Press Release

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2025 – The WNBA today unveiled the announcement schedule for its official 2025 end-of-season awards.
The WNBA will present 13 end-of-season awards throughout the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google: All-WNBA First and Second Teams; WNBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams; WNBA All-Rookie Team; WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year; WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award presented by Deloitte; WNBA Coach of the Year; Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year; Kia WNBA Most Improved Player; Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player; Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year; Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year; Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award; and the WNBA Peak Performers.
A national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters will submit votes for 10 of the 13 season-ending awards. The WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year honor is voted on by the league’s general managers, and the WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award presented by Deloitte is selected by WNBA senior leadership. The WNBA also recognizes the regular-season statistical leaders in points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game, with each receiving a Peak Performer Award.
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Below is the full announcement schedule for the official 2025 WNBA end-of-season awards:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="154">DATE</td>
<td width="461">AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Monday, Sept. 15</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Most Improved Player</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Wednesday, Sept. 17</td>
<td width="461">WNBA Coach of the Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Thursday, Sept. 18</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Friday, Sept. 19</td>
<td width="461">Announcement of five finalists for Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Saturday. Sept. 20</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Sunday, Sept. 21</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Monday, Sept. 22</td>
<td width="461">Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Tuesday, Sept. 23</td>
<td width="461">WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Monday, Sept. 29</td>
<td width="461">WNBA All-Rookie Team</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Wednesday, Oct. 1</td>
<td width="461">WNBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Thursday, Oct 2</td>
<td width="461">WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award presented by Deloitte</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">Tuesday, Oct. 7</td>
<td width="461">All-WNBA First and Second Teams</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="154">TBD</td>
<td width="461">Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Exact times and platforms for the announcements will be announced in the coming days.
*Dates subject to change
The WNBA Playoffs presented by Google will tip off with four First Round games on Sunday, Sept. 14, and the Semifinals will get underway with two games on Sunday, Sept. 21. The WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV will begin on Friday, Oct. 3. All playoff games will be broadcast on ESPN Networks.

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WNBA Unveils Announcement Schedule for Official 2025 End-of-Season Awards

Awards

NEW YORK, September 10, 2025 – The WNBA today announced Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles has been named the recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, recognizing her extraordinary commitment to service, social justice, and creating lasting impact in the communities she serves.
Named for WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, the award honors a current WNBA player who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader in the community where they work or live. The award’s recipient embodies Staley’s spirit, leadership, charitable efforts, love for the game, and inspirational presence in their community.
This marks the second time Charles has earned the award – first in 2012 as a rising star, and now as a veteran leader whose impact and dedication have only deepened over time.
This year, Charles will reach a powerful milestone in her community work, placing the 500th Automated External Defibrillator (AED) through her Hopey’s Heart Foundation. What began as a personal mission has grown into a life-saving legacy, fueled by her determination to ensure schools, recreation centers, and communities across the country have access to critical resources. Charles founded the Hopey’s Heart Foundation in 2013 in honor of her late aunt, Maureen “Hopey” Vaz, to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and provide AEDs to organizations in need.
Hopey’s Heart remains a family-run foundation, with Charles and her loved ones dedicating countless hours to outreach, research, education, and fundraising. This year, Yale New Haven Health pledged $20,000 to support AED distribution, enabling the foundation to reach the 500-device milestone.
Charles has also engaged fans through team-based initiatives, including a rebounding challenge that allowed supporters to pledge donations tied to her on-court performance. Beyond fundraising, she has been a visible ambassador for heart health, speaking at community events, health fairs, and awareness campaigns such as the American Heart Health Month.
“In every aspect of her game and character, Tina stands as a representation of the ideals and spirit of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Throughout her remarkable career, Tina has consistently used her platform to raise awareness and drive meaningful change. Her dedication to service, advocacy, and giving back to the community reflects the values that define our league. Tina continues to build a legacy that will inspire generations to come.”
Charles’ impact extends beyond Hopey’s Heart. In 2012, she personally funded the construction of a school in Mali, opening educational opportunities for hundreds of children. In New York City, Charles launched Hopey’s Week, a series of sports safety clinics focused on concussion prevention and injury awareness. She has also been a vocal advocate for racial and social justice, using her platform to elevate community voices and push for systemic change.
“Tina Charles exemplifies what it means to be a leader both on and off the court. We are thrilled to recognize her tireless efforts beyond the game over the course of her career, creating a profound and permanent impact within the entire sports community,” said Dawn Staley. “This award signifies the lasting legacy that leadership leaves behind. Tina embodies the values and hard work that continue to inspire her teammates, fellow athletes, fans, and members of her community.”
“Through my mother at a young age, I learned the importance of being a servant unto others, and receiving the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is truly special for me — especially for Hopey’s Heart Foundation to receive this honor through its work in raising awareness for sudden cardiac arrest,” said Tina Charles. “I started the foundation in April of 2013 and never thought its impact would cast as wide as it has. I’m thankful to everyone who has supported the foundation along the way. Thank you.”
A designated committee selected Charles as the winner of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to Charles’ charitable foundation, Hopey’s Heart Foundation.
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Connecticut Sun's Tina Charles Earns Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REGARDING THE MAKING OF THE WNBA SCHEDULE
Why are there multiple games on at the same time? Unless a specific game time is required for an allotted national broadcast/streaming window, each WNBA team selects the start time for their home games, taking into account the optimal start times for fans in their market. The WNBA is similar to other sports leagues that have a lot of regular season games start at the same time to accommodate fans who attend games (such as NFL Sundays, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc.). 
 
