Timeline of the WNBA
The following is a timeline of organizational changes in the Women's National Basketball Association, a women's professional basketball league in the United States that began play in 1997 with 8 teams and now comprises 13 teams. This article includes expansions, contractions, and relocations.
Timeline
Summary
Relocated teams
- Orlando Miracle – relocated to Connecticut, to become the Connecticut Sun
- Utah Starzz – relocated to San Antonio to become the San Antonio Silver Stars, rebranded as the San Antonio Stars, and relocated again to Paradise, Nevada, to become the Las Vegas Aces
- Detroit Shock – relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to become the Tulsa Shock and then to Arlington, Texas, to become the Dallas Wings
Folded teams
- Charlotte Sting – 1997–2006
- Cleveland Rockers – 1997–2003
- Houston Comets – 1997–2008
- Miami Sol – 2000–2002
- Portland Fire – 2000–2002
- Sacramento Monarchs – 1997–2009
1997–2002: Early years
1997: Inaugural season (8 teams)
The league operated its inaugural season in 1997 with eight teams split into two conferences.| Eastern | Western |
| Charlotte Sting | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Cleveland Rockers | Phoenix Mercury |
| Houston Comets | Sacramento Monarchs |
| New York Liberty | Utah Starzz |
1998: First expansion (10 teams)
- The Detroit Shock and Washington Mystics were added and placed in the Eastern Conference.
- The Houston Comets moved to the Western Conference.
| Team's first season in the WNBA * | Team switched conferences ‡ |
1999: Second expansion (12 teams)
- The Minnesota Lynx and Orlando Miracle were added.
- The Miracle were placed in the Eastern Conference, while the Lynx were placed in the Western Conference.
2000–2001: Third expansion (16 teams)
- The Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, and Seattle Storm were added.
- The Fever and the Sol were placed in the Eastern Conference, while the Fire and the Storm were placed in the Western Conference.
2002: Miami and Portland fold (16 teams)
- The Miami Sol and Portland Fire folded after the season.
2003–2009: Contraction
2003: Orlando and Utah relocate, Cleveland folds (14 teams)
- The Orlando Miracle relocated to Connecticut to become the Connecticut Sun.
- The Utah Starzz relocated to San Antonio to become the San Antonio Silver Stars.
- The Cleveland Rockers folded after the season.
2004–2005 (13 teams)
| Eastern | Western |
| Charlotte Sting | Houston Comets |
| Connecticut Sun | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Detroit Shock | Minnesota Lynx |
| Indiana Fever | Phoenix Mercury |
| New York Liberty | Sacramento Monarchs |
| Washington Mystics | San Antonio Silver Stars |
| Seattle Storm |
2006: Chicago added and Charlotte folds (14 teams)
- The Chicago Sky was added and placed in the Eastern Conference.
- The Charlotte Sting folded after the season.
| Team's first season in the WNBA * | Team folded after the season † |
2007 (13 teams)
| Eastern | Western |
| Chicago Sky | Houston Comets |
| Connecticut Sun | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Detroit Shock | Minnesota Lynx |
| Indiana Fever | Phoenix Mercury |
| New York Liberty | Sacramento Monarchs |
| Washington Mystics | San Antonio Silver Stars |
| Seattle Storm |
2008: Atlanta added and Houston folds (14 teams)
- The Atlanta Dream was added and placed in the Eastern Conference.
- The Houston Comets folded after the season.
| Team's first season in the WNBA * | Team folded after the season † |
2009: Sacramento folds (13 teams)
- The Sacramento Monarchs folded after the season.
2010–2024: Relocations
2010: Detroit relocates (12 teams)
- The Detroit Shock relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma to become the Tulsa Shock and moved to the Western Conference.
2014: San Antonio rebrands (12 teams)
- The San Antonio Silver Stars rebranded as the San Antonio Stars.
| Eastern | Western |
| Atlanta Dream | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Chicago Sky | Minnesota Lynx |
| Connecticut Sun | Phoenix Mercury |
| Indiana Fever | San Antonio Stars |
| New York Liberty | Seattle Storm |
| Washington Mystics | Tulsa Shock |
2016: Tulsa relocates (12 teams)
- The Tulsa Shock relocated to Arlington, Texas to become the Dallas Wings.
| Eastern | Western |
| Atlanta Dream | Dallas Wings |
| Chicago Sky | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Connecticut Sun | Minnesota Lynx |
| Indiana Fever | Phoenix Mercury |
| New York Liberty | San Antonio Stars |
| Washington Mystics | Seattle Storm |
2018: San Antonio relocates (12 teams)
- The San Antonio Stars relocated to Paradise, Nevada to become the Las Vegas Aces.
| Eastern | Western |
| Atlanta Dream | Dallas Wings |
| Chicago Sky | Las Vegas Aces |
| Connecticut Sun | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Indiana Fever | Minnesota Lynx |
| New York Liberty | Phoenix Mercury |
| Washington Mystics | Seattle Storm |
2025–future: Expansion era
2025: Golden State added (13 teams)
- The Golden State Valkyries were added and placed in the Western Conference.
2026: Portland and Toronto added (15 teams)
- Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo were added.
- The Fire were placed in the Western Conference, while the Tempo were placed in the Eastern Conference.
2028–2030: Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to be added (18 teams)
Background
The WNBA's exponential growth and popularity in recent years has led to rising expansion fees. The Golden State Valkyries, the league’s 13th franchise that began play in May 2025, paid $50 million to join, while the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire — the 14th and 15th franchises scheduled to begin play in 2026 — paid $115 million and $125 million, respectively.The deadline for the next expansion bids was January 30, 2025. At the time, the bids were believed to be for a 16th expansion team. League commissioner Cathy Engelbert had said she was aiming to have the league expand to 16 teams by 2028. However, as expansion fees continued to rise, the league rethought its original plan of adding just one more expansion team. Each new team will pay $250 million in franchise fees to join the league.
Cleveland
was previously home to the Rockers, one of the WNBA’s original eight members when the league began play in 1997. However, the franchise folded after the 2003 season when former owner Gordon Gund could not sell the team due to tumbling revenue and erratic attendance.The new team will play at Rocket Arena, home of the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers. The WNBA filed a trademark application for the name “Cleveland Rockers”, a potential sign of the league’s intentions to revive the team name.
Detroit
was previously home to the Shock, one of the WNBA’s first expansion teams when it began play in 1998. Between 1998 and 2009, the Shock won three WNBA championships. However, the team’s low fan attendance led the franchise to relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2009, where it played until 2015. The franchise moved again in 2015, to Arlington, Texas, and are now called the Dallas Wings.The new team will play at Little Caesars Arena, home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The WNBA coincidentally filed a trademark application for the name “Detroit Shock” the same day Tom Gores, owner of the Pistons, submitted his offer for a WNBA expansion team, a potential sign of the league’s intentions to revive the team name.