the league would expand, which she would answer when the time was right.
“The right moment, the right moment is today,” Engelbert said, as he welcomed the next generation of leaders, mothers and athletes.”
NBA powerhouse Golden State Warriors has already planned this before the opening of Chase Center in 2019. The WNBA team will play in the same arena where Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are stars.
“Yo, I just wanted to welcome the NBA to the Bay Area,” Curry said in a video on social media. “I can’t wait to see you all flourish at the highest level. Let’s go get it.’
From left to right: Warriors CEO Joe Lacob, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Peter Guber
A general view of the exterior of the Chase Center before a Golden State Warriors game
“The Bay Area is the perfect market for a WNBA team, and we are excited that this opportunity has finally become a reality,” said Joe Lacob, Warriors co-executive chairman and CEO. “We have been interested in a WNBA franchise for several years, in part because of the rich history of women’s basketball in the Bay Area, and believe this is the ideal time to execute on that vision and build on that legacy.”
Present at the announcement were Hall of Fame Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer, former player and current California coach Charmin Smith, WNBPA Director of Player Relations Jayne Appel and other former stars such as Sheryl Swoopes and Seimone Augustus.
Engelbert called the Bay Area a “hub” for women’s basketball.
“This is an exciting time for the WNBA,” she said.
The WNBA once again had strong numbers as the league had its most-watched regular season in 21 years and the highest average attendance since 2018.
The WNBA Finals kick off between New York (right) and Las Vegas. (Left) Stephen Curry wishes his new fellow tenants well, even though the team is still a few years away from playing
Viewership across national television partners was up 21 percent from last year and the league average attendance of 6,615 fans was the WNBA’s highest since the 2018 season. An expanded schedule to 40 games this season ensured that the competition achieved the highest total number of visitors in 13 years (1,587,488).
“The significant increase in key operating metrics is a testament to the compelling games being played and the growing appeal of the WNBA,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “This increase in interest not only showcases the immense talent and athleticism on the field, but also highlights the compelling stories that continue to emerge about the players and the league.”
Defending champion Aces had the highest average attendance increase, with a record 9,551 fans per match – an increase of 66 percent compared to last season. Las Vegas also hosted the most-attended game this season, drawing a crowd of 17,406 on Sunday against Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury on the final day of the regular season. That game was played in the larger T-Mobile Arena, as opposed to the Aces’ regular venue, which seats about 12,000 people.
The Las Vegas Aces had the highest average attendance increase, with 9,551 fans per game
“It helps when you win championships,” Aces president Nikki Fargas said in a telephone interview. ‘But what you also see is that the community respects the work that these women do every day. It’s fun, entertaining, safe and inclusive.”
The league also set new highs across its digital platforms, social media engagement and sports betting on the FanDuel website. The number of bets and the stake amount have doubled compared to last year.
The WNBA media rights deal with ESPN expires in 2025.
The Warriors are now one of six NBA teams to own a WNBA club, joining the Indiana Pacers (Indiana Fever), Minnesota Timberwolves (Minnesota Lynx), Brooklyn Nets (New York Liberty), Phoenix Suns (Phoenix Mercury) and Washington Wizards (Washington Mystics).