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Thursday Oct. 5 update: The WNBA has officially announced that its newest expansion team will be in San Francisco and will play its home games at the Chase Center. The new franchise will begin play in 2025.
It’s official. We’re expanding.
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 5, 2023
Tune in at 1pm EST/10am PST on X and the WNBA App to watch live remarks from @CathyEngelbert and @wnbagoldenstate pic.twitter.com/l7UiUT7kA3
The WNBA is expanding for the first time since 2008, with the league set to announce the addition of a franchise in the Bay Area on Thursday, October 5. The team will begin playing games in the 2025 season and will be managed by the ownership group of the Golden State Warriors. The WNBA franchise, which has yet to be named, will play games at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
BREAKING: The @WNBA will announce tomorrow, Oct. 5, that the Bay Area is set to get an expansion team. Play will start in 2025. First time the W has expanded since 2008.
— Lindsay Schnell (@Lindsay_Schnell) October 4, 2023
With @JeffZillgitt: https://t.co/Hq5Dl0mqne
The Bay Area has not previously had a WNBA team and this is a big step for a league that has seen franchises fold since inauguration. Only four of the original eight franchises in the league still remain today, though the league has grown overall to 12 teams since it began play.
10.5 pic.twitter.com/J4qlLOrg6E
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2023
A team in the Bay Area would mean 13 in the league, which is potentially a tricky number when it comes to logistics for the postseason and scheduling. We’ll see if the league continues to add teams.