Who is responsible for scheduling? The league office works with the teams and arenas, who submit to the league a list of dates on which the venues are available. The league then creates the schedule while factoring in additional elements such as, game density, travel, available windows provided by the broadcast networks and streaming partners, key matchups creating compelling national broadcast content, etc. 
 
Why do some teams play games on consecutive days? While WNBA teams infrequently play games on back-to-back dates, “back-to-backs” do occur in the WNBA as teams play more games than those on the college level.  In scheduling games, the WNBA, teams, and our broadcast and streaming partners take into account such variables as arena availability, the maximization of weekend games, travel efficiency, etc. and work to minimize the number of back-to-backs or where possible, schedule them so that the team having the back-to-back has two home games in a row.
Why are there some dates with no games? Dates on which there are no games are a product of a variety of factors including the potential lack of arena availability, an effort to reduce back-to-back games for a team(s), scheduling for reasonable travel by teams, fan demand in attending games on weekends versus weeknights particularly during the school year, filling predetermined broadcast windows (such as scheduling a minimum of two games on Fridays for the standard ION doubleheader the next night, having teams available for predetermined CBS and/or ABC windows on Saturdays, etc.).
Why aren&#8217;t games being televised? There are no other sports televised today, and all these games are on League Pass. Not all games are intended to be nationally televised (similar to other sports with a number of games at or above that of the WNBA). The WNBA has a set number of national TV games as agreed upon with our broadcast and streaming partners, some games are purposely reserved for local/regional broadcast partners, and all non- nationally broadcast or streamed games are available on WNBA League Pass.

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FAQ: The Making of the WNBA Schedule

STARTING LINEUPS – 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA ALL-STAR GAME
Team Clark
<table style="width: 87.2857%;height: 376px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="120">Jersey Number</td>
<td width="174">Name</td>
<td width="114">Position</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="120">0</td>
<td width="174">^Kelsey Mitchell</td>
<td width="114">Guard</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="120">0</td>
<td width="174">^Jackie Young</td>
<td width="114">Guard</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="120">7</td>
<td width="174">Aliyah Boston</td>
<td width="114">Frontcourt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="120">20</td>
<td width="174">Sabrina Ionescu</td>
<td width="114">Guard</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="120">22</td>
<td width="174">A’ja Wilson</td>
<td width="114">Frontcourt</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
^ Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever and Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces have been named as replacement starters by Team Clark head coach Sandy Brondello. Mitchell and Young replace the injured Caitlin Clark of the Fever and Satou Sabally of the Phoenix Mercury.
Team Collier
<table style="width: 89.2475%" width="406">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.0954%" width="120">Jersey Number</td>
<td style="width: 41.0758%" width="174">Name</td>
<td style="width: 124.45%" width="112">Position</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.0954%" width="120">3</td>
<td style="width: 41.0758%" width="174">Nneka Ogwumike</td>
<td style="width: 124.45%" width="112">Frontcourt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.0954%" width="120">24</td>
<td style="width: 41.0758%" width="174">Napheesa Collier</td>
<td style="width: 124.45%" width="112">Frontcourt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.0954%" width="120">30</td>
<td style="width: 41.0758%" width="174">Breanna Stewart</td>
<td style="width: 124.45%" width="112">Frontcourt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.0954%" width="120">5</td>
<td style="width: 41.0758%" width="174">Paige Bueckers</td>
<td style="width: 124.45%" width="112">Guard</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 29.0954%" width="120">15</td>
<td style="width: 41.0758%" width="174">Allisha Gray</td>
<td style="width: 124.45%" width="112">Guard</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
# # #

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Starting Lineups – 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game

NEW YORK, July 18, 2025 – Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull has been named by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to replace her injured teammate, guard Caitlin Clark, in the 2025 WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest.
ESPN will broadcast the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge and the WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Fever, on Friday, July 18 (8 p.m. ET). The events are a prelude to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Saturday, July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, Disney+ and ESPN+).
Now in her fourth season in the WNBA, Hull ranks fourth in the WNBA in three-point field goal percentage (46.8) this season after connecting on 29 of her 62 attempts from beyond the arc. The 6-1 Hull, a first-round draft pick of the Fever in 2022, is averaging 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season.
Hull will make her debut in the event against four other guards, including defending champion Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream, Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics, Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks, and the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu, who set the all-time single-round record for WNBA and NBA three-point contests with a score of 37 points in the final round of the 2023 WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest.
# # #

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Lexie Hull to Replace Caitlin Clark in WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest

NEW YORK, July 17, 2025 – Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes and Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones have been named by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to replace the injured Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally on Team Clark in the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Saturday, July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Indiana Fever (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, Disney+ and ESPN+).
Team Clark head coach Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty will name the players to replace Clark and Sabally in the starting lineup for the AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game.
This marks the first All-Star appearance for Sykes, 31, who is in her third season with Washington and her ninth in the WNBA. A four-time All-WNBA Defensive Team selection, the 5-9 guard is the Mystics’ leading scorer this season, averaging 17.1 points per game. Sykes ranks 13th in the league in scoring and assists (4.4 apg) and is contributing 3.6 rebounds per game.
For Jones, 29, this marks her second consecutive WNBA All-Star appearance and the fourth of her career. Last year, Jones helped Team WNBA defeat the US Women’s National Team, 117-109, in the 2024 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. Now in her first season with Atlanta and her ninth in the WNBA, the 6-3 Jones is averaging 13.4 points and 2.5 assists per game and ranks fifth in the league in rebounding (7.8 rpg) this season.
# # #

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Brittney Sykes, Brionna Jones Named as Replacement for 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-200661 aligncenter" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Newpicture.png" alt="" width="290" height="68" />
PORTLAND FIRE. REBORN. 
The WNBA Returns to Portland, the Global Epicenter of Women’s Sports, in 2026 
July 15, 2025 (Portland, OR) – Today, Portland’s WNBA expansion team proudly unveils its new name and brand identity: the Portland Fire. Based in the global epicenter of women’s sports, the Portland Fire is rooted in the resilience, spirit, and passion for sport that defines the Rose City.
A team reborn, the Portland Fire marks the revival of a movement. Rooted in the identity and energy of Portland, the Portland Fire brand is bold and modern with a nod to its history. The new brand reflects unapologetic determination and city pride, with every element – from the custom logo and commanding typography to the Fire Red, Brown, Blue, and Pink palette – evoking the power, grit, calm, and creativity that defines the team.
“As a city that has long championed women’s sports, Portland is ready to reclaim its place in the WNBA and reignite its connection to the game on the world stage,” said Clare Hamill, Portland Fire Interim President. “We are thrilled to complete the journey of bringing professional women’s basketball back to the Rose City, while honoring the legacy of the original franchise to blaze a new, bold path forward.”
Every detail of the Portland Fire brand was intentionally crafted by Adopt, a Portland-based brand and creative agency. The identity reflects the city’s deep-rooted passion for sports and drawing on distinct regional elements to tell a powerful visual story. The team&#8217;s wordmark features inspiration from the 12 bridges that connect the city from East to West, bringing the community and fan base together. The iconic silhouette of Mount Hood, the highest point in Oregon, graces the top of the P. Anchored by its “Rose on Fire” emblem, the brand merges Portland’s iconic flower with the unrelenting intensity of flame. This flame motif flows through stylized letterforms inspired by the curved roofline of the Moda Center, the team’s home arena. Framed within a modern shield, the franchise’s global logo stands as a bold symbol of pride, resilience, and Portland identity.
To celebrate, the team will host a fan launch party at the Moda Center on Tuesday, July 15. This free, family-friendly event will feature interactive activations, special appearances, and exclusive merchandise drops. Celebrations will continue into the inaugural Global Women’s Sports Epicenter Week, beginning July 23 – a four-day series of fan-facing events and youth-focused programs designed to inspire and celebrate Portland’s leadership in women’s sports.
The brand launch follows a major franchise milestone as the team recently announced it surpassed 10,000 season ticket deposits, putting the Fire on pace to surpass previous WNBA season ticket deposit records. Portland was awarded the League’s 15th expansion team in fall 2024, led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage of RAJ Sports. The organization’s acquisition of the Portland Thorns in early 2024 further solidifies Portland as a trailblazer in professional women’s sports.
“Portland has long stood at the forefront of women’s sports, and with nearly 11,000 season ticket deposits to-date, this community has made it clear they’re ready to embrace the return of women’s professional basketball,” said Lisa Bhathal Merage. “We’re proud to reignite the Portland Fire and can’t wait to welcome new and longtime fans to the Moda Center in 2026.”
Earlier this year, RAJ Sports unveiled plans for a first-of-its-kind, dual sport women’s performance center where Portland Fire and Portland Thorns will both train. Built with intention, the forthcoming performance center is designed to create a peak performance and recovery innovation center focused on the evolving needs of female athlete.
This intentionality is mirrored in Portland Fire’s founding partners – First Tech Federal Credit Union, Alaska Airlines, and Brandlive – designated as Community Game Changers for their exceptional commitment to advancing the growth of women’s sports.
Tipping off in 2026 at the Moda Center in downtown Portland, the Portland Fire will usher in a new era of women’s professional basketball. Fans can visit <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffire.wnba.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Claura%40berkcommunications.com%7C966b9f1e5e64491b224608ddc39d062f%7C34c857388ded48efacd05e11924c0959%7C1%7C0%7C638881801374827025%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=sGafl9d2Pm5z%2BmormqcR0IWumWVWifvrnR8Lq9AIdLw%3D&amp;reserved=0">fire.wnba.com</a> to place their season ticket deposit for only $26.
Team merchandise is now available to purchase at <a href="https://portlandfireteamshop.com.">portlandfireteamshop.com.</a>
###
Media Contact
Laura Kepus: <a href="mailto:PortlandFire@BerkCommunications.com">PortlandFire@BerkCommunications.com</a>
About Portland Fire
Portland Fire is one of the Women’s National Basketball League’s newest franchises, making its official on court debut in 2026. Owned by RAJ Sports – led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage – the team is more than a franchise; it’s the revival of a movement, honoring the legacy of the original Portland Fire while blazing a bold new path forward. Based in Portland, Oregon, the global epicenter of women’s sports, Portland Fire is rooted in the Rose City’s enduring resilience, spirit, and passion for sport.
About RAJ Sports
RAJ Sports, led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, focuses on investment opportunities in sports and sports-related properties, drawing on the Bhathal family’s multi-generational experience and relationships in the industry. The firm seeks to leverage the power of sports to affect broader social and economic change through a variety of business and philanthropic strategies. Its deep experience in professional sports operations and large-scale real estate developments that create thriving community centers, positions the firm to deliver valuable assets that will support further growth for the players, staff, and fans. In 2013, the Bhathal family became investors in the Sacramento Kings (NBA); subsequently building the platform to include the Sacramento RiverCats (MiLB), Stockton Kings (NBA G-League) and several sports anchored real estate developments. The 2024 acquisitions of Portland Thorns (NWSL) and the WNBA Portland expansion team represents a milestone for the city of Portland and places it at the epicenter of growth for women’s sports.
About Adopt
Adopt is a minority-owned brand and creative agency that builds and shapes brands by harnessing the power of sport, athletes and culture. Adopt leverages its deep experience to partner with industry leaders and inspired brands, bringing big ideas to life and moving business forward.

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Introducing the Portland Fire

WNBA Press Conference

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		<h2>Gallery Block</h2>
	</div>

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Photo Gallery: League Expansion Announcement

NEW YORK, June 30, 2025 – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a major expansion to 18 teams, with new teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This expansion – subject to WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors approval – marks a significant milestone in the WNBA’s commitment to growing the game, increasing opportunities for players, and bringing professional women’s basketball to new and passionate fanbases in more cities.
The three new teams join the league’s 15 existing teams, including the Golden State Valkyries, who tipped off play in May 2025, as well as the previously announced expansion markets in Toronto, Canada (2026) and Portland, Oregon (2026). The Cleveland team will begin play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. Each location was selected based on an analysis of market viability, committed long-term ownership groups, potential for significant local fan, corporate, media, and city and state support, arena and practice facilities, and community commitment to advancing the sport, among other factors.
“The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball. I am deeply grateful for our new owners and ownership groups – Dan Gilbert in Cleveland, Tom Gores in Detroit, and Josh Harris, David Blitzer, David Adelman, and Brian Roberts in Philadelphia – for their belief in the WNBA’s future and their commitment to building thriving teams that will energize and inspire their communities. We are excited for what these cities will bring to the league – and are confident that these new teams will reshape the landscape of women’s basketball.”
About Cleveland
The new WNBA team in Cleveland will be owned and operated by Rock Entertainment Group (REG), the umbrella entity that houses REG Chairman Dan Gilbert’s sports and entertainment properties under the Rock Family of Companies. Dan Gilbert acquired the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005, and under his leadership, the team has won the Central Division seven times, five Eastern Conference titles, and, most notably, the 2016 NBA Championship. Gilbert&#8217;s diverse sports portfolio also includes the Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers’ G League affiliate) and the Cleveland Monsters (AHL affiliate of the NHL&#8217;s Columbus Blue Jackets). The WNBA previously had a team in Cleveland, the Rockers, from 1997 to 2003.
“The WNBA&#8217;s return to Cleveland marks a pivotal moment for women&#8217;s sports. Years from now, we will reflect on this day as a truly monumental point in Cleveland sports history,” said Rock Entertainment Group Chairman Dan Gilbert. “The passion, support and continued commitment of our fans and community for our professional sports teams played an essential role in making this possible. We&#8217;re confident that this team will honor our city&#8217;s women&#8217;s sports heritage, reinvigorate our WNBA fan base and help cultivate the next generation of women&#8217;s basketball enthusiasts and athletes. We&#8217;re grateful to the WNBA and Commissioner Engelbert for this opportunity and their unwavering belief in Cleveland.”
Check out more about the team coming to Cleveland at <a href="http://wnbacleveland.com">wnbacleveland.com </a>
About Detroit 
The Detroit WNBA ownership group is led by Tom Gores, his wife Holly, and some of the most accomplished women and men in global sports, business, entertainment, media, and finance.  Gores is owner of the Detroit Pistons and Chairman and CEO of global investment firm Platinum Equity. The WNBA is also making its return to Detroit, where the Shock played from 1998-2009, winning three championships (2003, 2006, 2008), ranking in the top five in attendance for five consecutive seasons, and setting a single-game attendance record of 22,076 fans at Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals.
“This is a huge win for Detroit and the WNBA,” said Detroit Pistons Owner and Platinum Equity Chairman Tom Gores, who led the WNBA bid and will be the controlling owner of the new franchise. “Today marks the long-hoped-for return of the WNBA to a city with deep basketball roots and a championship tradition. Detroit played a key role in the league’s early growth, and we’re proud to reignite that legacy as the WNBA ascends to new heights. Our plans will bring new energy, investment and infrastructure to our city and the WNBA, and additional resources to our community.”
“We have brought together an impressive array of investors who reflect the strength and diversity of Detroit,” added Gores. “I’m excited about what we can accomplish together to advance women’s professional sports and inspire a new generation of fans. I’m grateful to our exceptional investor group, Commissioner Engelbert, and the WNBA for their trust in our vision and commitment to the people of Detroit.”
Check out more about the team coming to Detroit at <a href="http://wnba.com/detroit">wnba.com/detroit</a>
About Philadelphia
The Philadelphia WNBA Team will be owned and operated by Harris Blitzer Sports &amp; Entertainment and join the organization’s dynamic global sports portfolio. The team will be an extension of HBSE’s commitment to delivering high performing teams that strengthen the communities where they play.
“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,” said Harris Blitzer Sports &amp; Entertainment Managing Partner and Co-Founder Josh Harris. “Thanks to my partners David Blitzer, David Adelman, Brian Roberts and the team at Comcast, and Governor Shapiro and Mayor Cherelle Parker for their collective leadership. We are committed to building a world-class organization, fostering the continued growth of women’s professional sports in this great city, and bringing one of the fastest rising leagues in the world to Philadelphia in 2030.”
Check out more about the team coming to Philadelphia at <a href="http://wnba.com/philadelphia">wnba.com/philadelphia</a>
About the WNBA
Currently in its 29th season, the WNBA celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it. The league was ranked by Morning Consult as the fastest-growing brand in 2024, and No. 4 on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2025, on its way to setting records for engagement on social and digital platforms, attendance, merchandise sales and unique viewers across its broadcast partners. The WNBA’s commitment to societal impact is supported by the first-of-its-kind WNBA Changemaker Collective, a group of purpose-driven companies that have partnered with the WNBA to enhance the player experience, build the brand of the league and players, inspire innovation and connectivity, increase media coverage and visibility, and help drive the league’s business transformation. Ally, AT&amp;T, CarMax, Deloitte, Google, and Nike are part of the WNBA Changemaker Collective. The WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women.

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WNBA ANNOUNCES EXPANSION TO HISTORIC 18 TEAMS WITH NEW TEAMS IN CLEVELAND, DETROIT AND PHILADELPHIA

NEW YORK, June 29, 2025 – WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued the following statement:
“Candace Parker’s impact on the WNBA is immeasurable. From the moment she stepped onto the court as a rookie, winning both MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season, she has continually redefined greatness. A three-time champion with three different teams, her career has been marked by excellence, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to winning.
“Beyond her accolades, Candace has been a leader, a mentor, and a trailblazer – inspiring the next generation of athletes with her skill, resilience, and passion for the game. She has used her platform to elevate women’s sports, leaving a lasting legacy that transcends the court.
“Having her jersey retired in both Los Angeles and Chicago – two WNBA cities where she shaped the culture and identity of their teams – is a powerful and fitting tribute to all Candace has accomplished.   On behalf of the WNBA, I want to thank Candace for being an extraordinary ambassador for the sport, and have admired her ability to balance her playing career, her family and her broadcast career.  Her legacy will live on – in the rafters and in the hearts of fans everywhere.&#8221;

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